14. Mounds of Honey

FOURTEEN

Mounds of Honey

ETAIN

H awk is still asleep in my bed. I somehow managed to crawl out from under his heavy arm and over to the edge of the bed. I scrambled to grab my robe and went directly into the kitchen for coffee. I admit it: I’m a coffee addict. Then again, there are worse things to be addicted to, I think as I fill the mug to the brim, inhaling the aroma.

I’m deliciously sore between my legs, a reminder of last night. Hawk played my body like a violin virtuoso. There’s no place he hasn’t touched me. I feel branded by his hands, and like a wanton woman, I want him again. I sip my coffee and walk over to relax on my sofa, where I can see the rest of the street. It’s early, and the sun is coming up. I see Sasha walking up and down her walkway, watering the flowers.

“Ginger, you didn’t wake me.” I hear Hawk’s voice. I turn to find him coming toward me, clad only in his jeans. Can bare feet be sexy?! I guess they can, because I think Hawk walking around in bare feet in my house is so hot.

“I made coffee.”

He tugs my hair back, bending my head to rest against the back of the sofa, looking up at him. “Kiss first, coffee second,” he says, and plants a kiss on me. When he’s done, he grabs a mug out of the cupboard, and I twist my body to watch him in my kitchen. A warm, gushy feeling fills my belly. I like Hawk in my space.

The roar of an engine grabs my attention. I see a very fancy car racing around the corner and braking sharply in front of Sasha’s home. Sasha is already heading to the door, her expression concerning. I bolt up from my seat and rush to the door.

“Where are you going?” Hawk asks.

“Something’s not right,” I tell him as I yank open the door. Hawk reaches my side and stops me from going out onto the porch. We can both hear the banging on Sasha’s door. “I’ve got to go.” I look at him pleadingly. “She’s my friend.”

“Not in just a robe,” Hawk states. “Go get some clothes on.” He follows me back to my bedroom, but grabs his boots and disappears again. I rush to pull on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I’m hop-skipping while trying to put on a pair of sneakers all the way to the living room. By the time I get to the door, I can hear Hawk arguing with an older, gray-haired man. This man is tall and has broad shoulders. He’s nowhere as big as Hawk, but still, he’s no slouch. And he’s yelling right in Hawk’s face.

Hawk stands his ground, planting himself between Sasha’s front door and the gray-haired man. “Calm the fuck down, man,” Hawk says calmly. “Seems to me that Sasha doesn’t want to talk. Maybe you should step back, cool off, and give her a call.”

“Get out of my way. I have every right to speak with my daughter,” he snaps. Then he directs his next comment to the window where Sasha is watching this all unfold. “I warn you, Sasha. I told you your mother wants you at that dinner. It’s the least you can do for her,” he shouts. Sasha pulls the blinds.

I don’t bother to hear anymore. Hawk sees me approaching. He takes me by the hand and maneuvers us so I’m standing behind him. I knock gently at the door.

“Sasha, it’s Etain. Please let me in.” The door opens a smidgen, barely enough to let me slide through. I glance at Hawk, but he shakes his head and nudges me through as he continues to stand sentry.

“I’m sorry for the noise,” she says. Sasha is visibly shaking as she grabs the teapot and pours. She ends up having to use two hands to steady herself. “Here I go on about not allowing loud parties and preferring the quiet life. And here you are, subjected to my father’s imperious shenanigans. I can assure you it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, he must be heard by the entire town.” She paces across the floor, gripping her cup like it’s a lifeline. “He probably sped through town, making sure to squeal his tires. Gordon McGrath has no concern for anyone else. He doesn’t care if your baby just got to sleep or if you worked the night shift and are in dire need of rest. Nope, if it’s not on his agenda, then it won’t matter.” Sasha slams her cup on the counter, causing the cup to break into pieces. Hot tea spills everywhere, and everything on the counter rattles from the sheer force of the impact.

What’s worse, as she gasps at what she’s done and reaches to try to clean the mess with her bare hands, a shard from the cup becomes embedded in her palm.

“Ouch!” she cries, clutching her palm.

“Sasha, stop!” I tug her away from the counter and sit her down on the closest chair, grabbing a handful of paper towels and wrapping them around her hand. “Do not squeeze. We have to get that piece out.”

A few seconds later, Hawk comes through the door, along with Drifter, who sees the blood on Sasha’s hand and exclaims, “What the fuck is going on?”

