Page 14 of Casey's Hero

“Sure, you didn’t.” Jacob hauled Hawk out of the back seat, looped the man’s arm over his shoulder and wrapped his own around Hawk’s waist. “Think you can make it to the elevator?”

“Seriously, Jacob. I’ve got this.” Hawk drew his arm away from Jacob and squared his shoulders. “Need sleep. Getting married Saturday to the best girl ever.”

“Yeah, yeah. Tying the knot. But sleep first. You can’t show up to your rehearsal drunk. Kalea would have my hide.”

Hawk grinned. “She’s one tough cookie. You don’t want to make her mad.”

“No, I don’t.” Jacob turned Hawk toward the front entrance of the hotel and gave him a gentle nudge. “Come on, Romeo. It’s time for bed.”

Casey smiled at the friends. “Need a hand?”

Jacob cast a glance over his shoulder at the pretty wedding planner. He liked her better as a brunette. The blond wig did nothing for her. “We’ve got this if you want to head home.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to see Hawk to his room. I promised to make sure he got back all right.”

“Don’t you trust me?” Jacob asked.

“I trust you.” She smiled. “After all, you rescued me from the cake.” She tipped her head toward Hawk. “It’s him I’m not so sure about. How much did he have to drink?”

“I only had one beer.” Hawk held up two fingers.

“I saw him pour three. But I was a little distracted.” His gaze raked over her body. A little distracted? He’d been more than a little distracted by the wedding planner who’d played stripper for the night. If his hands weren’t full of his best friend, he’d be tempted to take Casey in his arms. “The guys might have helped him to more while I wasn’t monitoring.”

She nodded and followed him into the building and past the front desk to the elevator.

The night clerk’s eyes narrowed as she moved past him. “Uh, miss, we don’t…uh…we don’t allow…” He shoved a hand through his wiry red hair. “We’re a family hotel. I can’t let you…you know. You can’t go in with them.”

Jacob shoved Hawk into the elevator and reached out to grab Casey’s hand. “She’s my fiancée. Put your tongue back in your head, boy. She’s taken.” Then he pulled Casey into the elevator with him and punched the button to close the door.

The clerk followed them to the elevator, his brow furrowed, his face a splotchy red. “But, sir, she can’t go with you two. It’s against the rules.”

“I told you, she’s my fiancée. We’ve been to a costume party.” Would the door ever close?

“If you’ve been to a costume party, where’s your costume, sir?” The young man put out his hand to stop the door from closing.

Jacob glared at the clerk. “I don’t do costumes. And she’s with me. Don’t fuck with me if you know what’s good for you.”

The clerk pulled back his hand. “My manager isn’t going to be happ?—”

The door finally closed, and the elevator car moved upward to the fifth floor.

“Whew,” Hawk said. “I thought you and the punk were going to trade fists.” He leaned against the rail and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I was gonna have to leave it to you this time.”

Jacob frowned. “You feeling all right?”

“I’m fine. Just fine.” Hawk smiled and slid down the wall of the elevator to sit. “I just need a little sleep. Gettin’ married Saturday. Rehearsal’s ’morrow.” He tipped over sideways and closed his eyes.

The bell rang, and the door slid open.

“I’ll get his feet if you can get his arms,” Casey said. She squatted and grabbed Hawk’s ankles.

“Don’t bother. I’ve got this,” Jacob said. “Just dig his room key out of his pocket and hold the door.”

Casey rummaged in Hawk’s back pocket for his wallet, extracted the hotel room key card and held the elevator door.

Jacob pulled Hawk up by the arm and hauled him across his shoulder. He grunted with the dead weight but held steady enough to get him out into the hallway.

“What’s his room number?” Casey asked.

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