by LAURA HARNER
Tolley reined in his rampant thoughts at Hawk’s appraising look and focused on what he was saying. “I outweigh her by a hundred pounds and I promise you that’s a true story. Look, Hawk, I believe you had good intentions and your actions will make things a lot easier for me. But now we’re both going to have to work extra hard to convince her to stay.
“Sometimes, Dani gets her back up, especially if she feels she’s being railroaded. You need to understand. Your daddy’s done a number on the Delacroiux family for years, and it’s really hard for her to trust any Charbonnet. I never would have believed she’d have been with you under any circumstances, to be honest. Not because there’s anything wrong with you, Hawk. It’s all about the family history. But there’s a connection between you, a strong connection that was easy for me to see.
“What I’m trying to say is, your moving Dani’s things…might have been too much, too soon. I know you promised her privacy and space, but she will likely see this as a violation of that promise.
“She’ll react in one of two ways. She’ll either kick your ass, like I said, or she’ll shut you out. Getting her to fight with you would be preferable, because if she runs, you may never get her back.”
Hawk sat forward, his elbows resting on his knees, hands cradling his whisky. He waited so long to say anything that Tolley wondered where his thoughts had gone. When he did speak, it wasn’t what Tolley had been expecting.
“Does she know you’re in love with her?” Hawk asked.
Tolley started to argue, but one look at Hawk had him changing direction. He shook his head. “My feelings aren’t relevant but it’s not in love—it’s love. I told you I love her; she knows it, too. I don’t want her hurt, and this action has potential for hurt. For both of you.”
Hawk shook his head, impatience all over his face. “She knows you love her as a friend. I was talking about the fact that you are in love with her. It seems to me we both need to know that before the two of you move in together.”
“Dani sees me as her gay friend, and I’ve never felt the need to tell her I’m bi,” Tolley said. “It would never occur to her that I might have any other feelings, and honestly, I like being Dani’s friend a hell of a lot. As other feelings were passing fantasies. I’d appreciate it if we could keep my feelings private. I’ve managed to do that for years and that should be good enough for you. I always have Dani’s best interests in mind.”
****
Dani sat in the all-night diner and watched as Nicolette picked at her apple pie. No wonder she was so skinny. The woman didn’t show the proper respect to a dessert. Dani had already finished her brownie à la mode, or she’d have offered to help, although apple pie wouldn’t have done it for her. There were moments in life that only chocolate would do, and tonight showed every sign of being one of those times.
“Let me make sure I understand,” Dani said. “Del went to Brazil to write a story about the effect of the drug trade on rain forests and Constantine is threatening to either kick you out of the house or kill you if he doesn’t get to talk to Del by tomorrow. And”—she held up a hand to prevent Nic from interrupting—“according to you, there is no possible way to reach Del. Is that everything?”
Nicolette stared at her, big brown eyes swimming in tears. “Yes, that’s all of it.”
“Okay.” Dani shrugged and started to rise.
“Wait! Where are you going? Dani, I’m serious.” Nicolette’s voice was tinged with panic.
“Sorry, Nic, I can’t help you unless you tell me everything, including where Del really is, and it better be the truth this time, because I have another ass to kick when I’m done with you.”
A single tear spilled over and rolled down Nicolette’s cheek, and Dani had to marvel at the woman’s theatrical control. She waited. Finally, Nicolette, nodded.
“Okay. I’m scared Del may have killed that drug dealer.”
Dani kept her face impassive. “What makes you say that?”
With a shuddering sigh, Nicolette started. “I found Del in our bedroom when I got home from work the other day. He hadn’t been at the office all afternoon. He hasn’t been there a lot lately, so I’ve been worried for a while. But he keeps promising it’s nothing, that everything’s okay.”
Dani just listened. She knew Nic would take longer to tell her story, but if she interrupted, the tears might start again.
