Free Hawk (Stag) by Ann B Harrison Page B

the
tanned skin above his t-shirt collar. “I want to see where this will go … you
and me.” His eyes were bright clear blue when he turned back to her. 
She’d always loved the color but now they were an almost cold, detached hue
that made her wary. “But there have to be rules if we’re together.”
    “Rules? Like no dating other people kind of rules?”
    “No. I wouldn’t anyway but it’s more than that. It’s
about my job.” Hawk stepped away from the window and pulled out a chair,
flipping it around and lowered onto it so he was sitting with his arms resting
on the back. “I can’t talk about it—what I do—not even to you.”
    “Why?” Cass swallowed. Before when he said it was off
limits, she’d thought it was his way of not committing to a relationship. Now
it was sounding like something more sinister.
    “What I tell you can’t leave this room, Cass. You
understand that?”
    She nodded.
    “I work for the government. There are times I have to
leave on short notice and I can’t tell you where I’m going or when I’ll be
back.” He gave a bitter laugh. “It’s not the ideal job for someone who wants a
relationship, is it?”
    “So why are you telling me then?” A sense of sadness
washed over her. Just when she thought they stood a chance, he gave her bad
news. Her day couldn’t get much worse.
    “Because I want you … I’ve always wanted you.” He
wiped his hand across his face.  “Ever since we met, it’s been you. When
all those other girls came onto me, I wanted it to be you chasing me, and you
never did. I figured you weren’t interested in being with me like that. Acting
like my little sister was enough for you. That changed the last time I was
home.”
    “Yeah well, what can I say? It’s always been you but
I’m not like the others. I can’t chase guys and throw myself at their feet.
It’s just not my style.”
    “And then I had to leave.”
    “Yeah, you do that well. So, why are you here now? Are
you serious about a relationship, or is this just another break for you and you
want to kill time?”
    “I want you, if you’ll have me. I have two weeks off.
Figured it might be enough time to convince you I’m serious. I need to know
this is what we both want.” He rose to his feet and walked over, stood looking
down on her with such a little-boy-lost look on his face she melted.
    “Does that mean I have you all to myself on the island
for two whole weeks? No leaving in the night when I’m sleeping?” She held her
breath.
    “Yes, it does.”
    Cass jumped up and threw herself into his arms,
squealing with joy.
     
     

Chapter two
     
    The look of adoration in her eyes did him in. He was
taking a huge chance trying to see if this relationship would go anywhere. If
they didn’t work out as a couple, it would no doubt impact on his work
performance but it was a chance he had to take. His boss hadn’t liked the idea
of him considering a serious relationship when Hawk put it to him. He preferred
his operatives to be single men but they were all reaching an age when they
wanted more than just their jobs. Bucking the system usually meant you were
posted back to being a soldier, not something he wanted to do. The adrenaline
rush of the job was what got him out of bed every morning. The urgency of slipping
into another country and taking down an ‘unfriendly’ and slipping out again
before anyone found out what had happened—that was the challenge he loved.
     The guys were a tight-knit unit and, considering
they’d all worked together so well over the years, the boss had cut them a
break to discuss the possibility of families with them. He was the first to
gain permission and if he stuffed it up they’d all be back to foot soldiers or
destined to stay single, dedicated to their jobs.
    If he gave it up to have a life with Cass, he doubted
he would ever settle down to the normal routine of a foot soldier, and they
would both suffer. It was the same for most of the guys