“My car is right here,” he said, stopping her.

“I’m driving Max’s truck back.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

“I didn’t ask your permission.” She moved around him.

Two long strides, and he was in front of her, blocking her way. “I thought we agreed that when you are here, I’m with you.”

She pointed the hand holding her briefcase toward the garage. “I’m getting into a car and will no longer be here. So, you’re good.”

Hawk reached for her briefcase and relieved it from her fingers. “Maybe I wasn’t clear.”

Instead of going further, Hawk turned toward his car and started walking.

“What are you doing?”

He opened the door to the back seat, tossed the briefcase inside, slammed the door, and then moved to the passenger door and opened it. “Get in, Alex.”

She strode up to him, determination in each step. “Who do you think you are?”

“The man you hired to keep you safe. I can’t do that if you’re driving in the car in front of me.”

“No one is going to—”

“Drive you off the road? Pull in behind you and in front of me? Cause an accident by swerving into traffic? No one is going to do any of those things. You’re right . . . maybe, or maybe not. They may just drive up alongside you and pull out a gun.”

She winced.

“Someone threatened to put another Stone in a grave yesterday, and they used your voice to make that threat. Don’t be an idiot,” he barked.

She took a giant step, putting her chest just inches from his. “I am not an idiot!”

“Prove it.”

Her nose flared; her chest heaved.

There was something hot and magnetic in the anger behind her eyes. Hawk would be lying to himself if he said it wasn’t a turn on.

Alex placed a hand on his chest, nudged him back, and then climbed into his car.

She sat in complete silence as Hawk drove.