Page 15 of Hawke

I heard a rustling noise coming from the other room where Emery had disappeared to, but I let my friend be. Instead, I looked around the open space. This penthouse was even nicer than my downtown condo. Both units were situated in affluential Denver locations. The only difference between the place I lived in versus this one was that I worked hard to pay the mortgage on mine while Emery’s father fronted the cost, and all the bills associated with his daughter’s.

Emery had never had to work a day in her life, always depending on her father for her every need. I would never fault my friend for that. It was only after I accompanied her back to Washington, D.C., that I understood why Travis Wilder did what he did.

It’d been obvious how much he missed Emery. The politician doted on his daughter and truly treated her like a princess. He worked in the Senate and lived so far away. It suddenly didn’t seem too odd that he’d make sure she didn’t want or need for anything while living in Denver.

Emery returned and flopped down on the couch beside me before grabbing the nearest glass. “So,” she said, pausing to take a sip of her wine. “What kind of man problems are you having? And more importantly, do I know who he is?”

I smiled wryly before shaking my head. “No, I don’t think you know him because he’d only recently come to town.”

I took a sip of my wine, knowing fully well that my friend would want more details. Sure enough, Emery arched a perfectly manicured brow in my direction. “And…”

“His name’s Hawke, and he’s a new client of mine,” I answered.

“Naughty girl. When did you start crushing over your clients?” Emery asked.

I had already expected this line of questioning, so I wasn’t surprised by a single question asked so far. “I’m not crushing over him, per se.”

And I wasn’t. Hawke infuriated me unlike anyone else I’d ever met. A crush was certainly not what I would use to describe him. I didn’t even like the man, yet I wanted him to hatefuck me in the worst way, which was what brought me here tonight.

“Then, what would you call it?” Emery questioned.

“Have you ever met someone who could push all of your buttons? If so, that would be Hawke,” I replied. “He’s so damn arrogant. I just want to knock the smirk right off his face. The problem is that he has an uncanny ability to neutralize me with a single kiss.”

Emery gasped. “You’re kissing your clients now? Wow.”

I knew this would come as a shock because there was one thing I always told my friends I would never do and mixing business with pleasure was at the top of that list. “Hawke’s not just a client.”

I cringed as soon as the words left my lips because those pesky confidentiality agreements came to mind once I did. Not only did I sign one back in Washington, D.C., before what was supposed to be a scene with him, but I had also signed another a week or so ago.

“What do you mean?” Emery asked, now obviously confused. My friend finished her glass of wine, then poured another as she waited on a response from me.

“I’ve met him before, but didn’t initially realize it when I took him on as a client. Now that I have, it’s complicating things.”

I reached for my own glass and slowly sipped from it while peering over the rim at my friend. Emery was staring at me as if I’d sprouted two heads. Emery and I always told each other everything, so I knew my friend was trying to place Hawke’s name.

She’d never be able to because I hadn’t even known his name myself until a week ago. I’d also never told my friend about what had really happened at The Box that night either, so there’d be nothing for her to reference.

Finally, Emery threw her hands up. “I have no idea who you’re talking about. Have you ever mentioned him before?”

I shook my head. “No, I haven’t. Or at least I don’t think I have.” Emery appeared even more confused, so I tried to be very generic when I added, “I met him at that club we went to in Washington, D.C.”

“The Box?” Emery’s face lit up at the revelation, and I watched her clap her hands together joyously. “So, he’s a Dominant?”

I didn’t think his title would break any confidentiality agreements, so I nodded, earning a squeal from Emery. “It’s not something he advertises though, so let’s keep that between the two of us.”

“So, what’s the issue with him?”

“He’s hired me to plan a party.” Emery didn’t look too intrigued with that, so I continued, “And he’s already kissed me twice.”

That got Emery’s full attention, and she smirked. “When are the two of you going to hook up?”

I shook my head. “At this rate, probably never.”

“Why do you say that? I mean, you said he’s already—”

I sighed. “Because I can’t manage to spend any quantifiable time with the man. He’s too busy either throwing me out of his office, or walking away from me. I was pretty sure he hated me, but tonight…”

I paused, having decided mid response that maybe talking to her about Hawke wasn’t the greatest idea after all. Picking up my wine, I finished it off , then bought some time as I refilled my glass.

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