A Woman Without Lies Part 3

aIam like a sister to Derry,a said Angel.

aIn all but blood,a Hawk added blandly, repeating Angelas previous words, not believing her.

aExactly,a agreed Angel. aDerry and I are family.a She turned away and set the pain pill next to the gla.s.s of water on the counter. Uneasily, she turned and glanced up the hallway.

aHeas all right,a Hawk said. aBesides, how much trouble can he get into in the bathroom?a aYouad be surprised.a Angel smiled wryly at the memory of her own clumsiness three years ago, when she had first a.s.serted her independence and hobbled into the bathroom on crutches. In the end, Derry had to come in and untangle her.

She had always been grateful that it was concern rather than laughter that showed on Derryas face when he had found her and her crutches wrapped around the toilet and wash-basin. Fortunately nothing had been hurt but her pride, and Derry had salved even that by his matter-of-fact help.

Hawk saw Angelas small, private smile and wondered how many times she and Derry had played in the shower or the bathtub. Yes, there are lots of amusing ways to get into trouble in the bathroom, Hawk thought.

But thinking about it would make his desire obvious, so Hawk turned his thoughts elsewhere with the same discipline that had once made him a top race car driver and now made him a ruthless businessman.

aWant me to check on Derry?a asked Hawk, his voice casual, his eyes so dark they were almost black.

Angel hesitated.

aWould you mind?a she asked softly. aCrutches can be the very devil to use the first few times out.a Hawk turned and went down the hall, silently agreeing with Angel about crutches. Head been forced to use them twice, after each major racing crash. Once it had been only for a few days. The second time, though, it had been nineteen weeks.

Except for the months following his eighteenth birthday, Hawk couldnat think of a more unpleasant period in his life than the time he had spent on crutches.

Hawk met Derry coming up the hall. The younger man looked surprised, then resigned.

aDid I take that long?a Derry asked.

aNot for me. Angel was a bit nervous, though.a aAngel? Oh, Angie.a Derry looked uncertain, then said quietly, aShe doesnat like being called Angel.a aI know.a aThen whya"a aSheall get used to it,a Hawk said, turning his back on Derry, ajust like I got used to Hawk.a

4.

In silence Hawk and Derry went back to the kitchen where Angel waited. When Derry appeared, relief was clear on Angelas face. She held out the pill and the gla.s.s of water.

aBottoms up,a she said.

Derry grimaced but took the pill.

aHave you eaten?a asked Angel.

aSure. Iam not exactly helpless, you know.a She put her slim fingers against Derryas cheek. As fair as her skin was, it was darker than Derryas right now.

aYouare so pale,a she whispered.

Derry pressed his cheek lightly against Angelas hand.

aIam fine, Angie. Really.a aYouall do better lying down,a Hawk said in a curt voice.

It was more an order than a suggestion.

Sheas really got her talons into his young hide, Hawk thought grimly. I came along just in time.

Hawk followed Derry back to the lounge and waited while the younger man lowered himself down. Other than taking the crutches, Hawk didnat help in any way. When Angel reached to help, Hawk restrained her.

aHe isnat an invalid,a Hawk said coolly.

aButa"a Angel began.

aDonat tell me youare one of those frustrated mother types,a interrupted Hawk, his voice teasing and his eyes hard as cut crystal. aFussing and fidgeting around men, trying to reduce them to the status of babies. Or does Derry like being babied?a Anger thinned Angelas mouth, but before she could tell Hawk what she thought of his sharp tongue and lack of feeling, she heard Derry laughing.

aMr. Hawkins,a said Derry, struggling to straighten a pillow behind his head, ayou donat knowa"a aCall me Hawk. Iam told the name suits me.a As Hawk spoke he moved over and shifted the pillow so that it would be centered beneath Derryas head. The gesture was so swift that it almost pa.s.sed unnoticed.

aIt does, you know,a Derry said, sighing. aSuit you, that is. Except Iave never known a hawk with a sense of humor.a Derry smiled and settled back onto the pillow.

aBut youall never meet anyone less likely to fuss and fidget than Angie,a Derry added. aSheas the most serene person I know.a Hawk lifted one black eyebrow and looked at Angel as though head never seen her before.

aReally?a Hawk asked softly.

aReally,a Derry said. aShe should be the one studying to be a surgeon, not me. Nothing, but nothing, flaps Angie anymore.a Angel tried to look serene under Hawkas skeptical regard. It was hard. She knew that he was remembering her flush of response to him, her temper, and her fear for Derry.

aIam afraid I flapped but good when Hawk told me that youad been hurt,a Angel said. aAnd then I took it out on Hawk.a She smiled slightly. aSo much for serenity and angels.a Hawkas dark gaze lingered over Angelas lips, the grace of her neck rising out of black silk, and the soft tendrils of hair curling around her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Angel felt her breath shorten in a combination of surprise and sensual response to Hawkas look.

