Hawke's Salvation by Lori King

needed her. She’d pushed him back into the bedroom while she answered the door, and that was unacceptable in his book. Unfortunately, he hadn’t had a chance to discuss it with her because she’d spent the rest of the night with Payton in her cabin. He’d been left to straighten and lock up Jeanette’s cabin for her before sneaking back to his own once again.
    “Morning, Hawke.” Lauren greeted him as they passed each other. She was way too cheerful for someone who’d been awake in the middle of the night.
    He grumbled out some form of greeting and fumbled at the coffee pot until he held a large mug of the delicious brew. By his second cup, he was feeling slightly more sociable, but judging by the laughter and chatter in the dining room, he was nowhere near ready for his family. He was just opening the back door to leave when Jeanette and Payton entered the kitchen from the other direction.
    “Hey, Hawke,” Jeanette said, giving him a sweet smile that made his insides melt. “Did you get some breakfast? Lauren made biscuits and gravy this morning, and it’s to die for.”
    “Nah, I’m not hungry.” He surveyed Payton’s face, noting the dark circles under her eyes and the tight lines around her mouth. “How are you feeling this morning Payton?”
    The woman jerked in surprise. “Does everyone know? Jesus Christ. This place is worse than junior high. I’m fine.”
    “Sorry I asked,” Hawke growled back, slamming out the back door without another word. He knew he was being childish, but his emotions were such a jumbled mess that he couldn’t seem to control himself.
    He’d just checked in on the second crew of ranch hands when he felt Jeanette’s presence in the riding arena behind him. He knew it was her by the way his skin tingled when she was close, and the soft fragrance on the air that was purely Jeanette.
    “Hawke? Do you have a minute?”
    Daniel, his ranch foreman, lifted an eyebrow at him, but didn’t question it when Hawke cut their conversation short and turned to face Jeanette. “What is it?”
    A look of hurt crossed her face, and then her chin jutted forward, and her dark eyes narrowed. “What’s your problem?”
    “I don’t have a problem.”
    “Oh I see, so you’re just acting like a four-year-old for general purposes?” When he didn’t respond, she crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head. “Is this because I didn’t come back last night? I had to deal with my patient, Hawke. It’s my job.”
    “I know that. It’s fine. I’m fine. I need to get back to work.”
    “You and I both know you’re not fine. Tell me what’s going on.”
    “Is that your professional opinion, Doc? Because I don’t need a shrink to tell me that the woman I’m sleeping with is ashamed to be seen with me,” he declared. He regretted the words the moment they spilled from his lips but he couldn’t take them back. The worst part was the pity he saw in her eyes before she spoke.
    “Oh Hawke, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I’m not ashamed to be seen with you. I told you, I just don’t want us to impact my professional life.”
    “Professional life? You have one motherfucking patient! How the hell is having a boyfriend going to impact that?” He spun away, jamming his fists in his pockets in frustration. He couldn’t put words to the feelings coursing through him. He was hurt, and angry, and bitter over the whole thing. Why couldn’t she understand that?’
    “A boyfriend?” she murmured. “I didn’t...I mean…we haven’t talked about that. I thought we were both just having fun…”
    “We are having fun, but the way I was raised, when you’re having fun exclusively with someone it’s called a relationship .”
    Jeanette nodded. “Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry. I should have never let it get this far. Thank you for pointing out my mistake.”
    “What the hell does that mean?”
    “It means I had a lapse in judgment when I allowed this whole thing to