If I’d hoped that Hawk’s outburst on the trail yesterday was a onetime thing or that his knife-throwing adventure might calm him down and get him back on track, today had shown me how naive that was. He’d been simmering all morning, and now…
Hawk Sunday didn’t make big dramatic exits. He didn’t lose his temper. And he most certainly didn’t tell the whole world he was a virgin in search of a… devirginator.
Webb’s eyes snapped to me.
I held up my hands. “I didn’t do anything. I promise!”
Instead of being angry like I assumed he would be, he looked confused. “Do anything about what? What was that all about?”
The reality of the situation pressed down on me until I felt like I could barely breathe. Hawk was going to be mortified by his public display as soon as he calmed down and realized what he’d said in front of half the town.
I also remembered him saying one of the things he was angry about was that everyone was making a big deal about his anger. I figured most people were surprised and worried like I was, but I wanted to put the other Hollowans on notice just in case.
“Nothing to see here, people,” I announced to the restaurant in a firm voice. “Please respect Hawk’s privacy and allow him to have a bad day without spreading it around town. Understood?”
A few people nodded half-heartedly.
I looked longingly toward the front door again, my heart urging me to go after Hawk and comfort him. But the look he’d given me suggested that Hawk wouldn’t find my presence comforting, and I couldn’t leave the rest of my employees and my business in the middle of the lunch rush.
I picked up Hawk’s apron and bolted for the kitchen. “Back to work,” I snapped at Crys as I passed her.
I headed for an empty prep table in the back corner of the room and started measuring out ingredients for cinnamon rolls. I could make this recipe on autopilot, and working the dough was the perfect way to keep my hands busy while I figured out what the hell I was supposed to do now.
I should have anticipated that I wouldn’t be alone for long.
“What the hell was that about?” Webb demanded, following me to the kitchen. He still looked confused and maybe a little outraged. “I’ve never in my life seen Hawk blow up like that, much less in public.”
Since a good offense was often the best defense, I crossed my arms and glared at him. “If I recall, he was angry at you for flaunting your new,energeticrelationship with everyone.”
Webb’s eyes flared, but his neck turned red with embarrassment, which was confession enough. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean? And don’t think for one minute that I’m going to feel guilty for loving my husband whenever and wherever he’ll let me because that man is the greatest gift of my life and?—”
I held up a hand to stop him. “Yes, yes. Spare me, okay? We know you got drunk and tripped into the perfect life partner. Good for you. Not all of us are lucky enough toblow the buglewith a handsome stranger who just so happens to be our soul mate?—”
“You make it sound dirty,” he muttered.
“—so forgive Hawk for having a moment of envy. He’s obviously ready for a relationship, and it’s not exactly easy to find one here in this tiny town.”
“Like you’d know,” Webb said with the hint of a grin. “You haven’t been interested in finding a partner since I’ve known you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve dated plenty of people since moving here.”
“Hardly,” he scoffed. “You’ve had sex with people. There’s a difference. I tried to set you up with Knox, and you had zero interest?—”
“In dating your brother who was already in love with Gage?” I folded my arms over my chest again. “How wasthatgoing to work?”
“Well, I didn’t know about his feelings for Gage at the time,” Webb said reasonably. “But there were other guys. People whowouldbe interested in a relationship?—”
I shook my head. “Nooo. Nope. I do not need or want a relationship, thank you. Plucking out your beating heart and handing it to someone is a recipe for disaster. I’ve seen it time and time again. You struck gold with Luke, sure, but remember the debacle before that? No.” I shook my head. “I have close friends who are there for me. I have my mom. I have this place, which takes up most of my time and energy.” I spread my hands to encompass the whole restaurant. “That’s plenty.”
Webb leaned back against a wall where a laminated placard of sanitation procedures hung. “Being a workaholic isn’t doing you any favors, Jack.”
“A refrain I hear often enough from my mother, thank you very much. Besides, why are we talking about me? Hawk is the one who needs our help, Webb. He’s having a rough time.”
Webb shook his head. “I just don’t know what’s gotten into him lately. He’s consumed with stopping the Fogg Peak development, he’s spending all his time with this new server of yours, and now he’s telling the entire world he’s a virgin?” He peered at me for a moment. “The way he said it, he kind of made it sound like it was your fault. Are you…?”
“What? No!” I barked immediately. “No, I swear it. I haven’t touched him.”
“Whoa!” Webb’s eyes widened. “Of course you haven’t! God. I would never think that. I was gonna say, are you upset at him for taking out his anger on you? It’s not cool, especially when you’ve gone above and beyond to bring him under your wing and be a mentor to him all these years. I apologize on his behalf. I really thought the kid was more mature than that.”
