Hedgehog for Hawke by Fel Fern
River
“Play with Liz and Meg?” Michael asked me that morning as we arrived at the company’s day care center.
“I’ll see if I can schedule a playdate, but no promises,” I said quickly.
I didn’t want to get Michael’s hopes up, only to dash them later on. He already experienced enough disappointment from his dad.
Speaking of Reece, my asshole brother hadn’t returned my last text message. Trying to call him proved futile. He was giving me the cold shoulder and I was getting frustrated.
“Okay!” Michael said.
I bent down so I could look him in the eyes. I ruffled his hair, and he laughed. At least one of us was in a good mood today.
“I’ll see you at lunchtime, kiddo,” I told him. “Be good.”
Michael nodded and joined the other kids at the daycare. I returned to the elevator only to bump into my favourite Alpha.
“Morning,” Hawke said.
His smile made my heart flutter and my palms sweat. Something had definitely changed between us yesterday. Hawke was going to take me out on an actual date. I hadn’t been to one of those since—I don’t know. Three years? Since I started taking care of Michael.
I was certainly off my dating game.
“Morning,” I answered.
“Just dropped Mike off at the daycare?” He asked.
“Yeah. He asked me if he could play with Liz and Meg again.”
“That’s easy enough to arrange. I’m glad those three get along,” Hawke said.
“I told him no promises. I can’t just ask Walker something like that. He’s Hunter’s co-CEO and I’m… practically a stranger.”
“Then I’ll ask on your behalf. Easy-peasy.”
I walked up to him and tugged the hem of his shirt. “Don’t do that. That makes me seem desperate. Like I have ill intentions or something.”
I had the sudden urge to slip my hand under his shirt. Touch his six-pack abs. My pants tented just thinking about all the naughty things I’d let this Alpha do to me—and nope. I needed to pull my mind out of the gutter ASAP.
“Who would think that? You’re just doing this for your kid.” Hawke snorted. “Nothing wrong with that.”
The elevator pinged, and the doors opened. I quickly let go of Hawke’s shirt. I hurried to my desk, worried anyone saw us.
Wait. There was no reason to worry. It wasn’t like I was doing anything wrong. Realising Hawke had followed me all the way to my desk, I spun.
“Did you want something else?” I asked, heart racing.
Hawke hadn’t told me when we’d go on a date. I wish he would. Hawke knew I had a kid to take care of. Michael and I had just settled into our new lives.
Bringing a new man into my life wasn’t the wisest decision in the world, but something told me that if I turn Hawke away, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.
“Nah. Just admiring your fine ass,” he said.
I gaped at him.
“Kidding. I wanted to annoy my brother and steal some muffins from him.”
“Muffins? Is that a code word for something else?” I asked.
“Double chocolate muffins. Manny is a great baker. Hold on.”
I watched Hawke waltz right into his brother’s office. Petunia let out a huffing noise but didn’t bother stopping him. Hawke plucked two muffins from the Tupperware container on Walker’s desk.
“Morning, River,” Hunter said.
My boss looked like he had hurried here. Hunter usually looked impeccable, but today? He forgot his tie. A couple of Hunter’s shirt buttons were done up wrong, his hair was a mess. There were also mysterious food stains on his jacket.
“Any messages?” He asked.
“Nothing yet this morning,” I said. “Sorry, I just came in.”
“No need for apologies, it’s only 7.45 am, so you’re actually early for work.” Hunter must’ve noticed I was staring at the stains on his suit jacket. It wasn’t intentional. When Michael was the same age as Hunter’s daughter, he liked throwing baby food at me.
“Let me guess. Green peas?” I asked.
“I knew I should’ve worn a different jacket,” he grumbled. “David’s feeling under the weather today, so I fed Jane this morning.”
“Your mate is sick?” Knowing Hunter had back-to-back meetings today and had no time to check on his mate, I said, “I could pay him a visit later.”
Hunter looked surprised. “You don’t need to do that.”
While my boss said those words, I could tell he was thinking about it.
“I don’t mind. I’m your personal assistant after all,” I said.
“Well, only if you have time,” Hunter said.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m way ahead of my tasks this week,” I said. “Do you want me to bring him anything? Soup or meds?”
“Some chicken soup would do him some good.” Hunter looked relieved. He patted my shoulder. “Thanks, River.”
“What was that all about?” Hawke asked after Hunter entered his office.
Hawke chewed on a muffin and handed me one. My stomach growled, reminding me I’d forgotten to eat breakfast. I always made sure Michael didn’t leave the office with an empty stomach, but I sometimes forgot about myself. I accepted the muffin.
“David’s not feeling well, so I volunteered to check on him,” I said.
“Oh? That’s nice of you.” Hawke looked thoughtful. “I think I’ll come with you.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because David’s a friend of mine, and I want to see if he’s okay. Besides, do you even know Hunter’s address?”
I opened my mouth, then shut it. Hunter had forgotten to give me his home address. I looked behind me. Hunter was on the phone and typing on his computer. I didn’t want to disturb him while he was busy.
“Then it’s settled,” Hawke said.
