Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll (26 page)

Greg watched Hawke walk the length of the
hotel suite and back again for the thousandth time.

“Hawke, you’re making me dizzy.”

“I’ve walked this room all morning, racking
my brain for a way to help her forget this mess, and still
nothing,” Hawke said as he stopped to grab the back of the
sofa.

Greg’s brow creased as he noticed Hawke’s
white knuckles. He shook his head in disbelief.

“I’ve never seen you like this. Are you going
to make it?”

“I honestly don’t know,” Hawke said hoarsely
as he moved to the window to look at the traffic below. “I’ve never
been in love before.”

Greg didn’t know how to help him, having
never been in love either. The best he could do was hang around for
moral support. The situation was difficult for all of them. Rachel
wasn’t an average groupie, and he and Max were both stumped. He
picked up the newspaper and thumbed through the pages for
distraction.

“Flowers? Chocolates? Jewelry? How about a
private vacation?” He rattled off the usual forms of
persuasion.

“No. None of those mean anything to her.”

Hawke turned around, his face blood red. “Why
can’t I think of something?”

Greg glanced back down at the newspaper and
felt his eyes widen as one of the headlines jumped out at him.
Local Charity Works to Re-build Block.

“Look at this, Hawke.”

Hawke took the paper from him and browsed the
article. “This is it!”

Greg stood and read the article over his
shoulder. “How much should we pledge?”

“Nothing.” Hawke yanked open drawers until he
found a notepad and pen. “I want you to start making phone calls.
Call everyone you know. Anybody. We’re going to have a benefit
concert and get the stars to build the houses.” Hawke scribbled
furiously then handed a piece of paper to him.

“Here’s your list. I’ll make some calls, too.
When we have commitments for the 15th and 16th of next month, get
our PR people on advertising. I want this to be huge.”

Greg’s eyes rounded in amazement. “If we can
get even half of these people it’s going to be huge.”

“Call in all my favors, Greg, I’m ready to
collect.”

Greg swallowed, his lips almost numb in
disbelief. Hawke had never asked for a return on a favor.

“We don’t have much time to pull something
like this together,” he said hesitantly.

Hawke slapped him on the back and pushed him
toward the desk. “Make it happen, Greg.” He grabbed his own cell
phone.

Greg smirked when he read the list Hawke had
given him. All male. Hawke had definitely decided to give the
ladies a show. There wouldn’t be a problem raising the money needed
to complete the project.

A sense of warmth enveloped him as he started
dialing, impressed by Hawke’s determination. Rachel had captured
Hawke’s heart, re-shaping it into the new, selfless individual he’d
become. He grinned smugly. Wonders never cease.

Hawke rushed through the suite, plowing into
Max as he came from the kitchen.

“C’mon, Max, we have to find Cameron.”

“Come again?”

“Cameron.”

Max studied Hawke’s reaction, skeptical of
his decision. Had he gone completely insane? Usual protocol
dictated he proceed, no questions asked, but Hawke’s current state
of mind raised a red flag.

“You’re sure?” He needed clarification. Just
in case he’d heard wrong.

“Absolutely. Let’s go.”

Unsure of Hawke’s motive, Max followed him
back through the living area to the front door. Huntington waved
while talking into the phone, his eyes flashing Max a caution
signal. Max shook his head. He had a feeling Hawke was leading him
right into the middle of a hungry lioness’ den.

They rode in silence on the way to Newberry
& Tremaine. He willed himself to remain calm but with Hawke
leading him into battle blindfolded, his nerves were on edge. And
Hawke’s bouncing leg added even more tension. He exhaled a long,
steady breath to regulate his heartbeat. All this drama for a damn
female.

Max kept pace beside Hawke as he strode
across the parking lot and into the building with sheer
determination. Cursing the elevator for moving too slowly, Hawke
finally took a breath to compose himself and they marched through
the office door. Right into the serpent’s den.

Medusa herself sat on the sofa with her legs
crossed, poised and ready to strike. “Well, if it isn’t Rocky and
Bullwinkle. I’ve been expecting you.”

Max’s head pounded. “How the hell - ?“

“It doesn’t matter.” Hawke planted himself
next to her. “I’ve come to help.”

“I think you’ve helped enough.” She swung one
bare leg.

