by Sammi Franks
I sat up, stretching, completely naked. When I finally rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I looked to find Hawk in a pair of jeans and nothing else, sitting at a small table with two plates of food, two cups of coffee, and two flutes of orange juices, possibly mimosas, waiting.
I blinked, smiling.
I pulled myself off the bed, letting his eyes feast on my naked body before grabbing his shirt from the floor and pulling it over my body. I also managed to find my underwear and slid those on as well before joining Hawk at the table.
“What’s this?” I asked him, raising a curious brow.
“You said I could buy breakfast,” he pointed out. He gestured with his hand. “This is breakfast.”
We sat in easy silence. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. Besides his muscled brutality, there was something about a man in jeans with bare feet. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it was sexy and vulnerable and masculine all at the same time. Hawk was a wizard when it came to such contradictions.
By the time we finished, I realized that I could picture myself spending my Sunday afternoons like this. A late breakfast, mimosas with fresh strawberries, clothes from the night before. I could be okay with a life like this.
Hawk was doing strange things to me, strange things to my heart. Falling in love with him would not only be easy, but it would be a natural consequence of being around him. Maybe that was what I wanted. Maybe I wanted to let myself fall for him. Maybe I wanted to let myself trust him. I already knew he kept his word. That much was clear based on the amount of orgasms I’d had over the weekend, but I wanted him to promise me more, more than just the physical. I wanted the emotional, romantic stuff. I sighed.
“What is it?” he asked, perking his brow.
The problem was, I didn’t necessarily want him to know that I wanted that just yet. And worse than that, I didn’t think he wanted it at all.
“We should probably check out,” I told him.
His eyes dimmed for a brief moment before nodding his head. “You’re right,” he agreed.
A couple of hours later, we reached the dock. I could see his boat from where I parked and felt my heart twist at the prospect of being apart from him, but I needed to let him go…at least for now. I had a lot of things to figure out, and I was sure he did too.
19
Hawk
* * *
The sail back to the marina in Westport seemed lonely, which was unusual. This had always brought me peace before, hence the purchase and my lifestyle. This time, I was in no hurry to return. I expected it would be a while before I saw Isla. For some reason, this saddened me more than I expected.
Finally, as the sun began to dip in the sky, I reluctantly pulled into my slip, all the while praying no one would be on the yacht beside me. Naturally, this wasn’t to be. Bodhi saw me and rushed down to the dock.
“Throw me your lines,” he urged.
I passed one at a time to him and watched as he first fixed the bowline around the cleat, then started on the starboard side while I stepped off and worked on the port lines. We worked quietly and quickly. The wind was picking up and with it the waves, which was why the boat needed to be secured right away.
“Thank you,” I mumbled as held out my hand to Bodhi.
He grinned and we bumped knuckles. “Hey, do you have a minute?” he asked quietly while glancing up at the yacht.
“Is Max up there?” I asked in a low voice. He had me ready to hide in the cabin. With the boat plugged into the marina power and my air conditioner running, it was actually pretty comfortable there.
“Nah, but the captain is and I don’t always trust him since my brother pays, you know?” He eyed me quietly and waited for my reaction.
I nodded. “I get it, man.” Then I motioned for him to follow me. “I have beer in the ice box.”
Bodhi made a face. “You mean the freezer?”
With a laugh, I shook my head. “No, I mean the ice box. Now you get to see how the other half lives.” He followed me down the ladder to the galley. Once there, I lifted the wooden panel covering the ice box. “It’s a built-in cooler. If I had a real cooler, I’d have to secure it while sailing. So, you want a beer or not?”
“Yeah, I’ll take one, but we need to talk.” He sighed as he reached for the can of Bud Light.
“Maybe we should wait until I have at least one beer in me. This sounds serious,” I noted.
He shrugged. “Depends on how you look at it, I guess. Still, I’d drink up. This is about my sister.”
I stiffened. “Say no more.” Then I chugged the beer and reached for a second. “Just in case,” I commented absently. I took a few steps and settled in the cushioned seating area where I’d shared a meal with Isla a few days before. I feared those happy memories attached to this space were about to be ruined. As soon as he settled in across from me, I mumbled, “So…speak.”
“What’s going on with you and my sister?” he asked before taking a leisurely swig from the can while never losing eye contact.
I tried not to swallow hard. I’d been trained for interrogation in the Corps, but somehow, being questioned by Isla’s brothers was far more intense. Water boarding was actually starting to feel preferable to this. “What makes you think something is going on?”
