Texas Curves (6 page)

"Father." Hawk stepped the rest of the way inside. Seeing my face, he must have guessed at what had passed during my time alone with Harrison. "Sweet tea, whatever he's said, it's all lies. That's all he's good for anymore."

A smirk lit the old man's face. Leaning closer to my desk, he lifted a knowing brow. "To convince me, he has to convince you. Don't feel bad about being taken in. Hawk is very good at this game, young lady."

Young lady!

He hadn't been treating me like a young lady before his son walked in. I swiped at my cheek, ashamed of myself for letting a decaying bastard like Harrison McKinley get to me. I didn't give a possum's ass what the old man thought about me.

Lifting my chin, I stared straight into Hawk's eyes. "He said you won't be CEO of McKinley Oil until you're married."

A faint nod from Hawk, one I don't think he intended to make. I continued on. "And that I'm nothing like the women you've…you've had
relationships
with in the past."

A little shake, his eyes so sorrowful from the truth that I felt like he'd just ripped my heart from my chest and thrown it on the floor for his father to stomp on. "You're nothing like them, Ginny," he admitted.

"So it's all been a lie." My words were ice, cold enough to freeze Hawk. No shake, no nod, just his hands reaching uselessly towards me from his hips, like they were handcuffed to his belt.

I got up, grabbed my purse and wrenched the office key off the ring.

"Ginny…" He reached toward me again, his legs not moving to close the distance between us. He couldn't care much if all he could do was stand there, hands flexing. "You can't leave--"

"Oh, I can. I am!" I walked past Hawk, pushing him out of my path. Before the door swung shut behind me, I looked at father and son one last time. "You can both go to hell!"

**********************

I thought long and hard about whether I should start the classes at Midland that Hawk had paid for. Mostly, I thought about how I'd
earned
them -- on my back -- and what it said about me if I used the tuition money. I couldn't come to a good answer, so I registered anyway, my chest tight and cheeks blazing every minute of every lecture. I got another job, too, one that was part-time and in Midland. Red helped me get it. He knew something was wrong, just didn't know what.

For several weeks, there were only three people who had any idea of what had happened -- me and the two McKinley men, neither of whom I ever wanted to lay eyes on again. By the third week of September, however, things started to come out. The local paper picked up coverage of how Hawk had ousted his father as CEO, getting enough of the non-family shareholders in McKinley to back him. That article led to Cherry Thompson opening her big mouth about how some private investigator from New York had been at Roy's asking about me. She took the opportunity to revive the story of how she and Bobby Jackson had humiliated me so many years ago. Then June Johnson, who runs Tupperville's only knick-knack store, put two-and-two together about how a man looking like Harrison McKinley had come into her place and purchased a little cow bell.

That just poured kerosene on the fire. Everyone knew then that I'd been Hawk's plaything on the side. Beau quit McKinley, even though Red and I begged him not to. The only good thing during that time was daddy. He was up and on his feet, not for long spells, but he was his own man again. He also got everything coming to him from his worker's comp claim.

I tried to focus on that bright spot. I avoided town, bought my gas in Midland and divided my time solely between school and work in Midland or being locked up tight at home with my parents. All the gossip would die down eventually. I just had to survive until it did.

Good plan, bad execution.

I came home from work on a crisp day in early October to find a beat-up truck parked in the drive. I didn't think much of it. People around Tupperville are always getting a new-to-them junker. With daddy able to work a bit, they had started bringing the vehicles to him for little things that needed fixing. Sometimes they stayed to gab, which daddy welcomed so long as they didn't try to gab about me.

This time Hawk McKinley sat across from daddy's recliner with a cold glass of sweet tea in his hand. Keeping my gaze off Hawk, I looked at daddy. He seemed relaxed, too relaxed for a man who had heard all the rumors about me and the man sitting next to him.

"Hey, baby girl. Me and Hawk were just talking about things."

I nodded, still refusing to look at my former lover. Daddy is very particular about using a person's first name. Doesn't matter how low or high up in the world the person is, daddy won't use a first name unless he has been invited to do so and, more importantly, he respects the person.

