In the Arms of the Rancher

Sighing, she glanced up from the list, right into the dark eyes of the very man she had been trying her best not to think about.

She managed a professional smile. “How was your dinner, Mr. McKenna?”

He gave her a slight frown. “I thought we had agreed on Hawk and Kate.”

“Okay. How was your dinner, Hawk?”

“Superb, as Vic’s dinners usually are.”

Kate felt the effects of his breathtaking smile all the way down to her curling toes.

“That’s true,” she managed to articulate around the sudden tightness in her throat. “Vic is a very talented chef. One of the best.”

“I know.” He nodded, a shadow of his smile lingering at the corners of his too-attractive mouth. “He was taught by another very talented chef…” He paused for effect. “His mother.”

Kate laughed. It felt good to laugh with him. Too good. She quickly sobered. “I know,” she said, sneaking a glance around him in hopes of finding a waiting patron. The entryway was empty.

“You expecting someone special?” he asked, obviously not missing her swift look behind him.

“No.” She shook her head. “Why?”

Hawk studied her a moment. Kate felt strangely trapped, as if pinned to a board like a butterfly or some other species of insects.

“You’re afraid of me, aren’t you?” He was frowning again, this time in consternation.

“Afraid? Me?” She gave a quick and hard shake of her head. “That’s ridiculous.” She raked a slow look down the length of him, the long length of him. “Should I have a reason to fear you?” Kate was babbling, and she knew it. She just didn’t know how to stop. “Do you mean me harm?”

“You’re right. That is ridiculous, Kate.” There was a note, a bit angry, a bit sad, in his soft voice. “I mean no harm to any woman. Why would you even think that?”

Kate bit her lip and closed her eyes. “I…I don’t know…I…”

“Yes, you do.” He cut her off. He drew a deep breath.

“That bastard really did a number on you, didn’t he?” His voice was low, as if to make sure no one could overhear him.

Kate froze, inside and out. How did he know? Who told him? Vic, it had to have been Vic. The mere thought of Jeff, his nasty temper and his accusations caused a cold sensation in her stomach. Dammit, she thought. She had believed she was over it, free of the memories.

“Kate?” Hawk murmured, his soft tone threaded with concern.

Steeling herself, Kate looked him square in the eyes. “My personal life is not open for discussion, Mr. McKenna. I’d like you to leave, please. I have a party of four due any minute.”

As if on cue the party swept into the lobby, laughing and chattering. His face unreadable, Hawk stepped to one side, standing firm.

Kate conjured a pleasant smile and turned to face the new arrivals. “Good evening.” Lifting four menus from the neat pile, she added, “Right this way.”

After the patrons were seated and perusing their menus, Kate started back to the hostess station. Spotting Hawk—how could she miss him?—leaning against the side wall, she couldn’t help noticing again how tall and lean and…

Don’t go there, Kate, she advised herself, trying and failing to ignore the tiny twist of excitement curling around her insides.

She began feeling edgy as she approached the station. There wasn’t a single person waiting in the foyer. She lifted her chin, prepared to glare at him for still being there.

Hawk didn’t move but remained standing there, leaning one shoulder against the wall, his gaze fixed on her, a small, enticing smile curving his masculine lips.

His smile set off a new sensation in her body, one so intense she reached for anger in defense.

“You still here?” she said, inwardly cringing at having stated the obvious.

Hawk glanced down, then at the wall he was lounging against, then at her. “I do believe so. At least, it looks like me.” His smile broadened, his eyes grew bright with a teasing light.

Kate suppressed a shiver of awareness as he pushed away from the wall and strolled to stand directly in front of her.

“Will you have dinner with me Monday or Tuesday evening?” he asked softly.

Nonplussed, Kate stared up at him. Surprise kept her silent. Raking her mind for a reply, she decided that she simply couldn’t brush him off. He was a good friend of Vic’s, besides being a customer. Still…the nerve of the man. She scowled at him while fighting a sudden urge to agree.

Foolish woman. She didn’t even know him, trust him. She was afraid to trust any man, other than her father and Vic. Yet she was tempted to say yes to him.

“How did you know I was off Monday and Tuesday?” she said in a sad attempt at irritation.

He cocked his head.

She couldn’t blame him, when the answer was so evident. Damn him. “Vic,” she answered for him.

