Page 53 of Heart of Stone

She turns in my arms, finally meeting my eyes. The motion brings us chest to chest, and my grip shifts to her lower back.

“You scare me,” she admits.

“How?”

Her hands come up to rest on my chest. “The way you look at me. The way you are with the kids.” She swallows hard. “The way you make me want things I shouldn’t.”

That’s bullshit. She shouldn’t want for anything.

“What do you want?”

“This.” She presses closer, her body moving with mine as the music shifts to something slower, darker. “You make me believe we might be possible.”

“We are.” I slide one hand up her back, feeling her shiver.

“Hawk—”

“Andi, dance with me,” I cut her off. “No talking, no doubts, no overthinking. Tonight, just let me hold you.”

Something in her eyes softens. Her fingers curl into my shirt as she nods.

So we dance.

Her body moves against mine like we’ve done this a thousand times before. Every movement, every touch, builds something between us that feels inevitable. Unstoppable.

When her head tips forward to rest on my chest, I know I’m lost.

“I’m tired of denying this,” she whispers against my shirt.

My arms tighten around her. “Then don’t.”

She lifts her head, meeting my eyes. The vulnerability there hits me like a physical blow.

“Take me inside,” she says softly.

Two hours of watching her dance, days of her avoiding me, over a week of wanting her—it all crashes together in that moment.

“You sure?”

Her smile is everything I’ve been waiting for.

“Take me to bed, Hawk.”

She doesn’t have to ask twice.

13

ANDI

The party still pulses outside, but in Hawk's bedroom, everything feels different. Quieter. More intense.

He doesn’t rush me, doesn’t push. He just leads me through the house with his hand on my lower back, the heat of his touch burning through my shirt. Now he stands watching me, giving me space to change my mind.

I don’t want to change my mind.

“I can hear you thinking,” he says softly.

“Bad habit.” I manage a smile. “Occupational hazard.”