“Okay. I know you probably want to share with everyone… I just, I need time.”
The panic was back in her eyes. Hawk stood, holding out his hand, which Jessie took. In the next second, he had her hauled up into his embrace, her face pressing in against his chest.
“Just take a deep breath. Remember, you don’t have to have everything figured out tonight. And I’m going to be there to help, every step of the way.”
She nodded. “If you don’t want this baby, if there is even the smallest part of you doubting this, Hawk, you need to walk away now. I’ll be fine. I’ll make sure our kid is too.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m all in, Pretty Girl.”
“This is really what you want?”
He added his hand on top of hers, over her still flat belly, nodding. “I want you and the baby to be happy. To be healthy. To be safe. Whatever I can do to make sure that happens, that’s what I want. Come on, let’s get you both home.”
The drive out to the Silver Ridge Ranch was quiet. While he wanted to hold her hand, or touch her leg, or maybe even ride with his hand still pressed against her belly, Hawk could see how weary Jessie was. She sat almost angled away from him, curled up with her head resting against the window. At some point, she must have even dozed off, her eyes now closed as he looked at her while parked outside the main house on the ranch.
It would be wrong to sit there much longer. He knew he should have convinced her to go home with him. Something under his skin bristled at the thought of leaving her. It was normally bad—the pull to be close to her—but now that heknew she was pregnant, withhisbaby… No. Nope. He was going to turn the truck back on and bring her home with him.
“Hawk?” Jessie groaned as she stretched in the seat. “Oh, when did we get here?”
“About five minutes ago. You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn’t want to wake you.” He felt the heat climb in his face. “I was just about to turn around and bring you back to the apartment with me.”
Her eyes went wide in the moonlight. “No. Absolutely not. It’s bad enough my family could have seen us sitting out here together for so long. I don’t want anyone asking any questions right now!”
“I know. I think I already know your answer, but may I please walk you to the door?”
She sighed, her fingers coming up to rub at her temple. Shit. She still wasn’t feeling better. “Not tonight. I appreciate the ride home.”
“You’ll call me if you’re not feeling better?”
“Hawk.”
“I just… if I’m the only other person who knows, I’m the only other person who can help.”
“I’m fine. We’ll be fine.” She released her seat belt and moved to open the door, but Hawk reached out and touched her arm. Jessie froze.
“Please, Jess. Promise me. You’ll call, or shoot me a text. Something. Anything. If you’re still feeling rough. Let me help.”
Her eyes never left the door, but she nodded. “I will,” she whispered before shocking the hell out of him. Because one second, she was nearly scratching her way out of his car, and the next, she was turned towards him, her lips pressed against his cheek.
“Good night, Pretty Girl.”
“Good night, Chief.”
Jessie slid out of the truck, his eyes tracking her until she was up on the porch, and then finally inside the house, safe behind a closed door. Hawk groaned, his breath leaving his chest in a painful burst.
His whole world had shifted. Narrowed down to the girl of his dreams, and the baby she was carrying. And fuck, if that wasn’t messing with his head.
The truck roared back to life, and before Hawk could psych himself out, he turned around and started driving. But when it came time to head back into town, he went the opposite way.
And ten minutes later, he turned into Stone and Mae’s driveway. It was late. He hadn’t messaged, or called. But before he was even out of the truck, Stone was there, standing on his porch. And Mae was right by his side.
“What’s going on? You good?” Stone asked as he climbed the steps.
“Yeah, sorry.” Hawk rubbed his hand over his face. “Hey, Mae.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked. “Why are you here so late?”
“Do you think…” God. He didn’t want to hurt his sister. She’d suffered so much, and he couldn’t bear to remind her of all that pain. “Could I talk with Stone for a minute?”
