Leaving Hawk was hard.

And the fact I had that thought was terrifying. I wanted his hands to keep roaming my body. I wanted to have him moving inside of me. The next day would throw us back into work and soon the memory of the weekend would be just that. Walking through my parents’ front door, I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and did my best to act natural. I was flustered. Paranoid I had sex written over my face, and terrified Slate would spill the beans to everyone over the dinner.

“Hey, sis,” Ricky’s smiling face rounded the corner into the hall. He wrapped his bear-like arms around me and picked me up into a hug.

When he put me back down, I saw Mum and Dad in the kitchen cooking up a storm. When they noticed me, they both came over and wrapped me in a hug, saying how much they’d missed me.

I felt like shit that I never got to see them. My brothers hadn’t let me hear the end of it. I went from a break up to living with them, to finding my own place and not seeing them for weeks on end.

I’d need to speak with Hawk about my work schedule.

Just thinking his name had me burning up on the inside. Making my way into the living room, I found Brock sitting on the couch talking with Slate. I searched the room but couldn’t find Brock’s wife or kids.

“We normally do Sadie’s parents’ for lunch, so she’s there this time around.”

I kissed him on the cheek. “Good to see you, bro.”

“You too,” he said, a slight frown forming. I wanted to ask what was wrong but something was telling me not to.

“Take your places everyone,” Mom called from the kitchen. “Dinner will be five minutes.”

While the boys finished off their conversations, I made my way to the table but noticed instead of only seven places set like usual, there was eight.

“Who else are we waiting for?” I called, but no one responded.

I wasn’t left hanging because moments later, the front door opened and Hawk Carnage crossed the threshold. He strode in, looking fresh and suave, eyes locked on mine. The boys cheered for him and my parents welcomed him with open arms. Brock, however, was the only one who watched me. He was really starting to freak me out. Slate was already engrossed in a football conversation with him that it became apparent he hadn’t heard a thing earlier at my place. Everyone took a seat at the table, Hawk sitting directly opposite me.

It certainly was a fine view.

He winked and smirked, and I smiled back, feeling a little giddy.

Everyone fell into natural conversation while Mom and Dad took their seats. I watched Hawk who watched me. He didn’t tell me he’d be here when I was trying to kick him out of the house earlier. He’d obviously had time to shower and was looking particularly edible in his jeans and black shirt. He could make the most casual of outfits look like runway material.

“The wedding, Britta,” someone said, and Slate kicked me from under the table. Looking up, everyone was waiting for me to answer.

“Hmm?”

“The wedding?” Brock asked once more.

“Oh, the wedding. Well, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. A little awkward at times,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“Did they actually believe Hawk was your fiancé?” Ricky asked, laughing.

“Your fiancé?” Mom asked, puzzled.

Ricky filled them in on the events.

“Well?” Mom raised her brows expectantly. “Did they believe it?”

“They did,” Hawk answered for both of us. “We played our roles convincingly.”

“Just how convincing?” Brock muttered.

“Good,” Mom exclaimed. “I hope you rubbed his nose in it. That slimy bastard.”

“Mom!” we all admonished.

“What? I could’ve said worse, you know.”

As the various plates of food were passed around the table, I was asked more questions about the wedding. Across from me, I could see Hawk hanging onto every word, a small smirk occasionally playing on his lips.

“Rebekah wants to meet with me,” I said more to Mom as the others started talking among themselves. Her eyes went wide.

“What did you say?”

“I said it could be a possibility.”

“Even that’s generous.”

“Only because I don’t have many female friends, you know. She was my main one, and it hurt that she used me to get to my fiancé.”

Mom patted my hand in reassurance.

“Woman are bitches, honey,” she started, and I couldn’t help but smile. Mom never swore except for when it came to someone interfering with her family. Then all bets were off. “Stick with your brothers, love, they’ll protect you.” She always said that to me, about my brothers. And they have always protected me.

“Sooo,” Ricky began, leaning forward in his chair while ripping a piece of bread. “Slate tells me you had a man at your place this afternoon, sis,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows in amusement. While my brothers were extremely protective of their only sister, they also made me the subject of their jokes.

I looked to Slate who was suppressing a laugh.

“You knew?” I asked him.

“Of course, I knew.”

I glanced quickly at Hawk who was rubbing his jaw, hanging onto every word.

“So, who was it?” Ricky asked. Before I could respond with a lie, I was interrupted.

