Shotgun Bride
Shotgun Bride
Leann Harris
SHE WAS A WOMAN IN NEED OF PROTECTION…and Matthew 'Hawk' Hawkins was the only man who could keep pregnant-with-his-child Renee Girourd safe from the hired killer pursuing her. The rugged lawman promised to guard Renee with his life. Trouble was, his best hope to protect his former flame was to marry her….Commitment-wary Hawk had vowed never to let any woman break down the protective walls around his heart. Yet sharing close quarters with Renee had him remembering how natural it had felt to held her in his arms, how much she'd touched his soul. And soon Hawk wondered who posed the most danger to him–the killer or his lovely wife?
What had he been thinking when he nearly devoured Renee in the hall?
Hawk wondered.
When he’d grabbed her to prevent her from falling, and plastered her body against his, that was all he’d needed to touch off the inferno he’d been fighting this past week.
Being near her in the apartment had slowly driven him mad. Every moment, he’d had to pretend he wasn’t affected by her, didn’t remember their time together. He’d thought he would die if he didn’t hold her once more.
His reaction wasn’t so uncommon when it came to Renee. That was one of the things that had worried him when he and Renee were dating—his uncontrollable reaction to her.
Why was it so difficult to keep himself detached? After the fiasco of his first marriage, he’d learned his lesson and managed to stay away from any emotional ties. He hadn’t had any trouble until he’d met Renee, but then everything changed….
Dear Reader,
What is there to say besides, “The wait is over!” Yes, it’s true. Chance Mackenzie’s story is here at last. A Game of Chance, by inimitable New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard, is everything you’ve ever dreamed it could be: exciting, suspenseful, and so darn sexy you’re going to need to turn the air-conditioning down a few more notches! In Sunny Miller, Chance meets his match—in every way. Don’t miss a single fabulous page.
The twentieth-anniversary thrills don’t end there, though. A YEAR OF LOVING DANGEROUSLY continues with Undercover Bride, by Kylie Brant. This book is proof that things aren’t always what they seem, because Rachel’s groom, Caleb Carpenter, has secrets…secrets that could break—or win—her heart. Blade’s Lady, by Fiona Brand, features another of her to-die-for heroes, and a heroine who’s known him—in her dreams—for years. Linda Howard calls this author “a keeper,” and she’s right. Barbara McCauley’s SECRETS! miniseries has been incredibly popular in Silhouette Desire, and now it moves over to Intimate Moments with Gabriel’s Honor, about a heroine on the run with her son and the irresistible man who becomes her protector. Pat Warren is back with The Lawman and the Lady, full of suspense and emotion in just the right proportions. Finally, Leann Harris returns with Shotgun Bride, about a pregnant heroine forced to seek safety—and marriage—with the father of her unborn child.
And as if all that isn’t enough, come back next month for more excitement—including the next installment of A YEAR OF LOVING DANGEROUSLY and the in-line return of our wonderful continuity, 36 HOURS.
Leslie J. Wainger
Executive Senior Editor
Shotgun Bride
Leann Harris
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
I would like to thank the following people
for their help with this book:
Warren Spencer of Plano Police for his insight on a cop who’s
a lawyer. Tammy, Betty, Leanna and Jane for your input.
Faustino M. Perez of Houston PD for his input.
Any errors are strictly mine.
LEANN HARRIS
When Leann Harris first met her husband in college, she never dreamed she would marry him. After all, he was getting a Ph.D. in the one science she’d managed to avoid—physics! So much for first impressions. They have been happily married for over twenty years. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Leann taught math and science to deaf high school students until the birth of her first child. It wasn’t until her youngest child started school that Leann decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and began writing. She presently lives in Plano, Texas, with her husband and two children.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Chapter 1
“You want me to what?” Renee Girouard asked the old man lying in the hospital bed.
Emory Sweeney looked haggard and lifeless. “I want you to marry Hawk.” He turned his head and nodded to the corner of the room where the other man stood, staring out the window.
Renee’s gaze went to Matthew Hawkins. He glanced over his shoulder and met her stare. She searched his face for some clue to explain her employer’s bizarre request, but Hawk’s expression gave nothing away. Her mind flew back to the last time they’d talked. It hadn’t been a good parting. Had he told Emory about their relationship…or what was left of it? But that didn’t make sense.
“What’s going on here?” she asked, directing her question to Hawk.
Hawk’s brow arched, and he turned to face the other man. “Emory, you’d better tell her the reason you want her to marry me. From her expression it looks as though she’s not too taken with the idea.” He leaned back against the wall.
Unfortunately, Matthew Hawkins was handsome as sin: six foot two; wavy dark brown hair; deep, penetrating brown eyes; and a mouth that could be tender and seductive.
Renee pushed aside her thoughts and turned back to the older man. “Are you going to be okay, Emory?”
The colon cancer that had sent Emory Sweeney, the founder and president of Texas Chic to the hospital for surgery had worried everyone in the firm. Renee had visited St. Luke’s hospital numerous times this last week.
Emory took Renee’s hand. “There are some things I need to tell you.”
A chill swept over her, and she had the awful premonition that this man, her boss for the past three years, was going to tell her something that would forever change her life. Maybe she didn’t want to know what was going on. She’d heard a rumor that swindling had recently been uncovered within the company. But what did that have to do with the request Emory just made? And why ask her to marry Hawk?
A look of regret filled Emory’s eyes. “When you came to work for me after your parents were killed in the car accident, you thought it was a lucky twist of fate.”
The turn of the conversation surprised her. She’d been expecting talk of missing money or the reason why she needed to marry Hawk, but Emory was recalling the time he hired her.
“Yes,” she slowly answered. She’d often commented how fortunate it was that she’d gotten the internship with Emory’s company four years ago, after the accident as Emory’s assistant. The job had given her enough money to finish her schooling. Then when she graduated from Texas A&M, she’d been offered a permanent position with the firm. “Of course I remember.”
“Well, it wasn’t a coincidence.”
Her heart beat faster.
“I knew all about you and the tough situation you were facing, and I wanted to help you.”
“I’m glad you did.” She glanced from Emory to Hawk. Their expressions were dark. There was something more here that she wasn’t getting.
“You’d better tell her the rest, Emory, because I don’t think she’s going to marry me if you don’t,” Hawk urged. He moved away from the window and came to the bed.
Renee’s heart caught at the sight of him. He’d always had that effect on her. She thought she’d found the love of her life until—
Emory cleared his throat. “I’ve always known about you, Renee.”
She frowned. “You knew my parents before I was born?”
“I knew your mother.”
But not your father. Although it wasn’t said, the words rang through the room, carrying with them a dark shadow.
She cleared her throat. “Do you want to explain?”
“You’re my biological daughter, Renee.”
Denial sprang to life in her brain, but he continued.
“I met your mom at market in Dallas. At the time, my wife and I had separated. Your mother was young, vivacious and heartsick after being dumped by her fiancé. We had a brief affair. We shouldn’t have, but…” He paused, his memories obviously painful.
“I went back to my wife, and Carolyn went back home. She married your dad after you were born.”
Renee wanted to yell denials at him, but his words made some mysteries in her life fall into place. After her parents’ death, she’d discovered the date of her birth predated her parents’ wedding. That discrepancy had bothered her.
“Show her the birth certificate,” Emory ordered Hawk.
Hawk walked over to a briefcase, retrieved the document and handed it to her. She stared down at the paper. There on the line for the name of the birth father was Emory’s name.
“When Francois Girouard adopted you, the birth certificate was reissued,” Emory explained.
Her mind tried to comprehend the truth that had been revealed to her. “That can’t be true.”
“It is in the state of Texas,” Emory replied.
“Tell her the rest, Emory,” Hawk urged. The intensity of his voice set her nerves on edge.
Her gaze met Hawk’s. Had he known the circumstances surrounding her birth? Was that the reason he’d acted the way he had? Her brow furrowed. But that didn’t make sense. If he’d known who she was, wouldn’t he have wanted to marry her?
“I didn’t interfere in your life because it would’ve been wrong,” Emory explained. “You had parents who loved you. And if I had tried to be part of your life, too many people—my wife and son, your parents—would’ve been hurt. Now…
“I always kept up with you, Renee. When your folks died, I wanted to be sure you were taken care of.”
Suddenly the revelation was too much for her. She stumbled to the chair by the head of the bed and sat down. “Even if that’s true, why do you want me to marry Hawk? And why tell me now?”
Hawk moved around the bed and squatted in front of her. “Because Emory’s worried that when he announces you as his daughter, the person or persons who kidnapped and killed his son ten years ago might try to do the same to you.”
She turned to Emory. “What’s Hawk talking about? I know that whoever took your son was never caught, but why do you think I would be in danger?”
Emory’s eyes filled with grief. “The police were almost sure that someone in my family was connected with David’s kidnapping and death. Nothing could be proven, but I fear once I announce that you are my daughter, whoever went after David will come after you.”
She’d heard the rumors that someone close to Emory had been involved with the young man’s disappearance, then death, but she’d discounted it as unfounded gossip.
“So how will marrying Hawk change anything?”
“If anything happens to you, my estate will go to him, and whoever is behind this will gain nothing. My family knows Hawk’s history and they know how devoted he is to me. Besides, with Hawk still being a cop—and a lawyer for the Houston PD, it makes him a double threat.”
“What’s to stop them from going after Hawk, too?” she asked in desperation. “I mean, cops get killed in the line of duty.”
“The way I’ve drawn up my will. If something happens to both you and Hawk, then the entire estate goes to charity. Besides, Hawk can take care of himself.”
With a sixth-degree black belt in karate and his years spent as a patrol cop with the police department, she had no doubt that he could take care of himself and could protect her. But she needed time to digest the truths she’d just learned.
“I need to think about this.”
“I know this is a lot to dump on you, Renee,” Emory said. “Only, with the cancer, I don’t have a choice.”
She stood and placed the birth certificate on the bed. “I can’t decide this now.” Grabbing her purse, she started for the door.
“Renee,” Emory called out.
She paused at the door and looked over her shoulder.
“I hadn’t planned on telling you like this.”
“When had you planned on telling me, Emory?” Hurt and bitterness rang in her words, made all the worse by Hawk being there to witness it.
“If things had worked out, I would never have told you. But I’ve run out of time. I had hoped to ease you into the position as president.”
The pain in her heart expanded.
“Why didn’t you plan on telling me?”
“Because I didn’t want to disrupt your life. But now…my board of directors will understand my desire to give my company to my child. It will make things easier for you.”
“You have other family members,” she pointed out.
“And who do you propose I give it to? The person who’s stealing from me or the person who killed my son or maybe the person who’s being paid only to come to work and drink?”
Silence enveloped the room.
Emory’s explanation should’ve helped. Maybe it would when she got past the pain of betrayal. Why hadn’t her mother told her? If she’d lived, would Carolyn Girouard have ever told Renee the truth? She pulled open the door and raced down the hall. She didn’t stop until she slipped into her car. Collapsing in the front seat, she let the tears fall that she’d been holding at bay. Now not only was her future in doubt, but her past was, also.
Hawk stared at the closed door. “I don’t think that went too well.” His statement fell into the quiet room.
Emory sighed. “She’s a levelheaded woman. One of the best I’ve ever met. What we unloaded on her caught her off guard.” Emory’s eyes narrowed as he studied Hawk. “But I wonder? Is there something between you and Renee? Her reaction when I announced I wanted her to marry you seemed rather intense. Is there something I should know, Hawk?”
Damn, Hawk thought. The cagey old fox saw things others didn’t. Hawk was surprised that Emory hadn’t caught on before now about the relationship between Renee and him, but they had taken pains to keep it quiet. Too bad Emory had such a blind spot about the rest of his family. Or maybe he didn’t and that’s why he wanted this marriage to happen.
“Yeah, there’s something you should know.” Hawk slipped his hands into the back pockets of his slacks. “Renee and I have been seeing each other.” He wasn’t going to reveal the depth of their relationship. He didn’t want to think about the Heaven he’d experienced in her arms.
Emory smiled. “Then this request I’m making of you won’t be any hardship, will it?”
How could Hawk tell the old man that they had broken up when Renee had started talking about marriage? He’d already made that mistake when he was a cop going to law school, and he didn’t want to fall into the trap again. Renee hadn’t been able to live with his bad attitude toward marriage and had broken off their relationship. He hadn’t spoken to her since their parting argument two months ago.
“No, it won’t,” he lied. “I’ll make arrangements for us to get the marriage license.” Hawk picked up the birth certificate and put it back into the briefcase.
“I don’t think any of my family will be thrilled. That’s why I’m counting on you, Hawk. I’m going to call my lawyer, have my will changed. I can sign it after I watch you two get married.”
“Then I need to go find Renee and see if I can convince her to apply for the license today or tomorrow,” Hawk murmured, thinking out loud.
“There’s a charity reception we’re holding on Saturday night. That might be a good time to announce your marriage.”
Hawk wondered if he could talk Renee into marrying him. She didn’t seem to be taken with the idea.
“Hawk, thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Emory. I want your company to continue to survive and grow. It won’t happen with any of your relatives at the helm.”
Emory closed his eyes. “I know.” Defeat rang in his tone.
As Hawk walked out of the hospital, his thoughts were of Renee and this marriage. Whether or not she wanted to marry him, she was going to need him. Things were going to get rough. The reaction of Emory’s family—his sister Eloise, her husband Thomas, their son Todd, and Emory’s late brother’s daughter Stacy—would be explosive. They were jackals waiting for the old man to kick the bucket so they could pick the bones dry. He didn’t doubt each of them had plans about what to do with the money Emory would leave them. He’d heard talk among them about selling the company. Yes, Renee was going to need help.
When Emory confided to him about Renee being his daughter, Hawk had been shocked. Emory’s attitude toward Renee when she came to work for him now made sense. When Emory had asked him to marry Renee, Hawk hadn’t been able to deny the old man his request. Emory had been a lifeline for Hawk since he’d been a teenager. Any success in his life had been because of Emory’s support. He couldn’t walk away from the old man’s need.
Even if Emory hadn’t asked him to do this favor, Hawk would’ve thought of some way to protect the lady, because she was going to be in danger.
Renee’s hands shook so badly she couldn’t get the key in the ignition. Grabbing her purse, she slipped out of the car, locked it and started walking across the parking lot toward the city park and zoo. Maybe she could outwalk her thoughts.
The early spring day was perfect, with flowers blooming in the cultured gardens and the smell of honeysuckle in the air. She wished she could appreciate the beauty, but her mind kept replaying the stunning revelations of the morning.
She stopped by a bench and sank down on it. Emory Sweeney was her father. Not Francois Girouard—the man who’d raised her, loved her, picked her up when she’d fallen off her bicycle—but Emory Sweeney, the brash president of Texas Chic. Emory was an extravagant, outspoken maverick who’d made his millions in the sixties through a chain of retail stores, selling Texas chic apparel before it became popular.
How could it be true? As she thought further, little pieces of memory seemed to come together. The discrepancy between her birth date and her parents’ wedding. Renee had assumed that Francois had been her father. And then there were no pictures of him holding her as an infant. The pictures only started after she was three. Her mother explained that fact by saying they were destroyed in a fire.
Thrown into this mess was Emory’s request that she marry Hawk. The dynamic, handsome man had every female at Texas Chic vying for his attention whenever he showed up at company functions or visited Emory. He was the dangerous male who sent their blood racing, but Renee knew he had vowed never to commit to one woman after his disastrous first marriage and ugly divorce.
Marry a man who despised wedded bliss? When hell froze over, she vowed.
But there was something else to consider. She was pregnant and Hawk was the father. She took a deep breath. She had eventually planned on telling him, but she hadn’t yet come to terms with her situation. She wanted this baby, but hadn’t decided how she was going to deal with single motherhood.
Now it appeared she wouldn’t have to. But darn, she didn’t want to be like an unwanted rash that he’d acquired. And that’s what she would be. They had talked about marriage before or, correction, she’d talked about marriage after they’d made love, but he’d grown remote and said he didn’t want to go in that direction. As Renee had dressed that night, he asked why she was upset. She glared at him, asking if he had just wanted to have sex. He hadn’t responded. She told him she wouldn’t be available any longer.
She hadn’t spoken directly to him since that night two months ago. Whenever he showed up at Texas Chic offices, she made sure they didn’t cross paths.
Would the child look like his father? Would Hawk welcome the news? Did it even matter? Suddenly she was going to have a husband, a baby and gobs of money. It was a dream situation that should bring joy. But all she felt was trapped. She felt she was on a runaway train and she couldn’t get off until she reached the final destination, whatever that was.
“I was wondering where you disappeared to.” Hawk’s voice jerked her out of her thoughts.
She hastily wiped the moisture from her eyes and tried to get her emotions under control before she faced him. “I needed to clear my head before I got into my car.”
He sat down beside her, and his gaze probed hers. It appeared he wanted to say something, then shook his head and looked out into the park.
“Emory wants to announce our marriage and the news that you’re his daughter at the reception he’s holding Saturday night.”
Shock raced through her. “I haven’t decided if I can go through with this request. It’s ridiculous. I don’t need you to protect me. If I’m really Emory’s daughter, he can afford to hire an army of security guards.”
“True. But Emory wants to drive home the point to his family that they will lose their company if anything happens to you.”
“What’s your motivation? Why do you want to do this?” she demanded.
“Your safety.”
“Oh, please.” She fell silent for a moment, then the doubt popped into her mind. “You think someone would come after me?”
“I do. Emory’s family wants his money. You being named the heir would mess up their plans.”