He snickered. “Answering a question with a question. You’re good.” Bodhi tugged at his chin. “Of course, you’ve been trained for this. All I have are brother instincts. Isla’s the baby of the family.”
“By minutes,” I reminded him calmly.
“Yes. Minutes.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter. What I need to know are your intentions.”
I was in the middle of taking a sip of the second beer when he said that. Naturally, I started choking. “Are you serious right now?” I spluttered. “She’s all grown up, just like you. Isla is perfectly capable of making her own decisions.”
“Yeah, but they aren’t always good ones,” Bodhi countered.
“Just like you again,” I blurted out. Then I felt the back of my neck start burning from embarrassment. I’d overstepped. I never should’ve said that. Still, I wasn’t ready to back down. This was too important.
Slowly, a smile spread across his face. “True.” He sighed and leaned forward against the table. “Listen, I know you went away together for the weekend.”
“I went sailing up the coast.” My chin jutted out. This wasn’t a lie. Technically, we didn’t go away together, we merely met up at a predetermined location. And now I could look Bodhi in the eye with my honor intact.
“Dude, I saw you doing the jog of shame the other morning. And I went surfing up the coast this weekend when you disappeared. I saw your sailboat. I found Isla’s car. You two planned this.” His brow rose.
I licked my lips. “Actually, your sister planned it. I went along with it.” I waited quietly to see where he planned to take this. No way was I going to let him go after her. I was fully prepared to quit my job to protect her.
“I see you getting all prickly over there.” Bodhi rubbed his face. “I’m going about this all wrong.” He shook his head. “Let’s start over.”
I pushed my beer to the side and laced my fingers on the table. “Okay. Whenever you’re ready, begin.”
“I’m not trying to cost you a job. Hell, I’ve saved it more times than I can count. It’s not me, it’s Max. He’s the psycho, overbearing, stupid protective one.” Bodhi leaned back. “Honestly, I didn’t think there was anything to discuss.”
“There still isn’t,” I argued.
“Yeah there is. And I really thought it would burn itself out by now.” He shook his head and looked at me with wonder. “Isla blows through guys like tissues. She goes on a date, maybe. More often than not, they have lost her before they even get that far. No one has ever held her attention. No one has ever made her look or act the way you do.”
I stared at my hands and picked at a callus that had formed from handling the ropes and sailing. I needed some distraction
because Bodhi was making me blush. Though I shouldn’t want Isla to have feelings for me, there was no denying the pull. She’d awakened a need in me and it had yet to be sated. “So now what?” I muttered to show I’d been paying attention, even if I still refused to meet his eyes.
“Now you be careful. I think you could be good for each other.” He blew out a breath. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Max will kill both of us before we can calm him down.” Bodhi sucked down the rest of his beer. Then he glanced out the porthole. “It’s getting darker. You should probably get going.”
I stiffened. “I’m supposed to leave?” My heart raced and my palms grew sweaty at the thought of never seeing her again.
“Yeah. I’m sure Isla is waiting on you.” He grinned as he stood and moved toward the ladder. Then he jerked his head toward my supplies near the radio. “And for the love of God, bring a flashlight so you don’t kill yourself on the rocks. They’re gnarly.” He exposed his shoulder for effect. “Bad dismount off my board.”
For a second I was numb. “Is this you giving us your blessing?” I asked quietly, even though I wasn’t sure there was an us to bless.
“Yeah, man. Peace.” Then he mounted the ladder and I watched him climb over the side of the boat and onto the dock.
My head was reeling. I had no idea what to do. I decided to send Isla a text.
* * *
Me: I miss you already.
* * *
Her reply was almost instantaneous.
* * *
Isla: Dammit, Logan. I miss you too.
* * *
I grinned. I hated to think I was suffering alone. I was about to set the phone down and scrounge around for some food when it vibrated again.
* * *
Isla: Come to me. I have chicken on the grill. Plenty for two.
* * *
That was all the encouragement I needed. Without hesitation, I sent her one more text.
* * *
Me: See you soon.
* * *
With a spring in my step, I walked over to the counter and picked up the flashlight. Bodhi was right. I needed it, but not nearly as much as I needed Isla.
20
Isla
* * *
I wasn’t going to lie, I was surprised when I saw Hawk at my door.
I don’t know why, but he looked more beautiful than before. Maybe it was because his eyes were crystal clear, the feelings for me evident in them. He wasn’t hiding away, he wasn’t trying to pretend there wasn’t anything between us.
The minute I opened the door, Hawk crossed the threshold and pulled me into a deep kiss. I should have been more concerned about the fact that we were in public, that Max might come back at any time, but the way his lips consumed mine, the way his hand cupped my cheek, softly but also filled with strength.
