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He arrived thirty lared at her father
"This is my private dinner"
"Uh-huh We’ll be in the kitchen"
"I do not need a chaperone"
Hawk only made kissy noises then retreated to the kitchen where Nicole had set the small table by theShe opened two beers
"Nervous about what theyRaoul’s age I know about getting in trouble" He passed her a plate "You got a dog"
"Sheila She’s Raoul’s dog"
"She’s spending a lot of time with you"
It was true Sheila seeroceries and she respects that"
"I like dogs I greith them Serena never liked the to have puppies Help yourself"
"I like big dogs"
"We don’t know the daddy They could be huge"
He eyed Sheila "I hope not, for her sake"
Nicole did her best to keep her attention on the dog, hat she really wanted to look at was Hawk
He was casually dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, but that didn’t lessen his appeal As always, he filled out his clothes and race of an athlete, and watching hiainst her
"How are things going with Raoul?" he asked "Living with a teenager?"
"Good He’sit easy He’s quiet, tidy, inhalesit I respect that I wish my sister had been more like him"
"The piano player?"
"No, ure out if she was born a screwup or if it just happened"
"How old is she?"
"Twenty-two She barely got through high school She partied a lot, then discovered boys I was constantly terrified she would show up pregnant I tried lectures, bribes, tough love, forgiveness Nothing worked She’s going to inherit half the bakery when she turns twenty-five, which is going to be a nightmare for both of us She’s not interested in the business, so I’rabbed a chip "We should change the subject"
"Why?"
"Jesse’s not very fun, in life or conversation"
"Sounds like she’s troubled"
In more ways than he knew
"Where does she live now?" he asked
"She’s got a place in the university district She’s never held a job, except at the bakery and that doesn’t count If she hadn’t been fa is, I can’t figure out where I rong or what to do about fixing things"
"Some problems can’t be fixed"
She didn’t want to believe that, even though she knew ithim about Drew and Jesse, then decided she couldn’t stand the huuess I’m afraid I did a bad job"
He reached across the table and touched her hand "I’ve seen you in action Not possible"
"You’ve seen ood days I can be a real bitch"
"You think I haven’t screwed up with Brittany?"
"You’re pretty shed "Soood kid You do your best and then you let ’e?"
"Football is life"
"Not in my world"
"In everyone’s world"
That made her saze intense
Suddenly she wasn’t hungry at all "Sure Is it okay to leave thereat roo on inside his head Which side would win? The responsible father or the guy interested in a little time with his sex kitten?
"Damn," he muttered
She picked up her fork "Fatherhood wins"
"This sucks"
"Tell me about it"
But she wasn’t all that upset Yes, it was frustrating to be so close to Hawk and not in a position to have her ith hiood neas he’d shown a side of himself that she really liked and respected After the disaster that was Drew, she could appreciate the thrill of a good oodto be involved with her
CHAPTER TEN
NICOLE GRABBED frosted cupcakes and set thee, pink box The special order had co mother whose husband had dropped the ball when it ca for their three-year-old’s birthday party
Now she carefully arranged chocolate cupcakes with neon-pink frosting and sparkly sprinkles In a few minutes the harried mother would show up for theht Okay, so it wasn’t rocket science But she could still make someone feel better, at least in the moment
She carefully taped the box shut and took it up front, then peeled off her plastic gloves and tossed the doors leading to the back open