“I can’t believe—”
Hawk’s hand shot out and he grasped her chin, forcing her eyes to his. “Believe it, Renee. I was there when Emory’s son was kidnapped. All the indications pointed toward someone close to Emory being responsible for the tragedy. The kidnapper knew too many things about David’s habits and schedule. It wasn’t just a lucky break that they caught him alone.”
Renee’s heart broke. Emory kept the last picture of his son, his sophomore-year school picture, on his desk.
“We want you to be safe.” When she didn’t respond, he added, “You didn’t have trouble with the idea of marrying me the last time we talked.”
She wanted to throw her purse at him. “You did.”
“This isn’t about me. It’s about you.”
She wondered if her safety was really his main concern, or did the change in her status to wealthy woman have anything to do with his change of heart? But that didn’t make any sense. From his actions, Hawk had never been interested in Emory’s money. “Then why even mention I’m his daughter?” she asked.
“Because Emory wants to be sure you’ll get the company. I also think he wants everyone to know you’re his child. Looking death in the eye makes you see things differently.”
She raised her brow in skepticism.
“That’s my guess.”
Too many feelings were bouncing around inside for her to know what she felt. Hawk wouldn’t marry her because he loved her, but he would marry her to protect her? Somehow she didn’t buy it.
“Renee, why don’t we go and get a marriage license? If you can think of a better way to address the problems that are sure to crop up, then we can consider it. But if we have the license, then we’ll have that option.”
A sick feeling settled in her stomach. “I don’t think things are as dark as you paint them. Besides, the problem will be solved if I just tell everyone I don’t want Emory’s company.”
“Don’t be foolish.”
Anger raced through her. She stood. “I’ve done that before, haven’t I, Hawk? I guess my actions will be consistent.”
As she walked away from him, she heard him mutter a curse.
Renee pulled the High Point file from the accounts receivable filing cabinet. Emory had called the office late in the day and asked to see the account. She glanced around the empty office, peering into the shadows. The normally busy room took on a sinister feel. She tucked the file under her arm and walked into the hall. Although a few people were still in the building, a chill settled over her. She raced back to her office, grabbed her purse and headed toward the elevator. She hugged the file to her chest as she waited for the elevator. When it arrived, she breathed a sigh of relief.
When the elevator doors opened on the parking garage level, a car stopped before her, making her heart race. Hawk jumped out. “Why are you here this late?” he barked.
Relief made her light-headed. “Emory wanted to see this account.”
He continued to glare at her.
Irritation replaced the relief she’d felt. “I wasn’t aware it was in my job description to check in with you.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “Renee, something could’ve happened.”
She wanted to tell him he was imagining things, but she recalled her uneasiness in the accounting office. “How did you know I was here?”
“I went back to your apartment to talk to you about us getting married.”
“You’re not going to let this idea drop, are you?”
“No.” There wasn’t any room for argument. When Hawk got that look in his eye, it was a sure sign that not even the Marines would be able to move him. “You ready?”
“I’m going to take this file to Emory tonight.”
Hawk nodded. “I’ll follow you.”
Too bad he wasn’t as diligent two months ago, when she’d walked out of his life, she thought as she headed for her car.
“Get down,” Hawk suddenly shouted.
His yelled command stunned her. He lunged for her at the same instant she heard a shot echo through the empty garage. A second shot immediately followed. She felt the sting in the side of her head, then staggered, falling against the closest car. A warm stream of blood ran down her neck.
Panic raced through her as she crouched with her back to the door.
Hawk crouched beside her. He examined her head. “We need to get you to the hospital.”
“Is the shooter still out there?” Her eyes scanned the darkness of the parking garage. She felt a trickle of moisture run down the side of her face. She touched it and came away with blood on her fingers.
“Just keep down, and I’ll get you out of here.”
She latched on to his words. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and supported her as they ran toward his vehicle. She noticed the blood on his sleeve. He helped her slide into the front seat, then climbed over her, started the car and floored it.
“Your arm,” she murmured.
He glanced at her. “Don’t worry about me.”
She felt dizzy. She leaned back against the seat. She could’ve died or worse, her baby could’ve been hurt or she might miscarry. Secure in the knowledge that Hawk would take care of her, Renee relaxed. It was her last conscious thought.
When Hawk pulled into the emergency entrance of Herman Hospital, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had called ahead on his cell phone, and people were outside waiting for them. His tension shot up 100 percent when he glanced at her and saw that she was still unconscious. Leaping out of his car, he raced around and helped the attendants pull Renee out and place her on a gurney.
“What happened?” asked one of the nurses.
“Someone shot at her,” Hawk answered.
“From the looks of your arm, it appears you were in the way.”
“It’s minor.” Hawk tried to follow Renee but was stopped by the nurse.
“Let’s take a look at your arm,” the nurse commented.
Hawk wasn’t interested in getting the wound tended, but the nurse had a determined look in her eye that told him she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. He thought about flashing his badge, but knew he wouldn’t be any help to Renee in the E.R.
He nodded. “Afterward, you’ll check on the woman I brought in.” When she hesitated, he added, “I’m a cop.”
She didn’t look convinced until he produced his badge.
“You got a deal, Lieutenant.”
After his arm was cleaned and wrapped, the nurse went to check on Renee. Hawk couldn’t sit still. Adrenaline still raced through his veins.
Someone had tried to kill Renee. There was a slight possibility that what happened tonight was a random crime, but he didn’t buy that scenario. He had a feeling the crime had been directed at her. Emory’s fears were well-founded, and he was going to have to stick closer to Renee than her skin.
Needing to report the incident to the police, he went back to his car, grabbed his phone and dialed Houston PD and told the operator what had occurred, then asked for his ex-partner, Tony Ashcroft, who was now a homicide detective. In minutes Hawk would have to answer a lot of questions.
But then again, the police weren’t the only ones who wanted answers.
“I don’t know anything else, Detective Ashcroft,” Renee said to the HPD detective. Her head pounded.
The tall, athletically built man closed his notebook and slipped it into his pocket. He was thirty-five, with a youthful appearance that probably fooled a lot of people into believing that Tony Ashcroft was younger than his years. Yet, from the looks he exchanged with Hawk, Renee had the feeling that the detective wasn’t easily fooled.
“If you remember anything more, please contact me, Ms. Girouard.” He handed her his business card.
She nodded.
Ashcroft looked at Hawk. “I’ll call you later and let you know what we’ve uncovered.”
When he left, Renee asked, “You know Detective Ashcroft?”
“Yeah, Ash and I were rookies together. I went to law school and he became a detective.”
Her eyes fluttered closed.
“Are you feeling sick, Renee?”
Her eyes popped open. “No,” she lied, pressing her fingers to her lips. “I was trying to go over what happened to see if I could recall anything new.”
“Did you?”
“No.” She paused. “But there is something bothering me.”
Caution entered his eyes. “What exactly is that?”
“Why were you so sure something might happen?”
He flushed. “I had an itch between my shoulders.”
“What?”
“Sometimes cops get a feeling—” He shrugged.
Her eyes widened. “Are you talking about intuition?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t shake this feeling that something wasn’t right. I went to your place, but you weren’t there, so I drove to your office.”
He moved to the side of the bed. His fingers lightly brushed back the strands of hair that had caught on her bandage at her temple. A look of tenderness crept into his eyes, making her breath catch. It was the look that had stolen her heart before everything had fallen apart.
“Your father was right. Someone doesn’t want you to inherit his company.”
“I don’t believe anyone—”
“When I went to Emory’s locked drawer to get the copy of your birth certificate, it was open, which means someone knows.”
She knew he was right, but didn’t want to accept it. “What if I publicly say I don’t want Emory’s money?” She felt as though she was trying to push a boulder uphill.
“You could, but what if that won’t make a difference? Emory has already decided that no matter what, his family won’t get the company.”
She didn’t have an answer for that.
“And what if the killer decides you’re a threat to them while you’re still living? Emory might change his mind if you die before him. The danger’s not going to go away.”
His arguments were ugly and persuasive.
“Emory’s solution seems the best way to deal with the problem,” he added.
“By marrying you?”
He nodded.
“My own personal bodyguard.” Her gaze met his. She felt his will pulling her to agree. There was such passion in the man, and she knew that only too well. But his passion—his loyalty—was for Emory, not her. Her eyes fluttered closed, not wanting him to see her pain.
“I’ll think about it, Hawk.”
“You do that, Renee.”
He walked out the door, leaving Renee staring at the closed door.
Renee knew he was going to break her heart again.
After making sure that a private guard was posted outside Renee’s door, Hawk made his way to Emory’s room. “Emory, you were right. Someone’s after Renee.” Hawk explained what had happened.
“Is she okay?” Emory demanded, his expression full of anxiety.
“Yes.”
“How are you?” Emory glanced at Hawk’s arm.
“It’s nothing.” He rubbed the back of his neck to ease the fear twisting the muscles into knots. “I was almost too late.”
“So I was right to be concerned when you discovered the drawer open,” Emory sighed.
As Hawk had told Renee, when he had gone to get Renee’s birth certificate from a secured file in Emory’s office, he’d found it unlocked. The key hadn’t been in the place Emory had said it would be. When Hawk informed the older man of the situation, he offered to come up with a protection plan for Renee. Emory insisted that marriage between the two of them was the best way to keep her safe. “I’m afraid so. Now I think Renee believes us.”
Emory frowned. “After you two get married, we’ll announce it to the world.”
Hearing Emory speak of that event brought Hawk a mixed bag of feelings. With his track record of a failed marriage and his parents as a miserable example, Hawk didn’t expect he would be good at being a husband. And yet…
He slipped his hands into his pockets. “Do you have the files that the private detectives gathered when your son was kidnapped? I’d like to look at them along with the police records. Maybe I can see something with a fresh eye after all these years.”
“All right, Hawk. I don’t want anything to happen to my child. Or to you.”
“If I have anything to say about it this time, Emory, you’ll not lose this child. You have my word on it.”
Of course, Hawk didn’t know if he could live up to the promise, but he would die trying.
“All right, Hawk, you win.” Early-morning light streamed into her hospital room, outlining Hawk’s tall frame as he leaned against the wall. Her breakfast tray was untouched, a testament to the fact she would throw it up if she ate. “We’ll get married, but it will be in name only,” she warned. Since she didn’t see another way out of the mess, they would marry, but she wasn’t willing to risk her heart again. “No sex.”
Hawk stared at her, then nodded. “Then let’s go down to city hall and get the license.”
“Sounds good, then you can drive me to work.” Too bad that it didn’t sound romantic. It sounded more as if they were closing a business deal.
But, of course, that was exactly what they were doing.
Chapter 2
“Hawk looked down at the marriage license issued by Harris County. The event he’d tried so hard to avoid for the past five years was about to come to pass.
“Here you go, sir,” the clerk said, handing Hawk the change for his twenty.
After pocketing the money, he turned to Renee. She stared at the paper in his hand as if it were a snake coiled to strike. Apparently, her reaction to this marriage wasn’t any better than his. “Ready to leave?”
She nodded, her face pale.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she muttered.
They were halfway down the hall of the courthouse when she stumbled against him. His arms shot out, catching her as she collapsed.
“Damn.” He scooped her up and walked to a nearby bench. Sitting, he cupped her face. “Renee?”
“Oh, dear, what’s wrong?” a woman asked.
Good question, he thought to himself. Was the reason she fainted due to the wound on her head or was it a reaction to them getting the marriage license?
“Would you like me to get a wet paper towel from the bathroom?” she asked.
“Thanks.”
The woman hurried away.
“Come on, sweetheart, wake up.” If she didn’t come around he’d call the paramedics.
“Here’s the towel,” the woman said, offering it to him.
Carefully, Hawk brushed the towel over Renee’s face. She moaned and her eyelids fluttered. Relief flooded him.
“Why don’t I get her something to drink?” the woman suggested.
Hawk nodded, his attention focused on Renee.
Confusion, then embarrassment filled her eyes. “What happened?”
“You fainted.”
Her brow knitted into a frown. “I never faint,” she replied, struggling to sit up.
“Maybe it has something to do with your wound. We should go back to the hospital.”
“No, I don’t think so. I didn’t eat this morning. The oatmeal they served at the hospital looked like paste.”
“Here you go, young lady,” the woman said as she returned. “Try this soft drink. It might help.”
Renee took the can and slowly sipped it. After a moment the color started to return to her cheeks.
The woman glanced at where they had just come from. “Are you two going to get married?”
“Yes,” Hawk answered.
“Congratulations.” The woman walked to the office beside them and opened the door. The strong smell of coffee hit Renee like an eighteen-wheeler and her stomach roiled. She pressed her hand to her mouth and looked around for the bathroom door. Spotting it, she ran across the hall.
Alarm raced through Hawk, and he started after Renee.
“I’ll check on her,” the woman told him, stepping between him and the bathroom.
He wanted to do it himself, but he didn’t need to create a riot in the courthouse. Things were already enough of a mess. He didn’t need to make it worse.
After she lost the contents of her stomach, Renee stumbled out of the stall to the sinks. The woman who’d brought her the soda handed her another wet towel.
“When I was pregnant with my oldest, I couldn’t take the smell of coffee. My husband was sure glad when he could have his morning cup again.”
Renee’s eyes fluttered closed. Coffee, congealed oatmeal, what next? “I do miss my morning coffee.”
“I’m sure your young man is excited by the prospect of becoming a father.”
That was a question that she’d wrestled with since the day the pregnancy stick had turned blue. She still hadn’t come up with an answer. Would Hawk be pleased? Furious? Would he try to deny being the father? At this point, it didn’t matter.
“You okay now?” the woman asked.
Renee nodded and they walked into the hall.
Hawk stood outside the door, waiting. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
He didn’t look convinced.
The older woman smiled at Renee, then turned to Hawk. “Just hang in there. Her morning sickness should pass soon. And take comfort, my poor husband couldn’t drink coffee, either, until I gave birth to our son.”
“Morning sickness,” Hawk repeated. “Morning sickness?”
“I’d like to go home, Hawk.” Renee didn’t wait for him but started down the hall.
He quickly caught up with her. “Are you pregnant?”
She stopped and glared at him. “You want to have this discussion here in the hall of this public building so all of Houston can see and hear us, or do you want to have it back at my apartment?”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ll wait until we’re home. But then—”
“Then I’ll talk to you.”
She thanked Heaven that Hawk didn’t demand answers there in the courthouse. She didn’t know what her reaction would’ve been if he’d pressed the issue.
They were almost at her apartment when Renee’s stomach growled, breaking the tense silence. When Hawk glanced at her, a blush colored her cheeks. He pulled into the fast-food restaurant across from her apartment building and went to the drive-through window. He ordered the breakfast biscuit he knew she loved. When he ordered a coffee, she shook her head.
“No coffee. Orange juice, please.” She rested her head on the back of the seat.
After getting their order, he drove to her apartment. He followed her up the stairs and into the building. Once inside, he put the bags on the kitchen table where a thick book sat. The Complete Guide to the Nine Months of Pregnancy. Hawk picked it up.
The book detailed the changes in her body and even mentioned food that might upset a pregnant woman. Too bad it hadn’t mentioned coffee.
“Were you going to tell me?” he asked accusingly.
Guilt swamped her, followed by anger. “You can get off your high horse. As I recall, you didn’t want to get married, so why would I think my being pregnant would make a difference?” Her harsh indictment hung in the air.
“It would’ve.”
That wasn’t a comfort to her. Or was it? “How was I to know?”
“Have you been sick often?”
“I’ve been puking in the mornings and in the afternoons. Certain smells drive me into the bathroom to lose my lunch. Obviously, coffee is one smell I can’t tolerate.”
“Then I’d say it’s fortunate we’re going to get married.”
“You should write for a greeting-card company,” she replied. “You’ve got a way with words.”
He tensed as if she’d hit him with a lash, but he didn’t return the hostility.
The instant the words were out of her mouth, Renee wanted to take them back. It would gain them nothing to be at each other’s throat. In spite of everything, marriage to Hawk was the logical solution for this mess and probably the easiest. Too bad it wasn’t the most palatable.
She wanted to ask him why he was doing this, but she knew the answer. Hawk’s devotion to Emory was legendary around the company. It was as if Hawk had become the son that Emory had lost. And not only would Hawk protect her, but Emory would also have his socalled son marry his illegitimate daughter. It was perfect solution for some people. Just not for her.
“Why don’t we eat? We can talk about how we’ll tell your father about the baby. It makes our marriage that much more important. Now it’s not only your safety that’s up to me, but our child’s, as well.”
Although Renee didn’t want to sit down and talk, her stomach growled. Ignoring him, she stepped around his body and reached for one of the sacks. If he thought everything was going to be as it was before, then he was in for a big shock.
He waited until she was almost finished with the biscuit before he repeated his earlier question. “Did you plan on telling me about the baby?”
“It wasn’t going to be a secret much longer.”
“But you weren’t going to tell me,” he pressed.
“As I recall, you didn’t appear to want any involvement.”
“I wouldn’t have walked away,” he tersely replied.
Her eyes narrowed. “I see. You would’ve endured.”
A muscle jumped in his jaw. “We can speculate all we want but the facts won’t change. We’re going to be parents, and that should be our main concern…and your safety, of course.”
He reached out and grasped her hand. The electricity that always seemed to be there ignited.
“Renee, I know you wanted something different. A romance, a church wedding with all the trimmings. But I can’t give those to you. I wish I could.”
“I don’t want your pity, Hawk.”
Cupping her chin, he shook his head. “It isn’t pity, Renee. It’s regret.”
Great, just what a prospective groom shouldn’t say. He regretted the situation. It didn’t comfort her.
