Page 34 of Hawk and the Cougar

“Hold on,” Hawk said before Emma could go ballistic. “Let’s start with tonight, shall we?” He looked at Liz. “We’ve had a rough day. How about we hunker down for the night, the three of us, get some rest, then see what the police come up with tomorrow?”

Liz hesitated.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Em said.

“You will if I say so,” Liz replied. “But I’ll agree to tonight. Then,” she looked at her daughter, “tomorrow, you will do exactly what I say.”

Emma’s mouth tightened. “Maybe.”

Liz was too exhausted to argue.

Emma rose from the table. “I’m going downstairs to my place and get some studying done.”

Liz nodded. “I’ll call you for dinner.”

“Three’s a crowd, Mom.”

“You’re coming for dinner, or I’m coming for you,” Liz said. “I’d say about an hour.”

Her daughter nodded and left.

Liz released a breath. “Will she be all right downstairs?”

“Is there a separate entrance to her basement apartment?” Hawk asked.

Liz shook her head. “No. She has to enter inside through the hallway.”

“Then she’ll be all right. No one will get past me to her.”

Or you, Liz knew he was thinking.

“How does steak sound?” she asked.

“Barbecue?” he asked.

“I could fire up the gas grill.”

He rose. “Leave it to me.”

She stood, and he grasped her hand. A tremor rippled through her when his fingers tightened gently around hers and drew her close. He surprised her by placing a kiss on her forehead.

“Come on.” He led her from the kitchen and started down the hallway.

“Hawk—”

“Which room is yours?” he asked.

“Emma’s here,” she said.

He opened the first door on the right to the bathroom, then closed it.

“Hawk,” Liz said.

He opened the second door to the left, which was her office.

He looked at her. “Very nice.” He closed the door and stepped to the door on the left.

Her heart was pounding. “If Emma comes up here, she’ll hear us,” Liz protested as he opened the door to her room.