One
Hawk Morgan’s hips swayed back and forth to the music filling the tent. Fuck, it had been a perfect day, and he was so fucking happy for his friends. A marriage already so solid they wanted to do a vow renewal in front of all their friends and family? That was the stuff dreams were made of. Gunner and Lily Brooks had a relationship he looked up to.
Was he a little sad he couldn’t give them anymore shit about their elopement a few years back? Yeah. Especially when Gunner, someone he’d served in the SEALs with and who was notoriously grumpy, was so easily triggered any time he did it. But seeing them happy, standing up in front of everyone they loved renewing their vows… it was worth it. And, although he’d never risk his status as a truly charming man who enjoyed making all the women in Silver Springs smile with a little well placed flirting, Hawk fucking ached to have that for himself.
His eyes scanned the crowd. Most people, if they saw him, would think Hawk was looking for one of his Montgomery Defense buddies. He’d moved to Texas a few years back to start the business with them, after all. Gunner had married Lily.Gage Walker had fallen in love with the psychologist who worked out of the same building as them, Dr. Sloane Donovan. Nash Caldwell was married to his wife Lacy, who was massively pregnant and going to have their newest daughter any day now. Yes, Lacy’s daughter Embrie was also officially Nash’s now after the adoption went through last year. And Stone Lawson, his best friend, was somewhere in the tent trying to win back Mae’s heart. Yes, MaeMorgan. His best friend and his sister. He never saw that one coming, but man was he rooting for Stone and Mae. They deserved to find their own slice of happiness after all they’d been through.
But no, they weren’t who he was looking for. His eyes were searching for someone in particular. A sweet little five-foot-nothing curvy goddess that he’d shared one amazing night with a year ago before the world came crashing?—
A warm hand slipped over Hawk’s, and before he could set his plate of cake down, he was being tugged out of the tent. A familiar flash of blond hair flicked in front of his face as his plate went flying out of his hand and landed precariously on the edge of the dessert table.
All his attention turned to Jessie Ford. The goddess had apparently been looking for him, too.
“Jess? What the hell? Are you okay?”
“No. I’m not,” she hissed as she continued to pull him forward, onto the lawn and down towards the driveway. “It’s bad, Hawk.”
Her whimper had him immediately on high alert. “What’s going on?”
“Please, I feel silly, but I need your help.”
He finally pushed his heels into the ground, tightening his grasp on her hand. She tripped, just slightly enough to put her off balance, and Hawk wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her.
“You can always come to me, Pretty Girl.”
She’d always been his type. From the first time he’d walked into Dolly’s, completely unaware that the most carefree and vibrant woman he’d ever met would greet him with a smile so brilliant it sent his heart into overdrive… and denim shorts so short they made him blush.
“Hey.” His fingers pinched down on her chin, gently tipping her face so she’d be forced to look him in the eye. “Is someone bothering you? Are you in danger?” He wasn’t above throwing her over his shoulder and driving away with her if she was. Everything about how she was acting made him think the situation was dire, whatever it may be.
She bit down punishingly on her bottom lip, Hawk’s hand immediately moving to cradle her face while his thumb gently encouraged her to let her lip go. “Danger of spontaneously exploding because of how fucking hot you look in your uniform!”
Ah, his dress whites. Lily had insisted all the guys wear them for the occasion. Jessie pressed up onto her tiptoes, her hands reaching out and threading together around his neck. And before Hawk could think about what was happening, her lips were pressed against his.
It was all he’d thought about for the last year. The ache that settled deep inside him after she’d been taken with Mae. Their one night together had been incredible. He’d wanted to ask her out. Wanted something more. But she faded away. Whenever he saw her, Jessie turned the other way.
Hawk thought things fizzled out for her…
Jessie’s tongue licked across his lips as her hips rocked against him. The tiniest moan escaped her as he opened up, and holy fuck, that was the hottest noise he’d ever heard.
But all of this was happening just a few yards away from where her entire family was. Where his friends were. Hawk knew she’d be embarrassed when the fogginess of the endorphins from the day woreoff.
“Wait, I… What’s happening here?” he asked.
“I need some relief, Chief. And your service number just got called up. Are you ready and willing for the mission, or do I need to drive my pretty ass into town and find another willing man?”
Hawk growled. “I know I don’t have a claim on you, Jess, but don’t you fucking think for a second I’d let you run off to fuck a stranger.”
“This is my hometown, Hawk. No one is a stranger here,” she teased. “I’d be safe. Someone could take care of this ache…”
“The only person who’s touching you tonight is me. Got that?”
“Yes, Sir.” She winked as her tongue licked along her bottom lip.
“Fuck,” he groaned as she giggled. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“Oh yes, we should. And did you think I forgot how much you liked when I called you that?”
“No,beautiful.I haven’t forgotten. I’ve thought about it every goddamn day over this last year. But you’ve been giving me the cold shoulder. Should I be worried there’s some young asshole who’s going to try and beat my ass for sleeping with his girl?”
