Page 22 of Heat Force
He exhaled slowly, his fingers relaxing around the handle of his mug. “It’s a long story.”
She shrugged, trying not to think of the way he’d held her and Moyo earlier. His big arms had enveloped her, held her close, with one hand clasped to the back of her neck. She’d heard his heart beating against her ear, steady and rhythmic. Not racing like hers, or terrified like Moyo’s. He’d been in control of his emotions the entire time. “We’ve got time.”
Hawk gave a low, humorless chuckle. “Alright. If you must know, I used to be in the Navy. It was a long time ago, I was a different person back then.”
She nodded. “I guessed it was something like that.”
He lowered his voice. “It’s not something I broadcast. I was only in for five years before I realized that if I really wanted to make a difference, there were more effective ways to do it.”
She frowned, studying his profile, sharp in the lamplight. “Make a difference?”
He nodded, his gaze distant as he stared into the past. “Yeah. Instead of kicking down doors and blowing shit up, I wanted to be the one calling the shots. Building something instead of tearing it apart.”
Kicking down doors. Blowing shit up.
Lexi gnawed thoughtfully on her lip. “What part of the Navy were you in?”
He skirted the answer. “It doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, I needed a career change and chose this route.”
“Engineering?”
He shifted slightly, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “It was my specialty in the Navy,” he admitted. “When I got out, it made sense to formalize it, get a qualification, and use it to build something that could actually help people. Roads, dams, clean water systems.” His voice softened. “I wanted to give people the kind of stability I was sent to protect.”
“Like this one?” she murmured.
“Yeah.” He exhaled slowly. “Although, this one is proving challenging.”
She chuckled. “You don’t strike me as a man who gives up easily.”
His gaze sliced through her. Midnight blue slits of determination that made her heart skip a beat. “I don’t.”
Were they still talking about the sanctuary?
She imagined he’d be quite formidable in the boardroom. Or the bedroom. Shit, where had that thought come from? Blushing, she said, “So the purchase of the mine…?”
“Provides employment for the locals and hopefully provides some stability to the surrounding area. I have a Navy buddy who runs a team of security experts trained for these exact situations. Once we purchase the mine, I’ll bring them in and hopefully restore some order of peace around here.”
“That would be amazing,” she whispered. “If only it was possible.”
“You don’t think we can do it?” he asked, turning to face her.
She sighed. “The situation is more complex out here than you think.”
“I’m aware of that,” he said darkly. “All I want is a chance to make a difference to people’s lives.”
Lexi gave a faint grin. “And here I thought you were just a ruthless businessman on a mission to expanding your empire.”
Hawk smirked, his gaze sliding to hers. “I am that too, but not for the reasons you think.”
Damn.
The way he was looking at her now—direct, unflinching, like he could see right through her—sent a rush of heat flooding through her veins.
“Seems I misjudged you.” She looked away, flustered.
The corners of his mouth turned up. “You’re not off the hook yet. What areyoureally doing out here?”
She hesitated, the flush of warmth in her chest replaced by the cold weight of his question. “Same as you,” she said lightly, deflecting. “Trying to make a difference.”