Читать книгу Shotgun Bride - Leann Harris - Страница 9

“Hawk looked down at the marriage license issued by Harris County. The event he’d tried so hard to avoid for the past five years was about to come to pass.

“Here you go, sir,” the clerk said, handing Hawk the change for his twenty.

After pocketing the money, he turned to Renee. She stared at the paper in his hand as if it were a snake coiled to strike. Apparently, her reaction to this marriage wasn’t any better than his. “Ready to leave?”

She nodded, her face pale.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she muttered.

They were halfway down the hall of the courthouse when she stumbled against him. His arms shot out, catching her as she collapsed.

“Damn.” He scooped her up and walked to a nearby bench. Sitting, he cupped her face. “Renee?”

“Oh, dear, what’s wrong?” a woman asked.

Good question, he thought to himself. Was the reason she fainted due to the wound on her head or was it a reaction to them getting the marriage license?

“Would you like me to get a wet paper towel from the bathroom?” she asked.

“Thanks.”

The woman hurried away.

“Come on, sweetheart, wake up.” If she didn’t come around he’d call the paramedics.

“Here’s the towel,” the woman said, offering it to him.

Carefully, Hawk brushed the towel over Renee’s face. She moaned and her eyelids fluttered. Relief flooded him.

“Why don’t I get her something to drink?” the woman suggested.

Hawk nodded, his attention focused on Renee.

Confusion, then embarrassment filled her eyes. “What happened?”

“You fainted.”

Her brow knitted into a frown. “I never faint,” she replied, struggling to sit up.

“Maybe it has something to do with your wound. We should go back to the hospital.”

“No, I don’t think so. I didn’t eat this morning. The oatmeal they served at the hospital looked like paste.”

“Here you go, young lady,” the woman said as she returned. “Try this soft drink. It might help.”

Renee took the can and slowly sipped it. After a moment the color started to return to her cheeks.

The woman glanced at where they had just come from. “Are you two going to get married?”

“Yes,” Hawk answered.

“Congratulations.” The woman walked to the office beside them and opened the door. The strong smell of coffee hit Renee like an eighteen-wheeler and her stomach roiled. She pressed her hand to her mouth and looked around for the bathroom door. Spotting it, she ran across the hall.

Alarm raced through Hawk, and he started after Renee.

“I’ll check on her,” the woman told him, stepping between him and the bathroom.

He wanted to do it himself, but he didn’t need to create a riot in the courthouse. Things were already enough of a mess. He didn’t need to make it worse.

After she lost the contents of her stomach, Renee stumbled out of the stall to the sinks. The woman who’d brought her the soda handed her another wet towel.

“When I was pregnant with my oldest, I couldn’t take the smell of coffee. My husband was sure glad when he could have his morning cup again.”

Renee’s eyes fluttered closed. Coffee, congealed oatmeal, what next? “I do miss my morning coffee.”

“I’m sure your young man is excited by the prospect of becoming a father.”

That was a question that she’d wrestled with since the day the pregnancy stick had turned blue. She still hadn’t come up with an answer. Would Hawk be pleased? Furious? Would he try to deny being the father? At this point, it didn’t matter.

“You okay now?” the woman asked.

Renee nodded and they walked into the hall.

Hawk stood outside the door, waiting. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

He didn’t look convinced.

The older woman smiled at Renee, then turned to Hawk. “Just hang in there. Her morning sickness should pass soon. And take comfort, my poor husband couldn’t drink coffee, either, until I gave birth to our son.”

“Morning sickness,” Hawk repeated. “Morning sickness?”

“I’d like to go home, Hawk.” Renee didn’t wait for him but started down the hall.

He quickly caught up with her. “Are you pregnant?”

She stopped and glared at him. “You want to have this discussion here in the hall of this public building so all of Houston can see and hear us, or do you want to have it back at my apartment?”

His eyes narrowed. “I’ll wait until we’re home. But then—”

“Then I’ll talk to you.”

She thanked Heaven that Hawk didn’t demand answers there in the courthouse. She didn’t know what her reaction would’ve been if he’d pressed the issue.