Hawk leaned against the passenger side door of his car. Pregnant. Renee was going to have his child. The very idea of it shook him to the core and ripped through the wall of emotions that he’d fought a lifetime to suppress. His own mother had been expecting him when his parents were forced to marry. She had used the event as a club in every argument his parents ever had. He could still hear her shouting how he’d ruined her life. He clamped down on the memories.
Instead, he thought about Emory. Would Emory be excited about the idea of a grandchild? Of course he would be, but Hawk knew that none of the other Sweeneys would welcome the news. It made protecting Renee all the more important.
Would she ever have told him about the child?
Don’t be stupid, his conscience told him. You two weren’t talking. Why would she tell you that she suspected she was pregnant? But as she said, it wouldn’t have stayed a secret much longer.
He didn’t like the idea of not knowing about the child. They hadn’t planned on it, but no matter what, he wouldn’t walk away.
Hearing the front door close, he watched her walk toward him. Renee Michelle Girouard was a beautiful woman, with deep-blue eyes and long auburn hair that caught fire in the sunlight.
The first time he’d seen her, when she’d come to work at Texas Chic between her junior and senior year in college, Hawk knew he was in trouble. His attraction to her had scared him, and he’d tried to ignore his body’s reaction. That was why he made sure not to be around when he knew she was. Her flawless, pale skin was accented by a well-formed mouth, expressive eyes that a man could lose himself in and auburn hair that she wore wrapped in some sort of twist at the back of her head. He remembered when that soft hair had tumbled down and enveloped both of them in a world of pleasure and delight.
He put the brakes on his thoughts. He didn’t need to make himself any more miserable than he’d been these past couple of months. But he had ignored his misery. His ex-wife had taught him well. Don’t listen to your heart. The few relationships he’d had since his divorce five years earlier only reinforced the idea that he would never find a woman with whom he could share common ground.
“Are you ready?” he asked, pushing away from the car. They were going to go back to the hospital to reveal their secret to Emory.
She looked up at him. He always liked the way she’d fit so well into his arms.
“I’m as ready as I can be.”
After he closed her door, he walked behind the car. He was going to be a father and a husband. The news was unsettling. But more than that, in the back of his mind loomed the fear that maybe this woman could find a way to get through the wall he’d built around his heart.
Emory smiled at the couple from his hospital bed. He looked ready to run around the room and shout. “So we’re going to have a wedding this Saturday?”
“Yes,” Renee replied. “Hawk convinced me.”
“When he sets his mind to something, it usually gets done,” Emory replied.
“Tell him the rest, Renee,” Hawk urged.
“What else?” Alarm threaded Emory’s voice.
She swallowed. “I’m pregnant.”
Emory’s gaze went from Renee to Hawk. He knew what the old man was silently asking.
“I’m the father,” he told Emory.
A smile of delight lit the old man’s face. “I’m going to be a grandpa?” The wonder in his voice touched Renee’s heart.
Although she hadn’t worked through her feelings about Emory being her father, Renee liked and respected him as a human being. He was a smart, cagey man, who dealt fairly with those around him. She grasped his hand and smiled. “I guess I don’t have to ask if you’re pleased.”
“That doctor better have gotten all that cancer, because I want to see my grandchild grow and get married one day, too.” A new life seemed to come into his eyes. “I’ll announce your marriage at the reception at the house on Saturday night.”
Hawk nodded.
“I’ll make sure the chapel and the priest are ready. Also, I’ll contact the lawyer.” Emory grinned and grasped Renee’s hand. “Thank you. I’m going to be a grandpa.”
The smile on Emory’s face was pure joy.
“I’m afraid after the announcement on Saturday none of Emory’s family will be happy,” Hawk commented on their way to her office.
They had argued about him driving her to work, but he said he didn’t feel comfortable letting her go alone. With the shooting incident fresh in her mind, she didn’t argue for long. Besides, her car was still parked in the garage at work. She turned to face him. “Are you trying to scare me?”
“Yes.”
“At least you’re honest. But then again, you were faultlessly honest about so much.” It was a low blow, but the words were out of her mouth before she thought.
His face tightened, but he didn’t try to defend himself as he drove the car around a slow-moving truck. “We’ll need to think about how we’re going to handle things after the marriage.”
“What things?”
“Where are we going to live? Do you want to move in with me, or me with you, or get another apartment?” He sounded so blasé, as if their living arrangements didn’t matter to him.
He had a valid point, but all her emotional reserves had been used up, and she didn’t want to slay that dragon now. “Could we talk about that later?”
“That’s fine. I’ll pick you up after work. Also, I’ll have some things with me for this next week. We can go over wedding details tonight.”
What she would’ve given to have heard that two months ago. “Do you need to stay—”
“Yes.”
“Surely you don’t think they’re going to come to my apartment?”
His eyes narrowed. “They kidnapped David from his football practice, in front of a field full of witnesses. It would be a hundred times easier to come after you in the privacy of your apartment.”
She wanted to argue the point, but too much had happened since noon yesterday when her world had exploded. “That’s fine.”
Five minutes later they pulled up in front of the office building. She scrambled out of the front seat, not waiting for him. He hurried after her, walking with her to her office. A new secretary sat outside her office. “Where’s my secretary?”
“She’s not feeling well today. I’m a temp here to help you.” The woman looked at Hawk and nodded. “I’m Julie McKinney.”
Once they were inside her office, Renee turned to Hawk. “Who is she?”
“She’s a policewoman. She’s going to be around for a while. We don’t want something else to happen to you.”
The color drained from her face. Hawk grasped her arm and guided her to her chair.
“You think something else is going to happen here?”
“I like to err on the side of caution, Renee.” He squatted before her. “I’ll do my best to keep you safe, but we need someone here.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “I know you’ll try to keep me physically safe. Too bad you couldn’t have been as good at guarding my heart.”
He flinched and stood.
She wanted to call back the words, but before she could say anything, the door to her office opened and Jacob Blackhorse, the head of security, entered. Jacob had broken more than one heart at the company. He was a handsome man with black hair and brown eyes. His exotic features and teak skin made the women at the company want to catch his attention. No one, as far as Renee knew, had. He and Hawk were two of a kind—and friends.
“I wanted to check and see if everything was okay here,” he said surveying both Hawk and herself. He pointedly looked at the bandage on her forehead.
“I’m fine, Jacob.”
“I’ve doubled the security around the building. And I’m thinking of upgrading our camera system in the garage.”
“Where’s my secretary, Jacob?” she asked.
“She’s temporarily been reassigned to another division. When things settle down a bit, we’ll bring her back.”
Heaven knew when that would be.
“I hear congratulations are in order.” He didn’t say more.
“Emory told you?” Renee said, then shook her head, swallowing her embarrassment. “Of course you’d need to know what was happening.”
A silent exchange passed between Hawk and Jacob.
“I’ll accompany Emory on Saturday,” Jacob informed her.
“I’m going to have more guards than the queen of England,” Renee grumbled to herself.
Jacob grinned.
“Why don’t y’all leave so I can work.”
Jacob moved to Renee’s side. “If you need anything, or are worried about anything, call me.” The understanding in his eyes made her want to cry. When she looked at Hawk, his frown surprised her.
“Thank you, Jacob.”
With a nod, he accompanied Hawk out of her office. Closing her eyes, Renee wondered if her life would ever be the same—or sane.
Hawk and Jacob studied the concrete pillar in the underground garage that bore the scars of his and Renee’s encounter with a would-be assassin’s bullet.
“The police didn’t find any evidence of the shooter in the bushes near the garage entrance,” Jacob informed Hawk.
“I know. Was anything on the security camera?”
“We’re still looking at the tapes.”
Hawk turned to his old friend. Jacob and Hawk had shared a number of hard times together. Jacob had been the one who’d witnessed his ex-wife, Brandy, proposition a friend of Emory’s nephew, Todd, and had let him know what had happened. Hawk had been there when Jacob had lost his wife to cancer. They’d also worked together to stop several attempts to kidnap Emory. Together with Hawk’s old partner, Tony Ashcroft, they’d been labeled the Three Musketeers.
“I don’t like this, Jacob,” Hawk muttered, surveying the area.
“I understand.”
“I have that same sick feeling in the pit of my stomach I had when David was kidnapped.” Hawk walked out of the shade of the garage and looked at the thick foliage surrounding the building. “Did you know Renee was pregnant?”
Jacob quickly hid his surprise. “No, I didn’t.”
“I didn’t, either, until today.” Bitterness colored his words.
“So, I take it her news surprised you.”
The knowledge still knocked him for a loop. He didn’t know if he was more irritated with her for keeping the secret from him or…what?
“Yes, since I hadn’t heard from her in a couple of months. Of course, her being Emory’s daughter was just as much a surprise. Those were two bombshells dropped on me within days. I’m still trying to grasp what’s going on.”
Jacob’s expression became solemn. “Hawk, she’s alive and healthy. Count your blessings.”
Being reminded of Jacob’s loss pricked his conscience. Hawk had what Jacob had lost.
“You need to know, Jacob, when I went to get Renee’s birth certificate, the locked drawer where it was kept was open.”
“Is that why you left a message for me yesterday?” Jacob asked.
“Yes, but because all hell broke loose, I didn’t have time to call back. That’s why I want someone with Renee constantly.”
“I’m glad you warned me. I’ll also keep an eye on all the family members. Maybe the killer will tip his or her hand.”
“I doubt it.”
Hawk walked to the detectives’ squad room and spotted Tony Ashcroft at his desk. Hawk wove his way through the battered desks.
“Hey, Hawk, what are you doing down here? Slummin’? Hey, guys, the lawyer’s come down to our level.” The detectives’ squad room was on the first floor. Hawk’s new office was on the top floor of the building, with a panoramic view of the city.
Several comments were shouted at Hawk, none of which complimented his profession.
“Next time y’all want your butts pulled out of a sling, I’ll remind you of your comments.”
Laughter floated through the area.
“You through?” Hawk pointedly asked Ash.
“I went by the hospital this morning after you and Renee left. I thought I’d try to see if she could remember anything new.”
“I took her to work. Julie is undercover there as Renee’s secretary. I thought I’d check if you had any leads on the shooting,” Hawk began.
“Not a thing. There’s no pattern of robberies around that building. No muggings or thefts. It’s so squeaky clean, there aren’t even any parking tickets issued at that site.”
Hawk didn’t think much would turn up. He pulled a chair to Ash’s desk and sat. “So, it looks like the shooter was after Renee.”
“That’s what it looks like.”
There was another reason Hawk came down here. “Ash, I need a favor. I need a best man this Saturday.”
Ash leaned forward. “Best man as in—wedding?”
“You got it.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
Hawk didn’t respond.
“You’re getting married? And who’s this lucky bride?” Ash knew of Hawk’s split with Renee, and over the past two months had wisely not mentioned it.
“Renee Girouard.”
“I think you’ve been keeping a lot of things under your hat. You want to tell me about it?”
Ash deserved to know what was going on. Hawk explained about Renee’s situation and how Emory had asked for his help.
“That’s taking loyalty mighty far, isn’t it?” Ash asked.
“She’s pregnant.”
His bark of laughter rang through the room. “Oh, this gets better and better.”
Hawk didn’t need Ash preaching to him. Ash had his share of women problems and knew what Hawk’s exwife had put him through. “You want to be the best man or give me a sermon?”
Grinning, Ash slapped Hawk on the back. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
“I hope I can say the same.”
Ash’s grin didn’t diminish.
“You look like a fool,” Hawk complained.
Ash shrugged.
“I also need the name of that friend of yours, the ex-cop who’s gone into P.I. work. I want him to check out members of Emory’s family. We’re going to need to get a clearer picture of those folks to see if there’s something we can pick up on.”
“His name is Greyson Wilkins. Hang on, I’ve got his card here in my desk.” Ash opened the desk drawer and rummaged through it. “Ah, here it is.” He gave Hawk the card. “Grey’s a thorough guy.”
“Thanks, Ash.”
“When is this big event on Saturday?” Ash inquired.
“Ten in the morning. I was also needing another favor.”
“Shoot.”
“I’ll also need for you to go with us to the lawyer’s office afterward. If there are any questions about legalities, I want you as an expert. Also, plan on attending the reception. Emory’s going to announce to his family about Renee. We’ll need all the cops we can get.”
“You all are going to rattle a lot of cages, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. Probably ought to hire every off-duty cop in the city to handle the riot those folks are going to create.”
“You got it, pal.”
Hawk stood. “Thanks, Ash. I knew I could count on you.”
As he walked away, he heard Ash mumble, “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”
Hawk couldn’t have agreed more. But Renee’s safety and his child’s safety were more important than any embarrassment he felt.
Once back in his office, Hawk called the P.I.
“Wilkins Investigations, Greyson Wilkins.” The man who answered the phone wasn’t an advertisement for warm and friendly.
“Mr. Wilkins, my name is Matthew Hawkins. I’m Tony Ashcroft’s ex-partner.”
“Are you the partner who became a lawyer?”
“That’s me.” Hawk quickly explained the situation to Grey. “Can you check into the activities of Emory’s family. I need to know if any of them have outstanding debts or bad habits that are demanding a huge flow of capital.”
“I can do that.”
“Discreetly?”
“No problem. Where can I get in touch with you?”
Hawk gave his office number.
“I’ll give you a call in a week, tell you what I’ve turned up.”
“There’s one more thing I want you to do. I want you to do a thorough investigation of my fiancée, Renee Girouard.”
Grey paused. “Is there something you suspect that I might need to know about?”
“No, but I don’t want any surprises from ex-boyfriends or friends claiming they know about a scandal, once everyone knows about her inheritance. I want to be able to stop any sort of blackmail cold, with facts.”
Grey took down the essential facts on Renee’s life. “I’ll look into it.”
Hawk hung up the phone. He hoped Grey could turn up a lead. They were due for a break.
Renee glanced up from her desk to see Hawk standing in the doorway of her office. Her breath caught, and her stomach fluttered. She ought not to have this schoolgirl reaction every time she saw the man.
“It’s time to quit,” he commented.
“Since when did you become the time monitor?”
He quietly closed the door and walked to her desk. “Since you got shot.”
It was an ugly truth that she didn’t want to think about. “Have you talked to Detective Ashcroft today?”
“Yeah, we talked. They were able to dig a slug out of the garage wall. It was sent to the lab, but I wouldn’t hope for too much. It was mangled.”
The door opened. “Renee, here’s the—” Jackie Francis, Emory’s secretary, stopped when she saw Hawk. A grin curved her mouth. “I hear congratulations are in order, Matthew.”
“Emory told you?”
“I made the wedding arrangements.”
“Thanks, Jackie.”
“I will say when Emory asked me to make the arrangements, I couldn’t believe it.” The fifty-year-old grandmother shook her head. “Not after that girl in accounting went out with you last year. She said you were very adamant about no commitments.”
Hawk folded his arms over his chest, and a shuttered look entered his eyes. Renee was sure many a suspect had gotten that glare from Hawk, and it had probably broken them. Now he probably used it when questioning witnesses in the courtroom. It didn’t seem to faze Jackie.
After an uncomfortable silence, Renee asked, “Jackie, what was it you wanted?”
“Oh, here’s the report you asked for. Margaret down in accounting wasn’t too happy about doing it.”
“Tell her thanks for her work.”
Jackie smiled at Renee. “Just ignore Mr. I’m-the-Toughest-Guy-on-the-Block. I saw him with chicken pox. He’s human.” With that parting shot, she sailed into the hall.
A smile tugged at the corner of Renee’s mouth. She glanced at him and saw him scowling at the doorway.
“Chicken pox? How old were you?”
“Twenty. You ready to leave?”
“I’ll be ready once I lock my filing cabinet.” Within minutes they were walking out of the building. As they passed an open office, Stacy and Todd, Emory’s niece and nephew, emerged from the interior.
“Hawk, what are you doing here?” Stacy asked. Her gaze narrowed, going from Hawk to Renee.
“I’m picking Renee up after the shooting incident the other night.”
Stacy glanced at the gauze on Renee’s temple. “I heard about the incident. There was a lot of talk about it today. Sorry I haven’t been down to check on you. I’ve been busy.” The excuse was thin.
“Thank you,” Renee replied.
“Did they discover who did it?” Todd asked.
“Nothing so far,” Hawk informed him.
“Do you have any idea why someone would shoot at you?” Stacy asked.
“That’s the question the police are reviewing,” Hawk explained. They all started toward the elevator.
“Are you coming to the shindig Saturday night?” Todd asked Renee.
“Uh—yes, I’ll be there,” Renee answered. She wasn’t looking forward to announcing to Emory’s family that she was his daughter. She already knew that Stacy and Todd felt she was trying to get too close to Emory.
The elevator doors opened, and they all filed in. A tense silence reigned as the car descended to the first floor.
“We’ll see you for sure Saturday,” Todd called out as they walked out of the building.
“It’s not something I’m looking forward to,” Hawk grumbled under his breath.
It was a sentiment Renee shared.
Chapter 3
“As they approached Renee’s apartment, the door to the unit below hers opened. Hawk tensed and reached for his gun which he had started carrying again, then stopped when he saw the elderly woman emerge and walk toward them.
“Matthew Hawkins, what a pleasure to see you.” Cora Atkins was the grandam of the complex and had lived in Houston since the early forties. Her tales of the city before air-conditioning kept all the recent immigrants to the area in awe, especially in the summer when the temperature often went over one hundred degrees for days at a stretch.
“Why, just last Sunday I asked Renee about you.” Cora looked at the hanging garment bag slung over Hawk’s shoulder, then at Renee. “Do you want to tell me something?” she asked, anticipation coloring her face.
