Hawk (A Stepbrother Romance #3)(61)

"Ohmygodhwhathappenedareyouokay?" she blurts all at once.

Grunting, I push her legs down and make her stand up, but she doesn't let go.

"I'm not hurt. Truck's totaled."

"Oh my God."

Still, she doesn't let go. She squeezes tighter, pressing her face into my chest.

"Okay, new plan," I announce. "If you want shit on my father's computer, I'll bring the goddamn thing with me after I finish kicking his ass up through his skull."

"I want both of you to leave," Jennifer says. "I have a place you can go. Leave with me right now."

"No," Alexis says, softly. "Not yet."

"Alexis, they tried to kill me."

She steps back, her hands linger on my sides. "You go. I'll stay."

"Not a f*cking chance," I snap. "I'm not leaving you behind. Ever."

"I have to stop him," Alexis says, glancing at both of us. "It's the only way I'll ever know my sister is safe. That you're safe," she looks at me.

"If you won't go, I won't go either."

Jennifer sighs and scrubs her palms over her face. "Look, I can't drag you kicking and screaming, but the man just tried to kill one of you today. You botched following him to the farm. He knows. He probably knows you were both in on it. It's time to go."

"No," we both say at once.

After a frustrated sigh, Jennifer hands Alexis a card.

"If there's any kind of a problem, call me. Immediately. Hawk, put my number in your phone."

After I've added her, I sigh. "I still need a damn suit."

"Alexis, go back to the house, you don't want to be missed," Jennifer says. "Hawk, come with me. We'll take care of the suit."





Alexis





Now





I think I'm going to throw up.

For the last three days I've been preparing all my own food, from packages, and doing the same for May, while Hawk eats out of cans from the pantry. We rarely eat dinner together anyway, but I'm still terrified any time either of them takes a bite, expecting them to start frothing at the mouth and keel over from poison.

The look on Tom's face when Hawk walked back into the house was almost worth it. I pretended not to notice, but Tom looked like he'd just shit a live chicken. Hawk waved at him and walked upstairs like nothing was amiss, carrying a garment bag.

It's six in the morning and we're getting ready. A week of preparations and it's finally time. I've dressed, not in business attire, but in a sun dress and blouse, light and airy and I'm glad to have it on. Much of the day will be spent outside, and it's the hottest day of the summer so far. The forecast calls for it to top one hundred degrees, and the humidity hasn't let up.

Worse, there's a thunderstorm warning for this afternoon. We rented the fire hall, though, so we can move inside if it starts to rain. A good number of people will show up to this. There will be free hot dogs again, for one thing. Thankfully I won't be the one offering them this time.

May emerges from her room in a similar outfit to mine, her hair tucked back in a loose ponytail. I head downstairs with her and find Lance lazing about at the dining room table, slouching in an unbuttoned suit jacket, his tie loosened up. He glares at us as we walk past and wait in the kitchen. I can't help but pace, rubbing my arms. Tom is in his office and Mom is in the foyer, reading a book and smiling softly to herself, her foot tapping with excitement.

Hawk descends the stairs.

Damn, he looks good in a suit. Perfectly tailored, it accents his build, his big shoulders and trim waist. When he looks at me, I feel my knees tremble, and May gives me a tight-lipped smile. Only a hint of his tattoos can be seen around his cuffs. He's shaved and actually combed his hair. I have a weird urge to go over and rub my palm on his cheek.

I'm staring, damn. I turn away and walk to the back door and look out over the yard.

"Everyone ready?" Tom asks in a high, cheery voice.

No one answers, of course we're all ready.

"We'll take my truck."

The truck seats six. Three up front, three in the back. I push May to climb in the front and ride between Tom and my mother, and climb in next to Lance.

Tom looks at me.

Fuck, I have to sit next to Hawk. It was either this or sandwich May between Hawk and Lance, and I'm not putting her anywhere near him. I make sure to turn my nose up at Hawk and look away from him, arms folded across my chest, as he gets in next to me and pulls the door shut. Lance wiggles and pushes against my side, leans back, and rests his arm along the bench seat, behind me.

"Got enough room, sis?"

I almost snap f*ck off before it dies in my throat.

"I'm fine," I mutter.

At least it isn't a long drive. Tom starts the engine and turns the air on full blast, and it's barely cold by the time we arrive. Hawk steps out and I slip out Lance's side, trying to avoid them both. May rushes to stand next to me before we all head inside.

There's work to do. Hawk takes off his suit jacket and drapes it over a chair, and to my surprise, Lance joins in as Tom does the same. The three of them work in silence, setting up the red-white-and-blue bunting and the big Richardson for Mayor sign up on the stage. It's sweaty work, and I'm glad I don't have to join in. Instead I help my mother, talk to the soda cart and hot dog cart people when they arrive, and coordinate all the setup.