They were almost at her apartment when Renee’s stomach growled, breaking the tense silence. When Hawk glanced at her, a blush colored her cheeks. He pulled into the fast-food restaurant across from her apartment building and went to the drive-through window. He ordered the breakfast biscuit he knew she loved. When he ordered a coffee, she shook her head.

“No coffee. Orange juice, please.” She rested her head on the back of the seat.

After getting their order, he drove to her apartment. He followed her up the stairs and into the building. Once inside, he put the bags on the kitchen table where a thick book sat. The Complete Guide to the Nine Months of Pregnancy. Hawk picked it up.

The book detailed the changes in her body and even mentioned food that might upset a pregnant woman. Too bad it hadn’t mentioned coffee.

“Were you going to tell me?” he asked accusingly.

Guilt swamped her, followed by anger. “You can get off your high horse. As I recall, you didn’t want to get married, so why would I think my being pregnant would make a difference?” Her harsh indictment hung in the air.

“It would’ve.”

That wasn’t a comfort to her. Or was it? “How was I to know?”

“Have you been sick often?”

“I’ve been puking in the mornings and in the afternoons. Certain smells drive me into the bathroom to lose my lunch. Obviously, coffee is one smell I can’t tolerate.”

“Then I’d say it’s fortunate we’re going to get married.”

“You should write for a greeting-card company,” she replied. “You’ve got a way with words.”

He tensed as if she’d hit him with a lash, but he didn’t return the hostility.

The instant the words were out of her mouth, Renee wanted to take them back. It would gain them nothing to be at each other’s throat. In spite of everything, marriage to Hawk was the logical solution for this mess and probably the easiest. Too bad it wasn’t the most palatable.

She wanted to ask him why he was doing this, but she knew the answer. Hawk’s devotion to Emory was legendary around the company. It was as if Hawk had become the son that Emory had lost. And not only would Hawk protect her, but Emory would also have his socalled son marry his illegitimate daughter. It was perfect solution for some people. Just not for her.

“Why don’t we eat? We can talk about how we’ll tell your father about the baby. It makes our marriage that much more important. Now it’s not only your safety that’s up to me, but our child’s, as well.”

Although Renee didn’t want to sit down and talk, her stomach growled. Ignoring him, she stepped around his body and reached for one of the sacks. If he thought everything was going to be as it was before, then he was in for a big shock.

He waited until she was almost finished with the biscuit before he repeated his earlier question. “Did you plan on telling me about the baby?”

“It wasn’t going to be a secret much longer.”

“But you weren’t going to tell me,” he pressed.

“As I recall, you didn’t appear to want any involvement.”

“I wouldn’t have walked away,” he tersely replied.

Her eyes narrowed. “I see. You would’ve endured.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw. “We can speculate all we want but the facts won’t change. We’re going to be parents, and that should be our main concern…and your safety, of course.”

He reached out and grasped her hand. The electricity that always seemed to be there ignited.

“Renee, I know you wanted something different. A romance, a church wedding with all the trimmings. But I can’t give those to you. I wish I could.”

“I don’t want your pity, Hawk.”

Cupping her chin, he shook his head. “It isn’t pity, Renee. It’s regret.”

Great, just what a prospective groom shouldn’t say. He regretted the situation. It didn’t comfort her.

Hawk leaned against the passenger side door of his car. Pregnant. Renee was going to have his child. The very idea of it shook him to the core and ripped through the wall of emotions that he’d fought a lifetime to suppress. His own mother had been expecting him when his parents were forced to marry. She had used the event as a club in every argument his parents ever had. He could still hear her shouting how he’d ruined her life. He clamped down on the memories.

Instead, he thought about Emory. Would Emory be excited about the idea of a grandchild? Of course he would be, but Hawk knew that none of the other Sweeneys would welcome the news. It made protecting Renee all the more important.

Would she ever have told him about the child?

Don’t be stupid, his conscience told him. You two weren’t talking. Why would she tell you that she suspected she was pregnant? But as she said, it wouldn’t have stayed a secret much longer.

He didn’t like the idea of not knowing about the child. They hadn’t planned on it, but no matter what, he wouldn’t walk away.