Hawk leaned over and brushed a kiss across her wrinkled cheek. “You’ll be seeing a lot more of me, Miss Atkins.”
Cora glanced at Renee, then whispered, “Are you marrying this fine young man?”
Renee arched her eyebrow and nodded to Hawk. “I am, but you need to keep it a secret until after Saturday night. We plan to surprise people.”
A twinkle entered Cora’s eyes. “I won’t tell anyone.” She rubbed her hands together.
“Also, Miss Atkins,” Hawk added, “there might be some people sneaking around here, looking for Renee. Reporters, you know. If you see anyone, you be sure and tell us. Or call HPD.”
“I’ll do it.” Cora leaned toward Renee and patted her on the arm. “Didn’t I tell you, my dear, that he’d be back?” Cora turned to Hawk. “She looked so troubled and lost when you weren’t here. But I assured her that any man who looked at a woman the way you looked at her—” her eyebrows wagged “—would be back. All she had to do was wait.”
Hawk didn’t know who was more shocked at the speech Cora delivered, Renee or him.
Cora nodded. “I’ll get out of your way so you can finish moving into the apartment. Congratulations,” she whispered as she walked past them toward the mailboxes.
Cora’s words were as effective as a shock grenade thrown between them. After a moment of silence Renee started toward her apartment. He followed.
She had her key in the lock when he reached out and stopped her. Her gaze flew to him.
“Let me go in first.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I’m being overly cautious. Humor me.” He stood with his hand out, waiting for her to give him the key.
Her embarrassment turned to worry. She bit her bottom lip and nodded. Hawk handed her his garment bag, then unsnapped the gun holster at his waist. He wasn’t going to be caught unaware again. Opening the door, he scanned the room. It only took a few minutes to check the apartment. Joining Renee at the door, he took his garment bag from her.
“Is it going to be like this every day?” Renee asked as she walked into the dining area and placed her purse on the table.
“I’d rather be too cautious than give someone another opportunity to hurt you,” he informed her. “And until we know something different, I’m going to assume the worst, that you’re in danger.”
Color drained from her face.
He cursed under his breath for stating the situation so starkly, but it needed to be done. She needed to be aware of the danger to her and the baby. He could deal with her feelings later.
Scanning the room, Hawk remembered in exquisite detail the time they made love on the couch, then the floor. He held up his garment bag. “I’ll hang this.” He walked into her bedroom, where the only closet in the apartment was located.
Ignoring the bed and the memories of the last time he’d been in this room, he hung his suit bag in the closet. His eyes were drawn to the neatly made bed. The stuffed gorilla he’d given her after a trip to Astroworld sat in the center of the bed. He remembered how touched she was by the simple gift and the way she showed him her appreciation.
Visions of their lovemaking swamped him. The memories of what they’d shared in that bed were both bittersweet and tantalizing. When his gaze left the bed, it collided with Renee’s. Her eyes were dark with memories.
The charged silence made his blood pound through his head.
She looked so troubled and lost when you weren’t here. Cora’s words rang through his head and he shoved away the hope.
But I assured her that any man who looked at a woman the way you looked at her would be back. All she had to do was wait.
Those words had nailed Hawk hard. Surely the old woman was wrong. His heart wasn’t involved. But how could Cora be right on the mark with Renee’s reaction and not his? He didn’t like the directions of his thoughts.
“You hungry?” Renee asked.
Hawk grasped for the lifeline. “I am, but why don’t we go out? You look as though you could use a nice dinner.” The memories of this place pressed in on him. The smell of the honeysuckle under Renee’s window after they made love, the feel of her hands on his body, the taste and smoothness of her skin.
She nodded. “There’s that little Mexican food place, La Loma, off the loop, that serves wonderful spinach enchiladas.”
He remembered the place. Their first date had been there. “Let’s go.”
As he locked the apartment door, he was grateful for the reprieve.
Hawk’s arm rested over his eyes as he lay on Renee’s couch and tried to think of the legal case he was working on for the Houston PD. Maybe if he concentrated on something tedious, he could go to sleep. The couch wasn’t made for his six-foot, four-inch frame. As a matter of fact, her apartment was too small to allow them any personal space. They’d been in each other’s way all night.
The world had taken on a surreal quality this last week. Renee was Emory’s daughter. She was pregnant with his child, and they were to marry.
At first Hawk had thought Emory was teasing him about Renee. He always suspected Emory had wanted something to develop between Renee and him. When Emory assured Hawk he wasn’t joking and explained why he wanted Hawk to marry her, things began to spin out of control.
He still didn’t want to deal with the passion Renee generated inside him. His mother, then his ex-wife, taught him not to give in to his feelings. Emotions only generated problems.
But there was another problem that had cropped up since Renee had agreed to marry him. When they had originally made their agreement to marry, he hadn’t known about her pregnancy. He had hoped that maybe after the danger to her life passed, they might go their separate ways. Now, with a child between them, he couldn’t walk away. So if he was going to stay, what about the sexual relationship between them? He didn’t intend to become a monk. With the level of attraction that existed between them, there wasn’t a chance in hell that they’d keep their hands off each other.
The sound of footsteps going to the kitchen pierced his concentration. Obviously Renee couldn’t sleep, either.
He sat up, slipped on his jeans and joined her. Renee held a glass of iced tea in one hand and a homemade chocolate-chip cookie in the other. She looked rumpled and tempting, wrapped in an old robe, her hair hanging loose around her shoulders, and barefoot. Something he didn’t need.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she explained unnecessarily.
Hawk couldn’t, either. “Looks good.” He nodded to the cookie. “Got another one?”
She pushed the tin toward him. “Help yourself.”
After he took a healthy bite, he said, “Nervous about the wedding on Saturday?”
“I feel like a deer the first day of hunting season, in the crosshairs of someone’s rifle.”
He took another bite of the cookie. “Who baked these?”
“I did.”
His brow arched. “I didn’t know you could bake like this.”
“There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”
From the first time he met her, Hawk had tried very hard not to want to know anything personal about her, because he was afraid of where it would lead.
He’d managed to keep his distance from her for a couple of years. But last St. Patrick’s Day, he asked her to accompany him to the Green Gala the police department put on at one of the downtown hotels. That night he gave in to temptation and kissed her. It was the beginning of their fiery relationship. Once they had gotten involved, the fire that had consumed him didn’t give him a chance to think about mundane things like whether or not Renee could cook. He remembered the picnic they had together and the coconut cake she brought. He’d licked icing off her lovely—
Don’t go there.
He’d never wondered if she had baked the cake herself. Now what were they talking about? The wedding in a couple of days. “What about the wedding is making you nervous?” he asked as he picked up another cookie.
A bitter laugh escaped her mouth. “Everything. The family’s reaction, people at work…their reaction, the social elite in this city. I didn’t think it would be a problem, but after what happened the other night—” She swallowed the rest of her comment and touched the bandage on her head. She turned away from him and her shoulders slumped.
He heard her try to choke back tears. Unable to stop himself, he placed his hand on her back.
“It’s going to be okay, Renee.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “I wish I could be as sure as you are.”
Unable to help himself, he brushed off the tear that ran down her cheek. Her skin was so smooth. “That’s why Emory wanted us to marry. He trusts me to care for you.”
She turned around and leaned back against the counter. “So your distaste for marriage only happens when the woman wants a commitment? It’s okay as long as it’s a favor to Emory?”
He deserved that shot.
“Why did you agree to do this?” Renee pressed.
“I’ve already answered that.”
“I guess I need to hear it again.” Questions filled her eyes. “I mean, it seems a rather big sacrifice to marry a woman you don’t love and had refused to do so earlier.”
The lady was asking questions of him that he’d wrestled with. Why was he doing this? “Aside from the baby, I owe Emory.” That was the argument he’d used with himself. He didn’t want to examine his motives too closely.
“Why do you owe him?”
He didn’t want to give her this part of him.
“Look at it this way, Hawk. I’m going to marry a man who wanted nothing to do with me until my new-found father asked him to do so. Now, I think I deserve to be told why you’re doing this thing for him, when marriage was so repellent to you before. Tell me, why can I count on you?”
If she’d ranted and raved or cried or demanded, he could’ve ignored her. Instead, she asked a reasonable question. One he couldn’t ignore.
“Did you know my dad worked for Emory?”
“No.”
“Dad was the groundskeeper.” Hawk took a deep breath. “I went to school alongside all the wealthy and privileged of Houston. When the kids started bragging about what their fathers did, I couldn’t say anything.” He glanced at her to see her reaction. So far she only had a questioning look.
“My attitude was rotten. My dad was an honest man, but when you’re eleven and can only say, You should see my dad’s azaleas, well—I wasn’t very proud of who he was. When my mother died of a heart attack, that was the beginning of the end between my dad and me. And I started acting up. To make a long story short, when I was fifteen, I stole a car and went joyriding. When I was caught, Emory got my sorry rear out of trouble. Instead of being sent to reform school, I was assigned to work for Emory. He worked my fingers to the bone and helped me get my head on straight.”
He glanced at Renee to see her reaction to his tale. There wasn’t any revulsion in her face, only concern.
“After my dad died, Emory encouraged me to go to college. I joined the police force and saw things that needed to be addressed, then thought about law school. Emory encouraged me to go. Lent me the money to cover the cost. In all the time I’ve known him, he’s never asked for anything in return for his help until—”
“Now.”
“That’s right.”
“I’m sorry that it had to be so great a price.” She bit her bottom lip and closed the lid on the cookie tin.
Her words cut through him. He should tell her—what? He didn’t know how he felt about this marriage, the baby, their relationship. All he knew is that he had to protect her.
“I was glad to do this for Emory. After his son was kidnapped and killed he was never the same.” He paused, consumed by the memories of that dark time. Emory’s wife never recovered, and died within a year in the fire that also killed Emory’s brother and sister-in-law. “When you came to work for Emory, I noticed a difference in him.”
“Did he tell you about me?”
“No. I didn’t know you were his daughter until he dropped that bombshell last week. But I know you’ve made a difference for the old man. And that’s why I did what he asked.”
There was another reason, but he didn’t even want to admit that fact to himself, let alone her.
“Besides, I want to be part of my child’s life.”
She looked down at her abdomen. “I’m glad you want to be involved with this baby.”
He also wanted to reach out and draw her into his arms, but he knew she wouldn’t accept his actions. There was a chasm dividing them. At this point he didn’t see a way to bridge that divide.
“Good night, Hawk,” she whispered.
He remembered her saying that before, sweet and low in his ear. He shook off the memories. As she walked by him, he longed to gather her into his arms, feel the smoothness of her skin, the— He quashed the impulse. Desire wasn’t a good thing to have if he was going to make it through this marriage with his skin intact.
Renee stared at her closed bedroom door and remembered the first time she’d seen Hawk at the office. When she’d asked who he was, Jackie had told her that Hawk was like Emory’s adopted son. But she’d added that Hawk had a reputation of being a bad boy who broke hearts. Renee hadn’t asked about him again.
She’d been so shocked when Hawk had asked her to the Green Gala the Houston police put on that she’d felt like a girl on her first date, silly and nervous.
She’d fallen immediately in love with the handsome man. He was every woman’s fantasy, tall, strong with sparkling brown eyes and a wicked sense of humor. The time between St. Patrick’s Day and the Fourth of July was like a fairy tale. Lunches grabbed at little out-of-the-way restaurants, walks in the park, the wonderful trip to Astroworld where he bought her the stuffed gorilla she kept on her bed.
It had been too good to be true. She hadn’t questioned his closemouthed attitude about his past. What possible skeletons could a cop have? An ugly divorce for starters.
But now it was her past that had thrust them into this situation.
Well, she wouldn’t interfere with Hawk seeing his child, but she didn’t have to risk her heart again. He’d trampled over it once, and she wasn’t eager for it to happen again.
As she turned over, she was determined to protect herself.
She just hoped her body would cooperate.
Renee sat at the table and buttered her toast. Oddly enough, her middle-of-the-night snack had helped with her morning sickness today.
She heard the shower shut off. Hawk was in her bathroom—naked. She closed her eyes, wanting to shut out the thought of him. It didn’t work.
Opening her eyes, she tried to concentrate on the newspaper. The front page reported that a body had been found floating in Buffalo Bayou. That’s probably something that Hawk should know about.
“Mornin’,” he called out.
When she glanced up, he stood at the entrance to her kitchen, tucking his shirt in.
“I left you some scrambled eggs.” She nodded toward the stove.
He didn’t need to be told where things were kept in the kitchen. He knew. After dishing out the eggs, he joined her at the table.
“Sorry there’s no coffee—”
Holding up his hand, he said, “That’s okay. I’ll get a cup at work.”
“Hawk, I can drive myself to the office.”
He put down his fork and looked at the gauze at her temple. “Humor me, Renee, for a while. Until we get a feel for what’s going on here, let’s err on the side of safety. Yours and the baby’s.”
“What’s everyone going to say at work if you follow me around?”
“It will give credence to our marriage on Saturday if people see us together this week.”
His point was reinforced forty minutes later when he escorted her into her office. They passed Stacy in the hall.
“Hawk, what are you doing here at this time of the morning?” Stacy asked. Her eyes went from Hawk to Renee.
“I brought Renee to work.”
“Why, was her car not working? I could’ve picked her up on the way in.”
Hawk slipped his arm around Renee’s waist. “It wasn’t any trouble, was it, Renee?” The intimate look he gave her shouted that he’d spent the night.
Renee’s cheeks reddened. “No.”
Stacy’s eyes narrowed.
“Are we having a party and I don’t know about it?” Todd asked, stopping beside Stacy.
“Why not ask Hawk?” Stacy grumbled. With a final glare, she turned and stormed back into her office.
Renee closed her eyes. It was not a good beginning to her business day.
Hawk finished writing his recommendations about how to proceed with a case that had come back to the department. Closing the file folder, he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You look like hell, Hawk,” Ash commented as he strolled into Hawk’s office. Ash slumped down into the chair across the desk and tossed a video tape toward him.
Hawk’s brow shot up. “Since when are you worried about how I look?”
“Since you told me you’re going to get married. You okay?”
Leaning back in his chair, Hawk ran his hands through his hair. “Damn, I wish I knew. After my divorce, I swore I’d never make that mistake again.”
“Have you thought about hiring a bodyguard?”
“Yeah, but Emory wouldn’t buy that. He was worried that whoever kidnapped David would try again with Renee. He’s set it up—if anything happens to her, I’d inherit.”
Ash shook his head. “So how’s Renee taking it?”
“She agreed, after the shooting.”
“It took a shooting to convince her to tie the knot?”
“Yeah. She wasn’t too thrilled with the idea at first.”
“She turned you down? The stud of HPD? She had the nerve to say no?”
Hawk glared at Ash. “You know how women are. She wanted romance.”
“Females are like that. In those psych classes they made us take, we heard about women wanting home and hearth—a nesting instinct.”
Hawk threw his pen on the desk. “It’s like walking on cut glass. No matter how carefully you step, you’re going to get sliced to ribbons.”
“So her pregnancy was a surprise to you?” Ash asked.
“It was, but it shouldn’t have been. Of course, I think the baby was the only reason Renee agreed to marry me.”
Ash snorted. “Don’t believe that. I saw you two together, remember. Also, I recall, she was as smitten with you as you were with her. We could’ve powered the northern suburbs on all the electricity y’all were generating.”
Hawk could’ve done without the reminder. The wattage hadn’t gone down since they’d separated. It had only gone up. Being close to Renee only added to his misery. “After the danger to Renee is over, I’m not going to be able to walk away from her and the baby.”
“And the problem is?”
“She agreed to the marriage as long as it was in name only.”
Ash’s eyes were wide, and he sat up straight in the chair. “No sex?”
He didn’t want to admit it. “Yeah.”
“Hawk, you’re smarter than that. Why are you surrendering? If you want the lady, work it out. Listen, as clever as you are, put your brain in gear.”
Hawk took a deep breath. Ash was right. He needed to find a way out of this maze. “What’s the video?” he asked, nodding to the tape on his desk.
“That’s the surveillance tape from the garage in Emory’s building.”
“Anything on it?” Hawk asked.
“Yeah. A man. It’s a side shot, but I thought you’d like to see it.”
Hawk took the tape and shoved it into the VCR setup that was built into the bookcases in his office. In the low lighting, he could see movement in the bushes. A dark shape appeared out of the darkness—a man aiming his gun. He pulled the trigger twice, turned and disappeared into the foliage.
Hawk stopped the tape and rewound it until the man’s profile appeared again. He froze the motion. “So that’s our shooter. Looks to me as if he was waiting for Renee.”
“I agree. I’ve got stills of this, plan to pass it out to the patrol officers to be on the lookout for this guy. I’ll get you a copy to post at Texas Chic.”
“Why don’t we get that copy now? I want to take it with me so Renee can see this jerk. She needs to be aware of him.”
“Let’s go.”
He took a deep breath. “We need to find who’s behind this, because whoever did this will try again. And I’m not going to let it happen.”
Renee pulled the purchase order from the file and glanced over the figures.
“Well, well, who would’ve guessed that Little Red Riding Hood was sleeping with the Big Bad Wolf?” Stacy’s voice rang out, silencing the other people in the file room. “He’s likely to eat you for breakfast.”
Closing the file, Renee turned to face Stacy, who stood at the entrance. The secretaries beyond the door silently watched. “Is there a point to your comment?” Renee asked.
