Page 23 of Freeing Hawk
“You’re close to the investigation.” I offered. “You care about him. It happens.”
“I can’t afford to be too close to this.” She snapped. “I promised his baby I’d find him before the baby gets here. I can’t break that promise.”
I glanced at her quickly then back at the road. “Well, we’re going to do the best we can.”
“We?”
“You don’t think I’m going to walk away now, do you?” I pulled the car in through a set of wooden gates and parked beside Nikau’s Bentley. After turning off the engine, I turned to look at her. “Look, you’re outside your jurisdiction, and back-up isn’t exactly right around the corner. This could get dangerous…”
“You’re not a cop, Angel.”
“No—I’m ex Army Ranger. Didn’t Amelia tell you?”
She quirked a brow.
“No need to worry about me.” I gripped the handle and let myself out of the car. “I can handle myself.”
Hawk slipped from the vehicle and closed the door. She looked up at the massive building in front of us then patted her hip. I figured she was checking for her weapon—typical cop thing to do.
“Can I ask you something?” She didn’t look away from the structure.
“Sure.”
“You and Nikau…”
Her pause made me turn to rest my arms on top the vehicle. “Yes?”
“Are you two together?” She asked. “I mean, I have nothing against it. I’m just curious.”
“Why are you asking? What brought on this curiosity?”
She sucked her teeth and faced me. “The way you greeted each other at the club.”
For many years, people who didn’t understand the way Nikau and I greeted each other. Usually, we didn’t explain it. It was easy enough to find out what it meant by pressing our foreheads together. I smiled and nodded.
“It’s called the Hongi.” I told her. “Nikau is Maori. That’s how they greet people—Nikau greets people he loves and trusts like that.”
“So, you’re not gay?”
“Hardly.” I laughed. “I wouldn’t greet my man like that after he’d been away for so long. I would have kissed him and grab his butt.”
“Are you sure?”
I wandered around the car, caught her by the back of the neck and pulled her into my chest. Without thinking, I dropped my lips to hers. At first her lips remained closed and stiff. I passed my tongue over them and she sighed, melted into my chest as her lips trembled then parted. Kissing her was like the first lungful of air after surfacing from beneath the waves of the ocean. It was like tasting the most exquisite scotch in existence. Having her in my arms was like breathing life into my soul.
Ending the kiss threatened to kill me. But I pulled my lips from her.
I could barely breathe. “Ask that question again.”
“Oh, Jesus, I’m sorry!” She buried her face in her hands.
I smiled and headed for the door.
“Wait a minute!” Hawk called.
“You’re embarrassed, Hawk.” I called over my shoulder. “I’m trying to give you a moment to get it together.”
Hawk said nothing forcing me to turn. Her cheeks were red as she leaned heavily against my car. I watched her for a second then headed for the door.
