when your son was kidnapped? I’d like to look at them along with the police records. Maybe I can see something with a fresh eye after all these years.”
“All right, Hawk. I don’t want anything to happen to my child. Or to you.”
“If I have anything to say about it this time, Emory, you’ll not lose this child. You have my word on it.”
Of course, Hawk didn’t know if he could live up to the promise, but he would die trying.
“All right, Hawk, you win.” Early-morning light streamed into her hospital room, outlining Hawk’s tall frame as he leaned against the wall. Her breakfast tray was untouched, a testament to the fact she would throw it up if she ate. “We’ll get married, but it will be in name only,” she warned. Since she didn’t see another way out of the mess, they would marry, but she wasn’t willing to risk her heart again. “No sex.”
Hawk stared at her, then nodded. “Then let’s go down to city hall and get the license.”
“Sounds good, then you can drive me to work.” Too bad that it didn’t sound romantic. It sounded more as if they were closing a business deal.
But, of course, that was exactly what they were doing.
Chapter 2
“Hawk looked down at the marriage license issued by Harris County. The event he’d tried so hard to avoid for the past five years was about to come to pass.
“Here you go, sir,” the clerk said, handing Hawk the change for his twenty.
After pocketing the money, he turned to Renee. She stared at the paper in his hand as if it were a snake coiled to strike. Apparently, her reaction to this marriage wasn’t any better than his. “Ready to leave?”
She nodded, her face pale.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she muttered.
They were halfway down the hall of the courthouse when she stumbled against him. His arms shot out, catching her as she collapsed.
“Damn.” He scooped her up and walked to a nearby bench. Sitting, he cupped her face. “Renee?”
“Oh, dear, what’s wrong?” a woman asked.
Good question, he thought to himself. Was the reason she fainted due to the wound on her head or was it a reaction to them getting the marriage license?
“Would you like me to get a wet paper towel from the bathroom?” she asked.
“Thanks.”
The woman hurried away.
“Come on, sweetheart, wake up.” If she didn’t come around he’d call the paramedics.
“Here’s the towel,” the woman said, offering it to him.
Carefully, Hawk brushed the towel over Renee’s face. She moaned and her eyelids fluttered. Relief flooded him.
“Why don’t I get her something to drink?” the woman suggested.
Hawk nodded, his attention focused on Renee.
Confusion, then embarrassment filled her eyes. “What happened?”
“You fainted.”
Her brow knitted into a frown. “I never faint,” she replied, struggling to sit up.
“Maybe it has something to do with your wound. We should go back to the hospital.”
“No, I don’t think so. I didn’t eat this morning. The oatmeal they served at the hospital looked like paste.”
“Here you go, young lady,” the woman said as she returned. “Try this soft drink. It might help.”
Renee took the can and slowly sipped it. After a moment the color started to return to her cheeks.
The woman glanced at where they had just come from. “Are you two going to get married?”
“Yes,” Hawk answered.
“Congratulations.” The woman walked to the office beside them and opened the door. The strong smell of coffee hit Renee like an eighteen-wheeler and her stomach roiled. She pressed her hand to her mouth and looked around for the bathroom door. Spotting it, she ran across the hall.
Alarm raced through Hawk, and he started after Renee.
“I’ll check on her,” the woman told him, stepping between him and the bathroom.
He wanted to do it himself, but he didn’t need to create a riot in the courthouse. Things were already enough of a mess. He didn’t need to make it worse.
After she lost the contents of her stomach, Renee stumbled out of the stall to the sinks. The woman who’d brought her the soda handed her another wet towel.
“When I was pregnant with my oldest, I couldn’t take the smell of coffee. My husband was sure glad when he could have his morning cup again.”
Renee’s eyes fluttered closed. Coffee, congealed oatmeal, what next? “I do miss my morning coffee.”
“I’m sure your young man is excited by the prospect of becoming a father.”
That was a question that she’d wrestled with since the day the pregnancy stick had turned blue. She still hadn’t come up with an answer. Would Hawk be pleased? Furious? Would he try to deny being the father? At this point, it didn’t matter.
“You okay now?” the woman asked.
Renee nodded and they walked into the hall.
Hawk stood outside the door, waiting. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
He didn’t look convinced.
The older woman smiled at Renee, then turned to Hawk. “Just hang in there. Her morning sickness should pass soon. And take comfort, my poor husband couldn’t drink coffee, either, until I gave birth to our son.”
“Morning sickness,” Hawk repeated. “Morning sickness?”
“I’d like to go home, Hawk.” Renee didn’t wait for him but started down the hall.
He quickly caught up with her. “Are you pregnant?”
She stopped and glared at him. “You want to have this discussion here in the hall of this public building so all of Houston can see and hear us, or do you want to have it back at my apartment?”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ll wait until we’re home. But then—”
“Then I’ll talk to you.”
She thanked Heaven that Hawk