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Leann Harris
SHE WAS A WOMAN IN NEED OF PROTECTION…and Matthew 'Hawk' Hawkins was the only man who could keep pregnant-with-his-child Renee Girourd safe from the hired killer pursuing her. The rugged lawman promised to guard Renee with his life. Trouble was, his best hope to protect his former flame was to marry her….Commitment-wary Hawk had vowed never to let any woman break down the protective walls around his heart. Yet sharing close quarters with Renee had him remembering how natural it had felt to held her in his arms, how much she'd touched his soul. And soon Hawk wondered who posed the most danger to him–the killer or his lovely wife?
What had he been thinking when he nearly devoured Renee in the hall?
Hawk wondered.
When he’d grabbed her to prevent her from falling, and plastered her body against his, that was all he’d needed to touch off the inferno he’d been fighting this past week.
Being near her in the apartment had slowly driven him mad. Every moment, he’d had to pretend he wasn’t affected by her, didn’t remember their time together. He’d thought he would die if he didn’t hold her once more.
His reaction wasn’t so uncommon when it came to Renee. That was one of the things that had worried him when he and Renee were dating—his uncontrollable reaction to her.
Why was it so difficult to keep himself detached? After the fiasco of his first marriage, he’d learned his lesson and managed to stay away from any emotional ties. He hadn’t had any trouble until he’d met Renee, but then everything changed….
Dear Reader,
What is there to say besides, “The wait is over!” Yes, it’s true. Chance Mackenzie’s story is here at last. A Game of Chance, by inimitable New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard, is everything you’ve ever dreamed it could be: exciting, suspenseful, and so darn sexy you’re going to need to turn the air-conditioning down a few more notches! In Sunny Miller, Chance meets his match—in every way. Don’t miss a single fabulous page.
The twentieth-anniversary thrills don’t end there, though. A YEAR OF LOVING DANGEROUSLY continues with Undercover Bride, by Kylie Brant. This book is proof that things aren’t always what they seem, because Rachel’s groom, Caleb Carpenter, has secrets…secrets that could break—or win—her heart. Blade’s Lady, by Fiona Brand, features another of her to-die-for heroes, and a heroine who’s known him—in her dreams—for years. Linda Howard calls this author “a keeper,” and she’s right. Barbara McCauley’s SECRETS! miniseries has been incredibly popular in Silhouette Desire, and now it moves over to Intimate Moments with Gabriel’s Honor, about a heroine on the run with her son and the irresistible man who becomes her protector. Pat Warren is back with The Lawman and the Lady, full of suspense and emotion in just the right proportions. Finally, Leann Harris returns with Shotgun Bride, about a pregnant heroine forced to seek safety—and marriage—with the father of her unborn child.
And as if all that isn’t enough, come back next month for more excitement—including the next installment of A YEAR OF LOVING DANGEROUSLY and the in-line return of our wonderful continuity, 36 HOURS.
Leslie J. Wainger
Executive Senior Editor
Shotgun Bride
Leann Harris
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
I would like to thank the following people
for their help with this book:
Warren Spencer of Plano Police for his insight on a cop who’s
a lawyer. Tammy, Betty, Leanna and Jane for your input.
Faustino M. Perez of Houston PD for his input.
Any errors are strictly mine.
LEANN HARRIS
When Leann Harris first met her husband in college, she never dreamed she would marry him. After all, he was getting a Ph.D. in the one science she’d managed to avoid—physics! So much for first impressions. They have been happily married for over twenty years. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Leann taught math and science to deaf high school students until the birth of her first child. It wasn’t until her youngest child started school that Leann decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and began writing. She presently lives in Plano, Texas, with her husband and two children.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Chapter 1
“You want me to what?” Renee Girouard asked the old man lying in the hospital bed.
Emory Sweeney looked haggard and lifeless. “I want you to marry Hawk.” He turned his head and nodded to the corner of the room where the other man stood, staring out the window.
Renee’s gaze went to Matthew Hawkins. He glanced over his shoulder and met her stare. She searched his face for some clue to explain her employer’s bizarre request, but Hawk’s expression gave nothing away. Her mind flew back to the last time they’d talked. It hadn’t been a good parting. Had he told Emory about their relationship…or what was left of it? But that didn’t make sense.
“What’s going on here?” she asked, directing her question to Hawk.
Hawk’s brow arched, and he turned to face the other man. “Emory, you’d better tell her the reason you want her to marry me. From her expression it looks as though she’s not too taken with the idea.” He leaned back against the wall.
Unfortunately, Matthew Hawkins was handsome as sin: six foot two; wavy dark brown hair; deep, penetrating brown eyes; and a mouth that could be tender and seductive.
Renee pushed aside her thoughts and turned back to the older man. “Are you going to be okay, Emory?”
The colon cancer that had sent Emory Sweeney, the founder and president of Texas Chic to the hospital for surgery had worried everyone in the firm. Renee had visited St. Luke’s hospital numerous times this last week.
Emory took Renee’s hand. “There are some things I need to tell you.”
A chill swept over her, and she had the awful premonition that this man, her boss for the past three years, was going to tell her something that would forever change her life. Maybe she didn’t want to know what was going on. She’d heard a rumor that swindling had recently been uncovered within the company. But what did that have to do with the request Emory just made? And why ask her to marry Hawk?
A look of regret filled Emory’s eyes. “When you came to work for me after your parents were killed in the car accident, you thought it was a lucky twist of fate.”
The turn of the conversation surprised her. She’d been expecting talk of missing money or the reason why she needed to marry Hawk, but Emory was recalling the time he hired her.
“Yes,” she slowly answered. She’d often commented how fortunate it was that she’d gotten the internship with Emory’s company four years ago, after the accident as Emory’s assistant. The job had given her enough money to finish her schooling. Then when she graduated from Texas A&M, she’d been offered a permanent position with the firm. “Of course I remember.”
“Well, it wasn’t a coincidence.”
Her heart beat faster.
“I knew all about you and the tough situation you were facing, and I wanted to help you.”
“I’m glad you did.” She glanced from Emory to Hawk. Their expressions were dark. There was something more here that she wasn’t getting.
“You’d better tell her the rest, Emory, because I don’t think she’s going to marry me if you don’t,” Hawk urged. He moved away from the window and came to the bed.
Renee’s heart caught at the sight of him. He’d always had that effect on her. She thought she’d found the love of her life until—
Emory cleared his throat. “I’ve always known about you, Renee.”
She frowned. “You knew my parents before I was born?”
“I knew your mother.”
But not your father. Although it wasn’t said, the words rang through the room, carrying with them a dark shadow.
She cleared her throat. “Do you want to explain?”
“You’re my biological daughter, Renee.”
Denial sprang to life in her brain, but he continued.
“I met your mom at market in Dallas. At the time, my wife and I had separated. Your mother was young, vivacious and heartsick after being dumped by her fiancé. We had a brief affair. We shouldn’t have, but…” He paused, his memories obviously painful.
“I went back to my wife, and Carolyn went back home. She married your dad after you were born.”
Renee wanted to yell denials at him, but his words made some mysteries in her life fall into place. After her parents’ death, she’d discovered the date of her birth predated her parents’ wedding. That discrepancy had bothered her.
“Show her the birth certificate,” Emory ordered Hawk.
Hawk walked over to a briefcase, retrieved the document and handed it to her. She stared down at the paper. There on the line for the name of the birth father was Emory’s name.
“When Francois Girouard adopted you, the birth certificate was reissued,” Emory explained.
Her mind tried to comprehend the truth that had been revealed to her. “That can’t be true.”
“It is in the state of Texas,” Emory replied.
“Tell her the rest, Emory,” Hawk urged. The intensity of his voice set her nerves on edge.
Her gaze met Hawk’s. Had he known the circumstances surrounding her birth? Was that the reason he’d acted the way he had? Her brow furrowed. But that didn’t make sense. If he’d known who she was, wouldn’t he have wanted to marry her?
“I didn’t interfere in your life because it would’ve been wrong,” Emory explained. “You had parents who loved you. And if I had tried to be part of your life, too many people—my wife and son, your parents—would’ve been hurt. Now…
“I always kept up with you, Renee. When your folks died, I wanted to be sure you were taken care of.”
Suddenly the revelation was too much for her. She stumbled to the chair by the head of the bed and sat down. “Even if that’s true, why do you want me to marry Hawk? And why tell me now?”
Hawk moved around the bed and squatted in front of her. “Because Emory’s worried that when he announces you as his daughter, the person or persons who kidnapped and killed his son ten years ago might try to do the same to you.”
She turned to Emory. “What’s Hawk talking about? I know that whoever took your son was never caught, but why do you think I would be in danger?”
Emory’s eyes filled with grief. “The police were almost sure that someone in my family was connected with David’s kidnapping and death. Nothing could be proven, but I fear once I announce that you are my daughter, whoever went after David will come after you.”
She’d heard the rumors that someone close to Emory had been involved with the young man’s disappearance, then death, but she’d discounted it as unfounded gossip.
“So how will marrying Hawk change anything?”
“If anything happens to you, my estate will go to him, and whoever is behind this will gain nothing. My family knows Hawk’s history and they know how devoted he is to me. Besides, with Hawk still being a cop—and a lawyer for the Houston PD, it makes him a double threat.”
“What’s to stop them from going after Hawk, too?” she asked in desperation. “I mean, cops get killed in the line of duty.”
“The way I’ve drawn up my will. If something happens to both you and Hawk, then the entire estate goes to charity. Besides, Hawk can take care of himself.”
With a sixth-degree black belt in karate and his years spent as a patrol cop with the police department, she had no doubt that he could take care of himself and could protect her. But she needed time to digest the truths she’d just learned.
“I need to think about this.”
“I know this is a lot to dump on you, Renee,” Emory said. “Only, with the cancer, I don’t have a choice.”
She stood and placed the birth certificate on the bed. “I can’t decide this now.” Grabbing her purse, she started for the door.
“Renee,” Emory called out.
She paused at the door and looked over her shoulder.
“I hadn’t planned on telling you like this.”
“When had you planned on telling me, Emory?” Hurt and bitterness rang in her words, made all the worse by Hawk being there to witness it.
“If things had worked out, I would never have told you. But I’ve run out of time. I had hoped to ease you into the position as president.”
The pain in her heart expanded.
“Why didn’t you plan on telling me?”
“Because I didn’t want to disrupt your life. But now…my board of directors will understand my desire to give my company to my child. It will make things easier for you.”
“You have other family members,” she pointed out.
“And who do you propose I give it to? The person who’s stealing from me or the person who killed my son or maybe the person who’s being paid only to come to work and drink?”
Silence enveloped the room.
Emory’s explanation should’ve helped. Maybe it would when she got past the pain of betrayal. Why hadn’t her mother told her? If she’d lived, would Carolyn Girouard have ever told Renee the truth? She pulled open the door and raced down the hall. She didn’t stop until she slipped into her car. Collapsing in the front seat, she let the tears fall that she’d been holding at bay. Now not only was her future in doubt, but her past was, also.
Hawk stared at the closed door. “I don’t think that went too well.” His statement fell into the quiet room.
Emory sighed. “She’s a levelheaded woman. One of the best I’ve ever met. What we unloaded on her caught her off guard.” Emory’s eyes narrowed as he studied Hawk. “But I wonder? Is there something between you and Renee? Her reaction when I announced I wanted her to marry you seemed rather intense. Is there something I should know, Hawk?”
Damn, Hawk thought. The cagey old fox saw things others didn’t. Hawk was surprised that Emory hadn’t caught on before now about the relationship between Renee and him, but they had taken pains to keep it quiet. Too bad Emory had such a blind spot about the rest of his family. Or maybe he didn’t and that’s why he wanted this marriage to happen.
“Yeah, there’s something you should know.” Hawk slipped his hands into the back pockets of his slacks. “Renee and I have been seeing each other.” He wasn’t going to reveal the depth of their relationship. He didn’t want to think about the Heaven he’d experienced in her arms.
Emory smiled. “Then this request I’m making of you won’t be any hardship, will it?”
How could Hawk tell the old man that they had broken up when Renee had started talking about marriage? He’d already made that mistake when he was a cop going to law school, and he didn’t want to fall into the trap again. Renee hadn’t been able to live with his bad attitude toward marriage and had broken off their relationship. He hadn’t spoken to her since their parting argument two months ago.
“No, it won’t,” he lied. “I’ll make arrangements for us to get the marriage license.” Hawk picked up the birth certificate and put it back into the briefcase.
“I don’t think any of my family will be thrilled. That’s why I’m counting on you, Hawk. I’m going to call my lawyer, have my will changed. I can sign it after I watch you two get married.”
“Then I need to go find Renee and see if I can convince her to apply for the license today or tomorrow,” Hawk murmured, thinking out loud.
“There’s a charity reception we’re holding on Saturday night. That might be a good time to announce your marriage.”
Hawk wondered if he could talk Renee into marrying him. She didn’t seem to be taken with the idea.
“Hawk, thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Emory. I want your company to continue to survive and grow. It won’t happen with any of your relatives at the helm.”
Emory closed his eyes. “I know.” Defeat rang in his tone.
As Hawk walked out of the hospital, his thoughts were of Renee and this marriage. Whether or not she wanted to marry him, she was going to need him. Things were going to get rough. The reaction of Emory’s family—his sister Eloise, her husband Thomas, their son Todd, and Emory’s late brother’s daughter Stacy—would be explosive. They were jackals waiting for the old man to kick the bucket so they could pick the bones dry. He didn’t doubt each of them had plans about what to do with the money Emory would leave them. He’d heard talk among them about selling the company. Yes, Renee was going to need help.
When Emory confided to him about Renee being his daughter, Hawk had been shocked. Emory’s attitude toward Renee when she came to work for him now made sense. When Emory had asked him to marry Renee, Hawk hadn’t been able to deny the old man his request. Emory had been a lifeline for Hawk since he’d been a teenager. Any success in his life had been because of Emory’s support. He couldn’t walk away from the old man’s need.
Even if Emory hadn’t asked him to do this favor, Hawk would’ve thought of some way to protect the lady, because she was going to be in danger.
Renee’s hands shook so badly she couldn’t get the key in the ignition. Grabbing her purse, she slipped out of the car, locked it and started walking across the parking lot toward the city park and zoo. Maybe she could outwalk her thoughts.
The early spring day was perfect, with flowers blooming in the cultured gardens and the smell of honeysuckle in the air. She wished she could appreciate the beauty, but her mind kept replaying the stunning revelations of the morning.
She stopped by a bench and sank down on it. Emory Sweeney was her father. Not Francois Girouard—the man who’d raised her, loved her, picked her up when she’d fallen off her bicycle—but Emory Sweeney, the brash president of Texas Chic. Emory was an extravagant, outspoken maverick who’d made his millions in the sixties through a chain of retail stores, selling Texas chic apparel before it became popular.
How could it be true? As she thought further, little pieces of memory seemed to come together. The discrepancy between her birth date and her parents’ wedding. Renee had assumed that Francois had been her father. And then there were no pictures of him holding her as an infant. The pictures only started after she was three. Her mother explained that fact by saying they were destroyed in a fire.
Thrown into this mess was Emory’s request that she marry Hawk. The dynamic, handsome man had every female at Texas Chic vying for his attention whenever he showed up at company functions or visited Emory. He was the dangerous male who sent their blood racing, but Renee knew he had vowed never to commit to one woman after his disastrous first marriage and ugly divorce.
Marry a man who despised wedded bliss? When hell froze over, she vowed.
But there was something else to consider. She was pregnant and Hawk was the father. She took a deep breath. She had eventually planned on telling him, but she hadn’t yet come to terms with her situation. She wanted this baby, but hadn’t decided how she was going to deal with single motherhood.
Now it appeared she wouldn’t have to. But darn, she didn’t want to be like an unwanted rash that he’d acquired. And that’s what she would be. They had talked about marriage before or, correction, she’d talked about marriage after they’d made love, but he’d grown remote and said he didn’t want to go in that direction. As Renee had dressed that night, he asked why she was upset. She glared at him, asking if he had just wanted to have sex. He hadn’t responded. She told him she wouldn’t be available any longer.
She hadn’t spoken directly to him since that night two months ago. Whenever he showed up at Texas Chic offices, she made sure they didn’t cross paths.
Would the child look like his father? Would Hawk welcome the news? Did it even matter? Suddenly she was going to have a husband, a baby and gobs of money. It was a dream situation that should bring joy. But all she felt was trapped. She felt she was on a runaway train and she couldn’t get off until she reached the final destination, whatever that was.
“I was wondering where you disappeared to.” Hawk’s voice jerked her out of her thoughts.
She hastily wiped the moisture from her eyes and tried to get her emotions under control before she faced him. “I needed to clear my head before I got into my car.”
He sat down beside her, and his gaze probed hers. It appeared he wanted to say something, then shook his head and looked out into the park.
“Emory wants to announce our marriage and the news that you’re his daughter at the reception he’s holding Saturday night.”
Shock raced through her. “I haven’t decided if I can go through with this request. It’s ridiculous. I don’t need you to protect me. If I’m really Emory’s daughter, he can afford to hire an army of security guards.”
“True. But Emory wants to drive home the point to his family that they will lose their company if anything happens to you.”
“What’s your motivation? Why do you want to do this?” she demanded.
“Your safety.”
“Oh, please.” She fell silent for a moment, then the doubt popped into her mind. “You think someone would come after me?”
“I do. Emory’s family wants his money. You being named the heir would mess up their plans.”
“I can’t believe—”
Hawk’s hand shot out and he grasped her chin, forcing her eyes to his. “Believe it, Renee. I was there when Emory’s son was kidnapped. All the indications pointed toward someone close to Emory being responsible for the tragedy. The kidnapper knew too many things about David’s habits and schedule. It wasn’t just a lucky break that they caught him alone.”
Renee’s heart broke. Emory kept the last picture of his son, his sophomore-year school picture, on his desk.
