Hawk's Haven (4 page)

What she’d seen of the reservation so far reminded her of a summer camp she’d gone to as a teenager. It had been one of the few places she’d enjoyed. When her father had come to visit at the end of her first week and had seen the less than first class accommodations, she’d been pulled out immediately.

A loud commotion caught her attention. Perhaps the two men engaged in a vocal argument and exchanging obscenities wasn't a feature from summer camp, but it had been a frequent occurrence in college.

"Not a pretty sight, is it Gillian?"

She let out a startled gasp. How had he approached without a sound? They should have called him Lightfoot instead of Hawk. She shielded her eyes against the sun and glanced up. "Everybody has a Constitutional right to freedom of speech."

He offered her his hand and pulled her up to her feet. "Unfortunately, we have more than a fair share of protests here lately. And they often escalate out of control.” He paused pointedly, and added, “I guess you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?"

Gillian swallowed the last of her iced tea and left the glass on the table outside the community center. As demonstrations went, the one she participated in had been rather peaceful. She was willing to pay the price of bringing attention to an issue close to her heart. "At least I accept responsibility for my actions," she said as she walked away.

Hawk caught up to her and slowed his stride to her much shorter steps. "I don't get it, Princess."

"No, you don't. But you think you do."

He stepped in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Then explain it to me."

An odd expression flashed in his eyes, and for a moment she thought she saw compassion. You're deluding yourself, she decided. It was probably indigestion.

She lowered her head and fidgeted with the hem of her tee-shirt to avoid his curious scrutiny. "If I have to explain why I was protesting, it would sound like I'm making excuses."

"Then make a damn excuse," he snapped. "Tell me anything that would help me understand why a woman who gets everything she wants from her father deliberately sets out to embarrass him."

Is that what he thought? That she would become involved in social issues for the sole purpose of embarrassing her father? And did he honestly believe that material possessions were important? She thought about his designer clothes, the luxury car, and the beautiful place in the city that Martha had mentioned. Apparently, he did.

"The government gave your people land.” She noticed him poised to strike and held up her hands in guilty surrender. "Granted, it was land that had been stolen from them in the first place but that's another argument. They get financial assistance, basic health coverage, teachers and scholarship grants. More than many others in this country.  Why aren't they happy?"

He let out a grunt of disgust. "Land held in trust? Being made to beg for money that is rightfully theirs? Not to mention, a history of lies and broken promises. That's not the same as having control over their own lives. Why would that make anyone happy?"

"I don't know. But you think it should be enough for me. Because you just described my life to a tee. Now, if you'll excuse me.” She ducked under his arm and jogged toward the car.

"You were free to walk away any time," he called after her.

She whirled around. "You think so? Then why am I here?"

He stared down at her. His broad chest expanded as he took in a large breath. "You're here because you chose to stage your public protest on private property."

"That's why I got arrested," she agreed. "But why am I here?
"

"You insulted a respected judge. What did you expect?"

"That was wrong," she acknowledged. "I was hurt. It wouldn't have mattered what I said on my behalf. I'm here because Aaron T. Hughes calls the tune and the rest of us dance. Even the Honorable Judge Miller, who, by the way, is my godfather. Where was his respect for me or the law when he let my father and you decide my sentence? A sentence no other first time offender ever would have received and you know it."

* * * *

Hawk hesitated, unable to deny the charge. Aaron had called the tune. Her father could make his professional life hell if he tried to back out.

Gillian leaned against his car and waited for him to unlock the door. "I'm not entirely convinced that what the three of you did is legal."

Neither was he, but he wasn't about to admit that to her. No one thought she would go through with the sentence. "Why didn't you appeal the decision?"

"If I could find a lawyer crazy enough to fight my father and smart enough to win, I'd marry him.” He opened the door and she slipped in the passenger seat. When he didn't close the door immediately, she gazed up at him. "It really doesn't matter, Mr. Carter. I just want to do my time, with my weekends off for good behavior, and then I'll be free."

Her comparison to serving time in jail wasn't lost on him. He bit back an angry retort. Hadn't he often felt like that when he was younger?

As he drove through the town center, Gillian made notations on a small pad. She traced a map, noting intersections and landmarks with stars. Evidently, she didn't plan to ask for even simple directions.

He pulled up in front of the house and cut the engine. No trace of emotion crossed her face as she glanced at the semi-isolated cabin he was in the process of converting to a year round house. Compared to the Tudor mansion she’d grown up in, the log cabin probably seemed primitive to her.  Most of the appliances were newer, but he wasn't sure if Gillian knew how to use a stove or washing machine.

"How far is the house from the highway?" she asked, holding pen to paper to make a note.

"Are you planning to make a run for it?" he joked. She glared at him. Apparently, she’d no sense of humor where he was concerned.

She put the pad back in her purse and stepped out of the car. "Why don't you suggest that Aaron get me one of those bracelets they use for people under house arrest? That way, you can monitor every move I make. It will make it easier when you have to report to him."

* * * *

Hawk's eyes narrowed and she realized that she’d touched a raw nerve. Well, she could certainly understand the feeling. Aaron had left a long line of open wounds in his wake. It would be easier to hate her father if all her memories were bad, but they had once been so close that there was nothing she wouldn't have done for him.

"No one is monitoring you. As long as you show up for the class each day, you're free to come and go as you please. I won't be reporting to him."

She wasn't sure if he was that deluded or if he thought she was. "Care to bet on that?"

