Page 12 of Snagged By Hook

“You got ’em all. Your wish will come true for sure.”

“Now it’s your turn, sweetheart. Let me see.” He stood and took a few steps onto the lawn and plucked a dandelion. June followed, getting in front of him once again, and he kept his back to Nova. A tattooed hand extended it to her daughter. “Make your wish, little lady.”

Still not looking at the man, she watched her daughter hug the dandelion to her chest very gingerly, close her eyes, and whisper her wish. But the wind carried her words to Nova’s ears. “I wish Mommy could be happy and that Daddy never ever comes back because he makes us sad.” Her daughter’s brown eyes closed, as was her way when wishing.

June blew, and before she ran out of breath, a tattooed face leaned close to the stem and blew the remaining feathers loose. “You did it, sweetheart. Now your wish will come true.”

Nova gasped.

“You?” She spoke aloud without intention.

Tattooed Ass Weasel turned his gaze to Nova and stood upright. She didn’t miss the shocked look on his face as his gaze shifted from her to June and back again.

“Me.”

“Mommy, me and Jeremy made wishes, and they’re both going to come true.” Nova didn’t bother correcting her grammar. She wouldn’t ruin this moment for her daughter.

She couldn’t understand how Hook or Jeremy or TAW had managed to gain her daughter’s trust so fast, but he did, and any minute he would destroy it by taking their van.

Another man June trusted who would leave them in worse shape than he found them. When he towed their car, and he would, they would be totally fucked.

The seduction ploy was out of the window. When he was a nameless, faceless entity, she thought she could do it, but it was Hook. He was tied to her job, so it was all kinds of fucked up now.

She turned to her daughter’s happy face, backlit by the setting sun.

“That’s awesome, Bug. I hope you made the biggest, bestest wish ever.” June didn’t need to know that Nova had heard or that the wish broke her heart.

“Jeremy’s too.”

“Yep. Jeremy’s too.”

“So?” Hook asked and slid his attention to her car on the truck. It seemed he was as weirdly uncomfortable about the situation as she was.

“Yeah.” She didn’t want to get into details. Not with a member of the club who was her employer, and not in front of her daughter. But maybe she could get him to take an advance on her pay from the bar to leave the car.

“June. Why don’t you go inside and get your stuff packed for Mrs. Griffith’s?”

“Okay, Mom.” She watched her daughter rush to Hook and throw her arms around him in a hug before running toward the house. If she was shocked by her daughter’s actions, he looked doubly so.

Once June was out of earshot, Nova cleared her throat and drew in her courage. “Look, Hook. I know we got off on the wrong foot, and you don’t owe me shit, but can you please leave the car? Maybe you could call Croon and get an advance on my pay to cover the costs or whatever.”

When his expression didn’t change and his eyes drifted toward the house like he was bored, she soldiered on. “Please. I’m begging you.”

She was on the verge of offering the date he’d asked for in exchange for the car, but she just couldn’t force the words out.

Hook ignored her and walked toward the house. She heard him mutter something aboutthat should be on so the little one could see where she’s goingas he passed her. He opened the front door and stuck his arm inside while keeping his gaze on the porch light.

Hook stalked back toward her with barely leashed fury radiating off of him. It was intimidating. “Do you not have power?”

“Maybe the bulb is just out?” She crossed her arms over her chest in defense. Who was he to judge her?

“Really. Then I’ll change it for you while I’m here.” He headed back toward the front door. “Where do you keep your bulbs?”

The asshole. He knew it wasn’t the bulb, but would it kill him to allow her save face?

“Stop,” she called. “It’s not the bulb.” There was defeat in her own voice.

Hook returned and looked at her almost tenderly, but with that fury still pulsing from him. So, he wasn’t judging her for allowing her daughter to live theprairie lifeafter all.

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