“Are you sure you’re not using this as an excuse to spend more time with me?” I asked.
Hawke pretended to look hurt. He even clutched his chest in mock outrage. “Would I do such a thing?”
“Absolutely.”
He grinned. “Aw. You already know me so well, baby. I’m touched.”
“Don’t call me baby,” I blurted.
“Jokes aside, I want to know how David’s faring. And you’re right, I want to spend more time with you.”
“I don’t mind the additional company,” I whispered.
“What was that? I couldn’t hear you,” he said.
Time to change the topic.
“This sure smells good,” I said, ignoring his comment. I took a bite of the muffin. I widened my eyes. “This is better than any muffin I’ve ever tasted in the city.”
“You bet it is. That’s why Manny’s muffin business is so popular,” he said.
My phone rang after I decimated the muffins in a few bites. The investors Hawke and Walker were meeting today had arrived.
“I’ll leave you to your work. See ya later, River,” Hawke said, blowing me a kiss before walking away.
* * *
I met Hawke in the parking lot after I had lunch with Michael. We agreed to take his car. I found him checking the engine of his Impala. He didn’t seem to notice I was there. Hawke furrowed his brows in concentration.
He wiped the sweat and grease on his face using his shirt, flashing me his abs unintentionally. I stood where I was, licking my lips. I shouldn’t be this turned on at work. I tugged at my shirt.
Was it my imagination or was it getting hot in here? What was wrong with me?
I cleared my throat, and Hawke finally glanced my way. “Is something wrong with your car? We can take mine,” I offered.
“Nah. Betsy’s been giving me a bit of trouble but she’ll run fine.”
“You named your car Betsy?” I asked.
“Why not? Don’t you think she’s a Betsy?”
Sometimes, I didn’t get this Alpha at all, but I was intrigued. Clearly, this car meant something to Hawke. There was a story here, and it was one I wanted to hear. Maybe I could ask him how he came about Betsy during our drive.
“Um, do you want to freshen up or something first?” I asked.
Hawke finally looked down at his sweaty and grease stained shirt. He flashed me a sheepish smile. “Just give me a second to change. I have a spare shirt in the car.”
I stared a little too long at the defined muscles of Hawke’s back and his tight, sexy ass. He had some ink done, I noticed. He also bore quite a collection of scars.
While he rummaged through his bag in the back seat of his car, I walked up to him like I was possessed. I touched a faded rake mark across his lower back. Hawke stilled, then looked at me over his shoulder.
I expected his cocky smile, not the intense expression on his face. His eyes glowed gold. I drew my hand back, as if burned. I had no right to touch him so casually like this.
Hawke wasn’t my Alpha, my anything yet. Only mates possessed the right to casual touches. My mind went on overdrive. I imagined Hawke shoving me inside the backseat. Hawke covering my body with his big one. He’d pin me in place with those strong hands and I’d beg him to kiss me, to blow me, to fuck me senseless.
I let out a shaky breath and told myself I needed to focus. We had a job to do. I was still on the clock. Now wasn’t the time to fool around. Hell, Hawke and I haven’t even gone on one date yet.
“Like what you see?” He asked, back to his usual teasing self.
“Can you put on a shirt already? You’re too hot for your own good,” I grumbled.
“Oh, I haven’t heard that one before. Too hot for my own good?” He winked at me.
“Damnable Alpha,” I muttered.
Hawke found a ratty white shirt and put it on. He said nothing more until we were in his car. Hawke started the engine.
“She purrs like a sweet kitten for me,” Hawke said. “Good girl, Betsy.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “You really love this car, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Betsy and I go way back. We’ve travelled thousands of miles together and for a long time, I lived in my car,” Hawke explained. “She belonged to my dad. Walker got the house from him. Ghost took the cabin, but all I wanted was this car.”
I grew intrigued. “Sounds like the three of you were close to him.”
“Yeah. Steve took in four unruly boys who weren’t his own. We’re all adopted,” Hawke explained. “Steve made us into a family.”
I said nothing for a few moments, touched Hawke would share such a private truth about himself. I sensed he was the kind of guy who didn’t open up easily to others. We both had that in common.
“I had fond memories of this car,” Hawke said. “I was 12 when Steve drove up to the foster home I was currently in. It wasn’t…. a good place.”
Hawke looked distracted for a few moments and I remembered his scars. Some of them looked years old, some even older.
He went on, “I remembered thinking Steve would be just like the others. That I’d have to fight and show him I didn’t take well to rules. We sat in this car for two hours, saying nothing. Then he finally spoke and told me he only expected one thing of me.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
I was a sucker for good endings. Hawke opened up to me, and I had no intentions of betraying his trust. I understood what he offered me today was a gift—the story of his past.
“That he wanted me and all his boys to be happy. He’d provide a home for us so we could feel safe. Steve also told us we could choose our own path. When I told him I wanted to travel, he gave me the keys to Betsy, no questions asked.”
“He sounds like a good dad,” I said.
“He was. I still miss him.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it. His father’s loss must’ve affected him and his brothers greatly. This was unfair. Hawke had given me a small glimpse of his past and I now I was hooked.