Page 42 of Cryptic Curse (Bellamy Brothers #7)

DANIELA

F or a moment when I wake up, I’m not sure where I am.

Then I know.

Hawk’s place. Hawk’s bed.

I jerk upright.

Vinnie and Raven will be worried sick.

I grab my phone from my purse on the floor. Sure enough, there’s a text from Raven.

I’m fine , I text back. I’m at Hawk’s .

Then the three dots.

We figured you were. I tried to call you both but they went to voicemail.

Yeah, we were busy, but I don’t say this.

I’m sorry to worry you.

It’s okay. Love you.

Love you too.

Hawk isn’t in the bed next to me. Where is he?

I walk to the bathroom. He’s not there. I turn on the shower and get in, letting the warm water pelt over me.

After I wash my hair and then dry off, I put on my dress I wore to court yesterday without the underwear.

Commando for now, until I get a change of clean undies.

Then I leave the bedroom.

I find Hawk in the kitchen with a fresh pot of coffee.

I inhale. It smells so good, almost as good as the coffee I had back in Colombia.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” he says. “Did you shower without me?”

“Guilty,” I say. “But I’m always up for another.”

“Coffee?”

“Please.”

He hands me a cup and I take a long sip of the strong brew. “I had some calls from Raven,” I tell him.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I didn’t even hear it ring. My phone was buried in my purse. She and Vinnie were concerned when I didn’t come home.”

He cocks his head. “Didn’t you tell Raven you were spending the night with me?”

I shrug. “I did, but she probably wanted to check in. She knows about my history. But I’m an adult.” I sigh. “I should have let them know I’d be staying over, so I feel bad. I don’t want to cause them any pain.”

He gives my shoulders a squeeze. “Ray will get over it. So will Vinnie. Which reminds me, I haven’t looked at my phone in a while either.” He leaves the kitchen.

When he doesn’t return after ten minutes, I pour myself another cup of coffee.

I could get used to waking up in Hawk’s house.

I could get used to a lot of things.