Savage Collision: A Hawke Family Novel (Hawke Family #1)(5)

Nora appears, barely popping her head into the cracked door. “Sir? Byron called and said you wanted to see me?”

Sir. Christ. I can’t be more than ten years older than her and she’s calling me sir?

“Yes, hello, Nora. Please, come in.”

She pushes the door open and steps in, all five foot three inches, one hundred pounds of her, timidly making her way to my desk. The sisters must really take after different parents, because I would have never known they are related based on meeting them. They have the same blue eyes and blonde hair, but where Danika was all confidence and legs, Nora is petite and carries herself more like someone walking the plank. “Um, am I in trouble, sir?”

Shit. Of course she thinks she’s in trouble. I must have scared the crap out of her, asking for this meeting.

“Oh, shit, no! Come, sit, please…and for the love of God, stop calling me ‘sir.’”

She hesitates briefly before slowly lowering herself into the leather chair across from me. I can sense her nerves. She’s barely able to make eye contact with me and her leg is bouncing up and down in an anxious rhythm.

“Ms. Eriksson, please, you aren’t in any trouble. It’s just, I received a visit from your sister earlier today and wanted to discuss it with you.”

She closes her eyes and curses before shifting forward to the edge of her chair. “Oh God, what did she do? What did she say? Shit…” She drops her face into her hands.

Her reaction shouldn’t be funny, as she’s clearly distressed, but after my encounter with Danika today, I understand her concern. I bark out a laugh as I lean forward in my chair. “Yes, well, she certainly is…opinionated, isn’t she?”

Her head snaps up and her eyes meet mine. She frowns. “That’s a nice way to say it, sir. She tends to be a little…overzealous at times.” She offers me an apologetic smile.

There’s the sir, again.

I don’t correct her, because it doesn’t really matter, and she clearly has bigger concerns at the moment than trying to stroke my ego by not making me feel so fucking old.

When did thirty become “sir” territory, anyway? I understand being respectful to your elders. As children, my parents always made us call people “sir” or “ma’am,” but in this situation, it just makes me wonder what happened to the last ten years of my life to suddenly make me an “elder” without me even realizing it.

Christ, I wonder how old Danika is and if she saw me the same way Nora does. At least she didn’t call me “sir,” although I’m sure she had a few choice names for me in her head when she stormed out of here.

Nora shifts in her chair, and I realize an uncomfortable silence has settled over the room. You aren’t making this any easier on her by daydreaming about Danika instead of just telling her what’s up.

“Yes, well, she seemed very concerned about your employment here, and what your motives for working for me might be.”

She lets out an exasperated sigh and relaxes back into the chair. “Look, I’m sorry you had to deal with her. She’s just used to looking out for me, but I can assure you, I’m here because I want to be here.”

I never doubted it, but hearing it from her does ease the tension in my neck and shoulders and make me feel like slightly less of a scumbag. What Gabe said was true. I’ve never regretted my choice in business, and I’ve never been ashamed of what I do, but every time a big brother—or sister—shows up here raging, I get that niggling feeling deep in my chest that feels a lot like shame and guilt.

“I’m sure that’s true, Nora. Otherwise, Byron would have found out.”

Nora stands and paces in front of my desk. “I’ve been avoiding her ever since I dropped out of school. I didn’t know how to tell her…”

Her distress tugs at my heartstrings. I can picture Skye in this position. My youngest sister has a habit of getting herself into unsavory situations and I’m constantly forced to play white knight, riding in to her rescue. She shares that trait with our baby brother, Stone. Things have only gotten worse with Skye in the last three years. Sometimes, I wonder how she has managed to hold down her job at the hospital. She’s a great nurse, but with everything going on, she just hasn’t seemed to be able to keep her shit together.

“Look, your relationship with your sister isn’t any of my business, but she seems genuinely concerned about you. I think it might be a good idea for you to talk to her, sooner rather than later.”

She nods in agreement. “I just want you to know, I really love working here. Danika won’t understand, but, I’ve been busting my ass my whole life in school, in work, trying to please my mother and Danika, but none of it made me happy and I just needed a break. Being here, dancing, that makes me happy. I feel like I can be free and just be myself.”

I nod my understanding and offer her a smile. A lot of the girls tell me the same thing. Something about being completely free on the stage…I can’t understand it, but if they love it, that’s all I care about.

“Thank you for coming in on your day off, Nora. Again, I don’t want to involve myself in your family relationships…”

“No…” She holds her hands up to stop me. “I really appreciate you letting me know she was here.”

“Of course. I’ll see you later.”