Hearing the front door close, he watched her walk toward him. Renee Michelle Girouard was a beautiful woman, with deep-blue eyes and long auburn hair that caught fire in the sunlight.

The first time he’d seen her, when she’d come to work at Texas Chic between her junior and senior year in college, Hawk knew he was in trouble. His attraction to her had scared him, and he’d tried to ignore his body’s reaction. That was why he made sure not to be around when he knew she was. Her flawless, pale skin was accented by a well-formed mouth, expressive eyes that a man could lose himself in and auburn hair that she wore wrapped in some sort of twist at the back of her head. He remembered when that soft hair had tumbled down and enveloped both of them in a world of pleasure and delight.

He put the brakes on his thoughts. He didn’t need to make himself any more miserable than he’d been these past couple of months. But he had ignored his misery. His ex-wife had taught him well. Don’t listen to your heart. The few relationships he’d had since his divorce five years earlier only reinforced the idea that he would never find a woman with whom he could share common ground.

“Are you ready?” he asked, pushing away from the car. They were going to go back to the hospital to reveal their secret to Emory.

She looked up at him. He always liked the way she’d fit so well into his arms.

“I’m as ready as I can be.”

After he closed her door, he walked behind the car. He was going to be a father and a husband. The news was unsettling. But more than that, in the back of his mind loomed the fear that maybe this woman could find a way to get through the wall he’d built around his heart.

Emory smiled at the couple from his hospital bed. He looked ready to run around the room and shout. “So we’re going to have a wedding this Saturday?”

“Yes,” Renee replied. “Hawk convinced me.”

“When he sets his mind to something, it usually gets done,” Emory replied.

“Tell him the rest, Renee,” Hawk urged.

“What else?” Alarm threaded Emory’s voice.

She swallowed. “I’m pregnant.”

Emory’s gaze went from Renee to Hawk. He knew what the old man was silently asking.

“I’m the father,” he told Emory.

A smile of delight lit the old man’s face. “I’m going to be a grandpa?” The wonder in his voice touched Renee’s heart.

Although she hadn’t worked through her feelings about Emory being her father, Renee liked and respected him as a human being. He was a smart, cagey man, who dealt fairly with those around him. She grasped his hand and smiled. “I guess I don’t have to ask if you’re pleased.”

“That doctor better have gotten all that cancer, because I want to see my grandchild grow and get married one day, too.” A new life seemed to come into his eyes. “I’ll announce your marriage at the reception at the house on Saturday night.”

Hawk nodded.

“I’ll make sure the chapel and the priest are ready. Also, I’ll contact the lawyer.” Emory grinned and grasped Renee’s hand. “Thank you. I’m going to be a grandpa.”

The smile on Emory’s face was pure joy.

“I’m afraid after the announcement on Saturday none of Emory’s family will be happy,” Hawk commented on their way to her office.

They had argued about him driving her to work, but he said he didn’t feel comfortable letting her go alone. With the shooting incident fresh in her mind, she didn’t argue for long. Besides, her car was still parked in the garage at work. She turned to face him. “Are you trying to scare me?”

“Yes.”

“At least you’re honest. But then again, you were faultlessly honest about so much.” It was a low blow, but the words were out of her mouth before she thought.

His face tightened, but he didn’t try to defend himself as he drove the car around a slow-moving truck. “We’ll need to think about how we’re going to handle things after the marriage.”

“What things?”

“Where are we going to live? Do you want to move in with me, or me with you, or get another apartment?” He sounded so blasé, as if their living arrangements didn’t matter to him.

He had a valid point, but all her emotional reserves had been used up, and she didn’t want to slay that dragon now. “Could we talk about that later?”

“That’s fine. I’ll pick you up after work. Also, I’ll have some things with me for this next week. We can go over wedding details tonight.”

What she would’ve given to have heard that two months ago. “Do you need to stay—”

“Yes.”

“Surely you don’t think they’re going to come to my apartment?”

His eyes narrowed. “They kidnapped David from his football practice, in front of a field full of witnesses. It would be a hundred times easier to come after you in the privacy of your apartment.”

She wanted to argue the point, but too much had happened since noon yesterday when her world had exploded. “That’s fine.”