“Cut it out, Cameron,” Hawke hissed.

Max folded his arms and snickered. Hawke had
taken on the incredible task of taming the shrew.

Obviously unimpressed by Hawke’s attempt at
aggressiveness, she pressed him further. “Help how?”

“I’ve arranged a benefit concert for the
Build A Block project. So far there are ten bands committed to
perform and help on the building site.”

She nodded. “Impressive. But I don’t think
you can win Rachel over that easily.”

“I realize that. I just want to show her I
understand how much this means to her.”

She swung her eyes to Max. “And what about
you, Paul Bunyon? Are you going to swing your ax?”

His thoughts flashed back to the fireman
fiasco. “With my shirt on.”

She licked her lips. “It’s scorching hot out
there,” she taunted.

“I can take it.”

“Okay,” she relented, “I’ll expect you both.
Do you want me to tell Rachel?”

Max smirked. “You will anyway, Short
Stuff.”

Hawke stood and walked to the door. “Greg’s
working on PR. We’ll make sure she knows.”

“You might meet her in the hallway. She’s due
here any minute.”

“Don’t tell her I was here, Cameron.”

“I won’t,” she assured him. “I wouldn’t want
Mr. Big here to take me down.”

Max clenched his jaw tighter, both excited
and aggravated. If he did take her down, she wouldn’t get up until
they were both satisfied.

Rachel limped out of the freight elevator,
carrying one piece of her broken shoe. The morning had not gone
well. After stuffing herself with ice cream and oversleeping, she
just didn’t have the time to put too much effort into her
appearance. She’d just work barefoot today.

“Were you mugged?” Cameron squealed as she
walked through the door.

Rachel frowned. “No, why?”

“You look like roadkill.”

Rachel rubbed a finger under her eye.
“Thanks, Cameron.”

“What in the hell happened?” Cameron
persisted, not bothering to apologize.

She sighed. “Nothing. I just overslept.”

Cameron snatched her shoe. “Your shoe is
broken.”

Rachel shrugged. “No big deal. Nothing a
little super glue won’t fix.”

“Nuh-huh,” Cameron babbled. “We’re going shoe
shopping.”

“I really don’t have time for shopping
today.”

“Yes, you do,” Cameron insisted. “Nothing is
more soothing than shoe shopping and there’s a sale at the
mall.”

Rachel knew Cameron wouldn’t give up until
she agreed. “Okay,” she said quietly, “I’ll go. But we’ll have to
run back by my house. I can’t go barefoot.”

Cameron grabbed her purse. “I have an extra
pair of sandals in the car.”

“Cameron, I don’t know if I can walk in those
stilts you call heels.”

“Relax, you’ll be fine. We’ll go slow.”

The blinding morning sunlight made her eyes
water as Rachel stepped out of the office building and crossed the
parking lot where Cameron was parked.

Once seated in the car, Cameron handed her a
pair of sunglasses and a tissue. “I found some more volunteers for
the project today.”

“Great,” she said half-heartedly, dabbing her
eyes.

“Top up or down?” Cameron asked.

“Oh what the hell,” Rachel mumbled, running
her hand through the rat’s nest she called hair, “down.”

“Relax, Rachel, shopping will make you feel
so much better.”

Rachel managed to giggle at Cameron’s
excitement. No sense in letting her bad morning ruin the day.

“Who volunteered?” she asked as Cameron drove
to the mall.

“You know I can’t remember names.”

“Any help is good help.” Rachel strapped on
the first borrowed sandal. “What about Max?”

Cameron bit her lip as she pulled into a
parking place. “I haven’t asked him yet.”

“Why not?” Rachel fastened the second sandal
to her foot and stepped out of the car.

“I thought I’d exhaust all my other efforts
first.”

“I’m sure he’d help, Cameron.” Rachel paused
a few seconds to get her balance then walked beside Cameron to the
entrance.

“Rachel.” Cameron peered over the top of her
sunglasses as they entered the store. “Do not tease me about Mr.
Clean. Dealing with him is no teasing matter. Look! Dior is on
sale!”

Cameron pulled a pale pink stiletto off the
rack and handed it to Rachel. “Hawke didn’t keep you up all night,
did he?”

