Chapter Six

Kathryn

“I can’t believe you just up and left like that! Does your dad know?” Dana asked, her voice full of enthusiasm. Kathryn had left so quickly, she hadn’t even told Dana until she was already in Vegas.

“Yes, he knows. I texted him and told him not to bother me for a while, because I was going to be in Vegas,” Kathryn replied. She had felt torn about letting her father know where she was going to be, but at the last second had decided it was probably for the best that he did. It would be better than him trying to get a hold of her while she was trying to have some fun.

“Oh! And how did he take to his little girl leaving his sight for a second time?” Dana teased.

Kathryn laughed. She knew it had to be annoying to her father that she could now just leave whenever she felt like it, and it felt good.

“Have you seen Hawk yet?” Dana asked.

“No, I just got in a couple hours ago, and I’m just now getting out of the cab at my hotel. I don’t want him to think I’m creepy or something!” Kathryn didn’t know if she truly was worried about that, but she didn’t want to risk it, either. Now that she was in Vegas, everything felt different. She could see plenty of hot guys walking down the street, and none of them bothered hiding that they were checking her out.

“Hawk is plenty creepy himself, if you ask me,” Dana said with another laugh. Kathryn shook her head. She didn’t know why she felt the need to defend him, but at the same time, she didn’t like hearing her friend call him creepy. Perhaps it was because she wanted so badly to have an encounter with him.

“At any rate, I better get inside and check in. It’s getting late.” Kathryn glanced down at her watch as she spoke, and Dana agreed.

“Get out of your travel clothes and into something sexy. You deserve a night out!” Dana said enthusiastically. She added, “Of course, you don’t necessarily need to have a night with Hawk to have fun. Las Vegas is a large town; there’s plenty of men there who would love to get lucky with you!”

“Okay, okay, that’s enough of that!” Kathryn said as she laughed. She hung up the phone and slipped it into her pocket. Dana knew her all too well, though she did hate to admit it. Part of her did want to put on her sexiest dress and head out into the nightlife, but she knew she had better get some rest first.

Walking into the hotel, Kathryn glanced around, looking for the front desk.

“Hey, there’s a hottie!”

“You from around here, sweetie?”

“Girls around here don’t look like that!”

Kathryn rolled her eyes and kept walking, amazed that they didn’t even try to be subtle about hitting on her. She was used to having men admire her, but being alone in Las Vegas made her a little leerier.

She glanced around the lobby, hoping that there was someone who was paying attention to the situation. The last thing she wanted to do was make a scene, but at the same time, she didn’t know these men, and she didn’t want to think about what could happen if they got too familiar with her.

“I’m sorry, I’m supposed to be meeting someone,” she said as one of the men walked over to her. She hoped he wasn’t a representation of the men Vegas would have to offer for her short stay. Sleazy as they game, with greasy hair, bleary eyes, and a hefty gut overhanging his too-tight jeans, the guy repulsed Kathryn on sight. And when he got closer, the stench of his cheap cologne made her cringe.

“I could keep you company until he gets here—I assume that you are waiting for a ‘he,’ aren’t you?” He looked down at her with raised eyebrows, and Kathryn took a step back.

“Of course! I’m waiting for my –my fiancé!” she lied.

“What a lucky man. But you don’t have that ring on your finger yet, which means you are still on the market as far as I am concerned!” He took another step forward, but Kathryn wasn’t about to let him get anywhere near her.

“You listen here! I need you to back up and leave me alone!” she snapped. He laughed and was about to come forward again when to Kathryn’s shock, Hawk Parker suddenly walked in.

She barely had time to process her surprise or the surge of heat that always flared whenever he was nearby, however much she tried to deny it, before he rapidly assessed the situation and walked over. Then he was standing right beside her, all six foot something of gym-honed muscle, topped off unfairly by cheekbones male models would have killed for, full lips Kathryn had indulged in plenty of times and—

“Kathryn?” He cut into her fantasy, his low, sexy voice leading her down an entirely new path. Is everything all right?” He looked over at the man who had been hitting on her, and he backed up. Hawk put his hand on her arm, and Kathryn visibly relaxed even as other parts of ignited. His hands had always been big and capable, in more than one way.

“Yes, he was just leaving, as a matter of fact,” she said, giving the man a look. He gave her another look before glancing back at Hawk, evidently trying to size him up. He must have decided it wasn’t worth the trouble as he waved them off and stalked back to his friends.

“Thanks,” Kathryn said as she took a step back. She had known Hawk was in town, obviously, but was nevertheless surprised to find him in the same hotel she was in.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, and she shrugged.

“I was looking to get away from my father for a while longer,” she replied, before adding, “What about you?”

“I’m in town on business,” he said rather flatly. She nodded, but gestured to the room they were standing in.

“Yes, but I mean here. What are you doing here?” She watched him carefully, and Hawk laughed.

“I’m staying here, actually. Are you?” He looked down at her bag, and Kathryn nodded. She could feel heat on her cheeks and part of her wondered if she was blushing, though she was doing her best not to.

“I am, actually. Most of the places in town were booked, though I don’t know why. This place had the best price for the location, so I couldn’t pass it up.” She laughed nervously, and Hawk watched her. Kathryn couldn’t tell if he was trying to decide if she was lying to him or if he really did believe it was a coincidence. Surely, she was just being paranoid. There was no reason at all for him to suspect anything. At last, he turned his attention to the elevator.

“Well then, I imagine I’m going to see you around,” he said with a side grin. He didn’t wait for her to reply, walking over to the elevator and getting inside.

Kathryn didn’t realize she was staring until he turned around and made eye contact with her once more, and she quickly looked away, embarrassed. Kathryn was glad he had come to her rescue, but she suddenly felt rather awkward and embarrassed around him—though she didn’t know why.

Hadn’t she come down here in hopes of meeting him? Yet when he walked was near her, she felt unsure of herself. Kathryn shook her head and brushed the feeling off. She was beautiful, smart, and desirable. She would check herself into her hotel room and settle in for the night.

She could work things out in the morning.