Wasn’t it wonderful to hear his chatter? “Did you now?” She didn’t remember any climbable trees in the courtyard. Audrey wouldn’t take Aric anywhere unsafe, would she? “Where was this?”
“Up.”
Oh, that was helpful. Kit frowned at Hawk.
“Attic room. I was jogging.”
Kit smiled at Aric. “That sounds amazing.”
Except for the fact that she was creating work for everyone else. She’d just have to make sure she got up earlier. “I’m sorry I slept so late. It won’t happen again.”
Hawk snorted. “You’re allowed.”
“Sometimes I ride Hawk,” Aric said proudly. “In a kid-pack.”
“You run with Aric on your back?” she said slowly. “He’s not exactly light…”
“Lighter than combat gear.”
She had to shake her head at someone whose comparisons measured a child’s weight against battle stuff.
“So…” Hawk took a sip of his coffee, gave her a considering look, then turned to point at the garage door at the end of the hall. “Bad guys are busting in from there. What do you do?”
“What?” Just the question sent ice up her spine. Then the momentary chilling fear turned into annoyance. “Seriously? I haven’t even had coffee yet.”
He snorted and turned toward the garage door to call, “Guys, no shooting till the target gets coffee.”
When he raised an eyebrow at her, she wanted to yell at him. That he wasn’t being fair, that—
Life wasn’t fair.
Well…darn it, anyway.
She crossed the room to join him at the island, and okay, maybe she glared at him. A little.
His lips twitched with his amusement.
With a loud sigh, she put an arm around Aric, hugging him to her so she’d remember what was important. “I’d grab Aric and run out the deck door to whoever is home to warn them.”
“Good try.” He pointed at the coffee as an obvious reward.
She poured herself some and wrinkled her nose at the pitch-black color.
“Sugar.” He pointed to canisters on the counter, then the fridge. “Milk.”
After doctoring the sludge to a better color, she heaved a pleased sigh and started imbibing sweet caffeine. “Why did you call my solution a good try? Instead of perfect.”
“There’re gaps between the houses.”
She frowned. A gap meant someone on the road could see her and Aric. And take a shot. “Oh. Right.” That really wasn’t good. “Okay.”
“If you’re here alone?”
Her hands clenched at the terrifying thought. Having people around was one of her safety blankets. To be here alone and have men come in. What if Nabera…
“Kit.” Hawk’s deep voice yanked her out of her head. He didn’t reach for her—just offered his hand.
She gripped his hand with both of hers. His fingers were strong. Callused. Warm.
Her mind cleared enough she could think, and she still didn’t know what to do.
He glanced at Aric. “Hiding places?”
Aric pointed to the upstairs.
Hawk nodded. “Good doors; good locks.”
She found a breath. “So run and hide and call the cops.”
“And us.” He motioned toward the lake. “After dark, you can hide in the reeds.”
“Unner the deck.” Aric made the hand signal for “go prone”.
Hawk’s lips quirked.
Kit started to smile. Apparently, Aric had hidden under the deck a time or two. “Would it be best to leave the courtyard entirely?”
“Too exposed. Mako was a paranoid bast—” Hawk glanced at Aric and substituted, “man.”
Sitting on the stool next to him, she considered. The small dirt road ran past the semi-circle of houses before ending. On the other side of the road was Hawk’s landing strip. The forested area where they’d played games with the children was back where the road curved near the lake, much closer to Swan Avenue. There were no trees near the outside of the Hermitage. “I never thought about any of this.”
He nodded. “Knowing escape routes might let you…settle.”
“Settle?”
“After combat, soldiers stay on high alert. Preparation helps.” His tone was serious. Deadly. “Evaluate shit everywhere. Like the grocery—where are the exits? Hiding places.”
Her eyes started to tear. “I don’t want to live like that.”
“Woman, you already do.” The blunt statement was like a slap in the face.
Denying the truth was like whining that life wasn’t fair. It did her no good. Captain Nabera was still out there, would kill her if he saw her. And Nabera wasn’t the only predator in the world.
Even if there was no one actively wanting to hurt her, after what she’d lived through, her subconscious probably didn’t believe anywhere was safe. The best she could do would be to convince it that she could handle whatever happened. “Okay. I get it.”
His gaze stayed steady on her as he waited for the rest.
“And you’re right. I’ll work on it. And let you tell me the stuff I missed seeing.”
He gave a low humph of acknowledgement and agreement, then pointed at the oven. “Your pancakes.”
Her day went from sour to sweet. “I get pancakes?” She couldn’t keep from beaming at him.
And his head tilted slightly, his expression changing to one that was very masculine. “Do I get a hug too?”
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. At herself. Because she wasn’t immediately revolted; instead, the thought was intriguing—like another way to step out of the desert of non-touching she’d been in.
Before she lost her courage, she stepped between his knees, leaned forward, and hugged him around the shoulders. The very broad shoulders.
A tingle of interest sizzled up her spine.
He smelled different today. A green kind of clean—cypress and lavender. Maybe the tang of sage. She breathed in, wanting to rub her face against him. Against Hawk.
Her hand curled around his neck, under his hair, and she couldn’t resist running her fingers up through the strands. So thick and soft.
He closed his hands on her hips and pulled her closer.
Hard hands moving her.
At the feeling of being drawn forward, she felt the room turn icy cold, too cold for even air to exist. Her heart raced as she gasped, unable to breathe.
Wrenching away, she staggered back, hands up in a futile defense for when he…
He didn’t move.
He would. Soon enough he would. Nausea twisted her insides, and she choked, black spots in front of her eyes.
“Mama!” The cry pulled her head up.
Hawk had an arm around Aric. “Wait, kid. Grabbing her isn’t smart.”
Because she might not realize it was her son touching her. The knowledge was bitter. And forced her to get control.
Seeing her expression, Hawk let Aric go. “Slow, kid.”
Aric ran over, stopped before slamming into her…and hugged her leg.
Bending, she put her arms around his shoulders. He was shaking almost as hard as she was.
It took a minute, two, an eternity before her breathing returned to normal. Okay, okay. She had this. She was fine.