“When I walked in, Del was sitting in the dark, in the corner of the room and he was holding something in his hands. He looked up and his eyes were wrong. You know what I mean? He was messed up, stoned on something. When I got closer, I saw he was holding a bat, one of those bats he uses for softball. Only this one had blood on it, Dani. Shit, he was crying, he said he was sorry. It really scared me.”
A ball of ice formed low in Dani’s belly. “Where’s the bat, Nicolette? I need the bat and I need Del.”
“I cleaned him up and took him to Serenity, the place for recovering addicts near Baton Rouge. I knew Del wouldn’t want anyone to know about him using again. Constantine would send him back to that hospital in Switzerland. The old bastard would find a way to blame me. I’d never get to see Del. Please promise me you won’t tell Constantine that Del’s using.”
“Nicolette, listen to me. You did good getting Del to the hospital. Really good, but now I need your help. Del needs your help. Did he say anything about where he found the bat or how it got bloody?”
“No,” Nicolette answered. “But I saw the news yesterday. His old dealer is dead. Shit, shit, shit! Dani, I won’t believe he killed him, no matter how messed up he was. I thought it was something about me, I thought that’s why he kept disappearing in the afternoons. Dani, I don’t know what to think. Other than the missing time, Del’s been fantastic, we both have. He’s been clean, stayed clean. I didn’t think he was even tempted. He wasn’t clean that night. He was definitely wasted.
“I took his bloody clothes and the bat and I put them in a trash bag, and dropped them in a bin. I didn’t want anyone to know.”
Dani stood up. “Okay, Nicolette, come on. We’re going to find that bag.” Dani tossed some bills on the table and led Nicolette to her car.
****
Dani pulled into her apartment’s parking slot for the second time that night, more tired and considerably smellier. She’d spent the last hour combing through black trash bags in the dumpster outside the high school until she’d located the trash bag with Del’s clothes and the bloody bat.
Now they were safely locked away in her trunk and tomorrow she’d personally deliver them to Tolley. She’d wait for his analysis before she went to confront Del. He wasn’t going anywhere for the next ten days. She’d confirmed that with the on-duty doctor at Serenity, but that was the only information she’d get without a warrant.
First thing in the morning, she’d call her stepfather, James Courtland, and tell him to hire Del a lawyer. Only then would she see about getting a warrant so she could interview her stepbrother. If he had killed the bastard who was selling drugs on the waterfront…well, Dani figured most people wouldn’t blame him. Still you couldn’t have someone get away with acting the vigilante.
Dani opened her car door, feeling as if her arm weighed a hundred pounds. She only made it two steps away from her car. Shit, the apartment is empty, Dani remembered.
Well, damn. She only had one option if she wanted to be wearing her own clothes in the morning.
Hawk Charbonnet, she thought grimly, you better be ready, because I’m going to kick your ass. Tomorrow, she amended, stifling another yawn. Putting her car in gear, Dani rolled out of her former parking space.
****
Hawk stood in front of the security monitor and followed Dani’s progress from her car through the lobby to the elevator. Her shoulders were slumped, and he caught her swallowed yawns. He glanced at his watch for perhaps the hundredth time since Tolley had left. This wasn’t at all how he’d imagined things.
He expected her to be angry, to fight, to threa
ten. He expected to love her out of her bad temper. He hadn’t expected she would be so goddamn late and to look like the walking dead. Christ, he was such an ass. How had he not thought of this in terms of what it might mean to her as far as her work went? He’d only been thinking about how much he wanted her. Needed her.
When the elevator slid to a stop, he pushed the button that gave him access and both sets of doors slid open. The first thing that hit him was a wave of protectiveness, of wanting to scoop Danielle up in his arms and take care of her. The second thing that hit was the smell.
“What the hell, Danielle! You smell worse than a cattle ranch at high noon in August. What is that?” he asked, wrinkling his nose.
“Go away, Hawk. I’m too tired to talk with you about this, tonight. I don’t want to see you again. You’re going to fix this tomorrow.” Then she turned and walked away from him without a backward glance.
