Page 15 of Heat Force
“Deal.” He stepping back as Dan repositioned the camera.
The interview went better than he could have hoped. Lexi started off hesitantly, but once she began talking about the clinic and the gorillas, her voice steadied, gaining strength. She spoke with a quiet passion, describing the challenges of theirwork and the impact of poaching with a mix of heartbreak and determination that was impossible to fake.
Hawk watched, captivated—not just by her words, but by her. The way her face lit up when she talked about something she cared about. The way her hands moved as she gestured, quick and precise, like everything she did had purpose.
By the time Dan called, “Cut,” Lexi looked stunned.
“That was great,” he said, smiling. He meant it.
“I can’t believe I just did that.” Her voice was a little breathless.
“You were incredible,” Dan told her. “I got some great footage. Wanna see?”
Her face softened, and Hawk scowled. He wasn’t even sure why Dan’s easy-going charm annoyed him, or her reaction to it. It wasn’t likehewas interested in Lexi, even though he had to admit, she was totally his type. Natural, smart, compassionate and down to earth. He loved the no-drama surrounding her. She was exactly who she appeared to be.
Still, she was here. In Africa.
He was based in New York—and when he wasn’t, he was travelling to some of the most out of the way places on earth.
The best he could hope for was a fling, and while he wasn’t averse to that, she didn’t strike him as the one-night-stand, no-strings type.
“Let’s pack up and leave Lexi in peace,” he barked, sending Dan scuttling back to his camera.
It was ironic, really. Back in New York, women practically threw themselves at him. Yet here he was, thousands of miles from home, fascinated by the one woman who seemed immune to his charm.
He found he was smiling like an idiot as he watched her tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, her focus back on the gorillas. He’d always loved a challenge. If it was the last thing he did,he’d get Lexi to open up to him. There was so much he wanted to know about her, and he didn’t have that much time. A week, tops. But one thing he was sure of was that he didn’t want to leave here without knowing her a whole lot better.
CHAPTER 7
Lexi watched Hawk through the open window, making sure to stay out of sight. She was still riding the high from the interview, but a kind of euphoria had settled in, and she was feeling pretty good about herself. She’d been a nervous wreck leading up to it, but she’d pulled it off. She could still hear Dan’s praise and Hawk’s steady, low voice telling her she’d done a great job.
Publicity wasn’t her thing—never had been. Growing up in New York’s social scene, she’d learned to hate the spotlight, unlike her mother, who thrived on it. Her family’s name had carried weight, drawing cameras and questions everywhere they went. Lexi had always felt like an accessory, expected to smile and look pretty while everyone else played their roles. She chuckled softly, wondering what they’d say if they could see her now.
Her gaze drifted back to Hawk. He was standing a few yards away, deep in conversation with Jasper, his broad shoulders and easy stance commanding attention even when he wasn’t trying. Gone were the crisp chinos and tailored shirt he’d worn when he first arrived. Today, he was in worn khaki pants and a plain grayt-shirt that clung just enough to hint at the strength beneath. It wasn’t an outfit designed to impress, but somehow, it did.
Casual as his clothes were, he still carried that air of authority, like he could take charge of the entire sanctuary if he wanted to. Maybe she hadn’t picked up on it before because she’d been too wrapped up in her own nerves, but now it struck her how comfortable he looked in this setting—as though the jungle didn’t intimidate him in the slightest. That confidence, quiet and unshakable, was impossible to ignore.
As she watched, he broke off from Jasper and crossed the clearing toward a small boy crouched in the dirt. Lexi recognized him immediately—Moyo. The orphaned boy had been taken in by the sanctuary after losing his parents to the violence in the region. He was around eleven, maybe twelve, though he looked younger, his wiry frame swamped by a button-up shirt at least two sizes too big. His shorts were frayed and patched in places, and his feet were bare, calloused from the dusty ground.
Moyo was building something—a house of sticks, she realized. His tiny hands moved with precision, carefully balancing twigs on top of each other in what was clearly supposed to be a miniature home. Hawk crouched down beside him.
Lexi tilted her head, intrigued. Moyo kept his eyes down, unsure of what to make of the tall white man now watching him work. Hawk said something—she couldn’t hear what—and the boy nodded in reply, his movements a little more hesitant.
Lexi smiled faintly.
Hawk didn’t press him. Instead, he studied the little twig house, nodded, and then stood. Lexi frowned as he walked toward the edge of the jungle, disappearing into the trees.
What was he doing?
A few moments later, he reappeared with an armful of branches and leaves. Lexi leaned forward, resting her arms onthe windowsill as curiosity got the better of her. Hawk dropped the pile next to Moyo and pulled a lethal-looking folding knife from his back pocket.
Crap. That was not something your run of the mill businessman kept in his back pocket. A calculator, maybe, but not a hunting weapon.
He knelt beside the boy again, opening the knife and showing him the various tools. Moyo’s eyes widened, his curiosity outweighing his shyness. With slow, deliberate movements, Hawk began to build a new house, showing Moyo how to create a solid base with thicker branches before layering the smaller twigs for walls. He used strips of leaves to tie the pieces together, twisting the vines like he’d done it a hundred times before. Finally, he added a roof, draping palm fronds so they sloped just enough to keep out the imaginary rain.
Moyo sat in stunned silence, his small hands hovering uncertainly over the half-finished house. Hawk handed him a piece of vine and showed him how to tie a knot. The boy caught on quickly, his face breaking into a wide grin as the structure came together.
Lexi couldn’t look away. The scene in front of her was so simple, so human. Moyo’s laughter rang out as he clapped his hands, the house standing proudly in front of him. It was small and crooked, but to the boy, it might as well have been a palace.