Clearly, daddy didn't know Hawk McKinley like I did.

"I'm going to get the stew ready," I mumbled and fled into the kitchen.

Gathering and rinsing vegetables and potatoes, I kept my back to the doorway. I didn't want to see when Hawk left and, if he was stupid enough to think he could come in here and try to charm me the way he'd obviously charmed daddy, all he would get from me was the back of my head. If there was anything left to save and he wanted to, he'd had weeks to try.

I grabbed a chopping knife from the block and started attacking the celery. The chops came faster, my vision blurring but my brain refusing to communicate with my hands. My breathing sped up, my heart rate running ahead of it as the blade moved closer to my fingers.

A hand curled around my wrist, another around my shoulder.

"I get you don't want to talk to me but you don't need to lose a finger to prove it, sweet tea."

I tried to shake him off but he held fast. "I don't care what you're doing here, Hawk McKinley--"

"Sure you do, Ginny." He took the knife away and placed it in the kitchen sink before recapturing my wrist. "Otherwise you would have given me a cold smile or two, told me I had no business here--"

"You don't!" I tried to sidle away from him. He wrapped both arms around me in an awkward hug, one I didn't want.

"Of course I do, love." He pressed his lips to my ear, the gesture forcing my eyes shut.

"Not that word…never." I sucked a huge breath in, instinct fighting instinct within me. I would not turn into his embrace. I would not cry. I would not let him see how much he had hurt me. I would not listen to his lies or excuses. I would not do any of those things even if I wanted to do all of them.

"I have another word, baby.
Forgive
."

Opening my eyes, I glared at him from the side. "Forgive?"

The word tasted as ridiculous as it sounded but the damn fool holding me nodded. His hands gently rubbed at the muscles knotting under my skin. He brushed his cheek against my hair, everything so familiar and unwelcomed and wonderful at the same time. I felt a thousand-thousand needles piercing my heart.

"I want you to know that I forgive you, sweet tea."

"You-you forgive me!" I couldn't help it -- I shouted.

"That's right, sweet tea." Hawk forced me to turn and look at him, his hands cupping my face so the only way to avoid meeting his gaze was to shut my eyes. I stared back at him, my anger making it easier but no less painful.

"I forgive you for believing the terrible things Harrison said." He kissed my forehead. "About me."

He kissed my cheek. "And about you."

He kissed my other cheek. "I forgive you for not trusting me."

He kissed my lips. "For not believing in yourself or me and for walking out."

I pushed at his chest before I could surrender to his mouth. "Weeks!"

It was all I could get out and I was pretty damned surprised I had managed that much. My body had started to react with a need that didn't include punching him. He drew me close again, his lower stomach and something long, thick and hard nestling against the swell of my stomach.

"Yes, love." He went back to kissing me, starting at my neck and jawline to quickly close perimeter on my mouth. "Weeks of us both being hurt and obstinate, and I forgive you because I love you."

Tears started to flow freely from me and I squirmed to get away from Hawk. He took a step back, his face turning down. "Ginny--"

"What the fuck, McKinley!"

I froze, panic settling inside me like quick drying cement. I knew the voice and tone, only I hadn't heard Beau use it since -- well, since he'd taught Bobby Jackson a lesson in manners. Hawk took another step back from me, turning so that I was out of harm's way.

He almost avoided Beau's swinging fist.

Almost.

"Beau Kelly!" My tongue unstuck but the rest of me was useless. Was this paralysis what Hawk had felt seeing his dad in the office and me wearing heartache all over my face?

I don't think Beau could hear me with all the blood pounding through his head. He was as worked up as I've ever seen him and preparing to take another punch. Hawk moved more swiftly, catching Beau's arm and spinning him. In less than sixty seconds he had my brother's chest planted against the kitchen table with Beau's wrist bent at a controlling angle that I knew had to hurt like the hell.

"Beau, calm down." I stepped to the table and placed my trembling palm against his cheek. "I can handle Hawk McKinley myself."

"You were crying." A deep scowl lined his face but he stopped trying to break free from Hawk's expert hold.

