Page 12 of Find Me
In no time, they had placed their orders, and Mabel returned not long after with their food. Penny’s grilled cheese sandwich boasted thick slices of buttery, golden-brown bread hugging layers of gooey, melted cheddar and mozzarella, while Hawke’s cheeseburger was a symphony of savory flavors—juicy beef patty, crisp lettuce, and ripe tomato all nestled beneath a fluffy, sesame-seed bun.
“How did I not know about this place?” Penny said, her eyes widening in appreciation as she took in the generous portions.
“It’s the best restaurant in the city as far as I’m concerned,” Hawke encouraged with a warm smile, watching as she lifted the sandwich to her lips and took a bite. The crunch of the toasted bread combined with the rich creaminess of the cheese elicited a soft sound of pleasure from her, and Hawke couldn’t help but feel a thrill of satisfaction at the sight of her enjoying the meal. He’d like for her to enjoy him as much as that.
He lifted his own burger to his lips, the soft, warm bun yielding beneath his fingers as he bit down. The explosion of flavors assaulted his taste buds in the most exquisite way, the tender beef seasoned to perfection and cooked just right. He couldn’t suppress a low moan of appreciation, earning a knowing smile from Penny.
“Good, isn’t it?” she asked, her voice husky with shared pleasure.
“Better than I remembered,” he admitted. “And it’s not just the food.” His eyes locked on to hers, the unspoken words hanging in the air between them like sparks waiting to ignite a flame.
Penny’s eyes met his with a sparkle that heated him up. “You come here often, I take it,” she said, swiftly switching the subject.
He chuckled, wondering why she did that. She appeared interested… and then not. Hot and cold was her thing. “A few times a week usually, but I’ve been busy lately,” he replied. “It’s quiet, and Mabel’s sweet.”
“She is,” Penny agreed.
He finished his bite, and then asked, “You mentioned being close to your grandmother. Do you see her often?”
“She’s in a retirement community in Rhode Island,” Penny replied, dabbing her lips with a napkin. “I go as often as I can.”
Hawke watched her intently for a moment, before he asked, “Was she reason you got into hacking in the first place?”
“Why do you think that?” she breathed out.
He shrugged. “You don’t seem the type to do something for no reason.”
“What type do I seem?” she urged.
His gaze met hers and held. “Like the type that would do anything to protect someone they loved.”
She visibly swallowed and then put her sandwich down. “When I was sixteen, someone broke in my Gran’s house and robbed her. One of the assholes knocked her down. When the cops couldn’t find the guy, I did.”
He took his time chewing before responding with a slow shake of his head. “That’s impressive, but not at all surprising that you caught the perpetrator.”
She smiled and asked, “Did you grow up here in the city?”
“No,” he replied. “I grew up in San Diego with my happily married parents. I’m the only child, so it was a bit of a hit for them when I didn’t stay at home after the military, but the job offer at Phoenix was too hard to pass up.”
She snorted. “I bet. Working at a sex club would entice a lot of people.”
He watched the judgment in her eyes, but got it. The concept was out of the norm. “It was less about the sex club, and more about the money and being a part of a team again. The pay was three times what I would make elsewhere.”
“I guess that makes sense,” she said, taking a nibble of her sandwich. “What led you to join the military?”
He snorted. “Ego had me enlisting in the military. I was young and wanted to prove myself at the highest level.”
“You did that,” she pointed out.
He simply nodded in response.
She took another bite, and after swallowing, she questioned, “Do you feel like the military changed you?”
“Changed me?” he paused, clearly mulling it over. “Yes,” he finally answered. “It made me more aware of my mortality, of the fragility of life. But it also instilled in me a need to protect, to serve.”
“Do you miss the action?” she probed gently.
He shook his head. “I can’t think that way. After losing my leg, I had to adjust to a new way of living. I can’t let myself dwell on what could have been.”