I wish Iad never sensed the vulnerability beneath this manas hard surface, Angel thought unhappily. I wish that Hawk were as unfeeling as he seems to be.

Then I simply could ignore him, letting his hungry glances and touches slide off the serenity Iave worked so hard to have.

Yet Angel kept sensing flashes of warmth and gentleness in Hawk, like the simple straightening of the pillow beneath Derryas head. The contrasts and complexities that made up Hawk both fascinated and unnerved her, keeping her off-balance.

Serene? Angel thought wryly. Hardly. Not so long as Hawk is in sight.

Angel stepped around Hawk and smoothed back the curls from Derryas forehead.

aReady to sleep yet?a she asked. Derry shook his head, sighed, and silently asked to be stroked some more.

aThat feels good,a he said.

Angel smiled and resumed stroking Derryas hair.

Derry returned the smile, then looked up at the tall, dark man whose quick intelligence and blunt manner had drawn Derry from their first meeting several weeks ago.

aYou have a point, Hawk,a Derry said. aSome men just love to be babied.a aShall I hire you a nanny?a Hawk asked.

aOnly if sheas young and pretty,a retorted Derry.

aThey donat call them nannies if theyare young and pretty,a Hawk pointed out. aThey call thema"a aNever mind,a interrupted Derry quickly. aI couldnat do much about it anyway, not until Iam out of these concrete overalls.a He shifted uneasily, trying to get comfortable.

Hawk went to one of the cushioned patio chairs, took a pillow, and came back to the lounge. With a few swift, careful motions, he had the cushion tucked under Derryas cast, relieving the strain on his back.

Derry sighed. aThanks. d.a.m.n thing weighs as much as I do.a Angel glanced up at Hawk, surprised again by the contrast between his unsympathetic words and his caring actions.

Hawk looked back at her coolly.

aGo ahead and pet him,a Hawk said. aIt will keep his mind off his ankle.a Derry laughed aloud, his blue eyes dark with pleasure.

aThatas what I like about you,a Derry said. aEveryone else tiptoes around being nice and you donat. As a doctor-to-be, I believe thereas a place in this world for astringents.a aYes,a Angel agreed curtly. aIn bottles. Tightly capped.a For an instant Derry looked shocked. Then he gave way to laughter again. Lines of strain melted away from his face, making him look barely eighteen instead of the twenty-one he was. He took Angelas hand, squeezed it, and put it back on his forehead.

aPet me,a Derry said complacently. aYouare good for me. Both of you. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself before you came.a Angelas irritation disappeared at Derryas words. She resumed stroking his forehead, smoothing away tension. And with every stroke she sensed Hawkas dark, enigmatic glance on her.

Closing his eyes, Derry sighed deeply, relaxing beneath her touch.

aYour hands are like you, Angie,a he murmured. aKind. Generous. Calm. Will you help me?a aOf course,a she said quietly.

aAre you sure? I know how busy you are.a aItas summer,a Angel said simply. aDuring the summer all I do is absorb the patterns of color and sunlight.a Derryas eyes opened. Relief showed clearly in their blue depths.

aThanks,a he said, his voice husky, slow.

The pain pill was obviously taking effect. Derry looked past Angel to Hawk.

aWhen do you want . . . to start your . . . grand tour?a Derry asked, speaking in slow motion.

For an instant Hawk almost felt sorry for Angel, neatly trapped by a young blond charmer. Then the corner of Hawkas mouth lifted in a curve well short of a smile. Derryas charm was a real force, a radiance like the sun that encouraged people to come and warm themselves.

But Hawk hadnat seen any sign that Derry was a liar or a cheat. Derry could no more help his easy charm than he could help the fact that he had ten fingers and toes. Derry was unspoiled by women and lies.

Hawk would see that it stayed that way.

aTomorrow is soon enough,a said Hawk. aUntil Angel is sure that you can take care of yourself, her heart wonat be in her work.a Angelas head came up. aWhat are you two talking about?a she demanded.

Derry looked back at Angel. He squinted, trying to focus through the effects of the pill.

aTaking Hawk . . . around,a Derry managed. aI . . . canat.a Angel looked up at Hawk, surprise clear in the eyes that were too large for her face.

aDo you know what Derryas talking about?a Angel asked, worried.

Through the pain pillas haze, Derry heard Angelas words fade in and out of his consciousness. He knew that he had to make her understand how important it was that she help Hawk, but his tongue just wouldnat form the words.