“Yes.” Hawk nodded. “I can be trusted, Kate,” he said, voice soft, tone sincere. “And Vic will vouch for me. I promise not to step out of line.”

Dilemma. What to do? Kate knew what she wanted to do. It had been so long, months since she’d been to dinner with a man.

Looking up at him, she stared into his dark eyes, seeing admiration and concern…for her.

Hawk leaned closer, against the station, his voice a bare, husky whisper. “Word of honor, I’ll be good.”

Kate relented. “Okay, Hawk, I’ll have dinner with you Monday evening.”

“That has got to be the hardest I have ever worked to get a date. What time and where can I pick you up?”

There was no way Kate was giving him her home address. “You can meet me here. Is seven-thirty okay?”

“Fine. I’ll see you then.” He raised a hand as if to respectfully touch his hat, which wasn’t there. Grinning at her, he lowered his hand, gave a quick wave, turned and strode from the restaurant.

Bemused by his attractive smile, salute and even more so his laughter, Kate stared after him, kind of scared, kind of excited. Had she done the right thing in accepting his invitation, or should she have refused? Should she stay firmly hidden behind her barrier of mistrust for men?

Fortunately, Kate was temporarily relieved of the weight of the conundrum by the door opening to a family group exactly on time for their reservation.

By eleven forty-five, Kate, along with the other employees and the boss, had finished getting the place cleaned, the tables set and everything ready for the next day, Saturday, one of their busiest days.

As he did every night while the other male employees escorted the waitresses out, Vic walked Kate to her car, which was parked in the employees section of the parking lot. Kate used those few minutes to question Vic.

“Why did you tell your friend Hawk my days off?” She kept her voice free of inflection.

Vic slanted a wary look at her. “He asked. Are you angry at me for telling him?”

“No.” Kate shook her head as she came to a stop next to her car.

“Just annoyed with me,” he said. “Right?”

Kate met his direct gaze and smiled. “A bit, yes,” she admitted. “You know how I feel about…” She paused, giving him a chance to speak over her.

“Yes, Kate, I know how you feel about men in general and what’s-his-name in particular. And I respect that.” He shrugged. “But Hawk isn’t any man in general, and not just because he’s my friend. Hawk’s one of the good guys, honey.” He grinned. “You know, the ones who wear white hats in the cowboy movies.” His grin widened. “Besides, I warned him that if you happened to accept his invitation, and he got out of line, I’d have to kill him.”

Kate had to smile. “Well, I…um…I did agree to have dinner with him Monday evening.”

“Good. It’s time for you to get out and about again. Flirt a little. Hawk will love it, after being stuck in the mountains all summer.”

“I’m sure I’ll enjoy his company, Vic.” Kate said. “But I don’t believe I’mready to flirt yet, if ever again.”

“Well, if not this time, then sometime. Just relax and enjoy a little.” He glanced at his watch. “Now, I’d better be getting home to Lisa…before she starts getting suspicious.”

“As if.” Kate laughed. “Thanks, Vic. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He waited until she had slid into the car, locked the doors and started the engine. With a quick wave, Vic headed for his own car.

Kate sat for a minute before pulling out of the lot. Although Vic’s recommendation helped, she still felt a little nervous about the date with Hawk.

Drawing a deep, determined breath, she released the hand brake and drove away.

Two more days until Monday.

Excitement and trepidation pushed at her mind. Fortunately for Kate, Saturday evenings and Sunday brunches were always the busiest times in the restaurant. She barely had time to take deep breaths between greeting and seating patrons, never mind long enough to let herself indulge the nervous twinges playing havoc with her stomach.

Kate was relieved when it was finally time for her break Sunday evening.

She felt her entire body tighten with nerves when Vic joined her in the small employees’ break room next to the noisy kitchen.

“Instead of enjoying a quiet break,” he said, eyeing her critically, “you look as if you just heard terrifying news.” His tone was only half kidding. “Would you like me to get in touch with Hawk and tell him you’ve changed your mind?”

Yes. The word immediately slammed into her mind. But Kate gritted her teeth, damned if she would chicken out.

She gave her head a quick shake. “No. I’ll confess I’m a little nervous.” She tried on a smile; it didn’t fit. “But I have no intention of backing out of the date. I’m going to go and I’ll enjoy the evening, as well.” What a liar, she chided herself.

