Page 2 of Hawke

“Very good. You’ve got my card. If you see anything out of the ordinary, give me a call,” he told me before helping gather up the rest of the tape.

I took the removal of the barricade as permission to enter and stepped inside my club. The officer was right about all the tools and equipment that were lying around. There was everything from drills and chainsaws to coils of copper wiring I’d heard was in large demand. Over the summer and fall, several construction sites in the DMV had been robbed for the same metal.

I scrubbed my hands down my face. A lot of progress had been made inside, but I knew Syn still had some ways to go before I’d be ready to open the door to the members-only establishment. That reminded me of another pressing task. I’d already sent off for all the necessary background checks on potential applicants. I just needed to set some time aside to go over the remainder of the paperwork.

For now, however, I wanted to get back to my hotel for some sleep. I knew I’d have to be back in a few hours. In addition to overseeing the construction work, I had another early morning appointment. The recommendation I received touted the owner of the company as being one of “Denver’s up-and-coming” gems in the party planning world.

Whatever the hell that meant. Shaking my head, I took a quick walk through the space, and after seeing nothing else out of place, I exited the building, locked up, and returned to my car.

2 - CHARLOTTE

Almost two inches of snow had fallen overnight, making it more difficult for me to walk in my favorite black, Stuart Weitzman boots. Because of the unwelcome but usual precipitation, I was left to choose between three less flattering pairs that were better suited for the weather. After finally opting for the basic suede, I left my office.

I ran a party planning company that catered to one of my favorite activities. Often the belle of the ball, my vast experience in Denver’s high fashion social scene helped convince me to pursue something in the same career path. It was why upon graduating from the University of Colorado with a degree in business administration, I’d opened Platinum Dreams. I’d instantly gained clients due to my family’s name, but ultimately it was the quality of my work that made me successful.

Most of my clientele had come courtesy of word of mouth, and the one I was on my way to meet had happened the same way, too. I honestly had no idea what type of event it was for. All Sherry could glean was the man’s name, and the address of the venue. As I slid behind the wheel of my Maserati, I immediately turned on the seat warmers and let the engine idle for a few minutes. It was cold as hell outside, and when I glanced down at my sweater, I could see the hardness of my nipples through the layers of clothing.

“Okay, so let’s see where we’re headed,” I said aloud as I input the address into the navigation system. The 15th Street location seemed familiar, and when the GPS detected a match, I recognized the area. I, along with my best friend, Emery, spent a good amount of time at the nightclubs there.

After putting my car in gear, it didn’t take long to reach my destination. Street parking was limited, so I turned into a nearby parking garage. I’d have to do some walking, so my choice of boots turned out to be perfect.

I exited my car, grabbing my phone and small briefcase, then hurried to the side door exit which would take me onto the cross street. When completely out in the elements, I felt the wind burn as it swept across my cheeks. It was a shame the full arsenal of gear needed to ward off frostbite always made me look so unattractive. Having already braved the winter weather for the last few months, I kept my head down while I walked briskly down the sidewalk.

Finally, I reached my destination and my brow furrowed at the word scribbled across a piece of paper taped to the door. “Syn?”

It didn’t sound as grand as its counterparts, but I’d worry about that later. Depending on what the place was going to be used for, I could work with the name. I opened the door and stepped inside, relieved to finally be out of the frigid temperatures. Although the place was still heavily under construction, it had at least some semblance of warm, so I wouldn’t complain. Much!

Not sure where I was supposed to go, I followed the sounds of voices, and soon found myself in a large open space. It had a stage, but that was it. My gaze traveled around the room, and I saw what appeared to be a bar being constructed off to the right side of me. Looking around for someone that wasn’t decked out in a hard hat, I soon laid eyes on a man in the corner.

I could only see the side of him, but it was a very impressive view nonetheless. He stood tall, at least six feet in height, and wore a dark-colored T-shirt that fit him tightly. I walked closer, having to dodge a man with a two-by-four, before finally reaching him. He was wearing a very distinctive brand of cologne, and I found myself inhaling the scented air, trying to figure out what kind it was. The man was completely oblivious to my presence, typing furiously on the keypad of his phone. I debated momentarily on whether or not to disturb him before realizing his time was no more important than mine. After plastering on a professional smile, I cleared my throat.

“Excuse me. I’m looking for Nathaniel Hawkins,” I said, watching the man slowly turn around.

I nearly swallowed my tongue at the frontal view of the fine specimen, saying a small prayer that this man was the one who’d summoned me there. If so, I could certainly picture myself working very closely with him. He must have thought the same thing if his intense scrutiny was anything to go by. I stood there while he started at the top of my head and worked his gaze downward in appraisal until I placed my hands on my hips. I was about to mumble something sarcastic, but I remembered this could be a potential client.

“And you would be?” came the curt response. His voice seemed to match his new expression, evidently annoyed that I’d cut short his wandering eye.

“M-my name’s Charlotte Maxwell,” I stammered, wondering why this man had such an unnerving effect on me. There was something peculiar about his voice, but I chalked it up to my own growing impatience. “I’m with Platinum Dreams.”

I wasn’t quite sure whether I’d expected him to smile, or even apologize, but he did neither, instead turning away from me, then simply motioning with his hand for me to follow. I shook my head, but did so anyway only because he wanted my services. If this was some sort of nightclub, the type of venue wasn’t something I normally arranged parties for, but it would certainly look impressive when listed on my portfolio. Despite my inexperience, I could hold my own with Denver’s elite, most of which frequented events at places like this.

The man said nothing else to me as he led me down a dusty hallway. There were doors, all numbered, which seemed weird, but I didn’t express those thoughts out loud. We eventually reached the one at the farthest end of the hall, and I stepped through the doorway as he held it open for me.

“I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me,” he began, and I felt my earlier irritation start to diminish, at least until he continued to speak. “If I may offer one suggestion, Miss Maxwell. Dress more appropriately for the occasion in the future.”

My mouth almost dropped open, but I managed to clamp it together before it did. Aiming a pointed stare in his direction, I looked down at what I was wearing. There was nothing wrong with a thick sweater over a pair of tight leggings. I wanted to give him a verbal lashing, and I might have until something strange made me pause.

There was something very familiar about his voice, but I couldn’t place where I’d heard it before. I looked back at him, offering no response to his out of line suggestion, studying the man for a few seconds. Surely, I’d remember his rigid jawline, or those piercing emerald eyes, had we met before.

Realizing he’d caught me staring, I mumbled softly, “What can I do for you, Mr. Hawkins?”

This time, he was the one staring, and I felt his gaze as it once again traveled down the length of my body before pausing at my breasts. I couldn’t help but feel those traitorous peaks harden beneath his scrutiny.

For fuck’s sake. Get a grip, Char.

“I’m going to be hosting a grand opening party for Syn, and I’ve requested your assistance in accomplishing that feat.” His voice, while still somewhat clipped, had a hypnotizing quality in its cadence.

“I’d be happy to help you with that,” I said before watching his lips quirk into a smirk. I had no idea what he found so amusing, so I continued, “All I need are the details, and what sort of time frame I have to work with.”

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