Page 22 of Natalie's Nighthawk

The guys had laughed when he’d asked Finch to drop him at the parking lot of the elementary school. He accepted the teasing, knowing that he’d have the last laugh when they each eventually found someone they were as eager to see.

Clean and dressed in a red Henley and jeans, he found Natalie in her kitchen. He didn’t notice the layout of the kitchen, being too busy taking her in. She was sexy as hell with a dark green sweater exposing one creamy shoulder. A shoulder he had the sudden urge to place his lips on. The blood rushed to a certain part of his anatomy as he stared at her bare skin.Was she not wearing a bra?There was no strap. More heat rushed through his veins.

“You must be hungry,” she smiled as if she knew exactly where his thoughts had gone. “Where should we go for dinner?”

He yanked himself out of his shoulder fantasy. “Pretty sure the Nighthawks planned to head to Jolene’s as soon as they got cleaned up, so I’d rather go somewhere else. Somewhere for just the two of us.”

Her eyes sparkled like emeralds as her mouth curled into a sexy smile. “Okay. Lake Haven has a few decent places, but aside from Jolene’s, the next best is Pizza Haven. And it shouldn’t be too busy this time of year. You can forget about that place during the summer, it’s always packed.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand to lead her out of the house, and she nabbed her purse and keys off the counter as they went. He waited on the porch while she locked the door behind them, breathing in the fresh lake air.

“We can walk there from here, but if you are tired, we can drive.”

“A walk sounds perfect,” he replied as he took her hand again. He couldn’t stop himself from reaching for her. Her hand felt so small and right in his larger one.

They headed down the sidewalk toward the center of town. The restaurant was quaint and perfect, set on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.

As the hostess directed them to a table, a small voice called out to them. “Miss Ghannon!”

“Lucy.” Natalie stopped at the table where the small girl, frantically waving to get their attention, sat with her family. “How’s my favorite five-year-old?”

“Not five anymore. Today’s my birthday! I’m six now!” She climbed up to stand on the seat of the booth until she was eye to eye with Natalie.

“Well, that sure is cause for celebration!” Natalie thumped a finger against her chin as she exaggerated thinking. “Hmm. I’m afraid I don’t have any present to give you right now.”

“That’s okay, Miss Ghannon. A hug is the best present you can give a person.” Wise words from the mouth of a six-year-old.

“That is very true, Lucy.” She opened her arms wide, and the tiny girl threw herself into the embrace, giggling as Natalie twirled her around. Placing Lucy back on the bench beside her mother, Natalie turned to the others at the table, “You all remember Graham Whitaker?”

Lucy’s dad stood to shake his hand. So did Colin, a miniature version of his father. After greeting the mother, Natalie laughed at something Lucy whispered into her ear. “Well, I’m not exactly sure,” Natalie told her. “But you can ask him if you’d like.”

Lucy turned to him, eyes solemn. “You’re a Nighthawk, right?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

“Miss Ghannon says that’s a bird.”

“That’s right.”

“Then … can you fly?”

He swallowed the laugh that threatened to escape. “Only with help.”

Lucy tilted her head as she studied him. “Good to know,” she replied seriously before a big smile lit her face. “Can I have a birthday hug from you too? After all, I’ll only turn six once.”

Graham chuckled. “Absolutely.” He caught the little girl as she leapt into his arms and gave her a squeeze. “Happy birthday, sweet girl.”

“Okay, Lucy,” her mother said as he set her back on the bench. “Let’s let Miss Ghannon and Mr. Whitaker get their own dinner now.”

“Okay.” Lucy plopped back down into her seat. She gave them one last wave before picking up a slice of pizza and taking a huge bite.

Graham and Natalie said their goodbyes to the rest of the family before he gently guided her to their table. He briefly imagined what it would be like to have a little girl as precocious as Lucy. A little girl with gorgeous green eyes. The thought didn’t scare him as much as it might have before Natalie came back into his life.

Having placed their orders, Graham reached across the table for Natalie’s hand. “I’m truly sorry I was late tonight, Chickadee.”

“Graham, you don’t need to apologize. I understand. I worried about you, but I knew you would eventually let me know what was going on.”

Hearing her say she had worried about him sent an unfamiliar jolt through his system. A not so unpleasant jolt if he were honest with himself. It felt nice to have someone outside his immediate family worry about him.

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