Suddenly Derry realized how much of his strength had drained away, how weak he had become. He began to fight the effects of the pill, something close to panic in his body and voice.

aAngie?a Angel felt the bunching of Derryas muscles beneath her hand. She spoke quickly, remembering her own feeling of helplessness in the hospital three years ago, the shots that whirled her down into darkness, taking away even the power to scream.

Except in her mind. She had screamed there, endlessly, caught in barbiturate chains.

aDonat fight the pill,a Angel said urgently. aDo you hear me, Derry? Donat fight it. Let go, Derry. Let go. Itas all right.a aCanat . . . Hawk.a aIall take care of Hawk,a Angel said instantly. aLet go, Derry. Iam here.a She stroked Derryas forehead and his cheek, focusing only on him, willing him to be calm.

aItas all right now,a Angel said quietly, her voice like a benediction. aSleep, Derry. Iam here.a Derryas eyes focused on Angel for an instant. He took a ragged breath, nodded slowly, and stopped struggling.

Only then did Angel realize that Hawk had come to her side, helping her by holding Derryas shoulders in a powerful vise. Without Hawk, she wouldnat have been able to contain Derryas struggle to sit up.

aThank you,a Angel said to Hawk, her voice soft. aDerry will be all right now. He just had a bad moment when he realized that the pill was stronger than he was. The helplessness is frightening.a Angelas fingers clenched as she remembered three years agoa"pain and helplessness and rage.

Hawk saw. Without stopping to think, he took her hand between his and gently pried her fingers open. He stroked her fingers, surprised by their chill.

aDerry is as strong as he is charming,a Hawk said, warming Angelas hands between his. aHeall be fine.a With an effort, Angel forced her hands to relax. The heat of Hawkas skin was almost shocking.

She looked up suddenly and found herself reflected in the hard clarity of Hawkas eyes. Reflected and . . . measured. His eyes were not nearly so soothing as the slow rhythm of his hands rubbing warmth into hers.

Suddenly Angel felt wholly vulnerable, as though she were naked and an ice-tipped wind was sweeping down out of the dark sky to claim her.

Angel eased her hands free of Hawkas. She returned to stroking Derryas hair, but this time the soothing contact was more for herself than for him.

Silently Hawk watched, following every movement of Angelas hands, her eyes, the last of the sunlight sliding like a caress over her pale hair. And most of all he watched the slow rise and fall of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s beneath midnight silk.

The fact that Hawk wanted Angel didnat surprise him. The fact that he had wanted to comfort her did.

The sooner I get her into bed, the better. Iave never seen an actress who portrays both strength and vulnerability so easily.

So convincingly.

Only in bed will the act fall apart, freeing me from her soft fascination and lies.

aWhat was Derry talking about?a Angel asked after a few minutes of silence.

aYou mean the grand tour?a asked Hawk.

Without looking away from Derry, Angel nodded her head in agreement. The motions sent strands of her hair whispering over each other.

Hawk wanted to wrap a curling tendril around his finger and then slowly release it, letting the silk and radiance of Angelas hair caress the sensitive skin between his fingers.

aIave never spent any time in the Pacific Northwest,a Hawk said. aFrankly, I donat know a d.a.m.n thing about the countryside. Before I build an enclave of exclusive homes, I want to be sure that I have more to offer buyers than high-priced houses and an expensive resort complex.a Angel waited, her hands still, her fingers relaxed due to an act of will that made her ache. The thought of selling Eagle Head made her want to cry or scream or plead with Hawk not to buy.

Yet selling Eagle Head was the only way Derry could afford the eight years of advanced education and training that being a surgeon would require.

Angel would not stand in the way of that. No matter how much she loved Eagle Head, she loved Derry more.

aThatas where you come in,a Hawk said, his voice as expressionless as his eyes. aYouare my tour guide.a aWhat?a Angel asked, not quite believing she had heard Hawk correctly.

aThe way Derry is now, he would have a h.e.l.l of a time getting in and out of a car, much less a boat,a Hawk said, his voice matter-of-fact.

Angelas hand stilled.

aBeach walking would be impossible,a Hawk continued. aEspecially down these cliff trails.a Angel said nothing.

aDerry said you could do it,a Hawk said, watching her closely. aIn fact, he said you were a better fisherman than he was. Better at clamming, too. He said you could cook like a European chef and knew all the best places to be for a hundred miles in all directions.a aHe exaggerates.a Hawk shrugged. aItas up to you.a Angel looked only at Derry.

Then, coolly, Hawk added, aYou do understand that I wonat buy a pig in a poke. No tour, no sale. Sorry, but thatas the way life is. Thereas no such thing as a free lunch.a Hawk watched the realization sink into Angel. No tour. No sale.