“She cut herself on that.” I point to the spilled tea and broken cup. “Sasha, sweetie, where are your tweezers?” I ask gently. She stares at me blankly. “Tweezers, hon? Where are they?” I say again, shaking her shoulder lightly.

“Um, bathroom. Under the sink,” Sasha manages, but before I can run to the bathroom to get what we need, Drifter has Sasha in his arms and is carrying her to the bathroom down the hall. Sasha gives a tiny shriek of surprise, but Drifter whispers something softly in her ear, and she settles immediately.

“What on earth!” I exclaim, but Hawk watches Drifter walk away with a smile.

“Let it be, Ginger. He was in the emergency response in the army. He’ll take good care of her. Let’s clean up this mess,” he says, then gets to work picking up the broken cup, while I go in search of a mop.

It doesn’t take long to clean up, and as we’re finishing up, I ask, “Is he gone?”

Hawk sighs, then says, “Yup.”

“He’s coming back, isn’t he?”

Hawk doesn’t hide his disgust for the man when he clenches his jaw and makes a face that would scare the pants off you. “Unfortunately. He doesn’t seem to accept ‘no’ for an answer, and he likes to throw out threats.”

“What did he say?”

He shakes his head. “He’s going to call the cops. He says I’m keeping him from seeing his daughter.”

“That’s not true!”

“I know. I was there. Then he threatened to shut our business down because, apparently, he ‘knows people.’”

“How dare he!” I can feel the anger rising within me. I want to get in my car and find the prick and give him a piece of my mind. “Who does he think he is?” I’m practically yelling at this point. My hands are on my hips, and I tap my foot angrily.

“Been around those kinds of people all my life. They can’t hurt me or the Redemption Riders. We run a clean business, and we do excellent work. If he wants to waste his time and call whoever it is he wants, let him.”

“You’ve been around people like that all your life?” I ask.

“Yeah, babe, but that’s a story for another day.” Hawk glances down the hall. “We need to make sure Sasha’s okay, then I have to get to the shop.”

“Right. I should go get changed.” I look down at my casual jeans and T-shirt.

“First off, you look good just as you are,” he says, and I grin at him for being so sweet. “And second, Sasha needs you today.”

“I have so much to do.”

“And it’ll still be there tomorrow. But if you want, I’ll have some of your stuff brought over, and you can work here.”

It’s a great idea, and I’m about to tell him so when Sasha comes back into the room. “I’m okay,” she says. “You don’t have to go to any trouble on my behalf.” She flits her gaze from me to Hawk, then adds, “I’m sorry you had to bear witness to that scene. He’s not an easy man, and I do my best to avoid him. Lately, he’s being more demanding.” Sasha looks back at me. “Normally, he calls and lets me know he’s coming. Then I disappear for a few hours. When he gets tired of waiting, he leaves. He’s figured out my plan and doesn’t give me advance notice anymore. I’ll try to keep it from disturbing you from now on, though. I’m really sorry.”

Sasha looks at the bandage on her hand. I walk right up to her and tell her, “No one mistreats my best friend. Not even her father. Especially not her father. And don’t you dare keep it to yourself. Next time he comes over, I want a phone call immediately. I have a few words I want to say to him.” Then I throw my arms around her, hugging her so she can feel my warmth. She’s ice cold. I walk her to her couch and sit her down, wrapping the throw blanket over her legs and settling in beside her.

Sasha clasps her good hand over mine and, in a quiet voice, says, “Thank you.”

“I’m taking first watch,” Drifter says with a rumble. Sasha turns her head to stare at the two men.

“I need you at the shop,” Hawk states.

“First watch,” Drifter insists. “Once Flex gets here with Etain’s stuff, I’ll leave.”

“Car has got to be done tonight. The paint has to be right. The design has to be perfect. He’s a high roller, brother. We can’t afford to piss him off,” Hawk explains.

Drifter won’t back down. “It’ll get done. Tell Flex to hurry.”

Sasha interjects. “He’s gone. It’s all over. You can all go about your day.” Drifter gives Sasha a stern look, but she says, “I don’t want anyone to get in trouble.”

“Flex will be here within the hour,” Hawk concedes. “A word, brother. Outside,” he says to Drifter, then walks over to where Sasha and I are sitting. I tilt my head back, and he kisses me languorously, his hand gentle on my neck. “Be good, Ginger. No leaving this house without one of my men, understand?”

“How can you be so caveman and so sweet at the same time?” I ask, staring into his beautiful blue eyes.

“I’m mounds of honey, babe.” He chuckles. Drifter bursts out laughing as he walks to the door, and Hawk follows him out.