Hawk poked her in the belly, making her giggle. “Don’t you want to be big like me?”
“That’s too big for a girl.”
Hawk tilted his head like he was thinking about it. “Maybe you’re right. Still. You should eat all the good-for-you stuff, then maybe you’ll be as tall as your mom or auntie.”
Krystal looked up at Lucky. “Is he your boyfriend now?”
Before she could come up with a way out of answering that question, Hawk simply replied, “Yes, I am,” for her. Hawk stared at her, daring her to disagree.
After all this time wishing there was something more between them, she wasn’t about to contradict him. And if he was willing to put it out there, the way he’d been doing since he found her nearly dead on that hill, then she could drop her own truth bomb. “I like him a whole lot.” She said it for her niece, but held Hawk’s gaze the whole time, so he knew how much she meant it.
Hawk stood and took her hand, lacing their fingers together again.
“Is there anything you need me to do for you?” Desiree asked.
It was harder than it should be to tear her gaze from Hawk. “Not right now.”
“How long are you going to be at Hawk’s place?”
“I’m not sure.”
Hawk squeezed her hand. “You can stay as long as you like. At least until you’re healed enough to do things on your own. And most definitely until they find and arrest whoever is fu—” He pressed his lips tight and changed the word to… “Messing with you.” He dipped his head and whispered in her ear. “The longer the better.”
She caught her breath, astounded that he’d say that when everything was so knew between them.
Desiree eyed them. “Keep me posted on how you’re doing and what’s going on with the investigation.”
Lucky turned back to her friend. “You’ll probably hear before me. Did your dad say anything about it?”
Desiree shook her head. “You know he likes to leave work at the office.” Desiree’s assertion that her father, the sheriff, hadn’t said anything didn’t ring true. When they were younger and Lucky spent time at Desiree’s house, her father would often talk about things that happened at work, especially since in their small town everyone knew everything anyway.
The town had grown, but not so big that you didn’t know your neighbors.
And she was Desiree’s best friend. Surely her father would not only make sure Jase was following every lead but also ensure she and Desiree knew what was happening.
“Come on, sweetheart.” Hawk waved his hand toward the car. “I want you off that leg, and your shoulder’s got to be killing you. It's time for your meds again.” Hawk used his hand at her back to steer her toward his car.
“Why aren’t you taking yours?” Desiree asked.
“Someone slashed the tire,” she called over her shoulder.
“What?” Desiree pulled Krystal toward their car by her hand. “I don’t like this, Lucky. It feels like someone wants you dead.”
Lucky stopped in her tracks, then turned her head to Desiree. “It’s him. It’s always been him. Or someone he sent. Just like the other times. But I’m not such an easy target now that I have Hawk watching my back.”
“You’re putting a lot of trust in him.” Desiree buckled Krystal into her seat.
Hawk held the door of his car open for Lucky. “I won’t let you down. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“You better keep that promise,” Desiree called out, then walked around her car and climbed into the driver’s seat.
Hawk did the same after making sure she was secure in her seat. “She’s very protective of you.”
“She’s been my friend since we were little. We lived across the street from each other, went to school together, did everything together.”
He turned the key in the ignition, then glanced at her. “That’s a long time.” Something in his eyes told her he had more to say.
“What is it?”
