on to her salad.
“Yeah.” I released a sigh from my lungs, feeling lighter than a cloud. “It’s perfect.”
Yaya smiled at the happiness in my voice. “He’s a good man.”
“He is.” Even if he didn’t always believe it himself.
“And really handsome.”
I chuckled. “That too.”
“He adores you. I can tell every time he looks at you.”
Sometimes when I wasn’t looking at him, I could feel his gaze on me. There were times when we didn’t speak, just had a conversation with our eyes. I could feel his thoughts with a single stare. Now I knew other people noticed it too.
“It doesn’t matter how successful he is, what kind of family he comes from, or what he has to offer. The most important thing is love. And he loves you, dear.”
“I know he does.” I never told Yaya why we went our separate ways. The one time she asked, I didn’t give an answer. Thankfully, she didn’t hold anything against Hawke after he left. She accepted him with open arms, the way she accepted everyone.
“You guys are going to get married someday. I can tell.”
“I know.” There was no one else I’d ever want to be with. Kyle was a good friend and would have made an excellent partner, but with Hawke, it was different. It was true and powerful.
I eyed the clock on the wall and knew I’d let my frosting sit for too long. “I’m sorry, Yaya. I have to go.”
“It’s okay, dear. I know you have to work.”
“I’ll see you later.” I gave her a kiss before I headed back to the counter.
“Frankie.” An older man wearing a beige jacket and a baseball cap gently grabbed my arm. He held a cup of hot coffee in his free hand.
He was a regular customer. I recognized his face. “Hello, sir. What can I do for you?”
“That woman you were talking to…” He nodded to the back where Yaya sat. “Is that your grandmother?”
“Yeah, she is. Why?”
“Well…is there a grandpa in the picture?” He smiled in hope.
“Actually, there’s not. And she’s a very nice woman.”
“Ooh…I think I’m going to buy her a cup of coffee then.”
I smiled. “Good luck. Hope you don’t strike out.”
“Back in my day, I was known as a bit of a ladies man. Met a lot of women in the military.”
“You’re a veteran?”
“World War II.”
“Thank you for your service.” I grabbed his shoulder and gave him an affectionate squeeze. “Now go sweep her off her feet.”
He tipped his hat to me. “I don’t need to be told twice.” He slowly walked to the table where Yaya was sitting, and I watched from my place near the counter. He stopped beside her and engaged her in conversation. After a few minutes, she laughed at something he said.
And I knew Yaya made a new friend.
***
I just got off work and immediately wanted to see the man of my dreams. I want my grizzly.
I want my muffin.
Then can I come over?
Always.
Well, I’m going to shower before I head over.
I’m just about to hit the gym. Come by in an hour.
I knew he ran in the mornings and did boxing in the afternoons. Where do you work out?
A boxing facility.
Can I watch?
Sure. But it can get violent.
You know violence doesn’t bother me.
It’s called Brawl. I’ll see you soon.
K. I didn’t mind watching Hawke get sweaty and hot. That sounded like free porn.
***
The only thing Hawke wore was his running shorts. The endless muscles of his back and chest acted as bulletproof armor. Every time he moved, the muscles shifted and recoiled, showing his strength and power. His spine was defined by the muscles on both sides of it, protecting it from everything. The thickness of his arms would terrify any opponent, and when the veins popped with adrenaline, it turned him into a beast.
A trainer held up two boxing targets for Hawke to destroy. They were pressed to the size of pillows, and the trainer wore a helmet for extra protection. A whistle was between his lips, and the second he blew on it, Hawke charged.
He threw his entire body into
“Yeah.” I released a sigh from my lungs, feeling lighter than a cloud. “It’s perfect.”
Yaya smiled at the happiness in my voice. “He’s a good man.”
“He is.” Even if he didn’t always believe it himself.
“And really handsome.”
I chuckled. “That too.”
“He adores you. I can tell every time he looks at you.”
Sometimes when I wasn’t looking at him, I could feel his gaze on me. There were times when we didn’t speak, just had a conversation with our eyes. I could feel his thoughts with a single stare. Now I knew other people noticed it too.
“It doesn’t matter how successful he is, what kind of family he comes from, or what he has to offer. The most important thing is love. And he loves you, dear.”
“I know he does.” I never told Yaya why we went our separate ways. The one time she asked, I didn’t give an answer. Thankfully, she didn’t hold anything against Hawke after he left. She accepted him with open arms, the way she accepted everyone.
“You guys are going to get married someday. I can tell.”
“I know.” There was no one else I’d ever want to be with. Kyle was a good friend and would have made an excellent partner, but with Hawke, it was different. It was true and powerful.
I eyed the clock on the wall and knew I’d let my frosting sit for too long. “I’m sorry, Yaya. I have to go.”
“It’s okay, dear. I know you have to work.”
“I’ll see you later.” I gave her a kiss before I headed back to the counter.
“Frankie.” An older man wearing a beige jacket and a baseball cap gently grabbed my arm. He held a cup of hot coffee in his free hand.
He was a regular customer. I recognized his face. “Hello, sir. What can I do for you?”
“That woman you were talking to…” He nodded to the back where Yaya sat. “Is that your grandmother?”
“Yeah, she is. Why?”
“Well…is there a grandpa in the picture?” He smiled in hope.
“Actually, there’s not. And she’s a very nice woman.”
“Ooh…I think I’m going to buy her a cup of coffee then.”
I smiled. “Good luck. Hope you don’t strike out.”
“Back in my day, I was known as a bit of a ladies man. Met a lot of women in the military.”
“You’re a veteran?”
“World War II.”
“Thank you for your service.” I grabbed his shoulder and gave him an affectionate squeeze. “Now go sweep her off her feet.”
He tipped his hat to me. “I don’t need to be told twice.” He slowly walked to the table where Yaya was sitting, and I watched from my place near the counter. He stopped beside her and engaged her in conversation. After a few minutes, she laughed at something he said.
And I knew Yaya made a new friend.
***
I just got off work and immediately wanted to see the man of my dreams. I want my grizzly.
I want my muffin.
Then can I come over?
Always.
Well, I’m going to shower before I head over.
I’m just about to hit the gym. Come by in an hour.
I knew he ran in the mornings and did boxing in the afternoons. Where do you work out?
A boxing facility.
Can I watch?
Sure. But it can get violent.
You know violence doesn’t bother me.
It’s called Brawl. I’ll see you soon.
K. I didn’t mind watching Hawke get sweaty and hot. That sounded like free porn.
***
The only thing Hawke wore was his running shorts. The endless muscles of his back and chest acted as bulletproof armor. Every time he moved, the muscles shifted and recoiled, showing his strength and power. His spine was defined by the muscles on both sides of it, protecting it from everything. The thickness of his arms would terrify any opponent, and when the veins popped with adrenaline, it turned him into a beast.
A trainer held up two boxing targets for Hawke to destroy. They were pressed to the size of pillows, and the trainer wore a helmet for extra protection. A whistle was between his lips, and the second he blew on it, Hawke charged.
He threw his entire body into
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