His 24-Hour Wife (The Hawke Brothers 2) by Rachel Bailey Read Free Book Online Page B

his family had moved to California, he’d been close to his grandfather. He’d been named for his father’s father, and the love he’d had for him had been mutual. The elder Adam Hawke, however, had been crazy about his second wife.
Crazy
being the operative word. She’d been flippant and unfeeling, and barely tolerated his family—especially a small boy who hung around too much.
    His grandfather had done the lion’s share of babysitting Adam once Liam and Dylan had come along, and Adam had adored that special time with his grandfather. Then his step-grandmother had decided that five years of her life was enough to spend married to a farmer and living on a working farm, and threatened to leave.
    Blinded by love, her husband had sold the farm—his children’s inheritance—and used the money to take her on trips and spending sprees.
Anything
to keep her. She’d hung around until the money dried up and then left anyway.
    Adam’s parents had already packed their belongings into their car and headed for the West Coast to try their luck now that they’d lost the farm that had been their home and provided their jobs.
    Broken and alone, abandoned by the woman he’d called the love of his life, Adam’s grandfather had taken his own life.
    His parents had broken the news and tried to shield the boys from the worst of it, but Adam was older and had demanded to know the details.
    That awful day, standing out in their flower fields so that Liam and Dylan wouldn’t overhear, listening to what his parents would divulge and filling in the blanks himself, Adam had made a decision. He’d been twelve years old, but he’d known exactly what he was promising himself.
    He’d always be the captain of his own ship. He would never fall for manipulating behavior, or let someone influence him into a major decision against his better judgment.
    Obviously his grandfather hadn’t entered into his second marriage thinking he was handing over control of his life, despite how it had ended up. And that was the reason why Adam had always needed to be extra vigilant. Anytime he’d been dating a woman and started feeling his guard slipping, or that his mind wasn’t one-hundred-percent clear and focused, he got out quickly.
    Callie was a threat to that.
    He didn’t need any more evidence than the fact that he’d gotten drunk and married her.
    Yes, Callie Mitchell was most definitely a woman with whom he needed to keep up his guard.
    As she walked the distance to reach him, he locked that guard in place around him and double-reinforced it. He was impervious.
    “This place is gorgeous,” she said, her silver-blue eyes sparkling in appreciation as she took in the views.
    He allowed a smile. “It’s my favorite place.” The ocean soothed him; often it was the only thing that could calm his soul. “Come on inside and I’ll show you around.”
    She followed him up the three steps to the wide porch, and then paused at the open front door and said, “Thank you for the invitation.”
    Wanting to get this done as quickly as possible, he nodded without stopping, continuing through the entranceway and indicating with a wave of his hand that she should do likewise. He took her on a tour of the main parts of the house, allowing her a moment when the view of the Pacific Ocean through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room snagged her attention. They finally ended up in her bedroom.
    “This is yours,” he said, holding the door open. The walls and trim were all pure white and the floor was polished wood. The king-size bed was draped in a comforter that was all blues and greens, mirroring the brilliant hues of the view through the window. A decorator had furnished the room following Adam’s request to keep it simple.
    “I love it,” she said, looking from the bed to the window and around the room. “I might never leave.”
    Reflexively, he flinched, and unfortunately she caught the small movement.
    “I was joking, Adam. Relax. I