“Oh”—a thought comes to me—“there are actually a few homes available on the street. You could always have them come and check them out as well. If you’re going to raise your kids together, it sure wouldn’t hurt if you wereneighbors.”
“Oh my God, you’re brilliant!” She gets right to texting, and the three of us share alaugh.
Knox bears those cool eyes into mine and my insides burn with fire. I’m pretty sure having a sexual experience in front of prospective clients is a no-no, but with this boy around, well, the clients had better get used to it. That tender part of me begins to quiver. There are some things beyond Sylvia’s control, and the feelings Knox Toberman invokes in her are oneofthem.
“I’ve got the codes to the lockboxes.” Knox gives a slight wink. “Let’s head over and check out somehomes.”
I pile into Knox’s truck while Laney and Ryder follow us in their Beamer. I desperately want to say something, anything, but no matter what my brain tries to spit out, I deem it stupid and unworthy and I’m rendered awkwardly silentinstead.
“You look good today.” He ticks a quick smile my way before reverting his attention totheroad.
“So do you. Those jeans really bring out your eyes.” Oh my fuck. Somebody sew my lips shut. Those jeans bring out your eyes? That’s psycho is what that is. But it also happens to be the God’s honest blue jeantruth.
“Thanks, I think.” His lips purse as he stares down the road with a puzzled look. “I’ve got tons of pie left over. You’rewelcometo—”
“I would love to!” I shout so loud, so fast it sounds more like a warning than an acceptance of a rather banal offer. Oh dear God. I slide down in my seat, wishing it would open up to some other realm where stupid people getsuckedinto.
He gives a warm laugh. It’s clear I don’t bring out the nerves or the ridiculousness in him. Which sort of makes me wonder if my sudden infatuation is one-sided.
A stunted silence comes up and clogs the car stiff like gelatin. I’ve never felt so uncomfortable around a person in my life. I sneak a glance and I’m instantly captivated by those high cheekbones, that beautiful straight nose—God help me, I think this is the first nose I’ve actually admired in my life—and those lips. My thighs start to quiver as I edge dangerously close to helping myself to a damngoodtime.
We pull up to the first house, a quaint colonial, and I shoot out of the truck as if escaping mycaptor.
Laney and Ryder are already at the door, admiring the wraparound porch and peeking in through the windows for a sneakpreview.
“I love this place!” Laney bursts with exuberance before Knox has a chance to get thedooropen.
Ryder shakes his head playfully at me. “She’s not supposed to fall in love so quickly,isshe?”
My heart cinches and I cut a quick look to Knox, and my entire body heats head to toe like awildfire.
I clear my throat. “I guess sometimes love just sweeps you off your feet before you know what’s happened.” I glance sheepishly to Knox. I’m sonotin love. That would be ridiculous. It’s only been like fiveminutes.
Knox swallows hard, his gaze pressed hard to mine. “I think if it’s right, it doesn’t matter if it’s fifty years or five minutes. You just know.” His lips tug into a slight grin as he says it, and my body and soul sigh inunison.
I am so in love with Knox Toberman. It doesn’t matter if it’s been fifty years or five minutes—Knox said so himself. God, it’s as if he’s garnered the ability to read my mind. Or more to the point, we’re so in sync we were basically destined to be together. I’m rooting for thelatter.
Knox and I give the happy couple a tour of their new prospective home, and Laney has a house-gasm in just about every single room, but once we hit the kitchen, her climax hits stratosphericheights.
“Sub-Zero!”
“Iknow!” I scream back, matching herenthusiasm.
“And can you just eat those white marble counters with a spoon?” she rages back with unbridledenthusiasm.
“Only if I want to die a thousand deliciousdeaths!”
She takes up my hand and we engage in a spontaneous bump and grind happydance.
“Sold!” she shouts with glee, and suddenly I’m feeling professionally accomplished after one mere showing. That has to be arecord.
“Not so fast.” Ryder winks, killing her good time. “I need to inspect the property to see if there’s enough room for the pool when the time comes.” He and Knox head out back, but Laney is too busy hugging her new Carrara marble countertop tonotice.
“I totally get your enthusiasm. Once I saw Knox’s rental home and all of its luxury amenities, I thought I died and went to five-star heaven. The dorms are rather lacking when it comes to gourmet-worthy appliances, and to be honest, the kitchen in my sorority’s house has been so busy I only have a vague memory of it—not to mention the fact the semester hasn’t evenstarted.”
Laney rests on her elbows, her hands still flattened over the creamy stone. “How do you like thesorority?”
“It’s okay. I sort of had a rough start to the summer, but I’m hoping as time goes by it’ll geteasier.”
