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My replacement was amazing—she was just as impassioned about the project as I was and though I would no longer spearhead projects, I’d contribute to them as much as my time would allow.
“Are you going to put me down anytime soon?” I asked.
“Just enjoying the view.”
He took his sweet time, letting my body slide against his as he lowered me back to my feet.
“Congratulations,” he said in a much milder tone. “I know the perfect way to celebrate.”
I inhaled the smell of baking bread mingled with tomato sauce and steaming veggies. “Let me guess,” I said. “Pizza?”
“I had Roberta handle it before she left.”
“I’m sure she loved that.”
We meandered to the kitchen, and I perched on the dark granite counter. I’d gotten to really like his housekeeper. Roberta kept his home in immaculate condition and always had something delicious cooking.
Hawk moseyed to the oven and peered in its window as though he could see through the darkness in there. Then he gazed at me.
His hands went to my waist. I braced myself, so ready for the start of what would be many kisses that evening, but instead, uncertainty flickered behind his eyes.
“What?” I asked. “What’s that look for?”
He feigned innocence. “What look?”
“The ‘I have bad news but I don’t want to tell you’ look. Let me guess. No Fortnite?”
“Maddox called,” he said with an apologetic grimace. “He’s coming over.”
“Did you tell him we had plans?”
“Yeah, but he said it’s an emergency, and he promised me he wouldn’t be here long. He needs ouropinions on some kind of marketing plan he’s going to try for Wonderland this spring.”
Disappointment sank in, but I tried to hide it. I’d been looking forward to a night with Hawk, to losing ourselves in one another’s arms and yes, even to a little cranking nineties in our own digital world because deep down, my man was a nerd and I loved seeing him in his element.
“I can call him back,” Hawk said. “I told him I’d check with you. He can wait until another time, no worries.”
“No, it’s fine,” I said, casting aside my disappointment and brandishing a smile that I hoped convinced him. “Maddox was there for us when we needed help. Of course, he can come over.”
“Okay,” Hawk said, tipping in to press a kiss on my nose. He retreated, meeting my gaze. “Only if you’re sure.”
I clung to his shoulders. “You’d better stop that, or I might change my mind.”
He grinned. “Stop what? This?”
He trailed his mouth along my jawline. My eyelashes fluttered.
“What’s his marketing idea?” I asked, trying to remain grounded.
If we were going to have company, I couldn’t go where he was taking me right now.
“I don’t know,” Hawk said, his voice husky. “We can talk about that when he gets here—which will be any minute. So you know what I think?”
“What?”
“We’d better take advantage of the little time we have.”His lips topped mine, unlocking a giggle from deep within my chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck, keeping him close and meeting him measure for measure.
Behind him, the oven beeped.
