Definitely ex-military. One of her mother’s husbands had been a retired general, and Bianca recognized the stillness and hint of awareness that never shut off.
“We’re so glad you could make it to dinner.” Dawn grinned. “Mrs. Hudson wanted to ask you over, but I figured you’d want to see some of the town.”
Adam crossed his arms. “You and the Lady Elks need to leave well enough alone, Dawn.”
Hawk glanced sideways at his fiancé. “Please tell me you’re not involved in one of their schemes.”
Dawn patted his broad hand on the table. “Of course not.”
Instead of looking reassured, Hawk’s eyes narrowed. “Dawn Eleanor Freeze, I’m telling you right now?—”
Dawn’s phone buzzed. She lifted it to her ear just as a waitress arrived and set down four plastic red glasses of water before passing out laminated menus with curled edges.
“Hey,” Dawn answered the phone.
The sparkle in her eyes dimmed, and her mouth tightened as she listened. “Wait—what? Is she okay? What’s happening?”
Hawk turned almost fully in the booth, broad shoulders angling toward Dawn. Adam shifted beside Bianca, his posture sharpening.
“What’s going on?” Hawk asked.
“Who’s hurt?” Adam said.
Dawn held up a finger. “Yeah, we’re on our way home.” She motioned for Hawk to slide out of the booth.
The big guy moved quickly, helping her out.
Adam rose as well, the table wobbling faintly. “Do you need help? Who’s in trouble?”
Dawn ended the call. “No. Leila fell off her horse.”
Hawk went still. “How bad?”
“Lisa said she’s fine,” Dawn said. “A little banged up. She wasn’t sure whether she should call us.” She glanced at Bianca. “Lisa’s a distant cousin who was babysitting.”
“But she’s fine?” Adam asked firmly.
Dawn shook her head. “Yeah, but I still want to go home.” Dawn looked at Hawk, who nodded immediately.
“Definitely. We’re going home and checking on her,” Hawk said.
Adam straightened. “If you need me, call me.”
Dawn reached across the table and squeezed Bianca’s hand, brief and warm. “Why don’t you come by tomorrow morning for coffee, and I’ll show you around a working ranch? We’ll have to take a rain check on the double date.”
Bianca opened her mouth to object to the wording, but Dawn and Hawk were already moving, the bell over the diner door jangling sharply as it swung shut behind them. The booth felt quieter without them, the air settling.
“You can go if you want.” Bianca looked up at Adam.
“No.” He slid into Hawk’s vacated seat across from her, crowding the table. “If Lisa said Leila’s okay, she is. Kids fall off horses all the time around here.” His gaze warmed. “I like the cowboy boots. You trying to fit in?”
“Definitely,” she said, the word coming too easily. Why not tell him the truth?
His eyes held the most intriguing shades of brown with gold flecks. “Rodeo means something different here than a drive.”
She rolled her eyes and fought amusement. Yeah, she’d spent some time on Rodeo Drive. That had been important to her mother, so why lie about it?
The waitress appeared again beside the booth, pen poised. “Adam and the movie star lady. How are you tonight?” She had bright purple hair and a lip piercing, and was dressed injeans and a cute blue sweater that looked handmade rather than bought.