Chapter 13

13

HAWK

I spent another day going through my dad’s office. After my conversation with David and my revelation about my dad’s eventual demise, I decided that my goal while I was in town would be to tie up all the loose ends so Emery wouldn’t have to do it all by herself.

While I’d also come to the realization that I was going to have to make a point of coming home more often for the foreseeable future, I wanted to get as much done during this trip as I could.

The vice-president of my company was taking care of business back in LA, and while he kept me updated, things ran like a well-oiled machine at the office. I’d handpicked every single person who worked for me from the ground up and I’d made sure to put people in place who could function without having the boss looking over their shoulders.

Everyone important in the company knew I was dealing with some family stuff, and since I’d literally never taken time off for that kind of thing before, they had been doing their best to get their jobs done without having to bother me. Plus, there were plenty of others in my chain of command they could run things by if they needed to.

Since that gave me the freedom to really focus on my family, I sorted through Dad’s office meticulously, scanning through every document I found—no matter how old—and introducing a new filing system. Eventually, I stumbled upon a box of my mom’s old books and nostalgia crept through me.

Mom had loved reading more than anyone I knew—except for Sutton. Naturally, books made me think of both of them, but considering that I couldn’t exactly give these back to my mom, I decided to take them to Sutton instead.

There were first editions of several classics in this box, as well as a bunch of other books I thought my old friend might love. Yep. Screw David. I’m going to the bookstore.

Packing it all back in, I resealed the box and picked it up, heading out with it in the back of my rental car. I’d rarely used the thing after I’d arrived since most places I needed to go were within walking distance, but a huge box of books was an unwieldy thing to carry.

When I arrived at the bookstore, however, I found a bored teenager acting as the barista instead of Sutton. I frowned, looking around for her. The teenager finally noticed me when she looked up from her phone and set it down beside her, already reaching for a takeout cup.

“What can I get ya?” she asked.

I brought my gaze back to hers, but I still hadn’t seen any sign of anyone else in the bookstore. “I’m looking for Sutton. I’m an old friend. Is she here?”

“No,” the teenager drawled lazily. “She and her mom are shopping for Thanksgiving at some farm a few towns over. They won’t be coming in today.”

Frowning deeper, I hoisted the books and dropped them off with the teenager. “Will you tell her these are from me?”

She nodded but didn’t even look in my direction again. She picked up her phone once more and resumed her scrolling. Disappointment raged within me as I walked away, and I honestly didn’t understand it.

Why do I feel crushed that I can’t see Sutton right now ? And why has she been taking up so much space in my mind lately anyway?

As I headed back home, my phone started ringing and I picked up, hoping that Emery was calling to put me to work. Clearly, all this free time wasn’t good for my head. “Hey, sis. What’s up? How’s it going at the office?”

“Awful,” she said, sounding frustrated. “I’m down at the port with dad. He got into it with one of the managers again. Could you do me a favor and collect the boys and Winnie from school? I told Sutton we’d take her for the afternoon, but I’m not sure I’m going to be able to drag Dad away from here on time.”

“Sure,” I said, happy to do it but also very aware that this would be my first time hanging out with Sutton’s daughter alone. “Consider it done and let me know if you need any help at the port.”

“It’s okay,” she mumbled. “This isn’t my first rodeo. As long as I know the kids are with you, we’ll be alright.”

She hung up without even saying goodbye. I headed home, dropping off the car before I walked over to Bayshore Elementary. Sawyer’s kindergarten was attached to the school and he was let out at the same time on account of his teacher knowing that Logan and Duncan got out then.

As I arrived, the kids were dismissed, all converging on the spot where Emery usually waited. Winnie frowned when she saw me instead, her footsteps faltering as caution tightened her delicate features.

The little girl was beautiful but bossy. At least around me. She seemed fine with Sutton, though I imagined she was the type who could easily hurt her mother’s feelings without even realizing it.

I glanced at my nephews racing after her and chuckled, imagining that they were going to spend the rest of their lives chasing this little girl. They just didn’t know it yet.

Not unlike the way I’d been chasing after her mom myself just this damn afternoon. I sighed. Those boys really have no clue what they’re in for with an Ashbury girl in their lives. Although I suppose technically, Winnie is a Megill .

The thought made a sharp stab hit my gut and I winced, not really understanding the jealousy suddenly rearing up within me. Shaking it off, I strode across the lawn to meet the kids and grinned at them.

“Guess what?” I said. “You guys are stuck with me for the afternoon. Who wants grilled cheese?”

The boys cheered, but Winnie still didn’t look convinced. Smiling at her, I cocked my head and swept an arm out for her to join us when the boys started toward the trail.