Five minutes later they pulled up in front of the office building. She scrambled out of the front seat, not waiting for him. He hurried after her, walking with her to her office. A new secretary sat outside her office. “Where’s my secretary?”

“She’s not feeling well today. I’m a temp here to help you.” The woman looked at Hawk and nodded. “I’m Julie McKinney.”

Once they were inside her office, Renee turned to Hawk. “Who is she?”

“She’s a policewoman. She’s going to be around for a while. We don’t want something else to happen to you.”

The color drained from her face. Hawk grasped her arm and guided her to her chair.

“You think something else is going to happen here?”

“I like to err on the side of caution, Renee.” He squatted before her. “I’ll do my best to keep you safe, but we need someone here.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “I know you’ll try to keep me physically safe. Too bad you couldn’t have been as good at guarding my heart.”

He flinched and stood.

She wanted to call back the words, but before she could say anything, the door to her office opened and Jacob Blackhorse, the head of security, entered. Jacob had broken more than one heart at the company. He was a handsome man with black hair and brown eyes. His exotic features and teak skin made the women at the company want to catch his attention. No one, as far as Renee knew, had. He and Hawk were two of a kind—and friends.

“I wanted to check and see if everything was okay here,” he said surveying both Hawk and herself. He pointedly looked at the bandage on her forehead.

“I’m fine, Jacob.”

“I’ve doubled the security around the building. And I’m thinking of upgrading our camera system in the garage.”

“Where’s my secretary, Jacob?” she asked.

“She’s temporarily been reassigned to another division. When things settle down a bit, we’ll bring her back.”

Heaven knew when that would be.

“I hear congratulations are in order.” He didn’t say more.

“Emory told you?” Renee said, then shook her head, swallowing her embarrassment. “Of course you’d need to know what was happening.”

A silent exchange passed between Hawk and Jacob.

“I’ll accompany Emory on Saturday,” Jacob informed her.

“I’m going to have more guards than the queen of England,” Renee grumbled to herself.

Jacob grinned.

“Why don’t y’all leave so I can work.”

Jacob moved to Renee’s side. “If you need anything, or are worried about anything, call me.” The understanding in his eyes made her want to cry. When she looked at Hawk, his frown surprised her.

“Thank you, Jacob.”

With a nod, he accompanied Hawk out of her office. Closing her eyes, Renee wondered if her life would ever be the same—or sane.

Hawk and Jacob studied the concrete pillar in the underground garage that bore the scars of his and Renee’s encounter with a would-be assassin’s bullet.

“The police didn’t find any evidence of the shooter in the bushes near the garage entrance,” Jacob informed Hawk.

“I know. Was anything on the security camera?”

“We’re still looking at the tapes.”

Hawk turned to his old friend. Jacob and Hawk had shared a number of hard times together. Jacob had been the one who’d witnessed his ex-wife, Brandy, proposition a friend of Emory’s nephew, Todd, and had let him know what had happened. Hawk had been there when Jacob had lost his wife to cancer. They’d also worked together to stop several attempts to kidnap Emory. Together with Hawk’s old partner, Tony Ashcroft, they’d been labeled the Three Musketeers.

“I don’t like this, Jacob,” Hawk muttered, surveying the area.

“I understand.”

“I have that same sick feeling in the pit of my stomach I had when David was kidnapped.” Hawk walked out of the shade of the garage and looked at the thick foliage surrounding the building. “Did you know Renee was pregnant?”

Jacob quickly hid his surprise. “No, I didn’t.”

“I didn’t, either, until today.” Bitterness colored his words.

“So, I take it her news surprised you.”

The knowledge still knocked him for a loop. He didn’t know if he was more irritated with her for keeping the secret from him or…what?

“Yes, since I hadn’t heard from her in a couple of months. Of course, her being Emory’s daughter was just as much a surprise. Those were two bombshells dropped on me within days. I’m still trying to grasp what’s going on.”

Jacob’s expression became solemn. “Hawk, she’s alive and healthy. Count your blessings.”

Being reminded of Jacob’s loss pricked his conscience. Hawk had what Jacob had lost.