Vic’s slip tightened as if to suppress a smile. She could tell he knew exactly how ambiguous she felt about spending the evening with Hawk…or with any other man, come to that.

Fortunately, Vic changed the subject and Kate managed to maintain her composure until quitting time.

Monday, 7:25 p.m.

Kate stood next to the hostess station, chatting with Bella. She was early. She had arrived at the restaurant soon after seven. She was also nervous. She felt foolish about her anxiety, but there it was, like it or not.

Bella was seating customers. Kate was casting quick glances at the doorway, chiding herself every time she did, which by now was too often.

Kate glanced up as Bella returned to the station, just in time to see the young woman’s face light up with a bright smile.

“Hi, Hawk,” Bella said, quickening her step to launch herself into his open arms.

For an instant, a heartbeat, Kate felt the strangest emotion. She couldn’t describe it exactly, but then, she didn’t want to examine it, either, refusing to even think the word envy.

She allowed another word into her mind. Breathtaking. Hawk looked absolutely breathtaking. This evening he was dressed casually elegant in dark gray slacks, a crisp white shirt, no tie and a navy blazer.

Kate was relieved that she had taken extra time with her own attire. She had chosen a frilly-collared, long-sleeved sage blouse, a long, swirly nutmeg skirt and three-inch heels. While the days were still warm and even sometimes hot in October, the evenings dropped into the fifties and even the forties, so she had brought the same smooth fleece shawl that she had worn at work the previous night.

Bella swung out of Hawk’s arms as a party of two entered. Hawk switched his dark gaze to Kate.

“Hi.” His voice was soft, enticing.

Kate had to swallow before she could manage a rusty-sounding response. “Hi.”

He slid a long glance the length of her body. “You look lovely.”

She swallowed again. “Thank you. “Y-you look lovely, too.” Good grief, Kate thought, feeling foolish. Had she really said that?

Hawk strolled to the hostess station, a smile flickering on his temptingly masculine lips. “Hungry?”

Watching his lips move, Kate felt as if the bottom had fallen out of her stomach. And in that moment she was hungrier than she’d ever been in her adult life. Yet the last thing on her rattled mind was food.

“Yes.” She tried to unobtrusively wet her parched lips. “Are you?”

His eyes narrowing, he watched the slow movement of the tip of her tongue. “You have no idea,” he murmured, reaching out a hand to take hers.

“W-where are we going?” Kate felt a flash of annoyance, not at Hawk, but at herself for the brief stutter again. Damn, she didn’t stutter. Never had, not even briefly.

Hawk grinned. “Right here. Vic’s creating something special for us.”

“Here? We’re staying here for dinner?” Kate had to laugh. “Why?”

His brows drew together in a dark frown. “You don’t like Vic’s cooking?”

“I love Vic’s cooking,” she protested. “It’s just, well, I thought you would want to…”

“What I want, Kate,” he declared, “is for you to feel comfortable with me, and I figured you would here.” He smiled, then added, “With Vic to defend you.”

“Right,” Vic drawled, leading them to the same corner table for two that Hawk had been given a few days before. “As if I could defend her against you. I’m a chef, not a warrior.”

“Cute. You’re the one who works with knives.” Hawk shot Vic a wry look as he held a chair for Kate. “Wine?” he asked, folding his long body onto the chair opposite her.

Pondering their odd exchange, Kate nodded. “Yes, thank you.” She glanced at Vic. “What do you recommend with the meal? White or red?”

“White for you,” Vic said. “I think nothing too dry, nothing too sweet. You’re both at my mercy with the meal tonight.”

Hawk smiled dryly. “Right. I’ll have the red. Room temperature.

“You know each other very well, don’t you?” Kate said as Vic retreated to his kitchen.

“Hmm.” Hawk nodded, taking a sip of his water. “We roomed together at college.”

“Did you serve in the military?” Her question, seemingly coming out of nowhere, brought his eyebrows together in a brief frown.

“Yeah, after college I served in the air force. What made you ask that?”

Kate shrugged. “Vic called you a warrior, so I assumed that’s what he was referring to.”

His brows smoothed as he gave a soft chuckle. “I flew a Black Hawk chopper, but that wasn’t what Vic was referring to,” he said. “The warrior reference was to my heritage. You see, my father is Scottish, but my mother was a full-blooded Apache Indian.”

“Was?”

