As sleep started to claim us both, our breathing in sync, my mind wandered back to the last thing he said to me.
"You want six kids?" I asked.
There was a pause which was genuinely frightening. I almost expected the answer ‘Six? Try ten!' by how long it took him to respond.
"I..." he started sleepily, "... don't want six, but I do want at least one. Someone to take over my empire when I'm dead and gone. You?"
I sighed. "Ask my mom, she has it all planned out for me."
Hawk chuckled sleepily against my neck. "Now why doesn't that surprise me. Anyway..." he chided endearingly, "... that's a thought for a couple of years, not now."
THE NEXT MORNING, HAWK ran back to the car carrying a tray with two coffees and a bag of bagels. We'd already stopped by my place so I could change, and we were now going back to work. Hawk had insisted I travel with him instead of me jumping into my own car because we were both headed to Ricky's afterward.
"This..." he said, grabbing a takeout coffee, "... is exactly what I need."
Taking a sip, I closed my eyes and marveled at the taste.
"Mmm," I said, licking my lips. "Why does it taste so good?"
Hawk smiled, pleased. "I asked them to put a shot of caramel in it. Good, huh?"
"Good? I could practically orgasm over this." This time he raised his eyebrows in amusement. "I'll buy a bottle and have you lick it off my cock so we both benefit."
I raised my own brows in contemplation. "I won't say no to that."
Hawk pulled out onto the street our office building was located. "You're a naughty girl, Britta. Making me turn up to work with a hard cock."
The car turned down into the darkened basement parking. "Well..." I started, placing my coffee in the cup holder to free my hands, "... since I inflicted this on you, I may as well offer my assistance."
HAWK ROTATED HIS SHOULDERS, shaking off the orgasm he'd just had while I sucked him off in the basement. "I'm going to bring you a caramel coffee every day."
I stifled my laugh since we were in the elevator with four others. As we reached our floor and exited the lift, Hawk pinched my bum as the receptionist approached awkwardly. Her eyes focused on anything else but us when she arrived with a folded piece of paper. It wasn't for me, so I kept walking down to my office, overhearing hearing part of her message.
"Excuse me... Mr. Carnage," she began nervously. "There was a woman here earlier looking for you. She left a note..."
I closed the door but not before catching a glimpse of Hawk's stony face. Whoever it was mustn't have come with good news.
My cell vibrated in my handbag, and I managed to answer on the last ring.
"You made him leave?" Slate rushed out.
"Good morning to you, too. And I had a work emergency," I told my little white lie.
"Work emergency, aka Hawk Carnage."
"Perhaps. It was urgent."
"I can see where your priorities lie. So... did you like him?"
"No."
"Ohh... brutal this morning."
"He was a nice man, but he's not my type."
"So, what is your type then?"
Hawk Carnage.
"Umm... when I have it figured out, I'll let you know."
"Right," he said, sighing. "I'll hold off on my matchmaker skills until you've got your shit together."
"I'm more than happy with that idea."
"You coming to Ricky's still, or is work going to trump family?"
"Don't be a dick," I chided while laughing. I knew he was just doing it to stir the pot. "I said I'll be there and I will."
When we hung up, I set about my busy day organizing the next photo shoot and fielding calls from the Renshaw's regarding an urgent meeting.
It wasn't until I made my way to the coffee machine that I realized, Hawk hadn't been in his office all day. He'd left no sooner than we'd arrived.
A message on my cell told me he also wouldn't be returning.
Chapter 18
Hawk
I wanted to cancel.
I wanted to be a no-show.
Shit just got real, really quick, and when everything in my world was controlled by my own two hands and my own doing, having something like this jump out of left field and crash tackle me... well, let's just say I was pretty fucking shook up.
I wanted to believe there was a way around it, but I hadn't yet found a viable solution, and no matter how I dealt with it, someone was going to get hurt.
I didn't even bother knocking. Like everyone else in the family, Ricky's house had an open-door policy. I could hear the jovial laughter and animated conversations filtering down the hall. The smell of a barbecue wafted past me, and even though I hadn't eaten all day, my gut churned anxiously.
