Hawk's Haven (16 page)

“May I help you sir?” the man asked.

“He’s my guest Pierre,” Gillian said.

“Very good, Miss Hughes,” he said and discretely disappeared, but not before sending her a disapproving glance. Her dress received several curious stares from the patrons as well, but Gillian seemed oblivious.

“What’s going on?” Hawk asked.

“Dinner at the country club with the family. Or, do you think you’re nothing more than a fling to me?”

“Ah, I get to eat my own words for dinner tonight.” He shook his head. “Aren’t you afraid your father might show up?”

She hooked her arm through his and leaned in close to whisper. “He doesn’t eat here. Despite the prices, the food isn’t that good.”

“Then why are we eating here?”

“Because for some reason, being invited here meant something to you.”

Now he understood her point. By inviting him to the country club and wearing the dress, she was telling him that she admired and respected everything about him. She was proud to been seen with him. The opinions of her rich country club peers didn’t mean a thing to her.

“We don’t have to stay.”

“There are some people I want you to meet.” She led him to the linen covered table, where her two companions sat. “Aunt June, Elena. This is Hawk Carter.”

Elena broke out in a wide, impish grin. “Finally. I was beginning to think that you two would never get together.”

“Excuse me?” he said.

“Gilly’s been talking about you for months.”

“Zip it,” Gillian said as her cheeks took on a rosy hue. “He doesn’t need to know this.”

Yes, I do, he thought. “Please continue.”

He held out a chair for Gillian before planting himself in the seat next to her. The evening was taking
an
unexpected turn for the better.

The food was nothing to brag about, but the company more than made up for it. Elena’s teasing and Gillian’s attempts to shut her up brought more than one chuckle. The retelling of some of his past meeting with Gillian, from her point of view left him wondering how he could have been so blind. Despite the lousy meal and the stuffy atmosphere, he couldn’t recall an occasion where he’d enjoyed himself more.

“I think we better leave before they throw us out,” Gillian said as the bus boy cleared away their plates.

“Don’t you want de
s
sert?” Hawk asked, hoping to prolong the evening.

Her eyes sparkled in the chandelier lights. “Later.”

The promise in her voice caused a tightening in his groin. She knew how to feed his hunger. “Let me get the check.”

After paying the bill, he met the women in the front lobby. “Was it everything you imagined?” Gillian asked.

“More.” He slipped his arm around her waist. Rising to her toes, she placed a whisper soft kiss on his mouth.

"Gillian?” Aaron's cold, questioning voice echoed through the room with a chilling fury.

She spun around. For one eternal second they stared at each other in shocked disbelief. "What are you doing here?" Gillian finally managed to get out of her mouth.

"I could ask the same of you.” He scowled at Hawk, and then leveled a stony glare on the sister he hadn’t seen in twenty-five years. After a moment of stunned silence, he puffed out his chest. In his usual tyrannical fashion, he pointed an accusing finger at her. "Now I see why my daughter has turned against me. This is all your doing."

“She’d nothing to do with it,” Gillian said softly.

“And what the hell are you dressed in?” Aaron bellowed, gaining the full attention of the restaurant patrons. “Is this another of your publicity stunts?”

Hawk stepped between Aaron and Gillian. "This is not the time or place, Sir."

"You stay out of this," the older man growled out through clenched teeth. "Why isn't she on the reservation where she's supposed to be?"

Hawk shook his head. "I'm not her jailor."

“Don’t worry Father, we were just leaving,” Gillian said, without so much as raising her voice. She moved with her aunt and cousin towards the exit.

"This isn't over," he warned.

June turned back to look at her brother. "You never learn, do you Aaron? All your money is worthless if you don’t have your family. You're going to lose her and then you'll be left with nothing."

He turned to Hawk. “You’ll be sorry you crossed me.”

Gillian stared right through her father, her eyes ice blue and shimmering. Couldn't Aaron see that pain reflected in their depths? At the same time, he
had
to feel sorry for
the
judge. The man had no idea what he’d lost by cutting his warm, loving family out of his life. And he risked doing the same with his daughter.

She glanced toward Hawk. He raised his shoulders in question, letting her make the next move.

"I want to go home," Gillian finally said.

Aaron took a step forward and grasped her elbow. "Now you're talking sense."

She broke away from her father and turned into Hawk's arms. "Your home."

He nodded and led her to the exit without as much as a good-bye.

"Gillian, you come back here this minute..." Aaron demanded angrily.

If she heard him at all, she didn't acknowledge it. Her father might as well have been some stranger for all the emotion she showed. Her calm unnerved Hawk. Anger, rage, even tears he could deal with, and heaven knew she was entitled to all of those emotions. Her quiet control seemed almost surreal.

* * * *

Gillian finished her tour of Hawk's ultra-modern, condo. The furniture, exquisite and meticulously arranged, lacked the warmth of the house on the reservation. There was no expression of personality in the rooms, nothing that indicated the passions and pleasures of the occupant. She felt like she was standing in a hotel room.

Hawk had a stack of mail and messages awaiting his attention. She offered to make some coffee while he attended to his business, but he declined and followed her into the kitchen.

She opened the cabinets searching for anything edible to serve with the coffee. Salt, pepper and a box of crackers was all she could find. The refrigerator wasn't much better. Bottled water, French of course, and a couple pieces of cheese that could pass for a science experiment, sat on top of the otherwise empty shelves.

"I thought my cabinets were bare. You could put Old Mother Hubbard’s to shame.”

