Hawk (Stag) Read Online Free PDF Page A

pistol lay on top of a set of keys. He scooped them both
up, pushing the pistol into the waistband of his pants and dropping the keys
into a pocket.
    Hawk walked around to Cass’s side of the bed and
leaned down. “I’m really sorry, Cass but this is what it’ll be like. Take care
and know that I love you. I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?” He kissed her
slowly, savoring the taste of her mouth against his. “I don’t want to lose you.
I can’t bear the thought of this coming between us.” He stood and looked down
on her one more time before walking out of the room and running down the
stairs.
    Outside the chopper waited on the helipad near the
back of the house. He ducked and ran toward it. The door opened and Jasper held
out a hand. “Sorry, to ruin the lead up to your honeymoon, Boss. We have a
major problem.”
    Hawk scrambled in and strapped himself into a seat
while the chopper rose in the air above his house flattening the palm fronds
and scattering sand over the dunes. He wondered if he’d lost his chance of
happiness with Cass for bailing on her once again.
    ***
    Tears filled her eyes as she listened to the chopper
leave with Hawk. She couldn’t do this, it was too hard. Better to make the
decision now and move on. At least it would only hurt for a little while. If
they got married and she couldn’t deal with it, a divorce would just about kill
her.
    Bad choice of words . That was another hurdle she would have had to cross
if she’d made the decision to stay with him. Sleeping with a killer was
disconcerting. Sure he was the same Hawk she’d grown up with but somewhere
along the line he’d changed and become someone she didn’t understand. Soldiers
killed in the line of duty, any fool knew that but to become an army hit man—a
mercenary—didn’t sit well with her.
    Tears rolled down her cheeks and she turned her face
into the pillow, letting the sobs ease her pain.
    When Cass woke again, the sun filtered through the
sheer curtains blowing gently in the breeze. She looked at Hawk’s side of the
bed hoping last night was a bad dream. He was gone and she was alone with the
indentation in the pillow where he’d laid his head and the smell his woodsy
cologne on the sheets.
    Pain ripped through her chest, stealing the breath
from her lungs. It had been so good to have him back again. She couldn’t keep
doing this. Watching him leave was too damned hard to bear. The decision
already made, Cass rolled out of bed and pattered over to the huge shower she’d
shared with him yesterday. Hitting the control panel, she watched the sheet of
water fall from the ceiling before she stepped under the spray.
    Her body was sensitive in spots after yesterday. Apart
from making love on the beach in the dunes, they’d repeated it in the shower
and then again in bed. She couldn’t get enough of him and now that particular
drug called lust would be extinguished before giving it full flight. Tears
streamed down her face as she washed.
    Finished, Cass grabbed a towel and dried herself off
before finding her bag and putting on clean clothes. She may as well go back to
work. There was no point waiting for him to return, it would just make life
harder the next time he went away.
    May as well make the cut quick and clean .
    She searched the bedroom for pen and paper and wrote
him a note, leaving it on his pillow. With a sigh, she closed the door behind
her and walked down the steps on heavy feet to the four-wheel-drive.
    The keys were in it as he’d promised and she threw her
bag in the back before climbing in. Reversing out, she peered out of the window
at the house one last time before heading down the driveway. The gate opened
when she punched in the code and then Cass was on the track heading down to the
beach she loved. They’d walked this shoreline together, made love in the dunes.
How would she ever get over that? Life couldn’t get any better than the last
couple of days. Needing the connection for another