Page 13 of Snagged By Hook

Nova dropped her head when he continued to stare through her into her soul with soft eyes. They were striking and filled with compassion. It was the first time she noticed their color. Most people would probably call them hazel, but they were more on the green side. Not the typical green, though, they reminded her of the old military green uniforms from back in the day. They disarmed her. Hell, Hook disarmed her. This version of him anyway.

She sighed and admitted some truths. “Just like the check for the car payment isn’t lost in the mail, or the water heater out, or sanitation just forgetting to collect. I am the worst mother ever. I failed my daughter, and now I’ll lose my job because I can’t get to work.”

She started crying and hated herself for it. The last thing Nova wanted was for anyone, especially the tattooed ass weasel, who wasn’t so bad in the light of day, to see her as weak.

It gave her a shock when he pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back. Even more shocking was his murmured, “Let it out.” He didn’t try to shush her or blow smoke up her ass about how everything will be all right. It wasn’t all right, and it wouldn’t be all right just because someone said it would be. Especially not without a car.

Normally, Nova would’ve pulled away, but she found his embrace more than comforting. His embrace with…deliciously strong arms.

Oh god, why was she noticing his finer points all of the sudden? Like the smile he aimed at her daughter that was absolutely knee weakening. Or the way the ink on his face gave him a hard edge, but his kind eyes smoothed those edges some. Or how their bodies seemed to fit together like two puzzle pieces.

Get a grip, girl.

Maybe she could offer to go out with him in exchange for unhooking her car. If the way he was looking at her the other night and holding her today was any indication, he’d be down for it.

And if she were being honest with herself, it wouldn’t be a hardship. She found him wildly attractive, especially after seeing her daughter’s reaction to him and his to June. There was nothing sexier than a man who humbled himself with a child.

Before she got a chance to suggest just that, her daughter came bounding down the steps with her backpack in tow. “I’m all packed, Mommy.”

Reluctantly, she pulled from his embrace and wiped her eyes. “Okay, Bug.”

To Hook, she asked, “I’ve gotta take June next door. Can you please wait for me to walk her just over there?” She pointed to the next house down the road where Mrs. Griffith already stood on the porch waiting for June.

She waved, and Nova returned it. Nova didn’t want him to take her car while she was gone. Nova hoped she could convince him to just leave it.

When Hook didn’t respond, she drew her gaze from her neighbor to see him tapping his phone screen before he placed it to his ear.

“Prez, is Heidi’s apartment available?” He paused in his speech and met her gaze, but he quickly dropped it to her daughter. When he did, he winked. The smile that followed was breathtaking.

Him and that damn wink.

“New bartender at the Shop and her daughter.” Nova’s ears perked up at the mention, but she didn’t have time to analyze what was going on.

“I’ve got it handled. I’ll explain when I get there.”

Hearing a one-sided conversation about herself and her daughter was frustrating, to say the least. Before she could ascertain what needed explaining, Hook dropped the phone in his front pocket and spoke to her daughter without breaking eye contact with her.

Nova was falling into his intense gaze when his words rocked her to the core.

“Why don’t you go inside and help your mom pack, Flower?”

“Flower?” she and her daughter asked the tattooed man, who had apparently already won June’s heart.

“Yeah, Flower. It was either that or Dandelion, Dandy for short.”

“I like Flower better than Dandy.” June dropped her backpack on the ground and took Nova’s hand. “Come on, Mommy.”

“Pack for where, Hook?” She said his road name with a bite, hoping to remind herself that the man who was charming the hell out of her daughter was the same man who flirted with her while his girlfriend hung on his arm.

“My place. I’m not leaving you here like this.” He waved a tattooed hand toward the house.

Nova was flabbergasted.

“We can’t stay at your place,” she said emphatically.

“Why the he…” His eyes shifted to June. “Heck…” He drew out the word. “Not?”

“Because…”There are a million reasons. One, I don’t fucking know you. Two, I practically work for you. Three, mydaughter, no elaboration needed. Four, you tempt me like I haven’t been tempted in years, maybe ever, and five?—

---