"Hey, bro," Ricky greeted as he passed from the kitchen to the living room carrying a bucket of beers. "Just in time," he said, handing me a bottle.
"Thanks, man," I replied, albeit distracted. I needed to know if she was here yet.
"Hey, Hawk," Harry approached, wearing a weirdly serious expression. "Can I talk to you for-"
I put my hand on his shoulder to brush by him, my eyes still searching the house and faces of randomly placed groups of people.
"It won't take..." I didn't hear the rest as I pushed through the door and checked outside. Nothing.
I felt somewhat relieved she hadn't shown yet. Perhaps she wouldn't. Britta often hit the highway on my organized events because she was an introvert and cherished her quiet time.
"Grab a seat, everyone," Ricky called from the barbecue. "And grab a plate while you're at it."
Placing a tray of assorted meats on the table amidst salad and bread rolls, everyone took a seat while still continuing their conversations.
"You all right, bro?" Ricky asked, handing me a plate. A placed it down on the table in front of me. "You look like shit," he continued.
I felt like it, too. Worse if Britta were to show.
"Just something unexpected popped up today. All good."
"Tell me more later, when I get rid of some of these louts."
I nodded, and he walked off, and across the table, a frazzled Harry tried to gain my attention. "Hawk, do you have a-"
"Have you seen Slate?" I asked. He'd have some advice. Questionable advice... but still.
Harry rose from his seat and looked like he was about to pounce in desperation.
"He's coming, but I really need-"
"All right!" I replied, more assertive than intended, garnering a few curious onlookers who'd ceased their conversations. "What the hell is wrong with you tonight? Are you on something?"
Harry's face immediately went pale, and there was a nervousness in his eyes. I was about to apologize if what I'd said offended him until I saw his gaze was directed at something or someone over my shoulder.
Harry ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Jesus," he mouthed looking to Ricky. Ricky stood wide-eyed, struck dumb at the same thing Harry had been looking at. His eyes slowly flicked to me and to whoever it was.
"Hi, guys," a soft female voice sounded behind me.
I recognized that voice.
I'd been speaking with her for most of the day.
But it couldn't be.
She wouldn't show up here, after everything... would she?
Harry gave a tight smile, and Ricky was still too in shock to say anything.
Biting the bullet, I turned in my chair and see Celeste.
Celeste-my ex.
She was a gorgeous blonde, with bright green eyes and a Californian tan, having moved there immediately after we split eight months ago. Her smile was always generous, and she had a rack on her every woman would envy.
She was also pregnant with my child.
While most women would have waned in confidence walking into a get-together where they were the outsider, Celeste barely batted an eyelid. She was, of course, used to people looking at her. Usually, however, she was dressed in skimpy lingerie. She had been a model and worked for me on many shoots, and judging by sales alone, she was deemed as popular. And she'd caught my eye.
We'd had a fling.
It was quick and ill-timed.
She was about to fly across the other side of the country, and I took advantage that I could bed her and never have to commit.
Oh, how fate likes to bite you in the ass.
It had a fucked sense of humor.
And now I was left to pick up the pieces of my mistake and form a commitment I'd never dreamed of having.
Getting out of my seat, feeling all eyes on me, I approached Celeste whose smile hadn't wavered. "Celeste," I tried to lead her by the arm, but she pulled away like I'd death gripped her. When she remained glued to the spot, I lowered my voice. "What are you doing here?"
She smiled sweetly, but it wasn't sweet, not to me. There was venom in her eyes. Maybe because she too was about to go through a life-altering eighteen years.
She gestured with her eyes over my shoulder. "I saw Harry today at the mall gathering groceries for tonight."
"I'm sorry," came Harry's voice who suddenly appeared at my side. "I tried to warn-"
I turned on him. "You invited her?"
"I-"
"He merely told me about it," Celeste butted in. "And I took it upon myself."
"Can we go somewhere private to talk?"
She smiled curtly. "Sure, but we need to be quick." Celeste eyed the table full of food and rubbed her pregnant belly. "I'm absolutely famished."