Page 11 of Teased By My Roommate

LILA

Iwoke up ten minutes early even without my alarm, with no idea how I got into bed. I must have fallen asleep on the couch with Hawk. It was touching how careful he was with me.

The apartment was quiet. A note in the kitchen read, "Have a great day, little woman. Text me when you need a ride home."

Little woman? Argh. Hawk was amazing, but that ‘man of the house’ stuff could stop anytime.

Somehow I made it through the workday with the fluttering feeling in my core staying relatively in check.

I always wondered what it would feel like to have a man in my life. A real man that I chose for myself. Well, I guess I didn't really choose Hawk. He just sort of appeared in a flash. Flesh. In the flesh.

A lot of flesh.

I couldn't stop that image of him naked from popping into my mind at the worst possible times. I definitely needed to see that view again as soon as possible.

Me: I'm leaving the office at 5:30, but I'm fine getting home by myself.

Hawk: Where is your office? Address, please. You will be picked up.

It was strange that I absolutely adored his overprotective nature. In my old life, people acted like I couldn't do anything for myself and it drove me bonkers. Now I was fully capable of doing whatever I wanted, but letting Hawk in just felt good.

At some point I was going to have to tell him who I was, and what was expected of me. It was probably rude to let it go on too long before mentioning that I was basically in hiding.

But it might change Hawk's opinion of me. I wanted him to see the new me, the one who was not under her mother's thumb, and controlled by her weird high society standards.

Around five, Hawk sent a text.

Hawk:Look for my truck out front at 5:30.

I went about my end of the day duties, sending out appointment reminder emails and tidying up. When I left the office, there was a huge tattooed man leaning in front of Hawk's truck. As I got closer, I recognized the owner of the tattoo shop.

"Lars, right?" I asked.

"Yeah." He politely took my elbow to help hoist me into the truck, then we drove toward the shop. "Hawk is just finishing up a job that took a bit longer than he anticipated. He didn't want you waiting around, or taking the bus."

"I'm so sorry. I don’t mean to be any trouble."

Lars laughed. "Hell no, don't even think like that."

As we paused at a red light, he held up his phone. His lock screen photo was a pretty woman holding a baby. "I'm the only married guy in the shop, which means apparently I'm safe and responsible enough to drive you," he chuckled. "He also insisted I take his truck instead of my motorbike."

"Wow." I paused, wondering how nosy I could be. "So, have you known Hawk for a long time?"

"Oh, yeah. He's cruised out this way every few years. At first it was sporadic, and we just gave him a few shifts doing walk-ins. He's always been a great artist, but he moved around a lot. He's here full-time now, because…well, I'm sure you know."

"No, why?"

"Oh." Lars gave me a sideways glance. "Well, that's not exactly my story to tell. You're going to have to ask him."

Well, crap. I'd been hoping for a shortcut to get to know Hawk better.

"He really is a great guy," Lars said, shooting me a grin. "And he's absolutely crazy about you."

I had no idea what to say to that. The thought of someone as incredible as Hawk liking me that much was hard to believe.

We got to the shop just as Hawk was finishing up a tattoo around a man's forearm.

"Hey, baby," he called out, making sure that everyone could hear. It felt like he was publicly claiming me, which I had to admit, made me feel amazing. "I'll just be another few minutes, then I'll pick up groceries and make you dinner."

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