“You need to know, Jacob, when I went to get Renee’s birth certificate, the locked drawer where it was kept was open.”

“Is that why you left a message for me yesterday?” Jacob asked.

“Yes, but because all hell broke loose, I didn’t have time to call back. That’s why I want someone with Renee constantly.”

“I’m glad you warned me. I’ll also keep an eye on all the family members. Maybe the killer will tip his or her hand.”

“I doubt it.”

Hawk walked to the detectives’ squad room and spotted Tony Ashcroft at his desk. Hawk wove his way through the battered desks.

“Hey, Hawk, what are you doing down here? Slummin’? Hey, guys, the lawyer’s come down to our level.” The detectives’ squad room was on the first floor. Hawk’s new office was on the top floor of the building, with a panoramic view of the city.

Several comments were shouted at Hawk, none of which complimented his profession.

“Next time y’all want your butts pulled out of a sling, I’ll remind you of your comments.”

Laughter floated through the area.

“You through?” Hawk pointedly asked Ash.

“I went by the hospital this morning after you and Renee left. I thought I’d try to see if she could remember anything new.”

“I took her to work. Julie is undercover there as Renee’s secretary. I thought I’d check if you had any leads on the shooting,” Hawk began.

“Not a thing. There’s no pattern of robberies around that building. No muggings or thefts. It’s so squeaky clean, there aren’t even any parking tickets issued at that site.”

Hawk didn’t think much would turn up. He pulled a chair to Ash’s desk and sat. “So, it looks like the shooter was after Renee.”

“That’s what it looks like.”

There was another reason Hawk came down here. “Ash, I need a favor. I need a best man this Saturday.”

Ash leaned forward. “Best man as in—wedding?”

“You got it.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

Hawk didn’t respond.

“You’re getting married? And who’s this lucky bride?” Ash knew of Hawk’s split with Renee, and over the past two months had wisely not mentioned it.

“Renee Girouard.”

“I think you’ve been keeping a lot of things under your hat. You want to tell me about it?”

Ash deserved to know what was going on. Hawk explained about Renee’s situation and how Emory had asked for his help.

“That’s taking loyalty mighty far, isn’t it?” Ash asked.

“She’s pregnant.”

His bark of laughter rang through the room. “Oh, this gets better and better.”

Hawk didn’t need Ash preaching to him. Ash had his share of women problems and knew what Hawk’s exwife had put him through. “You want to be the best man or give me a sermon?”

Grinning, Ash slapped Hawk on the back. “It’ll be my pleasure.”

“I hope I can say the same.”

Ash’s grin didn’t diminish.

“You look like a fool,” Hawk complained.

Ash shrugged.

“I also need the name of that friend of yours, the ex-cop who’s gone into P.I. work. I want him to check out members of Emory’s family. We’re going to need to get a clearer picture of those folks to see if there’s something we can pick up on.”

“His name is Greyson Wilkins. Hang on, I’ve got his card here in my desk.” Ash opened the desk drawer and rummaged through it. “Ah, here it is.” He gave Hawk the card. “Grey’s a thorough guy.”

“Thanks, Ash.”

“When is this big event on Saturday?” Ash inquired.

“Ten in the morning. I was also needing another favor.”

“Shoot.”

“I’ll also need for you to go with us to the lawyer’s office afterward. If there are any questions about legalities, I want you as an expert. Also, plan on attending the reception. Emory’s going to announce to his family about Renee. We’ll need all the cops we can get.”

“You all are going to rattle a lot of cages, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. Probably ought to hire every off-duty cop in the city to handle the riot those folks are going to create.”

“You got it, pal.”

Hawk stood. “Thanks, Ash. I knew I could count on you.”

As he walked away, he heard Ash mumble, “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

Hawk couldn’t have agreed more. But Renee’s safety and his child’s safety were more important than any embarrassment he felt.

Once back in his office, Hawk called the P.I.

“Wilkins Investigations, Greyson Wilkins.” The man who answered the phone wasn’t an advertisement for warm and friendly.

“Mr. Wilkins, my name is Matthew Hawkins. I’m Tony Ashcroft’s ex-partner.”

“Are you the partner who became a lawyer?”

