Читать книгу Maverick / The Playboy's Passionate Pursuit: Maverick / The Playboy's Passionate Pursuit - Emilie Rose - Страница 13

Six

A light tap and a murmured “Brianna” woke Bri. Frowning, her eyes barely open, she wondered why Hawk and not Tanner had come to wake her.

“I’m awake,” she muttered, raking her fingers through sleep-tangled hair. Other than a small night-light plugged into a wall socket, the room was dark, and she reached to the nightstand to switch on the light.

“Coffee’s fresh and hot.”

“Give me a couple of minutes.” Yawning, she tossed the cover back, grinning as Boyo lifted his large head, alert and apparently ready for anything.

“Hi, fella,” she said, ruffling his hair. “Go back to sleep, you don’t have to get up yet.”

Obviously Boyo wasn’t about to do any such thing as go to sleep. After stretching his legs, he jumped from the bed and padded to the door, waiting patiently until Bri opened it for him.

The hallway was well lighted, as was the living room beyond. Smiling, she wondered if Hawk had turned on every light in the house. That is, until she opened the bathroom door.

The bright sunlight filling the room jolted her like a shock. What the heck time was it? she asked herself, frowning as she entered the room. Hadn’t Tanner said he wanted to get an early start?

Puzzled, she nevertheless took a quick shower and ran back to the bedroom to look at the clock she hadn’t bothered to glance at before. The digital numbers flashed 8:45. Stunned, she pulled the heavy blackout drapes over the sheers aside, staring in disbelief at the blaze of sunlight pouring through the window.

Suspicion tickling the back of her mind, Bri quickly dressed, braided her hair and left the room, following the aroma of fresh coffee.

Hawk stood by the stove. Boyo had his nose buried in his food bowl. There was no sign of Tanner or the gear he had set by the door last night.

The tickle of suspicion expanded into certainty. “Where’s Tanner?” Her voice was cold, her stance stiff, her eyes narrowed.

“He’s gone…left about five,” he answered, warm compassion meeting her icy stare.

“Gone?” she repeated, voice rising an octave. “He left without me? That son of a—”

“Now, Brianna,” Hawk cut her off in a soft, calming tone. “Come have a cup of coffee and some breakfast and I’ll explain everything to you.”

Annoyance curdled her tone. “Don’t speak to me as if I were a child, Hawk.”

“I’m not,” he said, still soothingly calm. “I’m speaking to you as if you were an intelligent, mature adult. Now, please, come and sit down.”

Still stiff with outrage at the deceiving rat Tanner, she nevertheless moved into the kitchen and sat down at the table. What else could she do? Rant and rave? She could do that sitting down over coffee.

Mere moments after her bottom hit the chair seat, Hawk set a plate of bacon, scrambled eggs and toast in front of her, followed by a steaming mug of coffee.

She sat there looking at the food, only sipping her coffee. She was way too angry to eat.

“I know you’re angry,” Hawk said, taking a seat across from her, “and I suppose you have every right to be. But not eating isn’t going to solve a thing. Tell you what—you eat a little something, and I’ll explain Tanner’s reasons for leaving without you.”

“I already know his so-called reasons. He doesn’t want me, any woman or anyone else hunting with him…the rat.” Her voice dropped to a deeper, arrogant tone, mimicking Tanner’s. “‘Like it or not, I hunt alone.” ’

“Yep, that’s Tanner,” Hawk agreed, surprising her. “Well, now that we agree on that, suppose you attack your breakfast.”

Bri rolled her eyes. She drew a breath to tell him what to do with his breakfast, but in so doing got a whiff of the food, and her stomach growled. She gave in immediately.

To her surprise, Bri finished every morsel on her plate and every drop of coffee. Without being asked, Hawk refilled her mug.

“Thank you. Breakfast was delicious,” she said, taking a careful sip of the hot brew. “Now I’m ready to hear Tanner’s reasons for stranding me here.”

Hawk smiled. “First of all, Brianna, you’re not stranded. Second, he actually didn’t deceive you.”

Bri’s back went ramrod stiff. “What do you mean? He deserted me when he said he would take me with him.”

“And he did, in his way,” Hawk countered. “He took you out of Durango and brought you here.”

“That’s not funny.” She was getting steamed all over again. Suddenly her delicious breakfast lay heavy in her stomach. “He didn’t say he’d bring me here, dammit! He said he’d take me along hunting with him.”

Hawk was shaking his head. “He couldn’t, Brianna.”

“That’s ridiculous.” She glared at him. “He selected horses. Showed me the mare I was to ride. Stashed my gear next to his own by the door. And now you tell me he couldn’t take me. Why the hell not?”

Bri realized she was on the edge of losing it. She paused to breathe, calm herself down.

“He told me he could not—would not—expose you to the danger of possibly facing a killer.”

“And I told him I can take care of myself, and Tanner knows it.”

“I’m sure he does.” Hawk nodded. “But then, I’m also sure it makes no difference to him.” He gave her a gentle look. “Although I know Tanner’s feelings about hunting alone, there is more to it in this instance.”

“What?” Bri frowned. “What other reason, other than his pure, arrogant bullheadedness?”

Hawk sighed. “Your safety is important to him, Brianna. Very important.”

Bri felt a tiny flare deep inside. Could Hawk possibly mean that Tanner cared for her? Oh, she was aware of the physical attraction between them. All too aware. But could he feel something stronger than that?

The mere idea, the thought alone, caused excitement to dance along her nerve endings. Then she came to her senses, telling herself to grow up and face reality. Tanner didn’t care for her. He treated her the way he would any woman who wanted to hunt a killer.

But it was a lovely thought…for a moment.

Sighing softly, she lowered her head so Hawk couldn’t see the disappointment mirrored in her eyes.

“Okay,” he said, sliding his chair back and standing. “I’ll get these dishes cleared away and then I’ll drive you back to Durango.”

Bri snapped her head up. “I’m not going back to Durango,” she said with quiet determination.

“You want to wait here for Tanner to return?” He hurried on before she could reply. “Not that I mind, you understand, but—”

“No, Hawk, I’m going after him.”

“Alone?” Hawk stared at her. “Brianna, you should know it’s never smart or safe to hunt alone.” He shook his head. “This man is a killer.”

Bri blinked, shook her head. “No, no, I’m not going after Minnich. I’m going after Tanner.”

“It’s just as dangerous.”

“I’ll be careful,” she assured him.

“What if you get lost?”

Bri gave him a long look. “I do know how to blaze a trail, Hawk.”

“But—”

“No buts,” she said, shaking her head again. “I am going. Will you give me the use of a horse? I’ll pay you the going rate.”

“No.” Flat, final.

Nothing could have made her reveal the hurt his refusal gave her. “Okay, I’ll trek.” She moved to rise, but Hawk held up a hand.