“We want you to be safe.” When she didn’t respond, he added, “You didn’t have trouble with the idea of marrying me the last time we talked.”
She wanted to throw her purse at him. “You did.”
“This isn’t about me. It’s about you.”
She wondered if her safety was really his main concern, or did the change in her status to wealthy woman have anything to do with his change of heart? But that didn’t make any sense. From his actions, Hawk had never been interested in Emory’s money. “Then why even mention I’m his daughter?” she asked.
“Because Emory wants to be sure you’ll get the company. I also think he wants everyone to know you’re his child. Looking death in the eye makes you see things differently.”
She raised her brow in skepticism.
“That’s my guess.”
Too many feelings were bouncing around inside for her to know what she felt. Hawk wouldn’t marry her because he loved her, but he would marry her to protect her? Somehow she didn’t buy it.
“Renee, why don’t we go and get a marriage license? If you can think of a better way to address the problems that are sure to crop up, then we can consider it. But if we have the license, then we’ll have that option.”
A sick feeling settled in her stomach. “I don’t think things are as dark as you paint them. Besides, the problem will be solved if I just tell everyone I don’t want Emory’s company.”
“Don’t be foolish.”
Anger raced through her. She stood. “I’ve done that before, haven’t I, Hawk? I guess my actions will be consistent.”
As she walked away from him, she heard him mutter a curse.
Renee pulled the High Point file from the accounts receivable filing cabinet. Emory had called the office late in the day and asked to see the account. She glanced around the empty office, peering into the shadows. The normally busy room took on a sinister feel. She tucked the file under her arm and walked into the hall. Although a few people were still in the building, a chill settled over her. She raced back to her office, grabbed her purse and headed toward the elevator. She hugged the file to her chest as she waited for the elevator. When it arrived, she breathed a sigh of relief.
When the elevator doors opened on the parking garage level, a car stopped before her, making her heart race. Hawk jumped out. “Why are you here this late?” he barked.
Relief made her light-headed. “Emory wanted to see this account.”
He continued to glare at her.
Irritation replaced the relief she’d felt. “I wasn’t aware it was in my job description to check in with you.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “Renee, something could’ve happened.”
She wanted to tell him he was imagining things, but she recalled her uneasiness in the accounting office. “How did you know I was here?”
“I went back to your apartment to talk to you about us getting married.”
“You’re not going to let this idea drop, are you?”
“No.” There wasn’t any room for argument. When Hawk got that look in his eye, it was a sure sign that not even the Marines would be able to move him. “You ready?”
“I’m going to take this file to Emory tonight.”
Hawk nodded. “I’ll follow you.”
Too bad he wasn’t as diligent two months ago, when she’d walked out of his life, she thought as she headed for her car.
“Get down,” Hawk suddenly shouted.
His yelled command stunned her. He lunged for her at the same instant she heard a shot echo through the empty garage. A second shot immediately followed. She felt the sting in the side of her head, then staggered, falling against the closest car. A warm stream of blood ran down her neck.
Panic raced through her as she crouched with her back to the door.
Hawk crouched beside her. He examined her head. “We need to get you to the hospital.”
“Is the shooter still out there?” Her eyes scanned the darkness of the parking garage. She felt a trickle of moisture run down the side of her face. She touched it and came away with blood on her fingers.
“Just keep down, and I’ll get you out of here.”
She latched on to his words. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and supported her as they ran toward his vehicle. She noticed the blood on his sleeve. He helped her slide into the front seat, then climbed over her, started the car and floored it.
“Your arm,” she murmured.
He glanced at her. “Don’t worry about me.”
She felt dizzy. She leaned back against the seat. She could’ve died or worse, her baby could’ve been hurt or she might miscarry. Secure in the knowledge that Hawk would take care of her, Renee relaxed. It was her last conscious thought.
When Hawk pulled into the emergency entrance of Herman Hospital, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had called ahead on his cell phone, and people were outside waiting for them. His tension shot up 100 percent when he glanced at her and saw that she was still unconscious. Leaping out of his car, he raced around and helped the attendants pull Renee out and place her on a gurney.
“What happened?” asked one of the nurses.
“Someone shot at her,” Hawk answered.
“From the looks of your arm, it appears you were in the way.”
“It’s minor.” Hawk tried to follow Renee but was stopped by the nurse.
“Let’s take a look at your arm,” the nurse commented.
Hawk wasn’t interested in getting the wound tended, but the nurse had a determined look in her eye that told him she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. He thought about flashing his badge, but knew he wouldn’t be any help to Renee in the E.R.
He nodded. “Afterward, you’ll check on the woman I brought in.” When she hesitated, he added, “I’m a cop.”
She didn’t look convinced until he produced his badge.
“You got a deal, Lieutenant.”
After his arm was cleaned and wrapped, the nurse went to check on Renee. Hawk couldn’t sit still. Adrenaline still raced through his veins.
Someone had tried to kill Renee. There was a slight possibility that what happened tonight was a random crime, but he didn’t buy that scenario. He had a feeling the crime had been directed at her. Emory’s fears were well-founded, and he was going to have to stick closer to Renee than her skin.
Needing to report the incident to the police, he went back to his car, grabbed his phone and dialed Houston PD and told the operator what had occurred, then asked for his ex-partner, Tony Ashcroft, who was now a homicide detective. In minutes Hawk would have to answer a lot of questions.
But then again, the police weren’t the only ones who wanted answers.
“I don’t know anything else, Detective Ashcroft,” Renee said to the HPD detective. Her head pounded.
The tall, athletically built man closed his notebook and slipped it into his pocket. He was thirty-five, with a youthful appearance that probably fooled a lot of people into believing that Tony Ashcroft was younger than his years. Yet, from the looks he exchanged with Hawk, Renee had the feeling that the detective wasn’t easily fooled.
“If you remember anything more, please contact me, Ms. Girouard.” He handed her his business card.
She nodded.
Ashcroft looked at Hawk. “I’ll call you later and let you know what we’ve uncovered.”
When he left, Renee asked, “You know Detective Ashcroft?”
“Yeah, Ash and I were rookies together. I went to law school and he became a detective.”
Her eyes fluttered closed.
“Are you feeling sick, Renee?”
Her eyes popped open. “No,” she lied, pressing her fingers to her lips. “I was trying to go over what happened to see if I could recall anything new.”
“Did you?”
“No.” She paused. “But there is something bothering me.”
Caution entered his eyes. “What exactly is that?”
“Why were you so sure something might happen?”
He flushed. “I had an itch between my shoulders.”
“What?”
“Sometimes cops get a feeling—” He shrugged.
Her eyes widened. “Are you talking about intuition?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t shake this feeling that something wasn’t right. I went to your place, but you weren’t there, so I drove to your office.”
He moved to the side of the bed. His fingers lightly brushed back the strands of hair that had caught on her bandage at her temple. A look of tenderness crept into his eyes, making her breath catch. It was the look that had stolen her heart before everything had fallen apart.
“Your father was right. Someone doesn’t want you to inherit his company.”
“I don’t believe anyone—”
“When I went to Emory’s locked drawer to get the copy of your birth certificate, it was open, which means someone knows.”
She knew he was right, but didn’t want to accept it. “What if I publicly say I don’t want Emory’s money?” She felt as though she was trying to push a boulder uphill.
“You could, but what if that won’t make a difference? Emory has already decided that no matter what, his family won’t get the company.”
She didn’t have an answer for that.
“And what if the killer decides you’re a threat to them while you’re still living? Emory might change his mind if you die before him. The danger’s not going to go away.”
His arguments were ugly and persuasive.
“Emory’s solution seems the best way to deal with the problem,” he added.
“By marrying you?”
He nodded.
“My own personal bodyguard.” Her gaze met his. She felt his will pulling her to agree. There was such passion in the man, and she knew that only too well. But his passion—his loyalty—was for Emory, not her. Her eyes fluttered closed, not wanting him to see her pain.
“I’ll think about it, Hawk.”
“You do that, Renee.”
He walked out the door, leaving Renee staring at the closed door.
Renee knew he was going to break her heart again.
After making sure that a private guard was posted outside Renee’s door, Hawk made his way to Emory’s room. “Emory, you were right. Someone’s after Renee.” Hawk explained what had happened.
“Is she okay?” Emory demanded, his expression full of anxiety.
“Yes.”
“How are you?” Emory glanced at Hawk’s arm.
“It’s nothing.” He rubbed the back of his neck to ease the fear twisting the muscles into knots. “I was almost too late.”
“So I was right to be concerned when you discovered the drawer open,” Emory sighed.
As Hawk had told Renee, when he had gone to get Renee’s birth certificate from a secured file in Emory’s office, he’d found it unlocked. The key hadn’t been in the place Emory had said it would be. When Hawk informed the older man of the situation, he offered to come up with a protection plan for Renee. Emory insisted that marriage between the two of them was the best way to keep her safe. “I’m afraid so. Now I think Renee believes us.”
Emory frowned. “After you two get married, we’ll announce it to the world.”
Hearing Emory speak of that event brought Hawk a mixed bag of feelings. With his track record of a failed marriage and his parents as a miserable example, Hawk didn’t expect he would be good at being a husband. And yet…
He slipped his hands into his pockets. “Do you have the files that the private detectives gathered when your son was kidnapped? I’d like to look at them along with the police records. Maybe I can see something with a fresh eye after all these years.”
“All right, Hawk. I don’t want anything to happen to my child. Or to you.”
“If I have anything to say about it this time, Emory, you’ll not lose this child. You have my word on it.”
Of course, Hawk didn’t know if he could live up to the promise, but he would die trying.
“All right, Hawk, you win.” Early-morning light streamed into her hospital room, outlining Hawk’s tall frame as he leaned against the wall. Her breakfast tray was untouched, a testament to the fact she would throw it up if she ate. “We’ll get married, but it will be in name only,” she warned. Since she didn’t see another way out of the mess, they would marry, but she wasn’t willing to risk her heart again. “No sex.”
Hawk stared at her, then nodded. “Then let’s go down to city hall and get the license.”
“Sounds good, then you can drive me to work.” Too bad that it didn’t sound romantic. It sounded more as if they were closing a business deal.
But, of course, that was exactly what they were doing.
Chapter 2
“Hawk looked down at the marriage license issued by Harris County. The event he’d tried so hard to avoid for the past five years was about to come to pass.
“Here you go, sir,” the clerk said, handing Hawk the change for his twenty.
After pocketing the money, he turned to Renee. She stared at the paper in his hand as if it were a snake coiled to strike. Apparently, her reaction to this marriage wasn’t any better than his. “Ready to leave?”
She nodded, her face pale.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she muttered.
They were halfway down the hall of the courthouse when she stumbled against him. His arms shot out, catching her as she collapsed.
“Damn.” He scooped her up and walked to a nearby bench. Sitting, he cupped her face. “Renee?”
“Oh, dear, what’s wrong?” a woman asked.
Good question, he thought to himself. Was the reason she fainted due to the wound on her head or was it a reaction to them getting the marriage license?
“Would you like me to get a wet paper towel from the bathroom?” she asked.
“Thanks.”
The woman hurried away.
“Come on, sweetheart, wake up.” If she didn’t come around he’d call the paramedics.
“Here’s the towel,” the woman said, offering it to him.
Carefully, Hawk brushed the towel over Renee’s face. She moaned and her eyelids fluttered. Relief flooded him.
“Why don’t I get her something to drink?” the woman suggested.
Hawk nodded, his attention focused on Renee.
Confusion, then embarrassment filled her eyes. “What happened?”
“You fainted.”
Her brow knitted into a frown. “I never faint,” she replied, struggling to sit up.
“Maybe it has something to do with your wound. We should go back to the hospital.”
“No, I don’t think so. I didn’t eat this morning. The oatmeal they served at the hospital looked like paste.”
“Here you go, young lady,” the woman said as she returned. “Try this soft drink. It might help.”
Renee took the can and slowly sipped it. After a moment the color started to return to her cheeks.
The woman glanced at where they had just come from. “Are you two going to get married?”
“Yes,” Hawk answered.
“Congratulations.” The woman walked to the office beside them and opened the door. The strong smell of coffee hit Renee like an eighteen-wheeler and her stomach roiled. She pressed her hand to her mouth and looked around for the bathroom door. Spotting it, she ran across the hall.
Alarm raced through Hawk, and he started after Renee.
“I’ll check on her,” the woman told him, stepping between him and the bathroom.
He wanted to do it himself, but he didn’t need to create a riot in the courthouse. Things were already enough of a mess. He didn’t need to make it worse.
After she lost the contents of her stomach, Renee stumbled out of the stall to the sinks. The woman who’d brought her the soda handed her another wet towel.
“When I was pregnant with my oldest, I couldn’t take the smell of coffee. My husband was sure glad when he could have his morning cup again.”
Renee’s eyes fluttered closed. Coffee, congealed oatmeal, what next? “I do miss my morning coffee.”
“I’m sure your young man is excited by the prospect of becoming a father.”
That was a question that she’d wrestled with since the day the pregnancy stick had turned blue. She still hadn’t come up with an answer. Would Hawk be pleased? Furious? Would he try to deny being the father? At this point, it didn’t matter.
“You okay now?” the woman asked.
Renee nodded and they walked into the hall.
Hawk stood outside the door, waiting. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
He didn’t look convinced.
The older woman smiled at Renee, then turned to Hawk. “Just hang in there. Her morning sickness should pass soon. And take comfort, my poor husband couldn’t drink coffee, either, until I gave birth to our son.”
“Morning sickness,” Hawk repeated. “Morning sickness?”
“I’d like to go home, Hawk.” Renee didn’t wait for him but started down the hall.
He quickly caught up with her. “Are you pregnant?”
She stopped and glared at him. “You want to have this discussion here in the hall of this public building so all of Houston can see and hear us, or do you want to have it back at my apartment?”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ll wait until we’re home. But then—”
“Then I’ll talk to you.”
She thanked Heaven that Hawk didn’t demand answers there in the courthouse. She didn’t know what her reaction would’ve been if he’d pressed the issue.
They were almost at her apartment when Renee’s stomach growled, breaking the tense silence. When Hawk glanced at her, a blush colored her cheeks. He pulled into the fast-food restaurant across from her apartment building and went to the drive-through window. He ordered the breakfast biscuit he knew she loved. When he ordered a coffee, she shook her head.
“No coffee. Orange juice, please.” She rested her head on the back of the seat.
After getting their order, he drove to her apartment. He followed her up the stairs and into the building. Once inside, he put the bags on the kitchen table where a thick book sat. The Complete Guide to the Nine Months of Pregnancy. Hawk picked it up.
The book detailed the changes in her body and even mentioned food that might upset a pregnant woman. Too bad it hadn’t mentioned coffee.
“Were you going to tell me?” he asked accusingly.
Guilt swamped her, followed by anger. “You can get off your high horse. As I recall, you didn’t want to get married, so why would I think my being pregnant would make a difference?” Her harsh indictment hung in the air.
“It would’ve.”
That wasn’t a comfort to her. Or was it? “How was I to know?”
“Have you been sick often?”
“I’ve been puking in the mornings and in the afternoons. Certain smells drive me into the bathroom to lose my lunch. Obviously, coffee is one smell I can’t tolerate.”
“Then I’d say it’s fortunate we’re going to get married.”
“You should write for a greeting-card company,” she replied. “You’ve got a way with words.”
He tensed as if she’d hit him with a lash, but he didn’t return the hostility.
The instant the words were out of her mouth, Renee wanted to take them back. It would gain them nothing to be at each other’s throat. In spite of everything, marriage to Hawk was the logical solution for this mess and probably the easiest. Too bad it wasn’t the most palatable.
She wanted to ask him why he was doing this, but she knew the answer. Hawk’s devotion to Emory was legendary around the company. It was as if Hawk had become the son that Emory had lost. And not only would Hawk protect her, but Emory would also have his socalled son marry his illegitimate daughter. It was perfect solution for some people. Just not for her.
“Why don’t we eat? We can talk about how we’ll tell your father about the baby. It makes our marriage that much more important. Now it’s not only your safety that’s up to me, but our child’s, as well.”
Although Renee didn’t want to sit down and talk, her stomach growled. Ignoring him, she stepped around his body and reached for one of the sacks. If he thought everything was going to be as it was before, then he was in for a big shock.
He waited until she was almost finished with the biscuit before he repeated his earlier question. “Did you plan on telling me about the baby?”
“It wasn’t going to be a secret much longer.”
“But you weren’t going to tell me,” he pressed.
“As I recall, you didn’t appear to want any involvement.”
“I wouldn’t have walked away,” he tersely replied.
Her eyes narrowed. “I see. You would’ve endured.”
A muscle jumped in his jaw. “We can speculate all we want but the facts won’t change. We’re going to be parents, and that should be our main concern…and your safety, of course.”
He reached out and grasped her hand. The electricity that always seemed to be there ignited.
“Renee, I know you wanted something different. A romance, a church wedding with all the trimmings. But I can’t give those to you. I wish I could.”
“I don’t want your pity, Hawk.”
Cupping her chin, he shook his head. “It isn’t pity, Renee. It’s regret.”
Great, just what a prospective groom shouldn’t say. He regretted the situation. It didn’t comfort her.
Hawk leaned against the passenger side door of his car. Pregnant. Renee was going to have his child. The very idea of it shook him to the core and ripped through the wall of emotions that he’d fought a lifetime to suppress. His own mother had been expecting him when his parents were forced to marry. She had used the event as a club in every argument his parents ever had. He could still hear her shouting how he’d ruined her life. He clamped down on the memories.
