“No.I’m helping my mother take more of a role in the business, but I’ve removed myself from influencing any of her decisions about acts and vendors.”
She swallowed.That confirmed what Janelle said before.“Are you leaving because she invited me back?”
He looked stricken.Mouth open, eyes wide.He hadn’t been expecting that.“Lilian, no.That’s not it.”
“Because I’m not coming back.”The words tumbled out before he was finished; her heart was racing now.Out of everything they’d talked about tonight, this was the one thing she wanted to tell him.The one thing she wanted him to know.
Hawk’s mouth closed with an audible click.
She took a deep breath, trying not to focus on the emotions flickering across his face.“Bodice and Brawn found a new home.I’m starting my own bookstore.”A pause as she licked her suddenly dry lips.“And it’s all because of you.
“I was mad when you first told me Tenison wasn’t viable.That the faire wouldn’t save Ten Cents Books.But you were right.I realized it pretty quickly after…” She trailed off, but she knew.After their fight.After everything came to light.“My dad told me everything.So, I took your advice, and took another chance, and now…” Her arms stretched out as if to sayhere I am.
Hawk stood as she spoke, but he didn’t move toward her.“Lilian, that’s wonderful.”
He breathed the words like a sigh of relief.And it should have made her feel better.A healing balm on the strange partnership they had.But her heart was still rioting in his presence.She wasn’t done with him yet.
She would never be done with him.
“I’ve been scrambling to figure things out.It’s been hard but so, so amazing, Hawk.And all that time, I wanted you there with me.To bounce ideas off.To hear your input.It made me realize how much you’ve become a part of my life.How much I wanted to do it withyou.”
Something flashed in his eyes.The opening he’d been waiting for.“Do you want me?”
It wasn’t clear what he was talking about.Physically?For the bookstore?In her life in general?
Ultimately, it didn’t matter.The answer pulsed through her with every heartbeat.“Yes.”
His lips were on hers in an instant.She’d forgotten how fucking good he was at kissing.Hawk was always so stone-faced in public, so controlled, but when he kissed her, it felt like the only language he knew how to speak.
It almost felt like he was making good on the quiet promises he’d made earlier.Claiming her, body and soul.
His fingers stroked the delicate fabric at her shoulder.Trailing slowly downward until his hand found her breast.Her nipples tightened instantly at the touch.
“Ah,” Hawk breathed against her lips.“You’re not wearing a bra.”
“With this dress?”
“I’m not complaining.”His mouth moved to her neck, nuzzling it gently.“Come on, don’t you want to slip into something more comfortable?”
A moan escaped her as he placed deliberate kisses down her neck.Suckling at the sensitive collarbone.Russ’s dress was one of the most beautiful pieces of clothing she had ever worn, but at that moment, it was her archenemy for keeping his fingers away from her skin.
“All right, but no ripping it.If something happens to this dress, you are paying for it.”
“I would be happy to.”
“Don’t say that until you see the price tag.”She turned her back to him.
Hawk’s fingers brushed against the nape of her neck, unhitching the single clasp.The dress dropped from her body, spooling onto the floor like threads of silver.Lilian bent to pick it up, but Hawk caught her wrist and kept her standing.
“It will wrinkle,” she whimpered.
“I don’t care.”
His eyes were hungry.There was a slight spasm in his fingers as they were ready to tighten the hold if she picked the dress over him.
The decision was easy.
“Aren’t you going to—”
