Page 28 of Hawkeye

Silence lasted longer than usual before she tipped her face up. “How can you sound so certain about us after five days?”

I studied her warm brown eyes and the vulnerable question beneath them. “I’ve spent my life learning the difference between a passing movement and something that changes the whole field. You changed it the second I saw you.”

Her expression softened, and she pressed a kiss to the center of the hawk tattoo. Josie curled closer afterward, her breathing gradually deepening while my palm continued its slow path along her spine. She drifted off wrapped around me, and with her warm body anchored against mine, I slept more deeply than I had in years.

11

JOSIE

Iwoke in Calder’s bed with his arm heavy across my waist and a pleasant ache between my thighs that confirmed last night wasn’t just a dream. My cheek rested on his chest instead of a pillow, and I rubbed my cheek against his warm skin with a soft sigh.

His hand slid down my spine to cup one of my butt cheeks. “Morning, baby doll.”

“Hi.” The word came out softer than I meant, but I was acutely aware of the heat from his palm against my bare skin.

I tipped my face up, and he brushed a kiss against my temple. “I finally kept my word to your mom.”

My brows drew together. “What do you mean?”

“I kept you out past breakfast.”

“Oh my gosh.” I gently swatted his chest. “Stop.”

We were both laughing while we kissed, something I’d never experienced before but definitely enjoyed.

The rest of the morning stayed easy. He made coffee while I cooked breakfast wearing nothing but his shirt. We had just finished when I got a text from Mr. Smythe.

“I need to head into Wynnock for a limited preview of a new lot.” I glanced down and grimaced. “But I can’t go in looking like this.”

“Go ahead and take a shower.”

I went up to his room and got cleaned up. By the time I stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in one of his big towels, an outfit was laid out on the bed for me. “Where’d those come from?”

“So suspicious.” Calder dipped a finger in the valley between my breasts, which was emphasized by the towel being tucked in them. “I had one of the prospects grab it from your mom along with these.”

He lifted his arm, and a familiar pair of panties and a bra dangled from his finger. “Give me those.”

“Here you go.”

I tugged them on as soon as he handed them over, then looked more closely at the other clothes. “I didn’t even recognize these at first. She must’ve pulled them from the back of my closet.”

After I got dressed and pulled my hair into a low ponytail, his gaze swept over me. “You should find shit back there more often.”

“You don’t look half bad yourself.” While I was in the shower, he’d gotten dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved Henley under his cut.

“Let’s go, baby doll. Before I decide to drag you back into my bed for the rest of the day.”

I followed him out, still slightly sore but happier than I ever remembered being.

Black Castle had men stationed at the doors when we walked in, but Calder still stuck close to me while I went to the senior appraiser and the limited preview tables.

The new lot was jewelry and small decorative arts. It was nothing in my usual lane, but I still enjoyed helping. I fetched condition notes, turned pieces under the light when a client asked, and kept my mouth shut unless Michael tipped a piece my way.

Everything was going smoothly until a shadow box was being displayed. Calder moved close, and his hand closed around my elbow. I twisted around, but he wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was zeroed in on the glass front of the shadow box.

“What’s wrong?”

“Keep going and try to act normal,” he murmured.