Chapter Thirteen
Dani’s alarm went off three hours after she’d hit the sheets, when she’d been too exhausted to the see the extent of what Hawk had done. Now she was showered, dressed, and getting her first good look at the place. Her scruffy couch and assorted small tables had been fine for her tiny apartment. They should have looked out of place and overwhelmed by the size of this elegant setting. Instead, someone had gone to a lot of trouble to furnish around her meager pieces, adding a funky combination of new, old, and odd. The whole place had a shabby chic look that was exactly what she would have wanted for herself. That just fucking pissed her off.
When she opened the door to Tolley’s room to give him hell, she found it furnished and unpacked but without a Tolley to be found anywhere. It could only mean one thing. He was in on it!
“Tolley, wake up, you bastard,” she hissed into the phone when he answered his cell with a sleepy hello.
“Dani? What’s wrong?” he asked, coming instantly awake.
“What’s wrong? You and Hawk moved my shit, and I want it put back today!” she demanded.
“Wait a minute, Dani. I had nothing to do with that. You need to take this up with Hawk. Or…hold on. Did you hurt him? Is he still alive?”
“Ha ha, very funny. I can’t decide if I want to wake his sorry ass up with a good dousing of cold water or just handcuff him to his bed and come back and kick his ass later when I have more time.”
“Oh God,” Tolley moaned, his voice low and throaty. “Dani, I’ll be your slave for life if you let me watch. No, wait! I know…handcuff Hawk to me, then you can kick both our asses.”
“Idiot! Okay, look, Tolley, I need you or I would kick your ass, and you know I can. So here’s the deal. I’ll be at the station in an hour. I’ve got some evidence I need handled by you, only you. I’m talking murder weapon and clothes with blood spatter. Can you be there?”
Suddenly all business, Tolley asked a few questions, took some notes, and agreed to meet her in an hour at the lab.
Dani ended the connection then walked through the apartment once more. She knew she was running on an empty tank. Less than three hours of sleep two nights running had her feeling less than her best, completely out of sorts. But this thing with Hawk was out of hand and needed to stop now.
This level of interference was exactly what she’d been worried about. It was why she’d changed her mind about moving in. Goddamn Hawk! He just thought he could take over her life. No doubt about it, he was a Charbonnet through and through. Thought he could just run over a Delacroiux anytime he wanted! No respect for her boundaries, for her as a person.
She was nearing full-blown rage by the time she pushed her way through to his penthouse. She stopped, stunned by the opulent surroundings. God! It had been beautiful unfurnished, but furnished? It was spectacular. Heaven only knew how much he’d paid to have both places furnished and decorated in a single day. He’d likely paid for it with dirty money, she thought sourly, and kept moving.
Hell, how big was this place? She couldn’t even find his bedroom. She stopped and considered. It would be a corner, and she’d already seen three of them, so by process of elimination, she headed down the hall to the northeast corner of the building. She flung the door open and found Hawk. Sound asleep, on his back, and displaying a very healthy morning erection. Damn!
Wait, no…damn, she repeated to herself. The sight of his golden body, all laid out like a morning treat almost made her forget her fury at the overbearing pompous ass.
Turning away, she went into the bathroom and filled a pitcher with water. The first thing she needed to do was help him get rid of his enormous hard-on. Then she needed him to put on some clothes. She had things to say and she wasn’t sure she could keep her focus if he was naked.
Dani stalked right to the edge of the bed, amazed he could sleep through the noise she’d made coming in. With one last, and very fond look at the beautiful, straining example of manhood he was sporting, Dani poured the cold water over his cock. Then she had the dubious satisfaction of watching it shrivel, while Hawk sputtered and gasped his way to consciousness.
“What in the fucking hell do you think you’re doing?” he shouted, jumping from the wet sheets. “Are you out of your fucking mind?” He stood, panting, eyes wide with shock, hair standing on end. And still naked.
“Yeah, Hawk. It sucks when someone fucks with your world and you’re not expecting it, doesn’t it? You better be glad my name’s not Lorena and I didn’t cut your goddamn dick off while you were sleeping.
