Page 19 of Snagged By Hook

“Don’t you like my mom?” The accusation in her daughter’s voice was obvious. Who knew she had a pint-sized hero?

Without a moment’s hesitation, he answered with vehemence. “Of course I do.”

“Then you can be her boyfriend, and we can stay?—”

“I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself, Flower, but no matter what, you’ll always have a place in my heart and my home.”

Nova had to strain and concentrate to hear her daughter’s whispered question.

“Can I stay even when he comes back for me?” No one needed to ask who she meant byhe.

“Yes. Even then.” Her daughter nodded, and Nova’s heart melted. “Can I ask you a question?”

June nodded again and twisted the ear on her stuffed bunny.

“What makes you think he’ll come back?”

June came up on her knees and cupped his ear, whispering a secret. Nova was a little concerned about what secret her daughter was telling him. She couldn’t see Hook’s initial reaction, but when he turned back to profile, he was smiling, and Nova relaxed.

“You’re my family, remember, and I take care of what’s mine.” June wrapped herself around Hook as if she’d never let go.

“Now, it’s time for bed, little one. Your mom will be home soon, and I wanna have dinner ready for her.”

Hook stood, tucked her in, kissed her forehead, and then murmured words of love to her daughter. Nova’s knees went weak. When he turned and spotted her, his face lit up.

Shit.

Shit, Nova was falling for him. How could she not?

Stepping into the room, she announced, “I brought pizza, but it’ll keep until tomorrow for you, young lady, since it seems like you’ve already had dinner.”

Nova made her way to the bed and sat by her daughter’s side. She rearranged the tuck and bid her good night. The realization that Hook meant a lot more to her and her daughter than she ever intended or expected hit her like a punch to the chest.

Looking toward where Hook stood, there was something simmering just below the surface. A look he was hiding, but not as well as he thought. Nova wondered what had put it there. Before she could overthink it, her daughter yawned.

Whispering, “I love you, sweetheart,” she breathed in the scent of her daughter. June mumbled a response and turned away.

That was her cue. Hook had put in the work before she even made it home, and her daughter was asleep before Nova could even look away.

That brought a twinge of guilt, but she shrugged it off. It had to be done for now so she could give them a better life in the long run. Nova actually kept a guilt log—all the things she’d have to make up for when she and June were on their feet again.

Nova stood and stared down at her daughter a few more seconds before heading toward the door. Hook still waited there and flicked off the overhead light when she reached him, then followed her into the kitchen.

She grabbed plates from the cabinets and started placing slices on them. “I know I’ve said thanks a million times, but I don’t feel like it will ever be enough.” She wanted to say so much more and throw herself into his arms, so in typical Nova fashion, she turned into a third-rate comedian instead.

“So, I got you pizza.” She set a plate down in front of the chair he stood behind and turned to grab a few sodas from the fridge. By the time she spun back, he was seated with the slice in his hand.

“I even got your favorite,” she bragged as she placed one of the bottles by his plate as she sat.

Hook gifted her with another one of his signature smiles. The very same one she thought of as cocky and contrived when she’d first met him. Now she realized it was slightly insecure and wholly genuine.

“How did you know my favorite?” He sounded almost embarrassed that she took the time. He didn’t take his eyes off hers as he raised the slice and took a massive bite.

“I asked Croon.” The sound of the ‘n’ had barely left her lips, and Hook spit the pizza across the table.

Nova leaped up. “Oh my god, what’s wrong?” Had she just poisoned the man who saved her and her daughter from living on the streets?

Hell of a way to pay back his kindness.

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