Page 22 of Emily's Essence

He ignored all the looks from his men.

“If you guys need anything else, give us a call,” Willow said.

“Thanks, girls,” the men called out.

The girls left.

Hawk looked at the guys filling plates and getting beer out of the frig.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Ink asked him.

“Yeah, I’m waiting for you guys.”

After everyone entered the living room, he filled his plate and grabbed a beer. They’d left him one of the chairs and turned on the TV to a game.

He watched the men instead of the TV and could tell they were more relaxed than he’d ever witnessed, and he attributed this to having their own place and putting down roots. He wished they had done it earlier, but it was the right time now, with the Vipers getting the house they could have and the two ventures they’d bought and would run. The purchase of both was made, and the papers were signed.

Each man would have their own job. They had talked about what they were good at or interested in and picked which places they would oversee. The businesses were running just fine without them, but he wanted the employees to know who was in charge.

They decided to call their corporation the Nomad Group, and they planned to buy more places over time.

Hawk pinched the bridge of his nose before he stood. “I’m going to get my bag out of the van and crash.”

Brick nodded. “I’m right behind you.”

Brick followed him outside to the massive van they had rented to move their stuff. They had everything they owned in a storage locker two states over. The men had packed the things they had collected over the years, stuffed everything into the van, and hooked up the two bikes they weren’t using because those men were driving the vehicle back. It had taken them two days for that alone, but they had stopped for an extra day to buy some essentials they would need.

Hawk picked up a box of his and his bag and headed back into the house. Once in his room, he set everything down on his desk. The box he planned to unpack later, but he wanted his clothes put away and to take a shower before he went to bed.

Fortunately, he was the first to get the shower, and within twenty minutes, he dropped into bed and groaned. The mattress was the best he’d ever been on. Sleep was pulling him down, and his last thoughts were of Emily.

It pissed him off the way she’d taken one look at him and ran. He knew he’d been a prick the last time they’d talked, but he hadn’t realized he’d hurt her that badly.

Hawk had a lot to learn about relationships. He just hoped he got it right before he made her run from him for good. Hell, she already had earlier that night, but this time wasn’t forever.

If it weren’t for the fact he saw deep emotion in her eyes, he’d think she had moved on. That thought made his stomach ache. He couldn’t lose her before he’d ever had her. It would make him crazy.

Chapter Ten

A few nights later, Emily dropped off the food the women had made for the group. She heard no one around, so she set it on the stove, covered it with a towel, and hurried to get out of the house.

“What are you doing?”

She gasped and spun to face Hawk. “I … I’m dropping the food off. Kristina told me to.”

He nodded but said nothing.

“I’ll get out of your way.” She headed for the door only to have an arm wrapped around her waist.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he murmured against the side of her head.

“Home.”

“So, you do consider this your home now?”

She felt a shiver race down her spine. “Yes, I guess. Is that a good thing?”

“Maybe. It depends on who wants you to stay.”

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