“Yes, my mother died giving birth to my younger sister, Catriona.” His smile was bittersweet. “I was two and never got to know her. All I have of her are pictures of her lovely face.”

“I’m sorry,” Kate said, at a loss for any other words of sympathy.

The bitter tinge vanished, leaving only the sweet. “Kate, it was a long time ago. I’m thirty-six years old. Though I’d have loved to have gotten to know her, I’m over it.”

Somehow Kate doubted his assurance, but she didn’t push. “Catriona. That’s different,” she said, changing the subject.

“It’s Scottish for Catherine.”

“What about your father?”

“He, with help from my mother’s parents, raised me and Cat. After college I joined the air force. And after Cat graduated two years later, she moved to New York, and then Dad moved back to Scotland, where he owns several business holdings.” A server appeared and Hawk took his glass. “He and his second wife raise Irish wolfhounds.”

“Oh,” Kate said. “They’re really big and kind of mean, aren’t they?”

Hawk’s head was shaking before she finished. “They are big, but certainly not mean. I have one. His name’s Boyo, and he’s a pussycat.” He hesitated before clarifying. “Of course, he can get ferocious if I’m in any way threatened. The breed is very protective of his people.”

Kate had to laugh. “His people?”

“Oh, yeah.” He laughed with her. “Boyo believes I belong to him.”

They grew quiet when their meal was served, enjoying the sumptuous dinner Vic had prepared for them.

“Dessert? Coffee?” Hawk asked when they had both finished eating.

Kate shook her head. “No thank you. I’m too full for even coffee.”

“Good.” Hawk drew a quick breath. “It’s nice here, but…” He took another breath. “I have tickets for a show on the strip. Would you like to go?”

Kate was quiet a moment, stilled by a little flicker inside, a combination of anxiety and expectation. As she had before, she drew a quick breath and made a quick decision. “Yes, thank you. I would.”

Hawk shot a look at his watch, pushed back his chair and circled around the table to slide Kate’s chair back for her to rise.

“We’d better leave. It’s after nine and the show starts at ten.” Hawk waved for their server. He said, “Check, please,” when the server hurried over.

“No check,” the server said. “Vic said this meal is on the house.”

“Tom, you tell Vic I said he’s a sweetie,” Kate said, smiling as the young man’s cheeks flushed.

After quick goodbyes to Bella, they exited the restaurant.

Chapter Three

Taking Kate’s elbow, Hawk steered her to the first parking space in the parking lot. Noting the makeshift Reserved sign tied to the light pole in one corner of the lot, Kate raised an eyebrow and looked up at him.

Hawk grinned at her. “It’s good to be the king,” he declared quoting from an old Mel Brooks movie.

The car he guided her to was midsize. After she was seated, Kate watched, a slight smile on her lips, as he crammed his long body into the seat behind the wheel. Settled in, he slanted a look at her.

“This king needs a bigger carriage.”

“You do appear a bit cramped in that seat.”

He rolled his eyes dramatically. “You have no idea.” He heaved a put-upon sigh. “At home I drive a big-boy truck, with a large seat and lots of legroom.”

“This car is easier to fit into a parking space,” she said.

“Granted, but…” He smiled at her, smugly, as he started the engine. “I don’t have to park it. I’m going valet.” He paused an instant before adding in a gotcha tone, “So there.”

Kate lost it. Her laughter poured out of her with genuine amusement. She couldn’t recall the last time she had laughed so hard, with such ease. It was even better that Hawk was laughing right along with her.

As promised, he drove them to the valet parking at one of the casino hotels. The show, by a comedian Kate had never heard of before, was in one of the smaller entertainment rooms. The room was already full when they were escorted to their table just ahead of the burst of applause as the comedian strolled onto the stage.

The man wasn’t merely funny; he was hilarious., .and he worked clean. He didn’t tell jokes. He told life, everyday things that just about every person in the room could relate to and appreciate.

The few times Kate shifted a quick glance at Hawk during the show, she found him laughing, too. One time he winked at her.

A simple wink, and yet it made Kate feel warm all over. Silly woman, she chided herself.

Now, the show over, Kate moved to get up. Hawk stopped her with a shake of his head. “Want to go into the casino, play awhile before we leave?” he asked.

Kate hesitated. Then, remembering this was one of Jeff’s favorite gambling sites, she shook her head. “Not tonight. I hurt from laughing,” she said, smiling at him to soften her refusal. “He was very funny.”