Rachel wrinkled her nose and handed it back
to Cameron. “He didn’t come back. By the time he gave his statement
at the police department and had his arm examined, it was late. I
told him to go back to his suite and rest.”

“Why?”

Rachel slipped her foot into a gold pump. “I
needed time to think.”

“You ate all the ice cream, didn’t you?”

“Not all of it.” Just most.

“So, did you come to any conclusions in the
depths of all that chocolate?”

Rachel sighed. “I feel terrible.”

Cameron’s eyes widened. “Those were gallon
tubs, Rachel! How many did you eat?”

Rachel shoved the shoe back on the rack. “Not
that many. Besides, that’s not what I meant.”

“What else could you possibly have to feel
bad about?”

Rachel took Cameron by the elbow and forced
her into a chair next to the rack of shoes. “I’ve held him at arm’s
length all this time, using the excuse that there wasn’t room in
his spotlight for me.” Rachel blew her bangs off her forehead. “I
more or less accused him of playing at romance and tried to prove
it several times.”

Cameron’s brow wrinkled. “And?”

Rachel plopped down in the chair next to
Cameron. “And then he took a bullet for me.” She gave a half laugh.
“The real kicker in this whole fiasco is that the lunatic was after
me. I brought trouble to Hawke.”

“Actually, she was after both of you.”

"Really. If I hadn’t gone to that concert,
flashed my bare chest, and unstuck his zipper, I would have never
even met Hawke.”

Cameron folded her arms across her chest.
“What makes you think Hawke knew who you were before he hired
you?”

Rachel looked Cameron square in the eye. “He
knew.”

“Okay, so you just happened to bring an
insane maniac into the relationship. Now what?”

“I have no idea.”

“You’re seriously considering calling it
quits?”

“That’s just it, Cameron, my life used to be
routine and safe.”

“Boring.”

Rachel glared.

Cameron wasn’t intimidated. “Don’t shoot
those daggers at me, you said it yourself.”

“It’s been anything but boring lately.”

“My life sure has been a whole lot more
interesting,” Cameron mumbled.

“See? I’ve even managed to drag you along for
the ride.”

“You know how much I love to admit I’m
wrong.” Cameron paused to clear her throat. “I was wrong. He’s not
playing at anything, Rachel, he’s crazy in love with you.”

Rachel grinned. “I don’t think I like boring
anymore.”

“Maybe you should take one more trip through
the house. You might find your answer.”

“You really think so?”

“You’ll never know until you give yourself
the opportunity.”

“Possibly.” Rachel glanced back over at the
shoe rack. “I like those midnight blue ones.”

Cameron leaned forward. “Those aren’t your
usual style.” She stood, plucked the shoe from its place, and then
grinned. “These are really hot. You should try them out in the
bedroom.”

Rachel felt the question marks leave her
brain. Suddenly she knew exactly what she had to do. She returned
Cameron’s grin. “I just might.”

***

An hour later, Rachel stood in front of
Hawke’s house, at the bottom of the steps, convincing herself she
was doing the right thing. Counting each step, she finally climbed
to the top and glided across the porch to the front door. She took
a deep breath, eased the elegant oak door open, and stepped through
with her heart pounding erratically.

The house was almost complete; only a few
minor details were left to be done before Cameron waved her magic
wand. How could she abandon all this now? She squeezed her eyes
closed and savored the sense of fulfillment she felt. It wouldn’t
take much more than a couple of weeks to finish. Surely her heart
could hold on that long.

An easy smile broke through her mask of
uncertainty when Rachel ran her fingers over the carved oak
banister of the staircase. Hawke was such a sucker for detail.
Together, the two of them spent hours searching for just the right
design. She paused and connected the pieces of her scattered
thoughts. Actually, she and Hawke made most of the decisions for
the house together. She felt a warm glow flow through her as she
remembered his excitement over planning this house. With dazzling
determination, he made sure each decision included her opinion.
Gazing around at the intricacy of the work, she realized pieces of
her heart were embedded here. She would never be able to associate
this house with anyone but him. She didn’t want to.

“I thought I’d find you here.”

She turned to see Hawke braced in the
doorway, his muscles rippling under his white shirt. Her pulse
quickened as her eyes traveled his long, lean frame and stroked him
intimately before settling on his compelling, dark eyes.