“That’s me.” Hawk quickly explained the situation to Grey. “Can you check into the activities of Emory’s family. I need to know if any of them have outstanding debts or bad habits that are demanding a huge flow of capital.”

“I can do that.”

“Discreetly?”

“No problem. Where can I get in touch with you?”

Hawk gave his office number.

“I’ll give you a call in a week, tell you what I’ve turned up.”

“There’s one more thing I want you to do. I want you to do a thorough investigation of my fiancée, Renee Girouard.”

Grey paused. “Is there something you suspect that I might need to know about?”

“No, but I don’t want any surprises from ex-boyfriends or friends claiming they know about a scandal, once everyone knows about her inheritance. I want to be able to stop any sort of blackmail cold, with facts.”

Grey took down the essential facts on Renee’s life. “I’ll look into it.”

Hawk hung up the phone. He hoped Grey could turn up a lead. They were due for a break.

Renee glanced up from her desk to see Hawk standing in the doorway of her office. Her breath caught, and her stomach fluttered. She ought not to have this schoolgirl reaction every time she saw the man.

“It’s time to quit,” he commented.

“Since when did you become the time monitor?”

He quietly closed the door and walked to her desk. “Since you got shot.”

It was an ugly truth that she didn’t want to think about. “Have you talked to Detective Ashcroft today?”

“Yeah, we talked. They were able to dig a slug out of the garage wall. It was sent to the lab, but I wouldn’t hope for too much. It was mangled.”

The door opened. “Renee, here’s the—” Jackie Francis, Emory’s secretary, stopped when she saw Hawk. A grin curved her mouth. “I hear congratulations are in order, Matthew.”

“Emory told you?”

“I made the wedding arrangements.”

“Thanks, Jackie.”

“I will say when Emory asked me to make the arrangements, I couldn’t believe it.” The fifty-year-old grandmother shook her head. “Not after that girl in accounting went out with you last year. She said you were very adamant about no commitments.”

Hawk folded his arms over his chest, and a shuttered look entered his eyes. Renee was sure many a suspect had gotten that glare from Hawk, and it had probably broken them. Now he probably used it when questioning witnesses in the courtroom. It didn’t seem to faze Jackie.

After an uncomfortable silence, Renee asked, “Jackie, what was it you wanted?”

“Oh, here’s the report you asked for. Margaret down in accounting wasn’t too happy about doing it.”

“Tell her thanks for her work.”

Jackie smiled at Renee. “Just ignore Mr. I’m-the-Toughest-Guy-on-the-Block. I saw him with chicken pox. He’s human.” With that parting shot, she sailed into the hall.

A smile tugged at the corner of Renee’s mouth. She glanced at him and saw him scowling at the doorway.

“Chicken pox? How old were you?”

“Twenty. You ready to leave?”

“I’ll be ready once I lock my filing cabinet.” Within minutes they were walking out of the building. As they passed an open office, Stacy and Todd, Emory’s niece and nephew, emerged from the interior.

“Hawk, what are you doing here?” Stacy asked. Her gaze narrowed, going from Hawk to Renee.

“I’m picking Renee up after the shooting incident the other night.”

Stacy glanced at the gauze on Renee’s temple. “I heard about the incident. There was a lot of talk about it today. Sorry I haven’t been down to check on you. I’ve been busy.” The excuse was thin.

“Thank you,” Renee replied.

“Did they discover who did it?” Todd asked.

“Nothing so far,” Hawk informed him.

“Do you have any idea why someone would shoot at you?” Stacy asked.

“That’s the question the police are reviewing,” Hawk explained. They all started toward the elevator.

“Are you coming to the shindig Saturday night?” Todd asked Renee.

“Uh—yes, I’ll be there,” Renee answered. She wasn’t looking forward to announcing to Emory’s family that she was his daughter. She already knew that Stacy and Todd felt she was trying to get too close to Emory.

The elevator doors opened, and they all filed in. A tense silence reigned as the car descended to the first floor.

“We’ll see you for sure Saturday,” Todd called out as they walked out of the building.

“It’s not something I’m looking forward to,” Hawk grumbled under his breath.

It was a sentiment Renee shared.