“I can assure you that she’ll be well looked after,” Hawk told them as he ushered Natalie toward the front door.
“That’s a good boy,” Doc said, and Hawk felt as if he should bend down so the doctor could pat him on the head the way the man used to do years back. Instead, Hawk said good-bye and led Natalie outside.
When they got back inside the truck, Natalie turned toward Hawk with nervous eyes. “It’s really okay for you to leave me at my place. I promise to not go to sleep right away.” She spoke bravely, but she was almost shaking.
Hawk was now even more curious. Why was she so determined to get away from him? Sure, they’d been less than pleasant to each other after the wreck—they’d both lost their tempers—but he wasn’t a monster. It hadn’t gotten out of hand. Besides, he wasn’t used to women trying to avoid him. Women running after him, yes. Women giving him their number, also a big yes. Women who would rather suffer from a concussion alone than be with him? That was a new one.
“I said I’d take care of you, and that’s what I’m going to do.” As far as Hawk was concerned the subject was closed. “I hope you’re hungry, because my mother’s made a feast.”
“No. I can’t intrude on your family,” she gasped.
“What’s your problem?” When she flinched, he felt a twinge of guilt about the way the words had come out, and he was careful to speak more gently now. “Sorry. It’s just a meal, though. You don’t need to get so worked up.”
“I’d just rather be at home,” she mumbled, her arms folded across her chest.
“Well, tough.” So, his vow to be gentler had lasted ten seconds. It was the thought that counted, right? With no more conversation, he headed toward his parents’ sprawling raised ranch house. Half the county’s pastureland surrounded it.
His mom was so going to read this the wrong way. Hawk had never brought a woman home before, not even for a brief visit, and definitely not for a holiday. His heart pounded as he pulled down the long drive.
It was time to get his game face on. His mouth had better be faster than his mother’s brain, because if she saw a matchmaking opportunity, he was screwed.
chapter 4
Natalie could barely hold herself together. Her entire body was shaking as she sat huddled by the door of Hawk’s huge truck. She couldn’t do this, couldn’t go into his parents’ house and act as if this was normal for her.
This was so far from normal she didn’t know where normal began. It had always been just her and her mom. Her father had left them both before Natalie was even born, and her mother had never remarried.
They’d struggled throughout Natalie’s childhood, never having money, never having much time together. Her mom worked two jobs just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Then, the time they were together had been . . . she couldn’t exactly describe it in words.
Her mother had led a difficult life and she’d had the right to be bitter, to be angry over the cards that had been dealt to her. She’d warned Natalie not to fall in love, that it only led to heartache, and certainly not to end up getting pregnant.
Natalie didn’t hold any ill will toward her mother, choosing to focus only on the good memories, though they’d been few and far between. And Natalie had promised her mother that she wouldn’t settle, wouldn’t accept less than the best for her life.
When Natalie had lost her mother during her freshman year in college, she’d wanted desperately to quit, to just give up, but because she’d loved her mom in spite of it all, she’d pushed through the grief. She’d tried that much harder.
As they arrived at Hawk’s parents’, she felt as if she was betraying her mother. Her mom had never gotten to celebrate a holiday, had never been welcomed into somebody’s home with open arms.
“I really can’t do this.”
Hawk turned and his intense gaze held hers. It was unnerving—she felt as if he could actually see what she was thinking.
“You can, Natalie. My family doesn’t bite.” His voice was soft, almost a caress.
“I’m sure they won’t appreciate an uninvited guest,” she pointed out. Surely he’d see reason.
When he laughed, that really got her hackles up. She didn’t like to be laughed at.
“I’m sorry,” Hawk told her when he saw her veiled outrage. “I’m not laughing at you, but as soon as you meet my mother, you’ll realize how untrue that is. The more people, the better—that’s her motto.”
Unless Natalie wanted to create a scene, she was stuck. She found herself being helped from the truck just as the door to the large house in front of her opened. She turned and lost her balance and of course, fell right into Hawk’s arms.
“You seem to have trouble staying on your feet,” Hawk said with a smile as his arms tightened. Before she could respond, a female voice rang out.
“Well, I guess you’re forgiven for your monumental rudeness in being so late.”