"I eat out a lot.” He tried to ease her out of the kitchen.

The way he hovered over her made her wonder if he thought she was about to crack. Admittedly, her altercation with her father had caught her by surprise, but she was immune to being hurt by him anymore. She was more concerned about how he might retaliate against Hawk and Aunt June but there was nothing she could do now. Or was there? Could she slither down to her father's level of bribery and blackmail?

Hawk slid his arm around her back and pulled her against him. "Gillian?"

"I didn’t know he was going to be there. I didn’t plan this to hurt or embarrass him."

“It never occurred to me that you had.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve made problems for you or the tribe.”

“You haven’t. Trust me. It might take longer, but we can work without your father’s help. And since the council is nowhere near an agreement, a delay won’t hurt anything. I’m concerned about you. Are you all right?"

"Do I feel all right to you," she muttered, snuggling comfortably into the crook of his neck. She noticed his involuntary shudder as she nipped at his ear lobe.

His large hand cupped her face. "Behave. We're in the kitchen."

"You've got this hang up when it comes to making love in the kitchen. You really should get over it. And the best way to conquer your fears is to face them."

"Oh, no you don't," he said with a laugh. "I will not let you use that sexy body of yours to distract me.  We need to talk."

She let out a long, suffering sigh. "Talk about what?"

"About what you’re feeling right now."

"What I’m feeling?" she repeated and stepped out of his arms. Now the man wanted to discuss feelings? He must be really worried about her. She rested against the cool door of the refrigerator. “I’m confused, and sad. But I’ll be all right.”

"Anything I can do for you?"

She nodded. “You could help me take my mind off things.”

“And how would I do that?”

"You can start by getting naked. And if you happen to have a feather handy...” Her request had the desired effect. His shocked silence proved she’d derailed his train of thought.

He drew her into his arms, pinning her to him with the strength of two solid bands of steel. His hand stroked the length of her hair. A sense of tranquility filled her only to be interrupted by a more basic and hungry desire as his mouth came down on hers.

His kisses began hot and rose in intensity to an inferno. Her pulse rate soared, and reality began to slip into the background.  She welcomed the obliteration of conscious thought.

Slowly, Hawk began to pull away. Gillian let out a squeak of protest and gazed at him. Guilt warred with desire. She was conflicted and confused, he reminded himself. When they made love again, he wanted nothing between them except the emotions they felt for each other.

"You should get some rest.” He tried to extract himself but she locked her arms tightly around his neck. The scent of strawberries wafted around him, filling him with a hunger that only she could fill. He inhaled deeply. "I'm sure you're exhausted.”

"Right now the only thing I need is you.” She brushed against him and smiled when he let out a groan. Despite his noble intentions, his determination was slipping. Apparently, she not only welcomed the distraction, she needed it. "I do believe I remember you promising me something about a nice warm shower, a fireplace and a bedroom. You are a man of your word, aren't you?"

The woman was a formidable opponent, and in truth, this wasn't a battle he wanted to win. He only hoped he wouldn't live to regret it.

"Yes, I am Princess," he agreed as he swept her up in his arms.  There would be time to talk tomorrow. Tonight he’d a few unfulfilled promises to keep.

Chapter
Fourteen

"Thomas, what brings you here today?” John filled the tea kettle and set it on the stove. He reached into a cabinet and pulled down a jar. "Coffee? It's instant."

"Coffee's fine.” Hawk flopped down in the old easy chair and placed his briefcase on the end table. In all the times he’d been in his father's trailer, he’d never once noticed how homey and comfortable the small place felt. "I had a meeting with the Chief and some of the council members this morning."

"I thought you were on vacation.” A scowl replaced the earlier grin on his father's face. "Is there news about the casino?"

"In a manner of speaking. I resigned my position as counsel in the negotiations. I'll still handle the other legal affairs for the tribe, but they'll have to hire outside counsel for the casino project."

"Why?" John asked, but Hawk guessed that his father already knew the answer.

"Because there comes a time when you have to stop running and make a stand. And this is my stand."

John's rich laughter filled the small room. "Been in the sun too long, huh? I knew she got to you."

"I suppose it would be worthless to deny it."

"You've been lying to yourself long enough, Thomas. So where is the lucky girl?"

Although Gillian had left before he’d awakened, Hawk had a pretty good idea where she'd gone.  She and Aaron had unfinished business.

Hawk felt a tight constriction in his chest. Why hadn't she asked him to accompany her? He should have talked with her last night instead of giving into her considerably potent and persuasive charms. Had last night been a beginning for them, or a good-bye? Aaron wasn't about to let her go without a fight. Was she strong enough to stand up to emotional bribery? Or would Aaron use her devotion to her aunt and cousin to regain control of his daughter's life?

"Thomas. Is everything all right?”  His father's concerned voice cut into his thoughts.

"I'm not sure."

* * * *

Gillian walked into the oak paneled study. Her stomach lurched at the thought of her impending battle. The manila folder, clutched tightly in her fingers gave her a small sense of hope. How much good it would do her, she didn't know.

As if he hadn’t heard her entrance, her father continued reading the brief in front of him. Part of the game designed to throw her off balance, she thought. If he made her feel uncomfortable for a few awkward moments he would gain the advantage. Not this time. He might enjoy the role of the predatory cat, but she was no little mouse.

"Have a seat, Gillian.” His voice was cold, arrogant.
"I prefer to stand," she said, just to be contrary.