Hawk: by Dahlia West Read Free Book Online Page A

big...bikes.”
    Hawk scanned the bar again. The place was packed, as usual for a Saturday night. Maria’s had its nightly mix of bikers, ex-military, cowboys and roughnecks trading off between shots and beers. The dance floor was crowded too, thanks to a jukebox filled with country and 70’s classic rock.
    Hawk caught sight of a leggy blonde coming in through t he front door, cute, but not what he was looking for. However, right behind her, what he was looking for walked right in.
    Tildy had brought a friend, so it seemed, and Hawk couldn’t blame her. It took a ballsy type of woman to come to Maria’s alone on a Saturday night. He got up from the table and began heading toward the front door.
    If Tildy was surprised by the crowd at Maria’s, her friend was more so. It looked to Hawk, from the way the blonde kept eyeballing Tildy, that she was even more surprised that timid little Tildy would come here at all. The blonde herself couldn’t be all that uncomfortable, wearing a top that had her tits practically falling out and jeans that looked like they were painted on. Tildy was quite a bit more conservative in a short sleeved black silk blouse and jeans that were, unfortunately, the appropriate size.
    The dance floor crowd parted for Hawk’s large frame and he came upon the two young women in just a few long strides. His gaze swept past the blonde and went straight to Tildy, who wa s now looking at only him. She was smiling at him in the same way she had at the garage, like they were old friends or something. Hawk couldn’t help but smile back.
    The blonde stopped up short when he reached them, her jaw practically landing on the floor. Hawk reached out to Tildy and pulled her forward, tucking her underneath his arm as he put himself between her and her friend.
    “You found the place,” he said.
    “Yeah,” Tildy replied. “It wasn’t hard, once I saw all the bikes parked out front.”
    “Hi, there,” the blonde said , and Hawk was forced to turn to her. She stuck her chest out about as far as she could without actually pressing herself against him.
    He merely nodded at her.
    “I’m Skylar,” she said.
    “Hawk.”
    He led them across the bar and to the table with the others. “This is Tildy,” he announced to Doc and Vegas, who had not met her yet. “And her friend.”
    Before anyone could say anything, the friend cried, “ Tildy?! ”
    E veryone turned to look at her.
    “Tildy?” the blonde repeated.
    Tildy’s face turned red. “Um.”
    “What on Earth?” the blonde asked.
    Tildy grimaced.
    “Your name isn’t Tildy?” Doc asked, instantly suspicious. Probably spent too long being a cop , Hawk thought.
    Tildy looked a little caught out. “I...”
    “Matilda,” the blonde informed them. “Her name is Matilda. And no one ever calls her anything but Matilda.”
    “Matilda?” Vegas asked, crinkling her nose. “Ouch.”
    The blonde laughed a little too loudly. “Her parents would die if anyone ever called her anything else. She’s just poor little Matilda.”
    No one else seemed to get the joke. Hawk decided right th en that the blonde was trouble.
    “Tildy?”
    Everyone turned to Slick who had managed to get a free moment to check on the group. “I thought you weren’t going to come,” Slick said.
    “Well...” Tildy said rather lamely.
    Hawk narrowed his eyes at Slick. He just did not get what her problem was.
    “ Tildy, ” the blonde said, “just had to come after she says Hawk invited her.” When she said his name, she put her hand on his arm.
    Hawk’s jaw twitched in irritation. He had invited Tildy. He’d been waiting all evening hoping she’d come. Hawk may not know what the hell was up with Slick, but he for damn sure knew the blonde’s game now. She was the center of attention-always. He didn’t know exactly how Tildy had become ‘friends’ with a chick like this, but he was pretty certain that Blondie felt like she was oh-so-nice letting Tildy tag along with her to