Instead, he thought about Emory. Would Emory be excited about the idea of a grandchild? Of course he would be, but Hawk knew that none of the other Sweeneys would welcome the news. It made protecting Renee all the more important.
Would she ever have told him about the child?
Don’t be stupid, his conscience told him. You two weren’t talking. Why would she tell you that she suspected she was pregnant? But as she said, it wouldn’t have stayed a secret much longer.
He didn’t like the idea of not knowing about the child. They hadn’t planned on it, but no matter what, he wouldn’t walk away.
Hearing the front door close, he watched her walk toward him. Renee Michelle Girouard was a beautiful woman, with deep-blue eyes and long auburn hair that caught fire in the sunlight.
The first time he’d seen her, when she’d come to work at Texas Chic between her junior and senior year in college, Hawk knew he was in trouble. His attraction to her had scared him, and he’d tried to ignore his body’s reaction. That was why he made sure not to be around when he knew she was. Her flawless, pale skin was accented by a well-formed mouth, expressive eyes that a man could lose himself in and auburn hair that she wore wrapped in some sort of twist at the back of her head. He remembered when that soft hair had tumbled down and enveloped both of them in a world of pleasure and delight.
He put the brakes on his thoughts. He didn’t need to make himself any more miserable than he’d been these past couple of months. But he had ignored his misery. His ex-wife had taught him well. Don’t listen to your heart. The few relationships he’d had since his divorce five years earlier only reinforced the idea that he would never find a woman with whom he could share common ground.
“Are you ready?” he asked, pushing away from the car. They were going to go back to the hospital to reveal their secret to Emory.
She looked up at him. He always liked the way she’d fit so well into his arms.
“I’m as ready as I can be.”
After he closed her door, he walked behind the car. He was going to be a father and a husband. The news was unsettling. But more than that, in the back of his mind loomed the fear that maybe this woman could find a way to get through the wall he’d built around his heart.
Emory smiled at the couple from his hospital bed. He looked ready to run around the room and shout. “So we’re going to have a wedding this Saturday?”
“Yes,” Renee replied. “Hawk convinced me.”
“When he sets his mind to something, it usually gets done,” Emory replied.
“Tell him the rest, Renee,” Hawk urged.
“What else?” Alarm threaded Emory’s voice.
She swallowed. “I’m pregnant.”
Emory’s gaze went from Renee to Hawk. He knew what the old man was silently asking.
“I’m the father,” he told Emory.
A smile of delight lit the old man’s face. “I’m going to be a grandpa?” The wonder in his voice touched Renee’s heart.
Although she hadn’t worked through her feelings about Emory being her father, Renee liked and respected him as a human being. He was a smart, cagey man, who dealt fairly with those around him. She grasped his hand and smiled. “I guess I don’t have to ask if you’re pleased.”
“That doctor better have gotten all that cancer, because I want to see my grandchild grow and get married one day, too.” A new life seemed to come into his eyes. “I’ll announce your marriage at the reception at the house on Saturday night.”
Hawk nodded.
“I’ll make sure the chapel and the priest are ready. Also, I’ll contact the lawyer.” Emory grinned and grasped Renee’s hand. “Thank you. I’m going to be a grandpa.”
The smile on Emory’s face was pure joy.
“I’m afraid after the announcement on Saturday none of Emory’s family will be happy,” Hawk commented on their way to her office.
They had argued about him driving her to work, but he said he didn’t feel comfortable letting her go alone. With the shooting incident fresh in her mind, she didn’t argue for long. Besides, her car was still parked in the garage at work. She turned to face him. “Are you trying to scare me?”
“Yes.”
“At least you’re honest. But then again, you were faultlessly honest about so much.” It was a low blow, but the words were out of her mouth before she thought.
His face tightened, but he didn’t try to defend himself as he drove the car around a slow-moving truck. “We’ll need to think about how we’re going to handle things after the marriage.”
“What things?”
“Where are we going to live? Do you want to move in with me, or me with you, or get another apartment?” He sounded so blasé, as if their living arrangements didn’t matter to him.
He had a valid point, but all her emotional reserves had been used up, and she didn’t want to slay that dragon now. “Could we talk about that later?”
“That’s fine. I’ll pick you up after work. Also, I’ll have some things with me for this next week. We can go over wedding details tonight.”
What she would’ve given to have heard that two months ago. “Do you need to stay—”
“Yes.”
“Surely you don’t think they’re going to come to my apartment?”
His eyes narrowed. “They kidnapped David from his football practice, in front of a field full of witnesses. It would be a hundred times easier to come after you in the privacy of your apartment.”
She wanted to argue the point, but too much had happened since noon yesterday when her world had exploded. “That’s fine.”
Five minutes later they pulled up in front of the office building. She scrambled out of the front seat, not waiting for him. He hurried after her, walking with her to her office. A new secretary sat outside her office. “Where’s my secretary?”
“She’s not feeling well today. I’m a temp here to help you.” The woman looked at Hawk and nodded. “I’m Julie McKinney.”
Once they were inside her office, Renee turned to Hawk. “Who is she?”
“She’s a policewoman. She’s going to be around for a while. We don’t want something else to happen to you.”
The color drained from her face. Hawk grasped her arm and guided her to her chair.
“You think something else is going to happen here?”
“I like to err on the side of caution, Renee.” He squatted before her. “I’ll do my best to keep you safe, but we need someone here.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “I know you’ll try to keep me physically safe. Too bad you couldn’t have been as good at guarding my heart.”
He flinched and stood.
She wanted to call back the words, but before she could say anything, the door to her office opened and Jacob Blackhorse, the head of security, entered. Jacob had broken more than one heart at the company. He was a handsome man with black hair and brown eyes. His exotic features and teak skin made the women at the company want to catch his attention. No one, as far as Renee knew, had. He and Hawk were two of a kind—and friends.
“I wanted to check and see if everything was okay here,” he said surveying both Hawk and herself. He pointedly looked at the bandage on her forehead.
“I’m fine, Jacob.”
“I’ve doubled the security around the building. And I’m thinking of upgrading our camera system in the garage.”
“Where’s my secretary, Jacob?” she asked.
“She’s temporarily been reassigned to another division. When things settle down a bit, we’ll bring her back.”
Heaven knew when that would be.
“I hear congratulations are in order.” He didn’t say more.
“Emory told you?” Renee said, then shook her head, swallowing her embarrassment. “Of course you’d need to know what was happening.”
A silent exchange passed between Hawk and Jacob.
“I’ll accompany Emory on Saturday,” Jacob informed her.
“I’m going to have more guards than the queen of England,” Renee grumbled to herself.
Jacob grinned.
“Why don’t y’all leave so I can work.”
Jacob moved to Renee’s side. “If you need anything, or are worried about anything, call me.” The understanding in his eyes made her want to cry. When she looked at Hawk, his frown surprised her.
“Thank you, Jacob.”
With a nod, he accompanied Hawk out of her office. Closing her eyes, Renee wondered if her life would ever be the same—or sane.
Hawk and Jacob studied the concrete pillar in the underground garage that bore the scars of his and Renee’s encounter with a would-be assassin’s bullet.
“The police didn’t find any evidence of the shooter in the bushes near the garage entrance,” Jacob informed Hawk.
“I know. Was anything on the security camera?”
“We’re still looking at the tapes.”
Hawk turned to his old friend. Jacob and Hawk had shared a number of hard times together. Jacob had been the one who’d witnessed his ex-wife, Brandy, proposition a friend of Emory’s nephew, Todd, and had let him know what had happened. Hawk had been there when Jacob had lost his wife to cancer. They’d also worked together to stop several attempts to kidnap Emory. Together with Hawk’s old partner, Tony Ashcroft, they’d been labeled the Three Musketeers.
“I don’t like this, Jacob,” Hawk muttered, surveying the area.
“I understand.”
“I have that same sick feeling in the pit of my stomach I had when David was kidnapped.” Hawk walked out of the shade of the garage and looked at the thick foliage surrounding the building. “Did you know Renee was pregnant?”
Jacob quickly hid his surprise. “No, I didn’t.”
“I didn’t, either, until today.” Bitterness colored his words.
“So, I take it her news surprised you.”
The knowledge still knocked him for a loop. He didn’t know if he was more irritated with her for keeping the secret from him or…what?
“Yes, since I hadn’t heard from her in a couple of months. Of course, her being Emory’s daughter was just as much a surprise. Those were two bombshells dropped on me within days. I’m still trying to grasp what’s going on.”
Jacob’s expression became solemn. “Hawk, she’s alive and healthy. Count your blessings.”
Being reminded of Jacob’s loss pricked his conscience. Hawk had what Jacob had lost.
“You need to know, Jacob, when I went to get Renee’s birth certificate, the locked drawer where it was kept was open.”
“Is that why you left a message for me yesterday?” Jacob asked.
“Yes, but because all hell broke loose, I didn’t have time to call back. That’s why I want someone with Renee constantly.”
“I’m glad you warned me. I’ll also keep an eye on all the family members. Maybe the killer will tip his or her hand.”
“I doubt it.”
Hawk walked to the detectives’ squad room and spotted Tony Ashcroft at his desk. Hawk wove his way through the battered desks.
“Hey, Hawk, what are you doing down here? Slummin’? Hey, guys, the lawyer’s come down to our level.” The detectives’ squad room was on the first floor. Hawk’s new office was on the top floor of the building, with a panoramic view of the city.
Several comments were shouted at Hawk, none of which complimented his profession.
“Next time y’all want your butts pulled out of a sling, I’ll remind you of your comments.”
Laughter floated through the area.
“You through?” Hawk pointedly asked Ash.
“I went by the hospital this morning after you and Renee left. I thought I’d try to see if she could remember anything new.”
“I took her to work. Julie is undercover there as Renee’s secretary. I thought I’d check if you had any leads on the shooting,” Hawk began.
“Not a thing. There’s no pattern of robberies around that building. No muggings or thefts. It’s so squeaky clean, there aren’t even any parking tickets issued at that site.”
Hawk didn’t think much would turn up. He pulled a chair to Ash’s desk and sat. “So, it looks like the shooter was after Renee.”
“That’s what it looks like.”
There was another reason Hawk came down here. “Ash, I need a favor. I need a best man this Saturday.”
Ash leaned forward. “Best man as in—wedding?”
“You got it.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
Hawk didn’t respond.
“You’re getting married? And who’s this lucky bride?” Ash knew of Hawk’s split with Renee, and over the past two months had wisely not mentioned it.
“Renee Girouard.”
“I think you’ve been keeping a lot of things under your hat. You want to tell me about it?”
Ash deserved to know what was going on. Hawk explained about Renee’s situation and how Emory had asked for his help.
“That’s taking loyalty mighty far, isn’t it?” Ash asked.
“She’s pregnant.”
His bark of laughter rang through the room. “Oh, this gets better and better.”
Hawk didn’t need Ash preaching to him. Ash had his share of women problems and knew what Hawk’s exwife had put him through. “You want to be the best man or give me a sermon?”
Grinning, Ash slapped Hawk on the back. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
“I hope I can say the same.”
Ash’s grin didn’t diminish.
“You look like a fool,” Hawk complained.
Ash shrugged.
“I also need the name of that friend of yours, the ex-cop who’s gone into P.I. work. I want him to check out members of Emory’s family. We’re going to need to get a clearer picture of those folks to see if there’s something we can pick up on.”
“His name is Greyson Wilkins. Hang on, I’ve got his card here in my desk.” Ash opened the desk drawer and rummaged through it. “Ah, here it is.” He gave Hawk the card. “Grey’s a thorough guy.”
“Thanks, Ash.”
“When is this big event on Saturday?” Ash inquired.
“Ten in the morning. I was also needing another favor.”
“Shoot.”
“I’ll also need for you to go with us to the lawyer’s office afterward. If there are any questions about legalities, I want you as an expert. Also, plan on attending the reception. Emory’s going to announce to his family about Renee. We’ll need all the cops we can get.”
“You all are going to rattle a lot of cages, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. Probably ought to hire every off-duty cop in the city to handle the riot those folks are going to create.”
“You got it, pal.”
Hawk stood. “Thanks, Ash. I knew I could count on you.”
As he walked away, he heard Ash mumble, “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”
Hawk couldn’t have agreed more. But Renee’s safety and his child’s safety were more important than any embarrassment he felt.
Once back in his office, Hawk called the P.I.
“Wilkins Investigations, Greyson Wilkins.” The man who answered the phone wasn’t an advertisement for warm and friendly.
“Mr. Wilkins, my name is Matthew Hawkins. I’m Tony Ashcroft’s ex-partner.”
“Are you the partner who became a lawyer?”
“That’s me.” Hawk quickly explained the situation to Grey. “Can you check into the activities of Emory’s family. I need to know if any of them have outstanding debts or bad habits that are demanding a huge flow of capital.”
“I can do that.”
“Discreetly?”
“No problem. Where can I get in touch with you?”
Hawk gave his office number.
“I’ll give you a call in a week, tell you what I’ve turned up.”
“There’s one more thing I want you to do. I want you to do a thorough investigation of my fiancée, Renee Girouard.”
Grey paused. “Is there something you suspect that I might need to know about?”
“No, but I don’t want any surprises from ex-boyfriends or friends claiming they know about a scandal, once everyone knows about her inheritance. I want to be able to stop any sort of blackmail cold, with facts.”
Grey took down the essential facts on Renee’s life. “I’ll look into it.”
Hawk hung up the phone. He hoped Grey could turn up a lead. They were due for a break.
Renee glanced up from her desk to see Hawk standing in the doorway of her office. Her breath caught, and her stomach fluttered. She ought not to have this schoolgirl reaction every time she saw the man.
“It’s time to quit,” he commented.
“Since when did you become the time monitor?”
He quietly closed the door and walked to her desk. “Since you got shot.”
It was an ugly truth that she didn’t want to think about. “Have you talked to Detective Ashcroft today?”
“Yeah, we talked. They were able to dig a slug out of the garage wall. It was sent to the lab, but I wouldn’t hope for too much. It was mangled.”
The door opened. “Renee, here’s the—” Jackie Francis, Emory’s secretary, stopped when she saw Hawk. A grin curved her mouth. “I hear congratulations are in order, Matthew.”
“Emory told you?”
“I made the wedding arrangements.”
“Thanks, Jackie.”
“I will say when Emory asked me to make the arrangements, I couldn’t believe it.” The fifty-year-old grandmother shook her head. “Not after that girl in accounting went out with you last year. She said you were very adamant about no commitments.”
Hawk folded his arms over his chest, and a shuttered look entered his eyes. Renee was sure many a suspect had gotten that glare from Hawk, and it had probably broken them. Now he probably used it when questioning witnesses in the courtroom. It didn’t seem to faze Jackie.
After an uncomfortable silence, Renee asked, “Jackie, what was it you wanted?”
“Oh, here’s the report you asked for. Margaret down in accounting wasn’t too happy about doing it.”
“Tell her thanks for her work.”
Jackie smiled at Renee. “Just ignore Mr. I’m-the-Toughest-Guy-on-the-Block. I saw him with chicken pox. He’s human.” With that parting shot, she sailed into the hall.
A smile tugged at the corner of Renee’s mouth. She glanced at him and saw him scowling at the doorway.
“Chicken pox? How old were you?”
“Twenty. You ready to leave?”
“I’ll be ready once I lock my filing cabinet.” Within minutes they were walking out of the building. As they passed an open office, Stacy and Todd, Emory’s niece and nephew, emerged from the interior.
“Hawk, what are you doing here?” Stacy asked. Her gaze narrowed, going from Hawk to Renee.
“I’m picking Renee up after the shooting incident the other night.”
Stacy glanced at the gauze on Renee’s temple. “I heard about the incident. There was a lot of talk about it today. Sorry I haven’t been down to check on you. I’ve been busy.” The excuse was thin.
“Thank you,” Renee replied.
“Did they discover who did it?” Todd asked.
“Nothing so far,” Hawk informed him.
“Do you have any idea why someone would shoot at you?” Stacy asked.
“That’s the question the police are reviewing,” Hawk explained. They all started toward the elevator.
“Are you coming to the shindig Saturday night?” Todd asked Renee.
“Uh—yes, I’ll be there,” Renee answered. She wasn’t looking forward to announcing to Emory’s family that she was his daughter. She already knew that Stacy and Todd felt she was trying to get too close to Emory.
The elevator doors opened, and they all filed in. A tense silence reigned as the car descended to the first floor.
“We’ll see you for sure Saturday,” Todd called out as they walked out of the building.
“It’s not something I’m looking forward to,” Hawk grumbled under his breath.
It was a sentiment Renee shared.
Chapter 3
“As they approached Renee’s apartment, the door to the unit below hers opened. Hawk tensed and reached for his gun which he had started carrying again, then stopped when he saw the elderly woman emerge and walk toward them.
“Matthew Hawkins, what a pleasure to see you.” Cora Atkins was the grandam of the complex and had lived in Houston since the early forties. Her tales of the city before air-conditioning kept all the recent immigrants to the area in awe, especially in the summer when the temperature often went over one hundred degrees for days at a stretch.
“Why, just last Sunday I asked Renee about you.” Cora looked at the hanging garment bag slung over Hawk’s shoulder, then at Renee. “Do you want to tell me something?” she asked, anticipation coloring her face.
Hawk leaned over and brushed a kiss across her wrinkled cheek. “You’ll be seeing a lot more of me, Miss Atkins.”
Cora glanced at Renee, then whispered, “Are you marrying this fine young man?”
Renee arched her eyebrow and nodded to Hawk. “I am, but you need to keep it a secret until after Saturday night. We plan to surprise people.”
A twinkle entered Cora’s eyes. “I won’t tell anyone.” She rubbed her hands together.