He tilted my head to the side, sliding his tongue across my bottom lip. I opened for him. His other hand pressed flat against the small of my back, tilting me backwards so he had better access to my mouth. I clutched the back of his head, my fingers tugging at the roots. I heard him grunt and growl in approval.
This was a different sort of kiss, not one that would lead to sex. This was a kiss that staked a claim. This was a kiss that said things were different, that something had changed.
“What was that?” I asked. My voice could barely speak. I was breathless in the best sort of way. I managed to crack my eyes open so I could look at him and saw him staring down at me.
“A kiss,” he said. “I thought you’d be able to discern that.”
“I was,” I said, licking my bottom lip. “I did, I mean. What?” My nostrils pinched as I glanced behind me. “Chicken. I might have burned it. I was never good at cooking. We should…” I threw my thumb behind me. I couldn’t believe I was this discombobulated.
“Eat it?” he guessed. “The chicken?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Isla,” he began, “I came here to tell you...well, I guess ask you is a better word choice. I…”
“What the hell is this?”
I jumped back from Hawk when I heard my brother’s familiar growl before realizing it was only Max. I turned and scowled at him. “What are you doing here, Max?” I asked.
Max was here by himself, which surprised me because he and Victoria had been attached at the hip since they met, from what I heard. He had an ugly snarl on his face, which never happened.
“Victoria and I are taking a few nights to ourselves to make our wedding night more special,” he explained before shooting me a look. “Also, I live here so I don’t owe you any sort of explanation.” His eyes shifted over to where Hawk stood, still embracing me. I was glad to see that he didn’t pull away, despite Max’s glare. To be honest, I was afraid of Max’s glare right now and it wasn’t even directed at me.
“Well, I’m an adult, so I don’t owe you an explanation either,” I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest and giving him a defiant glare. If I had been younger, I probably would have stomped my foot.
Max furrowed his brow, opening his mouth to retaliate. Before he could, Hawk interjected.
“Actually, Isla,” he said slowly. “I would like to give him an explanation even if we don’t necessarily have to give one.”
I expected him to pull back, to give him some bullshit excuse so he could keep his job. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see him stepping closer to me, his grip tightening.
“Max,” he began, giving me one last squeeze before standing in front of my brother, positioning himself in front of me so all Max could see was him. “Mr. Rogers.”
I snorted. We had all called Max Mr. Rogers behind his back and, when he pissed me off, I would say it to his face.
“I want you to know that I’m crazy about your sister,” he continued. All humor drained from my face as I listened to him, his low voice soft and serious. “And I realize this isn’t exactly what you want to hear. I can only tell you, attempt to reassure you, that I won’t hurt her, and that I will take care of her to the best of my abilities. I also know I am nowhere near financially capable of taking care of her yet, but I plan to work towards that. And more than that, I would stand in front of a moving bus if it meant she would be safe. I understand if you don’t want me working for you because of my relationship with Isla. I’m prepared to lose my job for her, so I can be with her.”
My heart swelled. I stepped towards Hawk and wrapped my arms around his waist, hoping to convey that I appreciated what he had to say.
“Hawk,” Max said, covering the lower half of his face with his hand, deep in thought. “I can’t, I’m sorry but I can’t give you my approval of your relationship with my sister.”
“Max,” I snapped, looking around Hawk’s frame to lock eyes with my brother.
He held up a hand. “No, Isla,” he grumbled. “Can you just let me finish?” He placed his hands on his hips. “I can’t support it because it’s new and you’re my baby sister. But I’m open to it. I know I have to be because it will happen behind my back if I don’t.” Max took a step forward and offered Hawk his hand. “Thanks for being upfront with me.”
“Even though it’s none of your business,” I muttered.
“What was that?” Max asked, dropping Hawk’s hand to look at me.
“I said you better go to the yacht or Bodhi’s place because if you decide to stay, you’re going to hear a lot of sounds coming out of your baby sister you won’t like,” I said.
Hawk turned red and Max made a face.
“I’m leaving,” he snapped. “Hawk, I still expect you to be at work tomorrow, same time.”
“Yes, sir,” he said before turning his blue eyes on me. “Where were we?”
“Burnt chicken and seven more orgasms.”
About Sammi Franks
Sammi loves to travel all around the US, exploring both cities and small towns, searching out inspiration for her next writing project. When she isn’t on the road, she calls Yreka home.
&n
bsp; Life has made her a combination of sass and snark, but she still believes everyone deserves a happy ending.
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