As Luck Would Have It

Removing her apron, she rushed toward the bathroom, washing her hands and wiping off any specks of flour or other baking ingredients she found.

She could do this. Just go over and talk to him.

It would be completely natural, and seeing as it was just after the lunch hour, he shouldn’t be overly busy.

There was nothing she could do about her mess of hair bound up on her head. Rebecca was waiting, complete with filled box of goodies.

“Have fun.” Rebecca slapped her ass, and she offered up a glare. The last thing she wanted to do right now was go and see her … problem.

Taking a deep breath, she didn’t even think as she crossed the street. Now with her only a few feet away, there was no way of her pretending to go elsewhere. Determined to see this through, she opened the door to the café, and sure enough, only a couple of customers were there.

Hawk’s father smiled at her as she entered.

She stood beside the door, wanting the floor to open and swallow her up.

“I wanted to see Hawk,” she said.

“He’s in the office, just out in the back. He’ll love to see you.”

She doubted it but offered him a smile anyway. With her bounty, she made her way in the direction he’d pointed. Her nerves were nearly getting the better of her, when she caught sight of Hawk in his office. He was on the phone but as she was about to give up and turn away, he looked up, catching sight of her.

You can do this.

She stepped up to his office door, opened it a little more, and went inside just as he put the phone down.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“I was done talking. What brings you here?” he asked.

She looked down at the baked goods. “Thank you.” She stepped forward. “For stopping me from getting run over. It would have done terrible things to my medical insurance.” She placed the box on the desk. “I baked them all myself.”

“I’m aware. You’re the cook, Rebecca is the brains.” He opened the box and she watched as he inhaled the scents coming up. “All of these are my favorites.”

“Good. Good. So, I wanted to say thank you. Erm, does your dad know how to do Rebecca’s order for coffee? She wants me to bring it back.”

“I think this is the first time you’ve stepped foot inside my place,” he said.

“I get really busy.”

“Go on a date with me.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know you’ve given me the cookies and bars, but I want you to thank me in a different way.”

“You’re asking for a new way for me to thank you.”

“Yes. I love your cookies, but I want something a little extra.”

She felt her cheeks heat. What exactly did he mean by a little extra?

“I want to take you out to dinner.”

“And I should take the cookies back in exchange?”

He took a bite out the oatmeal raisin. She watched his eyes close. “If you’d like. I’ll pay for them.”

“It’s okay. You can have them.” She really liked seeing the appreciation on his face. “I’ll go on a date with you. On one condition.”

“What is it?”

“Seeing as we’re dating for a thank you, I’ll pay. It’ll all come from me.”

“You think I’m going to argue with you paying?” he asked.

“Not at all. Do we have a deal?”

“Yes.” He took her hand, and she felt the heat rising up inside her just from that touch alone.

4

God, could she really go through with this?

Felicity stared at herself in the mirror, shaking her head, contemplating whether she should just call Hawk up and cancel. This was a bad idea, her going on date with him, Hawk using her gratitude as a bargaining chip to get what he wanted … her.

Maybe that was the craziest part of all of this. She didn’t miss the way he kept looking at her, his gaze raking up and down her body. She didn’t miss the low sound in his voice when he’d said he wanted something else from her, when he asked her out on the date.

It had all been so arousing, and that’s how she knew this was a very bad idea.

Him wanting more than she offered should infuriate her, disgust her, yet she found herself being turned on.

“You’re insane,” she said to herself as she looked at her reflection in the mirror that hung on the back of her bedroom door.

A knock on her front door had her heart jumping in her chest. She knew it wasn’t Hawk because she’d insisted they meet at the bakery when he asked to pick her up. But regardless, she was nervous.

Felicity headed toward the front door and opened it. Rebecca stood on the other side with a garment bag in hand and a small handbag in the other. She grinned, lifting her eyebrows up and down in a suggestive manner.