Page 12 of Natalie's Nighthawk

Jude Riker picked up the thread of the story. “He looked at the guy for a moment as if he couldn’t believe he’d just said that.” Jude, formerly with the Army special forces, was a large, intimidating man with straight brown hair that was cut close to his skull. He was big and muscular, and his bulging biceps stretched the sleeves of his black t-shirt to their limit.

“Then he just walked away,” finished Evan Cole, a former police officer. Sick of the politics, he’d left the Chicago police force but not before he’d taken several of Nighthawk’s training seminars on his department’s dime. It simply made sense that he made the transition to full teammate and fellow trainer. “The man could have been a multimillionaire, and he just walks away.” Evan’s face was expressionless under his brown hair, his blue eyes shuttered. He was quieter than the rest of the group, more reserved. Not as relaxed as the others.

“Not only that,” Finch remarked, sending a frustrated hand through his curls as they fell – as usual – across his brow. “But the Nighthawks could have been fully funded for the rest of our lives!” He shook his head. He still couldn’t believe Graham had turned down that offer. “What was the boss man thinking?”

“He gave us a sizable donation,” David said, coming to his brother’s defense.

Another teammate, Logan Cain, raised his beer in salute. “Cheers to that!” The table erupted in huzzah’s all around, the clinking thuds of beer glasses ringing out across the bar. Logan was a former SEAL, his demeanor making him seem dark and brooding. He had brown hair with eyes that matched that dark vibe. There was an undertone of sadness in the man, one he didn’t talk about with his teammates.

“Well, if this isn’t just about the best-looking table I’ve ever had here!” cried a lovely redhead as she approached their tables. “Maddie, introduce me to your admirers.”

“Everyone,” Maddie said, getting the attention of the table. “This is Jolene Pritchett, proprietor and burger-making genius. And one of the best micro-brew masters in Southwest Michigan. The brew you are currently enjoying was designed by Jolene.”

“You flatter,” Jolene teased. “And yes, my mother was a Dolly Parton fan. And no, you can’t sing it to me.” Everyone laughed thinking she'd obviously heard too many joke and bad renditions of the song at her expense.

Maddie started to name everyone around the table. Finch stood up and inclined his head to Jolene; his old-fashioned manners so ingrained they often made the rest of the group look like assholes. “You made this?” he indicated his drink.

“That and a few others,” Jolene answered with a wink swiping a stray strand of red hair behind her ear. Everyone praised her talent. She did make a decent beer.

“Heard the kids were found.” Natalie nodded with a broad smile, her joy at the kids being found safe uncontainable. “Well, thank God for that. I’ll let you all get back to it then,” she said as she sauntered back to the bar. The men started teasing Finch for his obvious infatuation as they caught him staring after her. They all got a kick out of his unrelenting impeccable manners when it came to the opposite sex, but they’d never seen him so flustered before.

“I’ve heard you don’t take any payments for the rescues you do,” Maddie said, continuing the conversation that Jolene had interrupted. She sat on the other side of the table from Natalie between David and Finch. “How do you fund such an elaborate operation?” Maddie was a freelance bookkeeper; finances and numbers were her life. He couldn’t fault her for being curious about the Nighthawk’s finances.

“Donations mostly. But our training sessions and certification classes also help to offset the costs,” Graham answered from his position next to Natalie. As he explained to Maddie how his operation stayed afloat, he casually sat back in his chair. Taking a slug from his glass, he stretched his right arm out across the back of Natalie’s chair, his fingers lightly brushing her shoulder. He hid a smile behind his beer when he felt her tremble through his fingertips.

“You should watch the 20/20 interview Graham did a few months ago after all the Marcus Rayne hoopla,” Logan said. “He explains how we operate in detail.”

Natalie heard Graham groan. “That stupid interview. I should never have done it. It’s sure to haunt me for the rest of my life.”

“Ididsee it,” Maddie exclaimed, ignoring Graham’s complaint.

“What?” Natalie cried. “You didn’t tell me anything about it.”

“Where do you think I got the idea to ask them for help in finding Colin and Lucy?” Maddie replied.

“You haven’t seen it?” Graham asked, aghast. “I thought the entire world had seen it by now.”

“No. I told you I don’t watch the news much,” she replied. “I’m just surprised my own sister didn’t tell me about it. I would have liked to have seen it.”

“I bet you can still find it on the internet. Just search Graham’s name,” Jude supplied.

“Yeah, look,” Finch said, holding up his phone. “It’s one of the first stories that pop up under his name!” Graham rolled his eyes and groaned at his men. They all knew how much he hated that video, and they never passed up an opportunity to tease him about it.

“You should watch it, Natalie,” Maddie told her. “I found it quite informative,” she continued with a wink.Fuck.He forgot they had shown Natalie’s nighthawk drawing in that interview. He’d referenced the artist as a “special friend” several times. He was suddenly glad she had never seen it.

“We also hold a few fundraisers throughout the year,” Graham explained, desperate to change the subject.

“Yeah,” Wyatt “Tin Man” Tinsley groaned. “Graham makes us dress up in those monkey suits.” Tin Man, a former Ranger, was another good-looking Nighthawk. Especially when he smiled, and his dimple appeared to the left of his mouth.

“Not only that,” Logan lamented. “He makes us schmoose too.”

“But with your natural charisma, you do it so well, Cain,” Tin Man teased. Logan shot a dark look at him. Tin Man winked back and blew him a kiss. His dark eyes rolled at the taunt.

“He may have the charisma,” Finch mocked, “but I’m the one that looks the best in those monkey suits. All the women with their husband’s big wallets flock to this magnificence.” He spread his arms wide to flaunt his perceived good looks.

Chapter 4

Asthemencontinuedtoteaseeachotheraboutwho’scharmcouldbringinthelargest donations, Natalie glanced across the table where Lauren was staring at her. There was something in that stare that unnerved her, but she couldn’t place what it was making her feel. She smiled and inclined her head to Lauren to try to put them both at ease. Lauren’s eyes flashed briefly to Graham’s fingers brushing Natalie’s shoulder, then away without returning the friendly smile. Natalie couldn’t help but wonder what she had done that would cause the other woman to dislike her. Perhaps she was reading too much into the situation. She must be more tired than she thought. Natalie had spent the last two nights searching for and worrying about Colin and Lucy. Maybe the exhaustion was just catching up to her.

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