Page 43 of Cryptic Curse

He smiles.“It’s just a cup of coffee, Daniela.Maybe just a walk.I won’t pressure you into anything, but I’d love to get to know you a little better.”

I nod.

But then I feel frightened.

Star has left for the hospital with Eagle.Falcon and Savannah have gone home, and so have Vinnie and Raven.The only one who may still be here is Robin.

“Robin?”I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you have to give her a ride home?”

He smacks his lips.“I think Falcon and Savannah were going to drop her off.Her place isn’t far from Falcon’s.”

So we really are alone here.Alone in the sprawling house on the sprawling property.

The servants have the night off, but they may still be here on the property.

No reason to be frightened.

I don’t think Hawk means me any harm.

I clear my throat.“All right.I suppose I could stay a little while longer.”

He smiles.

It’s not a huge smile, but it’s a perfect smile.

“Well, then,” he says, taking my hand and leading me back down the hallway, “let’s enjoy the night.”

We stop in the kitchen where Hawk fills a thermos with coffee and grabs two mugs, and then we walk outside.The deck is empty.The quiet makes it seem bigger, grander.It opens out onto a wide vista of the Bellamy ranch, farmland stretching as far as I can see in the moonlight.

Hawk offers me his arm and we stroll along the wide wooden deck that wraps around the back of the Bellamy parents’ estate.The air smells of pine and sunbaked grass.

“It’s a gorgeous night,” Hawk says, his voice low and rough.“I didn’t realize it was a full moon tonight.It’s lighting up the whole property.”

I lean into him ever so slightly, letting myself bask in the warmth coming off him.“It’s beautiful.I can see why you love it here.”

Hawk nods toward the expanse of fenced pastureland that rolls toward the horizon.“That’s the west range.We rotate the cattle through it in summer.It’s got good grazing and access to the stream that runs down from the ridge.Right now, the heifers are out there.You can just make out the silhouettes if you squint.”

I scan the fields, making as much sense out of the shadows as I can.“I see them.They look so peaceful.”

“They’re spoiled.”Hawk chuckles.“We raise Angus here—grass-fed, hormone-free.Top quality.We’ve always believed happy cows make better beef, and so far that seems to be the case.”He points toward the deck’s edge.“Here.Would you like to see more?”

“Okay.”

I’ll let Hawk show me the entire state of Texas if it means more time on his arm.

He escorts me to the edge of the back porch and points.“See those low buildings down there?That’s the calving barn and the chute system.Most of the baby cows are born around springtime, and it gets hectic when half the herd decides to drop calves in the same week.”

I giggle.“How sweet.”

He looks into my eyes.“Very sweet.”

I don’t think he’s talking about the baby cows.

His gaze lingers for a second too long before he breaks it and gestures again.“And that’s the feedlot, though we only use it in winter.Even then, we stick to natural supplements—barley, hay, alfalfa.Nothing synthetic.”

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