It was still warm out, so grabbing their burgers from the drive-thru, they moved to the trunk of the truck, and he lowered the back.
Hawk couldn’t believe that seventeen years later, he actually had Katie on a date, eating burgers out of the back of his truck.They looked up at the stars, and there was not much conversation, just pointing out the constellations.It was fun.Strangely calming.After they finished their food, they watched the sky for a while, but then it was time to take her home.He didn’t want to, but he had no choice.It was the adult, responsible thing to do.He parked outside her house and walked her to the front door.She already had a key in hand.
“I had a great time tonight, Hawk.Thank you.”
He was going to turn around and just leave her, nod his head, play it cool.But after over seventeen years of wanting, that wasn’t going to cut it, so he put his hand on her waist, leaned in close, and finally kissed her.
****
“Mom, come on, stopit.”
“I cannot help it, Katie.I want to know all the details.”
“I told you the details.We had an amazing night, and then it ended with a kiss.That was all, just a kiss at the door.”
“And?”Ana asked.
“Mom, come on.Shouldn’t you be acting all overprotective and giving me a lecture on allowing a guy to kiss me on the first date?”
“No, that is your father’s domain,” Ana said.
“Don’t bring me into this.I, for one, am so freaking happy you went on a date, and that Hawk had the balls to actually kiss you,” Kyle, her loving father, said.He came into the kitchen and kissed her cheek.“I like Hawk.He’s a good man.”
“Dad, you barely know him.”
“He’s had some hard times just recently, and rather than think he can handle it all on his own, he’s back home.He came home to his family, and you know he didn’t have to.We all know what a success story he was, and the fact the kid hated this town.Yet, he’s back.I think I heard him talking with Mayor Stevens about the upcoming summer fair, as well as the Halloween thing they’re planning.”
“He shouldn’t be working,” Katie said.
“It’s not work if it is something you love, and it gets you out of the house.Trust me, Hawk looks damn happy.”
“And it’s probably because of that kiss,” Ana said.
“Good point,” Kyle said.
Katie looked between her two parents.“Are you kidding me right now?Shouldn’t you guys be panicking about your only daughter kissing a guy?”
“When you were under the age of eighteen and didn’t know what good choices were, then I could worry and threaten to kill every single asshole who walked through that door.You married Adam, you made good choices.You’re thirty-five years old, and I trust you to make good choices.You don’t like Hawk, you won’t date him, and you won’t give him a chance to kiss you.”Her dad moved closer to her.“I trust you, Katie, and if you let Hawk kiss you, then I know he’s a good guy.”He kissed her cheek.
The doorbell rang.
It was Sunday.Her date with Hawk had been Friday.He came by the shop on Saturday, but there hadn’t exactly been a chance to talk as it had been so busy.The gift shop got like that from time to time, with so many visitors, and she wasn’t going to complain.They didn’t even get their regular lunch break.
Hawk helped her out, and they had no choice but to have separate lunches.
“I’ll get it,” she said, leaving the kitchen where her mother was putting the finishing touches on the salad.
She went to the door, without even looking through the peephole to see who it was.However, she was shocked as she opened the door, and there, standing before her, was the man himself.Hawk Masters, dressed in jeans and a plain black shirt, with his hair pushed to the side.He held a small bouquet of flowers.
“Hawk,” she said.
“Your mom invited me to Sunday lunch.”
“Hawk, it is so nice to see you,” Ana said.
“Hello, Mrs.Smith.”
“Please call me Ana, and I know my husband, you can call him Kyle.”