“You coming, Win?”

She nodded but peppered me with questions all the way to my childhood home, clutching the straps of her backpack on her shoulders. “Why are you here? Where’s Emery?”

“She got caught up at work,” I said patiently, having expected this interrogation from at least one of them.

“Oh.” Winnie let that information sink in. “Don’t you work?”

“I do, but I’m on vacation.”

“For this long?” She frowned at me. “Are you sure you’ve not been sacked?”

I chuckled, still unable to get over some of the words she used and how cute a Scottish accent was when it came out of a kid. “It’s my own company, so I definitely haven’t been fired.”

“Are you married?” she asked curiously.

I shook my head, but before I could say anything about it, she peered up at me. “Why not?”

“Why am I not married?”

“Yes. Why has nobody married you?”

“Well, I suppose it’s because I haven’t asked anybody to,” I said. “I haven’t met anyone I wanted to be married to.”

“Oh.” She took this information onboard as well, those intelligent, curious little eyes so much like her mother’s that it made me miss my childhood friend more than I ever had before. “Why do you wear your hair like that?”

“Excuse me?”

She mimed pushing her own hair off her face. “Like that. It’s all back.”

“How am I supposed to wear it?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Daddy said boys don’t have to brush their hair every day.”

I blinked a few times. Fuck. I really don’t think I’m supposed to talk about her dad . “Is that so?”

“Yes,” she said succinctly. “He said men are cooler if their hair isn’t perfect.”

“I don’t think mine is perfect,” I said, but honestly, I’d never even thought about it. “But boys are allowed to comb their hair every day if they want.”

Winnie shrugged again. “You’re very clean.”

Unexpected laughter tore out of me. “Thank you. I showered earlier.”

“Daddy said men’s hands are a little bit dirty in the day because they work with them. Do you work with your hands?”

Not unless you count working with my fingers on a keyboard. “No, not in the way you’re thinking. I used to but now I’m the boss. And bosses have to stay clean and fix their hair.”

I was burning to ask her more about her dad, especially for some context about all this stuff she’d said, but I refrained, knowing I couldn’t take advantage of a child that way. Still, she was so much like Sutton that it was incredible, and her demands for my full attention didn’t end when we got back to the house.

After I made their snack, I had to sit on the couch while she practiced her monologue for her school play tryouts. Then I had to provide feedback. Eventually, the doorbell rang and my heart did a weird jump-like thing at the knowledge that it was probably Sutton, here to collect her daughter.

When I opened the door with Winnie right behind me, Sutton’s gray eyes widened. “Hawk? Where’s Emery?”

“She got caught up with my dad at the port,” I said, though I’d been wondering the same thing myself.

Sutton grimaced. “You should’ve called! I would’ve come to get her earlier. I’m so sorry. Have you been with them all by yourself this afternoon?”

I chuckled. “Yeah, but it’s not a problem. Really. That’s quite the budding little actress you’ve got here. She’s good.”

“Has she been making you listen to her monologue?” she asked, hugging Winnie before sending her back inside to fetch her things.

“I had to give constructive criticism too,” I said, wondering why the only thing I could think about doing right now was pulling Sutton into my arms and crushing her to my chest.

Instead, I just stared into those eyes and thought about what David had told me. “She’s pretty good for a seven-year-old.”

Sutton chuckled and nodded, sending her out to her grandma while she and I lingered on the porch together. “Yeah, she is. She wants to be an actress when she grows up and never lets anyone forget it. My little drama queen. She didn’t give you any trouble, did she?”

“Nope.” Just the inquisition, but since she hadn’t glared at me again, I was hoping that I’d passed whatever test that had been. “It really wasn’t a problem. I love kids.”

“You do?” she frowned, clearly surprised. “Really?”

“Really.” I laughed. “Kids are fun. They’re mostly uncomplicated when you’re not their parent. I don’t have to worry about whether their shoes are tied right or if they’ve remembered their baseball bat. I just get to play, listen, and goof around, which is fun.”

Sutton’s eyes swept across my face, searching before she suddenly laughed and shook her head. “Just when I thought I knew you. Thanks for watching her, Hawk. I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, and then I decided to totally ignore her dad’s warning to stay away from her. “Do you want to get a coffee with me sometime? Or maybe something stronger?”

Fuck it. I could fight David if I have to. I’m sure of it.

Sutton, to my complete and utter surprise, finally seemed to have found whatever she’d been looking for on my face and nodded . She even smiled shyly as those eyes held mine. “Sure, I’d love that. When?”