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Those dark eyes narrow on me as she emphasizes the fact that I took them home that night. Like she's accusing me of not being a better babysitter.
"No, our business didn't have anything to do with your grandmother and her friends." I recover my senses and adopt my official voice to assure her that wasn't the subject of my meeting with the menfolk of her family this evening.
It earns me a cold glare and a firm jaw. All traces of that playful smile of hers wiped clean from her face.
"Well, it's cold out here,Deputy." To make her point, she rubs her arm with her free hand, "and I have to get up early for work. It's good to see that your nuts finally dropped."
Just like that, Terra disappears through the door in a blindingly quick motion that leaves me gaping after her, all alone on her porch.
The door locks behind her, letting me know she won't be coming back out to check on me. Silently, I take pride in her for having the smarts to keep her door locked-- even if I'd rather we were on the same side of the damn thing.
4
TERRA
Sparrow:"Did he ask you out yet?"
It's the second time my sister-in-law has texted to ask if Hawk has asked me out.
She thinks it sweet. Romantic, even, but when I found out that the real reason he'd been at the homestead the other night talking to the men in my family--justthe men, mind you— was to get their permission to date me, I came unhinged.
I've been grossed-out ever since; disgusted with myself for what I was thinking about while I got myself off in the shower after he left.
I can't believe I thought he was hot in his street clothes. With that beard growing in thick and dark, tricking me into thinking there could be something more interesting under his clean cut, old-fashioned fuddy-dud exterior.
For a second, I was even thinking maybe he's the one who's been helping Abuela and her friend play those tricks on Vera and Mable. They definitely aren't moving all that snow and dirt by themselves; someone is helping them. Someone with access to heavy equipment.
It would have taken a back-hoe to dig that hole on the Hart's property a few weeks ago. Not to mention, Alice and Abu were both pretty drunk when Hawk took them home that night.
My grandmother isn't any better at following rules than I am, but she wouldn't drive drunk.
Since Hawk was the one that took them home, I thought maybe he was in on it with them, but I should have known better. He's so straight-laced, he'd snap in half if he tried to bend a rule.
I'm surprised he hasn't found a reason to arrest them yet.
The idea that Hawk might have a bad boy streak hiding under his goody-two-shoes persona turns me on. Thinking of him prowling the town in the middle of the night, helping a couple of old ladies play pranks on each other makes him seem human-- and hella hot.
I've known the deputy is interested in me for a few months now, but he's always been so damn polite about it. Never once pushing his luck to stake his claim-- and now, really? Asking my dad and my brothers forpermissionto ask me out? Before he's even asked me if he can have my phone number or bought me a cup of coffee.
Sonothot.
As if the universe hears me thinking about him, the official sheriff vehicle pulls up in front of April's cafe where I've been staring out the window while I grudge-sip my latte.
Of course, there's no way I can escape before he gets inside, either.
"Morning, Deputy!" April sings out from behind the counter.
She's already pulling shots for his drink and I don't like the way I feel when I see the way he smiles back at her as he leans on the counter between them and makes small talk with the cute new girl in town.
April moved to Moonshine Ridge last fall and opened up the coffee shop. Finally bringing decent coffee to the Ridge.
I've been getting along with her, making a habit of walking over from the center before opening up every day to enjoy a latte and do a little reading-- or just bull-shitting with my new friend and filling her in on the local gossip.
Until I see the way Hawk smiles at her. The way she already knows exactly what his drink of choice is and starts making it before he orders.
It's enough to keep me from taking the opportunity to escape while Hawk is preoccupied. In fact, it's enough to make me forget that I wanted to escape at all.
"Thanks, April."