"Yes," I agreed. "And I'm probably not done crying, but I will handle this."

"Fine." Beau closed his eyes, his body relaxing. Hawk released him and he straightened slowly then turned and glared at Hawk. "I'm only through with you until she says otherwise."

Hawk gave a slow nod, his body remaining tense and alert. Beau left the room and I headed for the freezer to grab a bag of corn for Hawk's cheek. He let me approach, but wouldn't take the cold pack. Instead he turned me and planted my butt in a kitchen chair.

He stared down at me, not saying a single word. I started to squirm, feeling guilty because Beau hit him and because he was right about some of the things he'd said. Hell, he was right about all the things he'd said. I hadn't believed in either one of us. I'd been afraid to tell my parents -- my wonderful, understanding, loving parents -- that I was seeing him. I'd made him hide and then, when he wanted to explain, both times, I'd run away.

I knew I should acknowledge the truth. More than that, I should tell him I love him. All those weeks of seeing one another, I hadn't. I wouldn't even call him love like he called me. It was time to put my big, fat, stubborn mouth to good use for once…

"How'd you learn to fight like that?"

Oh, absolute genius, Kelly!

His face narrowed in on itself. I looked down at my lap where my hands twisted around one another. He cupped my chin and forced my gaze up.

"I only ever pursued you because I wanted you, Virginia Kelly."

I nodded. "I know that."

"I think you're beautiful." His grip tightened when I closed my eyes, so I looked back up. "And admitting you are nothing like the women I had relationships with in the past was one of the greatest compliments I could have given you. It means you give, you care, you listen. Your heart is out, open and exposed. I know I reacted poorly, baby, but it was the first time in my life I can ever remember being afraid. I didn't want to lose you."

He released his hold on my face and dropped to his knees. His hands smoothed up and down my legs as he rocked absently. I could see he was fighting to find the right words when a soft throat clearing behind me redirected our attention.

Daddy stood at the kitchen's threshold, his cane in hand. His face was solemn, serious. He nodded at Hawk, gave a little jerk of his head then walked away. Hawk stood, his face knotted with an emotion I couldn't read, and followed after daddy.

I waited, every muscle in my body tense as my ears strained for the sound of another scuffle. By the time Hawk returned just a few minutes later, I felt ready to faint before he had a chance to say anything.

He got down in front of me again, this time on one knee. His left hand closed in a fist, he reached in and pulled something from it.

"That's daddy's wedding band." I looked from the ring to Hawk's face. Damn, he was beautiful. I reached forward. My fingers lightly brushed his cheek to find that he'd shed a tear or two. "I'm sorry, Hawk."

He shook his head then captured my hand. "Your daddy wanted me to do this right."

I looked down, all the emotions running through me making me too dense to comprehend his words or actions. "Do what, Hawk?"

He chuckled and slid the ring on my finger. "I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

He stopped to kiss the hand he'd just put the ring on. "I want you to have my babies." He flipped my hand so that it was palm up and planted another kiss. "Darn my socks--"

"Oh, Hawk McKinley!" I pushed at his chest, my laugh delighted and tearful. Bending forward, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him.

He hugged me back, standing up and pulling me with him so that the length of my body was pressed against his. "Is that a
yes
, sweet tea?"

"Yes!" I kissed him, repeating the word and the kisses over and over, each one more enthusiastic than the last.

**********************

Virginia McKinley. Virginia Kelly-McKinley.

Staring down at the platinum and diamond wedding set on my finger, I shook my head.

Mrs. Hawk McKinley.

Perfect. Warmth bubbled through me and I turned in the backseat of the limo to snuggle closer to Hawk. Behind us, the short skyline of Tupperville faded to dust on the horizon. We were on our way to the airport in Midland and the private jet that would fly us to New York to refuel before carrying us the rest of the way to Dublin for our honeymoon. My parents, Beau and Shelly would be joining us in a week, all of us housed in a castle my new husband had rented for the occasion.

I stayed snuggled against Hawk until it was time to leave the limo and get on the plane. Entering the aircraft a few steps ahead of him, I stopped and stared. "It's like a flying double wide, only fancier!"