Page 54 of Hawkeye

“I’ve had a lot of practice.” She finished her tart with a laugh. “I can’t believe Tamsin, Bex, you and I are all pregnant at the same time.”

I shook my head. “Black Crowns apparently don’t mess around when they find the right woman.”

“Speaking of not messing around,” she drawled. “I heard Hawkeye already has a crew building a workshop for you in your mom’s building.”

“Yeah.” I searched the room for Calder and flashed him a soft smile. “In the space my grandfather used, just like I always wanted.”

“I love that for you.”

“Love what?” Stryker asked as he moved to her side, sliding an arm around her back.

“Hawkeye is building Josie the workshop of her dreams,” Jacqueline explained.

“I built you a barn,” he grumbled.

I giggled at his affronted tone because it was so unlike him.

“What’s so funny, baby doll?” Calder asked as he joined us.

I settled against his side. “Your president is in a snit because his wife is impressed by my workshop.”

Calder’s hand settled at my back. “Not sure why when I saw the plans he had drawn up for a whole ass house.”

Stryker snorted and steered Jacqueline toward a chair.

“Don’t act like you haven’t been scouring real estate listings for a new place for us,” I teased.

His palm slid around my waist to rest over my stomach. “We’re gonna need the space soon.”

“Yeah.” I smiled up at him.

“You keep looking at me like that, and we’ll leave before the lot you wanted to see,” he warned.

“Hmm, that’s not the deterrent you think it is,” I murmured.

“Good.” His thumb brushed against my stomach. “I like when I tempt my wife.”

I loved when he called me that. I’d walked down the aisle to him two weeks ago, only eight days after he proposed because neither of us wanted to wait.

“Which is always.”

He pulled me tighter against his side. “Damn straight.”

A crash from the service corridor behind us drew my attention away from the sensual gleam in his green eyes. “Oh no, I hope they didn’t drop more of those delicious tarts.”

“I’ll find out who made them so you can have as many⁠—”

His offer broke off when an angry shout drifted toward us. When we heard a girl cry out, Calder started moving. I followed, planning to provide comfort while he took care of whoever was causing the issue.

When we turned the corner, we saw a younger server against the far wall, shaking. A man in a suit was clutching his chest. The pastry chef from the dessert table stood between them, holding a heavy silver tray in both hands.

Smoke was already halfway down the hall toward them, but the guy must not have seen him or the other men from Black Castle who were handling security for the auction tonight, because he tried to reach for the girl again.

The pastry chef swung the tray at him again, catching him in the stomach. “Touch her again, and I’ll hit somewhere a whole lot more painful.”

The guy stumbled back a step, making just enough room for Smoke to slide between him and the women. Then the winery owner hurried over, apologizing for the misunderstanding.

“C’mon, baby doll.” Calder tugged me away. “Your auction lot is up soon, and Smoke’s got this covered.”