“Also, Miss Atkins,” Hawk added, “there might be some people sneaking around here, looking for Renee. Reporters, you know. If you see anyone, you be sure and tell us. Or call HPD.”
“I’ll do it.” Cora leaned toward Renee and patted her on the arm. “Didn’t I tell you, my dear, that he’d be back?” Cora turned to Hawk. “She looked so troubled and lost when you weren’t here. But I assured her that any man who looked at a woman the way you looked at her—” her eyebrows wagged “—would be back. All she had to do was wait.”
Hawk didn’t know who was more shocked at the speech Cora delivered, Renee or him.
Cora nodded. “I’ll get out of your way so you can finish moving into the apartment. Congratulations,” she whispered as she walked past them toward the mailboxes.
Cora’s words were as effective as a shock grenade thrown between them. After a moment of silence Renee started toward her apartment. He followed.
She had her key in the lock when he reached out and stopped her. Her gaze flew to him.
“Let me go in first.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I’m being overly cautious. Humor me.” He stood with his hand out, waiting for her to give him the key.
Her embarrassment turned to worry. She bit her bottom lip and nodded. Hawk handed her his garment bag, then unsnapped the gun holster at his waist. He wasn’t going to be caught unaware again. Opening the door, he scanned the room. It only took a few minutes to check the apartment. Joining Renee at the door, he took his garment bag from her.
“Is it going to be like this every day?” Renee asked as she walked into the dining area and placed her purse on the table.
“I’d rather be too cautious than give someone another opportunity to hurt you,” he informed her. “And until we know something different, I’m going to assume the worst, that you’re in danger.”
Color drained from her face.
He cursed under his breath for stating the situation so starkly, but it needed to be done. She needed to be aware of the danger to her and the baby. He could deal with her feelings later.
Scanning the room, Hawk remembered in exquisite detail the time they made love on the couch, then the floor. He held up his garment bag. “I’ll hang this.” He walked into her bedroom, where the only closet in the apartment was located.
Ignoring the bed and the memories of the last time he’d been in this room, he hung his suit bag in the closet. His eyes were drawn to the neatly made bed. The stuffed gorilla he’d given her after a trip to Astroworld sat in the center of the bed. He remembered how touched she was by the simple gift and the way she showed him her appreciation.
Visions of their lovemaking swamped him. The memories of what they’d shared in that bed were both bittersweet and tantalizing. When his gaze left the bed, it collided with Renee’s. Her eyes were dark with memories.
The charged silence made his blood pound through his head.
She looked so troubled and lost when you weren’t here. Cora’s words rang through his head and he shoved away the hope.
But I assured her that any man who looked at a woman the way you looked at her would be back. All she had to do was wait.
Those words had nailed Hawk hard. Surely the old woman was wrong. His heart wasn’t involved. But how could Cora be right on the mark with Renee’s reaction and not his? He didn’t like the directions of his thoughts.
“You hungry?” Renee asked.
Hawk grasped for the lifeline. “I am, but why don’t we go out? You look as though you could use a nice dinner.” The memories of this place pressed in on him. The smell of the honeysuckle under Renee’s window after they made love, the feel of her hands on his body, the taste and smoothness of her skin.
She nodded. “There’s that little Mexican food place, La Loma, off the loop, that serves wonderful spinach enchiladas.”
He remembered the place. Their first date had been there. “Let’s go.”
As he locked the apartment door, he was grateful for the reprieve.
Hawk’s arm rested over his eyes as he lay on Renee’s couch and tried to think of the legal case he was working on for the Houston PD. Maybe if he concentrated on something tedious, he could go to sleep. The couch wasn’t made for his six-foot, four-inch frame. As a matter of fact, her apartment was too small to allow them any personal space. They’d been in each other’s way all night.
The world had taken on a surreal quality this last week. Renee was Emory’s daughter. She was pregnant with his child, and they were to marry.
At first Hawk had thought Emory was teasing him about Renee. He always suspected Emory had wanted something to develop between Renee and him. When Emory assured Hawk he wasn’t joking and explained why he wanted Hawk to marry her, things began to spin out of control.
He still didn’t want to deal with the passion Renee generated inside him. His mother, then his ex-wife, taught him not to give in to his feelings. Emotions only generated problems.
But there was another problem that had cropped up since Renee had agreed to marry him. When they had originally made their agreement to marry, he hadn’t known about her pregnancy. He had hoped that maybe after the danger to her life passed, they might go their separate ways. Now, with a child between them, he couldn’t walk away. So if he was going to stay, what about the sexual relationship between them? He didn’t intend to become a monk. With the level of attraction that existed between them, there wasn’t a chance in hell that they’d keep their hands off each other.
The sound of footsteps going to the kitchen pierced his concentration. Obviously Renee couldn’t sleep, either.
He sat up, slipped on his jeans and joined her. Renee held a glass of iced tea in one hand and a homemade chocolate-chip cookie in the other. She looked rumpled and tempting, wrapped in an old robe, her hair hanging loose around her shoulders, and barefoot. Something he didn’t need.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she explained unnecessarily.
Hawk couldn’t, either. “Looks good.” He nodded to the cookie. “Got another one?”
She pushed the tin toward him. “Help yourself.”
After he took a healthy bite, he said, “Nervous about the wedding on Saturday?”
“I feel like a deer the first day of hunting season, in the crosshairs of someone’s rifle.”
He took another bite of the cookie. “Who baked these?”
“I did.”
His brow arched. “I didn’t know you could bake like this.”
“There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”
From the first time he met her, Hawk had tried very hard not to want to know anything personal about her, because he was afraid of where it would lead.
He’d managed to keep his distance from her for a couple of years. But last St. Patrick’s Day, he asked her to accompany him to the Green Gala the police department put on at one of the downtown hotels. That night he gave in to temptation and kissed her. It was the beginning of their fiery relationship. Once they had gotten involved, the fire that had consumed him didn’t give him a chance to think about mundane things like whether or not Renee could cook. He remembered the picnic they had together and the coconut cake she brought. He’d licked icing off her lovely—
Don’t go there.
He’d never wondered if she had baked the cake herself. Now what were they talking about? The wedding in a couple of days. “What about the wedding is making you nervous?” he asked as he picked up another cookie.
A bitter laugh escaped her mouth. “Everything. The family’s reaction, people at work…their reaction, the social elite in this city. I didn’t think it would be a problem, but after what happened the other night—” She swallowed the rest of her comment and touched the bandage on her head. She turned away from him and her shoulders slumped.
He heard her try to choke back tears. Unable to stop himself, he placed his hand on her back.
“It’s going to be okay, Renee.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “I wish I could be as sure as you are.”
Unable to help himself, he brushed off the tear that ran down her cheek. Her skin was so smooth. “That’s why Emory wanted us to marry. He trusts me to care for you.”
She turned around and leaned back against the counter. “So your distaste for marriage only happens when the woman wants a commitment? It’s okay as long as it’s a favor to Emory?”
He deserved that shot.
“Why did you agree to do this?” Renee pressed.
“I’ve already answered that.”
“I guess I need to hear it again.” Questions filled her eyes. “I mean, it seems a rather big sacrifice to marry a woman you don’t love and had refused to do so earlier.”
The lady was asking questions of him that he’d wrestled with. Why was he doing this? “Aside from the baby, I owe Emory.” That was the argument he’d used with himself. He didn’t want to examine his motives too closely.
“Why do you owe him?”
He didn’t want to give her this part of him.
“Look at it this way, Hawk. I’m going to marry a man who wanted nothing to do with me until my new-found father asked him to do so. Now, I think I deserve to be told why you’re doing this thing for him, when marriage was so repellent to you before. Tell me, why can I count on you?”
If she’d ranted and raved or cried or demanded, he could’ve ignored her. Instead, she asked a reasonable question. One he couldn’t ignore.
“Did you know my dad worked for Emory?”
“No.”
“Dad was the groundskeeper.” Hawk took a deep breath. “I went to school alongside all the wealthy and privileged of Houston. When the kids started bragging about what their fathers did, I couldn’t say anything.” He glanced at her to see her reaction. So far she only had a questioning look.
“My attitude was rotten. My dad was an honest man, but when you’re eleven and can only say, You should see my dad’s azaleas, well—I wasn’t very proud of who he was. When my mother died of a heart attack, that was the beginning of the end between my dad and me. And I started acting up. To make a long story short, when I was fifteen, I stole a car and went joyriding. When I was caught, Emory got my sorry rear out of trouble. Instead of being sent to reform school, I was assigned to work for Emory. He worked my fingers to the bone and helped me get my head on straight.”
He glanced at Renee to see her reaction to his tale. There wasn’t any revulsion in her face, only concern.
“After my dad died, Emory encouraged me to go to college. I joined the police force and saw things that needed to be addressed, then thought about law school. Emory encouraged me to go. Lent me the money to cover the cost. In all the time I’ve known him, he’s never asked for anything in return for his help until—”
“Now.”
“That’s right.”
“I’m sorry that it had to be so great a price.” She bit her bottom lip and closed the lid on the cookie tin.
Her words cut through him. He should tell her—what? He didn’t know how he felt about this marriage, the baby, their relationship. All he knew is that he had to protect her.
“I was glad to do this for Emory. After his son was kidnapped and killed he was never the same.” He paused, consumed by the memories of that dark time. Emory’s wife never recovered, and died within a year in the fire that also killed Emory’s brother and sister-in-law. “When you came to work for Emory, I noticed a difference in him.”
“Did he tell you about me?”
“No. I didn’t know you were his daughter until he dropped that bombshell last week. But I know you’ve made a difference for the old man. And that’s why I did what he asked.”
There was another reason, but he didn’t even want to admit that fact to himself, let alone her.
“Besides, I want to be part of my child’s life.”
She looked down at her abdomen. “I’m glad you want to be involved with this baby.”
He also wanted to reach out and draw her into his arms, but he knew she wouldn’t accept his actions. There was a chasm dividing them. At this point he didn’t see a way to bridge that divide.
“Good night, Hawk,” she whispered.
He remembered her saying that before, sweet and low in his ear. He shook off the memories. As she walked by him, he longed to gather her into his arms, feel the smoothness of her skin, the— He quashed the impulse. Desire wasn’t a good thing to have if he was going to make it through this marriage with his skin intact.
Renee stared at her closed bedroom door and remembered the first time she’d seen Hawk at the office. When she’d asked who he was, Jackie had told her that Hawk was like Emory’s adopted son. But she’d added that Hawk had a reputation of being a bad boy who broke hearts. Renee hadn’t asked about him again.
She’d been so shocked when Hawk had asked her to the Green Gala the Houston police put on that she’d felt like a girl on her first date, silly and nervous.
She’d fallen immediately in love with the handsome man. He was every woman’s fantasy, tall, strong with sparkling brown eyes and a wicked sense of humor. The time between St. Patrick’s Day and the Fourth of July was like a fairy tale. Lunches grabbed at little out-of-the-way restaurants, walks in the park, the wonderful trip to Astroworld where he bought her the stuffed gorilla she kept on her bed.
It had been too good to be true. She hadn’t questioned his closemouthed attitude about his past. What possible skeletons could a cop have? An ugly divorce for starters.
But now it was her past that had thrust them into this situation.
Well, she wouldn’t interfere with Hawk seeing his child, but she didn’t have to risk her heart again. He’d trampled over it once, and she wasn’t eager for it to happen again.
As she turned over, she was determined to protect herself.
She just hoped her body would cooperate.
Renee sat at the table and buttered her toast. Oddly enough, her middle-of-the-night snack had helped with her morning sickness today.
She heard the shower shut off. Hawk was in her bathroom—naked. She closed her eyes, wanting to shut out the thought of him. It didn’t work.
Opening her eyes, she tried to concentrate on the newspaper. The front page reported that a body had been found floating in Buffalo Bayou. That’s probably something that Hawk should know about.
“Mornin’,” he called out.
When she glanced up, he stood at the entrance to her kitchen, tucking his shirt in.
“I left you some scrambled eggs.” She nodded toward the stove.
He didn’t need to be told where things were kept in the kitchen. He knew. After dishing out the eggs, he joined her at the table.
“Sorry there’s no coffee—”
Holding up his hand, he said, “That’s okay. I’ll get a cup at work.”
“Hawk, I can drive myself to the office.”
He put down his fork and looked at the gauze at her temple. “Humor me, Renee, for a while. Until we get a feel for what’s going on here, let’s err on the side of safety. Yours and the baby’s.”
“What’s everyone going to say at work if you follow me around?”
“It will give credence to our marriage on Saturday if people see us together this week.”
His point was reinforced forty minutes later when he escorted her into her office. They passed Stacy in the hall.
“Hawk, what are you doing here at this time of the morning?” Stacy asked. Her eyes went from Hawk to Renee.
“I brought Renee to work.”
“Why, was her car not working? I could’ve picked her up on the way in.”
Hawk slipped his arm around Renee’s waist. “It wasn’t any trouble, was it, Renee?” The intimate look he gave her shouted that he’d spent the night.
Renee’s cheeks reddened. “No.”
Stacy’s eyes narrowed.
“Are we having a party and I don’t know about it?” Todd asked, stopping beside Stacy.
“Why not ask Hawk?” Stacy grumbled. With a final glare, she turned and stormed back into her office.
Renee closed her eyes. It was not a good beginning to her business day.
Hawk finished writing his recommendations about how to proceed with a case that had come back to the department. Closing the file folder, he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You look like hell, Hawk,” Ash commented as he strolled into Hawk’s office. Ash slumped down into the chair across the desk and tossed a video tape toward him.
Hawk’s brow shot up. “Since when are you worried about how I look?”
“Since you told me you’re going to get married. You okay?”
Leaning back in his chair, Hawk ran his hands through his hair. “Damn, I wish I knew. After my divorce, I swore I’d never make that mistake again.”
“Have you thought about hiring a bodyguard?”
“Yeah, but Emory wouldn’t buy that. He was worried that whoever kidnapped David would try again with Renee. He’s set it up—if anything happens to her, I’d inherit.”
Ash shook his head. “So how’s Renee taking it?”
“She agreed, after the shooting.”
“It took a shooting to convince her to tie the knot?”
“Yeah. She wasn’t too thrilled with the idea at first.”
“She turned you down? The stud of HPD? She had the nerve to say no?”
Hawk glared at Ash. “You know how women are. She wanted romance.”
“Females are like that. In those psych classes they made us take, we heard about women wanting home and hearth—a nesting instinct.”
Hawk threw his pen on the desk. “It’s like walking on cut glass. No matter how carefully you step, you’re going to get sliced to ribbons.”
“So her pregnancy was a surprise to you?” Ash asked.
“It was, but it shouldn’t have been. Of course, I think the baby was the only reason Renee agreed to marry me.”
Ash snorted. “Don’t believe that. I saw you two together, remember. Also, I recall, she was as smitten with you as you were with her. We could’ve powered the northern suburbs on all the electricity y’all were generating.”
Hawk could’ve done without the reminder. The wattage hadn’t gone down since they’d separated. It had only gone up. Being close to Renee only added to his misery. “After the danger to Renee is over, I’m not going to be able to walk away from her and the baby.”
“And the problem is?”
“She agreed to the marriage as long as it was in name only.”
Ash’s eyes were wide, and he sat up straight in the chair. “No sex?”
He didn’t want to admit it. “Yeah.”
“Hawk, you’re smarter than that. Why are you surrendering? If you want the lady, work it out. Listen, as clever as you are, put your brain in gear.”
Hawk took a deep breath. Ash was right. He needed to find a way out of this maze. “What’s the video?” he asked, nodding to the tape on his desk.
“That’s the surveillance tape from the garage in Emory’s building.”
“Anything on it?” Hawk asked.
“Yeah. A man. It’s a side shot, but I thought you’d like to see it.”
Hawk took the tape and shoved it into the VCR setup that was built into the bookcases in his office. In the low lighting, he could see movement in the bushes. A dark shape appeared out of the darkness—a man aiming his gun. He pulled the trigger twice, turned and disappeared into the foliage.
Hawk stopped the tape and rewound it until the man’s profile appeared again. He froze the motion. “So that’s our shooter. Looks to me as if he was waiting for Renee.”
“I agree. I’ve got stills of this, plan to pass it out to the patrol officers to be on the lookout for this guy. I’ll get you a copy to post at Texas Chic.”
“Why don’t we get that copy now? I want to take it with me so Renee can see this jerk. She needs to be aware of him.”
“Let’s go.”
He took a deep breath. “We need to find who’s behind this, because whoever did this will try again. And I’m not going to let it happen.”
Renee pulled the purchase order from the file and glanced over the figures.
“Well, well, who would’ve guessed that Little Red Riding Hood was sleeping with the Big Bad Wolf?” Stacy’s voice rang out, silencing the other people in the file room. “He’s likely to eat you for breakfast.”
Closing the file, Renee turned to face Stacy, who stood at the entrance. The secretaries beyond the door silently watched. “Is there a point to your comment?” Renee asked.
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Leann Harris
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современная зарубежная литература
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: SHE WAS A WOMAN IN NEED OF PROTECTION…and Matthew ′Hawk′ Hawkins was the only man who could keep pregnant-with-his-child Renee Girourd safe from the hired killer pursuing her. The rugged lawman promised to guard Renee with his life. Trouble was, his best hope to protect his former flame was to marry her….Commitment-wary Hawk had vowed never to let any woman break down the protective walls around his heart. Yet sharing close quarters with Renee had him remembering how natural it had felt to held her in his arms, how much she′d touched his soul. And soon Hawk wondered who posed the most danger to him–the killer or his lovely wife?