“Just because you’re a Charbonnet doesn’t mean you get to do whatever you want. You came into my home and dismantled my entire world! It was my place, my things, my life! You just fucking thought you would make it all better for me just because I’m not as uptown as you. Well, fuck you!”
Hawk reached for her arm, and she used his momentum to toss him over her shoulder. He landed with a thud on his ass, looking up at her.
“You keep your hands to yourself. You might have caught me by surprise yesterday, but you’re not going to get me now.
“You’re nothing but a common criminal. You acted true to your Charbonnet heritage yesterday. See something you want? Take it. Don’t work for it, don’t earn it. Just break in and steal it, because Charbonnet might makes right. I may not have as much money as you, but at least I can say I earned every penny of it honestly.”
“Goddamn it, Danielle, it wasn’t like that. I didn’t mean for it to be like that. Listen to me, will you?” Hawk made a move toward her. Without thinking, she reacted and kicked at his hand.
Hawk swiped back and caught her foot, throwing her off balance for just a second before she recovered, catlike in her agility.
She snarled. “I know Tolley warned you. I’m warning you too. You want me to kick your ass? Just keep it coming, because I will. Don’t try me, Hawk,” Dani backed up a step, centered her balance, and waited for Hawk to make the next move.
****
Hawk weighed his options. Danielle was every bit as angry as Tolley said she’d be, but he wasn’t worried. He towered over her by a foot, and like Tolley, he had a good hundred pounds more mass. Tolley’s story had been funny, if a bit of an exaggeration. She might take a few swings, but once he captured her arms, she’d be helpless to struggle against him. Hawk knew the real danger came from hurting her accidentally.
Of course, that was half the problem. If he overpowered her completely, she would feel even more justified in her rage against him. She might have excellent points, but she needed to understand it hadn’t been that way for him. He’d really just wanted to have her near him.
God, she got into his every thought, every dream. He needed her. Damn it! She just needed to calm down and listen to him. She needed a damn good spanking, that was what she needed.
He was awake enough now to really look at her. She wore a pair of loose-fitting slacks over bare feet. Something low in his belly clenched at the sight of her naked feet with the tiny pink toenails. His gaze scanned upward, and his mouth watered at the knit top that hugged her perfect breasts. Br
easts that were heaving with the strength of her emotions. Christ. The aqua blue of her top was the perfect shade to highlight her beautiful eyes. Then he noticed the dark smudges under her eyes, and it tore at his insides.
“Christ, Danielle, you look exhausted. It’s six in the morning. What kind of sane person gets up and dressed at six in the morning?”
Danielle growled at him, then her words cut through him with the precision of a scalpel. “The kind of person who is on the right side of the law. The kind of person who spent her day and night yesterday tracking down evidence to keep your ass out of jail. The kind who didn’t need to have an arrogant prick like you think it was no big deal to fuck with her in the middle of a murder investigation. The kind of person who is going to catch a killer. Now stay out of my way!” She said it all in a calm, quiet voice that raised the hair on the back of his neck.
He couldn’t let her leave, not like this. Without thinking of the consequences, Hawk lunged, grabbed her around the knees, and brought her down to the floor. She fell, already rolling and twisted free of his grasp. Her foot caught him on the side of the head and he saw stars. He realized he was in the undignified position of being naked, on the floor, having just had his clock rung. He’d had enough of this game.
Hawk swung his feet out and used a sweeping kick of his long legs to connect and knocked her feet out from under her. Using his momentum, he snapped to standing and immediately assumed a crouched, defensive position. His goal was to restrain her arms and kiss her into submission. He saw Danielle’s spinning kick too late.
His head snapped back, and the world exploded. He staggered and she used his unsteadiness to her advantage. She moved in tight and with a quick one-two punch, she nailed him in the solar plexus and the stomach. Hawk hunched forward, and her knee connected with his jaw, then someone turned out the lights.