“Damn, so you dropped off Hawk after the wedding and then went and picked up?” Harry shook his head, teasingly. “That’s harsh, sis.” People around me giggled, and I could feel my cheeks turning beet red.

“You know whoever it is we have to meet him.”

“What? I think you’re jumping the gun a little bit.”

“Really?” Ricky asked, amused. “Is that why your voice has gone high pitched?”

“No, it hasn’t!”

They all laughed, and I had to admit, I did sound like I had something to hide.

Time to change tack. “It was no one,” I shrugged indifferently, hoping they’d get off my back or change the subject. They shook their heads, and Hawk finally chirped up and asked Ricky how business was going. When everyone was engrossed in their new conversations that didn’t involve me, I sat back and exhaled slowly.

My mom passed the wine, but I was too tired for any alcohol.

My bed was calling my name and possibly a hot bubble bath to soak my sore body.

There was never a quiet moment around the dinner table at the Valentino residence. Throughout dinner, Hawk offered me reassuring glances and each time my stomach butterflied. When the boys migrated to the living room with dad, I helped Mom with the clearing of the table. I listened while she told me about her and dad’s plan to travel when he retired.

When I could barely stand, I kissed my parents goodbye and snuck past the living room where the boys were engrossed in a football game.

Forty minutes later, I was home.

I promised myself a bubble bath, and as I lowered myself into the water, my aching body thanked me. Putting a towel behind my neck, I sunk deep into the bubbles, closed my eyes and worked through the backlog of questions that had been taunting me for answers.

Questions like...

Was this just a one-off weekend, or were we both expected to just sweep it under the rug?

Do we both pretend like it never happened?

Was it going to make working with each other super awkward?

Do I start looking for another job?

That question made me sad. I loved my job and I enjoyed working with Hawk. I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. But what if things turned sour between us? It would only be expected I find some other employment.

And then there was the issue of my brothers. Despite them all knowing I was at the wedding with Hawk, and Slate hearing someone in my bedroom, the last person they’d ever suspect it to be was Hawk. Because they didn’t want it to be him. The idea seemed preposterous to them.

When the water turned cold, I dried myself off, made a cup of tea and headed to my bedroom with the latest edition of Suave. It was a fashion magazine, and Hawk Carnage had a feature article on the rise of his lingerie company. Getting comfortable, I flipped through the pages, and my cell phone rang.

I sighed heavily when I saw the name glowing on the screen.

“Hello,” I managed without much enthusiasm.

Why hadn’t I let it go to message bank?

“Britta,” Rebekah greeted like an excited child. “Hi... wow,” she continued, almost caught off guard. “I’m kinda surprised you answered my call, so thank you.”

What could she possibly want? Shouldn’t the woman be on her honeymoon?

“Everything okay?” I barely managed, unsure of the angle I should take.

“Yes, fine. I was just calling to see if you might be interested in meeting with me tomorrow? You know... like we discussed at the wedding?”

“Umm...”

“Because, well... Roman got called back into work, so that kind of spelled the end of the honeymoon. Who chooses to go to work on their honeymoon?” She laughed awkwardly, and I couldn’t help but cringe.

“I don’t really know what you expect me to say to that, Rebekah.”

“Shit, I’m sorry...” She paused. “Old habits.” I was hoping she’s referring to the old habits as in being able to tell each other anything as friends, and not the old habit of being a lying cheating bitch.

“I’m not sure about tomorrow, I am working.”

“Oh... oh sorry,” she nervously stumbled. “Why does it feel like I’m apologizing a lot?”

I wanted to say ‘because you slept with your best friend’s boyfriend, then married him,’ but I was working on becoming a better person from it all. “You’re right, I know. I just want to talk to you. I miss you, believe it or not.”

“I can do lunch,” I finally caved, and she squealed into the phone.

“Thank you!” She sounded super excited, and I wondered about the sincerity of it all. “I’ll see you then.”

We said our quick farewells and I turned my phone on silent in case she was compelled to call again. Lying back on my bed, I wondered if I should call in sick tomorrow. I pulled the pillow closer, sliding a hand underneath. My fingers touched something cold and metallic.

The ring.

I was sure I’d placed in Hawk’s hand before we left.

That sneaky...

I stared at its beauty before sending him a message.

His reply was instant, and I watched as the bubbles showed up when he was typing.

I smiled despite myself and placed my cell on the bedside table. I lifted my hand and held it against the warm light and admired the glittery diamonds.

I didn’t know what games he was playing, but Hawk Carnage was quickly winning me over.