“Yes, he was,” Hawk agreed, leading her outside. He handed over his parking ticket to the valet before adding, “And you’re a lousy liar.”

Kate opened her mouth, but before she could utter a protest, he said, “No insult intended.”

“What would you call that remark?” Kate didn’t attempt to conceal her annoyance.

The valet area was crowded with people waiting for their vehicles. Hawk moved closer to her. “Kate,” he said, his voice low, private, “I’m not unconscious. I saw the flicker in your eyes when you uttered that lame excuse. For some reason of your own, you don’t want to go near that casino.” He raised one dark brow. “Care to tell me why?”

He stood there, so close to Kate that she could smell his cologne and the pure masculine scent of him, and the tang of wine on his breath, teasing her lips. It played havoc with her nervous system.

“No?” He smiled.

She smiled, surrendering to his smile. “It’s a silly thing, I guess,” she said, sighing. “I didn’t want to go in there, because that is one of Jeff’s favorites.” She shrugged. “I prefer not to run into him.”

The instant she finished speaking, as if she had conjured him up, Jeff’s practiced, cultured voice sent shivers of revulsion through her.

“Well, Kate. Beautiful as ever,” he said, his voice and smile much too smooth. “Imagine seeing you here. I thought you didn’t like the casinos.” He acted as though Hawk wasn’t there.

“You thought a lot of things, Jeff,” she returned, her voice as cool as she could make it. “Most of them wrong…no, all of them wrong.”

Jeff’s pale blue eyes went cold; his smooth voice grew a jagged edge. “Not all of them.” A leer twisted his lips as he ran a quick look over her. “I wasn’t wrong about your response in the bed…”

“If you’ll excuse me,” Hawk interjected in a menacing drawl, sliding one arm around Kate’s waist. “The car’s here, Kate.”

Relief washed through her, but only for a moment. Jeff caught her by the arm, keeping her from moving away with Hawk. She stiffened, angry and embarrassed.

Jeff glared up at Hawk. And up was the word, as Hawk had a good six inches on the man. “Who the hell do you think you are?” he demanded.

“I don’t think who I am,” Hawk said. “I know who I am. And I don’t want to know you.” His drawl vanished, a soft warning taking its place. “Now, little man, take your hand off my lady.”

“Little man! Your…your lady…” Jeff sputtered in anger. “You dare—”

Hawk sighed. “I. Dare. Anything.” He enunciated very softly. “Now, back it up, buster, before I’m tempted to get real nasty.”

To Kate’s near amazement, Jeff took a step back, looking not at all like a cock of the walk, which was how he regularly portrayed himself. She watched him stare narrow-eyed at them as Hawk helped her into the car. But he blinked and took another step back as Hawk turned to stare back at him.

Although Kate couldn’t see Hawk’s face, she thought his expression must have looked meaner than hell, for turning on his heel, Jeff quickly strode back into the casino.

Turning her head, Kate watched, expecting to see a man ready to explode with anger, as Hawk came around the car and slid behind the wheel. To her utter surprise, she saw the brightness of inner laughter in his eyes and a grin on his rugged face. Amusement danced in his voice.

“I bluff at poker, too.”

It started as a chuckle from Kate and developed into full laughter. “You’re something else,” she said, her laughter subsiding.

“Oh, lady, you don’t know the half of it.” Hawk slid his glance from the wheel after starting the car to toss a smile at her.

The tension of the previous minutes drained from Kate’s body, leaving her relaxed and comfortable. For the first time since throwing Jeff, cursing and arguing, out of her apartment, and her life, she felt at ease in the company of a man.

Kate couldn’t quite decide if that was good or not. She knew too well that being at ease with a man was not the same as trusting one. At this point in time, she wasn’t sure she would ever again be able to trust a man, any man. It was sad, really, that one nasty male…She gave a mental shake. Forget him, she thought. He wasn’t worth the effort it cost her to dwell on him. Resting her head back, she allowed her thoughts to drift.

They drove for several minutes, Kate content and mellow, before Hawk broke the mood.

“Er…Kate, are we going to drive around aimlessly for the rest of the night, or are you going to tell me where you live?”

Kate knew the mood was too good to last. “I parked my car at Vic’s,” she said, straightening from her near lounging position.