“Your grandmother sounds like she was an incredible woman.”
“Was, and still is,” Penny corrected gently. “She sees me. The real me. And she’s never once made me feel like I’m second best.”
“Everyone deserves to be seen,” Hawke replied, his voice laced with an intensity that matched the depth in his gaze.
“As for the guards I’ve got up, I understand manipulation,” she explained. “I’ve seen how easy it is to exploit vulnerabilities, to weave into systems and lives, unnoticed...”
“Does that scare you?” Hawke asked.
“Terrifies me,” she admitted. “Because I understand it, the allure of control. But Gram, she showed me the power of choice, of using my skills for good. That’s why I became a hacker on the good side of things—to even the scales, to protect those who can’t protect themselves from being manipulated.”
Hawke’s expression softened.
Her heart thrummed in her chest as he reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek, the contact grounding her swirling emotions.
“Your grandmother gave you a gift,” he said, his thumb tracing circles on her skin. “Not just in skill, but in purpose.”
She drew in a shaky breath, feeling the truth of his words settle in her bones. “I think you’re right,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The warmth of Hawke’s hand lingered on her face as he pulled his hand away.
“Being in this field, doing what I do,” she continued, “it doesn’t exactly lay the groundwork for trust, you know?”
He nodded. “I can understand that,” he said, his voice low and steady. “You see the worst side of people, the secrets they hide.”
“Exactly.” She swallowed hard, her chest tightening. “Gram was my rock. But outside of that? I’ve never let anyone get too close, except Elise, and that took a long time. I’ve never had what you’d call a ‘serious relationship.’”
“Serious relationships involve taking risks,” he offered, his tone not one of judgment but of empathy. “They require us to lay down our armor. For someone like you, who has spent so much energy building those walls, it must feel like an impossible task.”
She observed him intently, unable to speak. For the first time, she felt seen, a feeling she’d only had with her grandmother. “It does feel impossible.”
He squeezed her hand firmly, his words dripping with determination. “I’ll earn your trust, Red.”
Her laughter broke the tension that had been building in the air. “You’re really that sure?” she asked, teasingly.
“Absolutely,” he replied confidently, taking a bite of his pizza. “And do you know why?”
She raised an eyebrow in question. “Why?”
He flashed a self-assured grin. “Because I’m a SEAL and when I have a mission, failure is not an option. You will be mine; whether it takes months or years, only time will tell.”
She couldn’t help but remark, “Military men… never lacking in confidence.”
He grinned again, flashing a playful salute. “Hooyah.”
* * *
Hawke’s shoulderssagged under the pressure of the danger ahead as he made his way to the kitchen. He had explored every avenue to prevent Penny from joining tonight, but he knew deep down that it was just his ego talking. They needed her. She was irreplaceable.
He pushed aside any worries and concerns. They had a strong team, all skilled soldiers, and a well-crafted plan. Tonight, his problems with Romano would all come to an end. And he wasn’t going to let anything ruin the moment with Penny. It felt like something had shifted between them, and he wanted to explore that further.
They hadnow,and he wouldn’t waste it.
As he entered the kitchen, he found her bent over, loading the dishwasher. He leaned against the doorway, crossing his arms over his chest. “We still have a matter to deal with.” Even he heard the huskiness in his tone.
“What’s that?” she asked, turning to face him with a fiery look in her eyes.
“Have you forgotten what you called me?” he asked.