"Are you a gambler?"

"Not at all."

He shrugged and opened the trunk. They reached for her suitcase at the same time. The air crackled. The unexpected touch sent a tingling charge through her.

She lowered her head and tried to convince herself that the high voltage shock she felt was caused by static electricity. So, why was she still holding his hand and gaping like an adolescent pom-pom girl with a crush on the quarterback? She quickly removed her errant hand from his and stuck it in her pocket. Now, if she could gain control of her pulse rate as easily.

"Come on, Princess. I'll show you around."

Her heartbeat slowed to a dull ache. She must be an idiot to react to a man who held such a low opinion of her. "Please don't call me that."

"Only if you stop calling me Mr. Carter."

"What do you want me to call you?"

He placed a suitcase on the front landing. "Thomas, or Hawk if you prefer."

She arched her eyebrow. "How about Tommy?"

"Not if you want me to answer. Only Martha gets away with that."

"Why?"

"We respect our elders here."

His subtle jab hit the mark. "Perhaps your elders have earned that respect."

Gillian began to wonder if Hawk was a lesser evil than her father. He certainly possessed the same knack for locating the jugular vein and striking. That which does not destroy me makes me stronger... It was hard to remain philosophical while her self-confidence was being ripped to shreds.

"I'm sorry," he said softly.

The caress of his hand along her arm shocked her into immobility. The unexpectedly tender gesture sent her senses into turmoil. She struggled to keep her wits for the round of insults that was certain to follow.

"Mr. Carter..."

"Hawk," he corrected.

She lifted her shoulders casually. "Hawk. I'm sure I can figure out my way around the house. You must have other things you want to take care of today."

"Not really. I planned to visit my family, so I'll be here for the entire day."

"Oh, joy," she muttered under her breath and was embarrassed when he laughed.

She turned away from his smiling grey eyes and pretended to search her purse while she waited for him to unlock the front door. Out of the corner of her eye she saw an animal approaching at rapid speed. She opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out.

* * * *

As Hawk bent down to pick a strawberry from the patch in front of the house, he heard her sharp intake of air. He turned and saw the contents of Gillian's purse scattered across the ground. Raising his head higher, he noticed two sandaled feet scuffing across the custom paint job on the hood of his new car. "What are you doing?"

"Wolf," she barely got out, as she tried to scramble her trembling body onto the top of the car.

Hawk followed her terrified stare. Sure enough, there was the horrible beast- a shepherd, husky mix named Shadow that belonged to his nieces. The young pup jumped up and down, and whimpered at the new arrival. "He's only a puppy, Gillian."

"It's foaming at the mouth."

"He's panting.” He pet the dog's head and it sat faithfully at his side. "See. Completely harmless."

She relaxed slightly and slid over to the fender of the car. The dog yelped and she jumped. "It's growling at me."

Before she could climb up the car again, he clasped his hands on her waist. "He's whining. He wants to play with you.” He could hardly fault the animal for its preference. He wouldn't mind playing with her himself. "Didn't you ever have a dog?"

He lowered her slowly to the ground. Her hands remained on his shoulders even after she caught her balance. While she eyed the dog warily from behind the shield of his body, he’d a chance to study her without the crowds and dim lighting of their past meetings.

She was smaller than he remembered, but just as beautiful. Her flaxen hair brushed his cheek and filled him with the scent of spring honeysuckle. The desire to taste the sweetness of her parted lips built to a burning need that was cooled with one small word.

"No."

Hawk shook his head sharply. Had he been foolish enough to speak the words aloud? "What?"

"No. I never had a dog. The Judge didn't allow animals in the house.”  She squirmed out of his arms. Her cheeks turned a rosy shade of pink.  He would almost believe she was shy.

He stepped back and gave his attention to the playful puppy that would not be ignored. "Easy, Shadow. If you let her know you're interested she's liable to lead you around on a leash."

She crouched down next to Shadow and tentatively stretched her hand out to him. With youthful exuberance, the dog gave her a big lick. "Oh, yuck. He's drooling on me."

"I imagine you're used to men drooling over you," he said, with a trace of jealousy he couldn't hide.

She wiped her hand against her skirt and began to collect her fallen possessions. "You've got a mean streak in you, Hawk Carter."

Yes, he did, but he usually kept a tighter rein on it. Why did he do everything in his power to alienate her and then feel guilty? He’d never cared what people thought about him. As a child, he'd learned that outsiders believed what they wanted, without regard to the truth. Since then, he’d devoted his career to manipulating the truth for his advantage and never gave it a second thought.

Until now.

How had Gillian Hughes gotten to him in a way no other person had been able to since he was a kid? Being with her was like staring into a mirror, but he wasn't sure if her eyes reflected the disillusioned child he’d been or the angry adult he’d become. Maybe a little of both.

He shrugged his reluctant apology, while knowing he owed her more. "I'd better give Shadow a bath. I think I'm going to be in the dog house with him tonight."

* * * *

Gillian changed into a bright green football jersey and slipped her feet into big floppy slippers. She slouched down in a reclining chair in the middle of the living room and let out a relieved sigh. Finally alone!

She wasn't sure if Hawk thought her brain dead or merely useless. Was he afraid she would blow up his house? He explained each appliance to her as if she came from another galaxy. For a man who seemed to resent her very presence, she’d one tough time getting rid of him this afternoon. She pushed the chair into a full reclining position and dangled her head back to view the room from upside down.