Guess that explained the hawk’s unexpected flight. However, to hear that he’d rejected Kit for what she’d been through?

Gabe shook his head. That didn’t ring true. His brother would never think that way.

But, if she’d made a pass at the taciturn bastard and made him uncomfortable? Would his brother walk away without a word?

Yeah, he would.

Gabe ran a hand down Sirius’ sun-warmed fur, hearing the cat’s rumbling purr in response. Wouldn’t be the first time. Like when Hawk had transferred out of Gabe’s merc unit to another with no explanations. No nothing. He’d just left.

But hell, couldn’t the dumbass have thought about what his reaction would do to a woman with Kit’s traumatic background?

Dammit, Hawk.

Chapter Seventeen

If your advance is going well, you are walking into an ambush. ~ Murphy’s Laws of Combat Operations

Hawk stepped onto the dock at the Hermitage and pulled in a long breath of pleasure. Despite the worry about seeing Kit, he couldn’t deny the rising sense of contentment.

I’m home.

The flight from Anchorage had reminded him of everything he loved about Alaska. Sunlight sparkling on Cook Inlet. The stunningly jagged mountains. Swathes of vivid pink fireweed in full bloom. Brown bears wading into the rivers for their summer salmon treats.

There was nowhere quite like Alaska.

As he secured his floatplane to the ramp, ducks with half-sized offspring rode the wake from the Cessna’s passage

He’d missed out on watching the babies grow. Missed most of an Alaska summer.

Missed seeing Kit healing and hearing Aric’s giggling.

With a couple of loud woofs, a streak of brown and black barreled down the dock.

“Hey, Gryff.” Hawk braced his feet to keep from getting knocked off the dock. Bending to pet the enthusiastic dog, he kept his stitched-up forearm out of harm’s way.

At least one of the residents of the Hermitage was happy to have him back. The rest—there’d be some backlash coming.

Hawk walked off the dock onto the grass with Gryff bouncing beside him. Around the courtyard, the family had obviously just finished a Sunday evening supper. He saw Gabe and Audrey, and Bull and Frankie coming out of their houses. The others were still on the patio, probably on clean-up duty.

Good, he’d hoped to arrive after the meal—because salmon wouldn’t have been the only thing getting grilled.

“’Mano, we’ve missed you.” Caz strode down the slope to greet him with a handshake and half-hug. He studied Hawk with a professional gaze. “How much damage this time?”

“I’m good, Doc.” Good thing he’d worn a long-sleeved shirt rather than a tee.

Joining Caz, JJ said in her warm, husky voice, “Welcome back, Hawk.”

“You home for good or just passing through?” Bull asked in a loud voice, stepping off his deck.