“You stood up for me, but you shouldn’t have had to.” She shook her head. “I get it if you just can’t deal with this drama anymore. It’s exhausting.”
Hawk sat back like her words had slapped him right across the face.
“What are you talking about?” He shook his head slowly, back and forth, but his eyes never left hers. “You are all I want, Jessie. When Dakota said—” His voice caught in his throat and his eyes sparkled with fresh tears. “When he said I was violent, and that you should be afraid of me—fuck—that killed me. His words made your dad’s doubts even louder in my mind. And your brothers asking if you wanted to go home with them… I wouldneverhurt you. Or Bee. You both mean everything to me. And I’ll spend every day, for as long as it takes, for you and your family to understand that.”
A tear spilled over his cheek, and before she could reach up to wipe it away, his finger was reaching up to brush over hers. She hadn’t even realized she was crying too.
“Don’t you dare let my idiot brothers into your head like that. You have beenwonderfulto me. And not just since the baby.Always. You were there for me after everything happened with Mae. That trip home was the most calm I’ve ever felt in my life before I moved in here. And it’s becauseyouwere there with me.”
Hawk tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and cupped the back of her neck. Jessie let her eyelids flutter closed, expecting a kiss on the lips. But that didn’t happen. No. This man—the man who protected her, made her feel safe, and cherished, and never expected her to fix his problems or give up who she was and the dreams she had—pressed his lips to her forehead. And when she opened her eyes in surprise, hejust chuckled as his body moved back so he could drop his head and kiss her belly.
“I’m going to fix things with my brothers. I promise,” she whispered.
“That’s not your job. I don’t expect you to fight my battles for me.”
Jessie shook her head. “But it is. That’s all I’m ever doing in my family. It’s what I was made for.”
“No, sweetheart. That’s all you everdid. But not any more. Because this is your family now. It’s you, me, and Bee. And I’ll be the one making sure your peace is protected. That you never feel that burden. Your family asked too much of you. Put you in a position that you never should have been in. But I won’t do that to you. And I’ll make sure no one ever does again.”
“Thank you.”
“That’s the one time you can say that to me, Jess, for doing something that’s my fucking honor as your partner.”
“Stop,” she sniffled as her eyes burned. “If you keep going, I’ll stop believing you are real.”
“What do you mean?” His eyebrows did her favorite thing, where they pulled tight to make a little concerned crease, and his smile-lines framed his piercing blue eyes. God, she really did hope Bee ended up with his eyes.
“Because you’re too good to me. So fiercely protective of me. So sweet and always concerned that I’m okay. Flirty, but only with me. So handsome my body tingles every time you touch me.”
A smile stretched across his face.
“Hmm… it does, does it?” Hawk asked as he ran his finger down the exposed skin on her arm.
“You know it does. The chemistry has always been insane between us.”
“You’re right, mama. It has.” He leaned in, his lipsbrushing her ear. “But tonight, the chemistry is telling me to run you a bath, gather up some snacks, and take you to bed… to watch a movie and cuddle.”
Jessie sighed, her head banging playfully against his shoulder. She wanted an orgasm, but chocolate and Fitzwilliam Darcy would have to do.
Twenty-Nine
“Hey, Phoenix, you got a second?” Sebastian leaned in the doorway of his office, shocking the hell out of him.
“Yeah, Cap. I didn’t realize you were back from Montana.”
“Landed last night. I had to see Emma and Addie first.”
“Of course.” Hawk nodded, pointing to the chair across from his desk. “Sit. What’s going on?”
“We just got the official offer in. Trident II has been given a green light. The investors loved the Montana site.”
“That’s incredible! Congratulations.”
Sebastian nodded, his hand scratching at the scruffy beard filling in on his chin.
“I still have you as the point of contact on this project. It’s career-making, Hawk. Something you’ve been working towards for a long time, I know.”
“I don’t want it, Cap.” He hadn’t hesitated. Anything that was going to take him away from Texas wasn’t worth it anymore. His life was there. His family. Jessie wanted to raise their babies on the ranch, and he wouldn’t deny her that. Ever.
