Read Online Hawk's Way by Joan Johnston - Free Book Online

stare at Jesse. “What do you want from me?”
    â€œMore than it seems you’re willing to give.”
    Jesse’s sharp voice cut through her pain, and Honey realized she was angry. “You can hardly blame me,” she said. “I’m not in a hurry to get my heart torn out again.”
    â€œWho says you have to?”
    Honey snorted inelegantly. “That sounds pretty funny coming from a man like you. How many women have you loved and left, Jesse? How long should I plan on you hanging around? And what am I supposed to do when you’re gone? I’d have to be a fool to get involved with you. And whatever else I might be, I’m no fool. I—”
    Honey broke off when she saw Angel come running out onto the porch to greet them. She flashed Jesse a look of frustration and quickly stepped out of the truck and headed up the porch steps.
    â€œIt’s good to see you again, Honey,” Angel said as the two women hugged. She didn’t offer her hand to the drifter and kept her distance.“Dallas is putting the baby to bed. He’ll be down in a minute. Won’t you both come inside?”
    She stepped away from Jesse and held the door. Honey saw the other woman actually shiver as Jesse passed by her. Honey wondered what it was about the drifter that caused Angel to shy away from him. Was it possible that Dallas had told her something about Jesse? Something sinister?
    Honey shook her head and dismissed the possibility. She didn’t know much about Jesse, but she didn’t see him as a villainous figure. Probably there was something in Angel’s own past that was causing her to react so strangely to Dallas’s friend.
    Dallas had none of his wife’s reservations. He greeted Jesse warmly and shook his hand. “I’m glad you could come on such short notice,” Dallas said. “I thought maybe we could talk about old times, maybe get reacquainted. How are your brothers and your sister?”
    Honey’s eyes widened and she stared at Jesse as though she had never seen him before. “You have a family?”
    Jesse grinned. “Two older brothers and a younger sister.”
    â€œWhere?” Honey asked.
    â€œAt the family ranch, Hawk’s Way, in northwest Texas near Palo Duro Canyon.”
    So, Jesse wasn’t as much of a footloose drifter as he had led her to believe. He had some roots after all.
    â€œWould anyone like something to drink?” Angel asked.
    â€œWhiskey and water,” Jesse said.
    â€œIced tea for me,” Honey said.
    â€œDallas?”
    â€œI’ll join Jesse and have a whiskey, but without the water, Angel.”
    Honey sat on the Victorian sofa and Dallas took the leather chair that was obviously his favorite spot in the living room. Jesse joined Honey on the narrow sofa. It barely held the two of them, and Jesse’s jean-clad leg brushed against her as he sat down.
    Honey jerked away, then looked up to see if Dallas had noticed her reaction. He had. He looked concerned, but Honey wasn’t about toexplain the sexually fraught situation to him. Honey grimaced and folded her hands together in her lap. It was going to be a long evening.
    Or it might have been if Angel hadn’t been there. Honey had always liked Angel and had an affinity with the other woman that she couldn’t explain. She did her best throughout the spicy Mexican meal to focus her attention on Angel and ignore Jesse Whitelaw. She wasn’t totally successful.
    It bothered Honey that Angel never got over her odd behavior around Jesse. Angel never quite relaxed, and her eyes were wary every time she looked at him. In fact, it bothered Honey enough that she mentioned it when she and Angel went upstairs to check on the baby after supper, leaving the men to stack the dishes in the dishwasher.
    â€œYou don’t seem to like Jesse Whitelaw,” Honey said bluntly.
    Angel refused to meet her gaze, focusing instead on the baby