Page 34 of Hawk

“Yep. He’s cute too, in a bad boy way. Exam room four.” She grinned suggestively and left me in peace.

My heart sped up because there was only one cute bad boy who would be coming to see me at work. Hawk. I pulled out my hair tie and straightened my ponytail even though he’d seen me looking way worse, and rushed to exam room four. “Hey,” I began, but whatever else I’d been about to say died on my lips at the sight of one of the men who tried to kidnap me. I looked around before stepping into the curtained-off exam room, but there was no one around.

“Don’t be shy, chica.” The man was in his twenties with a scar over his left eye and a dimpled smile. “I won’t bite.”

I swallowed hard. “That’s not comforting considering our last meeting.”

He laughed. “That’s fair, but it wasn’t personal, just business.”

I folded my arms. “Well, it felt personal to me. You’re not here for medical help, so why are you here?” I did my best to look strong and confident, hoping like hell I was hiding my fear.

“You told the cops our faces were covered, and you couldn’t identify us.”

I nodded. “Yeah. So?”

“So, we’re good. As long as you stick to that story, blanca.”

His calm words pissed me off. “I don’t believe you since you tried to run me over just a few nights ago.”

He frowned. “Don’t know what you’re talking about, babe. Wasn’t us. We gave the Steel Demons our word.”

I opened my mouth to reiterate my disbelief, but a motor vehicle accident was headed our way and I needed to get prepped. “I have to go. I kept my word, so please leave me alone.” I rushed to the ER and cleared my head. Time to focus on work.

***

Two and a half hours later I was on my way to my friend’s house after stopping at the grocery store and grabbing a few things to take to her, including ingredients for soup, her favorite snacks, and the good tea to help her sleep, as well as a bunch of groceries for myself and Hawk.

She opened the door with a scowl on her face. “I told you I was fine.”

“And I told you I was coming anyway. It’s what best friends do,” I replied, and brushed past her to get inside. “It’s in the handbook.”

“Wait, there’s a handbook? I didn’t get a copy.”

“Funny.” She coughed and my smile turned to a frown. “I’m making you soup. Sit down and don’t get up.” I shot her my patented ‘don’t screw with me’ look and she dropped down in a kitchen chair.

“Bossy.” She accepted the ginger lemon tea with a smile and sipped it happily. “How are things going with the sexy biker?”

I looked at her over my shoulder and rolled my eyes. “Things are as expected given the close proximity.”

“Bullshit. The chemistry between you two is off the charts, but we’ll circle back to that in a minute. Any other weird shit?”

“Yeah.” I told her all about my guest in exam room four. “He said it wasn’t him or his guys, but who else would it be?” That was the part that didn’t make sense.

“Did you tell Hawk yet?”

“No. I went shopping and came to get some time with my best friend, sick and gross though she is.”

Kristy stuck out her tongue. “Are you gonna get in trouble? Is a biker spanking in your future?”

I laughed. “Even sick your mind lives in the gutter, doesn’t it?”

“Yep. It’s nice here and they know me in the gutter.” She flashed a smile. “So, honestly, how is the sex?”

I said nothing for a long time, but I felt the blush as it crept up my face, and Kristy’s loud laugh said she saw it too. “Shut up!”

“I will, as soon as I have all the dirty details, and I mean all of ‘em. Come on, my love life is nonexistent, and I need to live vicariously through my bestie. Help a sick woman out, damn it!” She smacked both hands on the table and mock glared at me.

I stood my ground as I poured the broth into the biggest pot Kristy owned. “Who said we’re having sex?”

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