I giggle briefly, but while I’d like to soak in relief, other questions have been raised. “And she came to see you?” I’m comforted, but not. Still feels a bit like red flag territory. “All the way from Kansas City?”
“She and Rand did, yes.”
“Wait a second.” I throw my finger over my shoulder. “Suitsoutside is your brother?”
He chuckles. “You got it. So I can assure you, Becca is not here for me.” The words are dry, yet Knox’s expression holds nothing but indifference.
“You two don’t look alike at all.”
Knox’s thumbs sweep along my knuckles. “He’s kind of puny, don’t you think?”
I pinch my brows. “That’s unkind.”
“But true?”
I wouldn’t go that far, but next to Knox, yes, his brother is lacking—in multiple ways. Those slick looking men aren’t all the romance novels crack them up to be.
I fist some fabric on his sleeve and jiggle it. “Be nice.”
“Like you? Storming in here and accusing little ol’ me of being a cheat?”
“Knox!” I groan his name and stomp my foot. Could we please rewind the last five minutes to where I don’t come in like gangbusters?
Laughing, he circles his work-hardened arms around my waist. “I forgive you.”
I plant my hands on his chest, bunching his shirt in my fists. “Very magnanimous of you after ignoring me all week.” I lay my head on him and listen to his heartbeat. His hands slide up to my shoulder blades, pressing me in. “Alright. Fine. I am sorry, but—oh!”
He tucks his chin onto the crown of my head. “What now?”
I bury my face in the khaki fabric that smells like him. Well, like the fire-retardant chemicals his shirt was undoubtedly treated with, plus sweat and hard work. “I don’t care how fake she is, Becca isgorgeous.” It appears I’m able to neither think nor speak the word without emphasis. She’s that striking. No way could a man go from a woman like her to…me. I’m no dog. I’m pretty, even, but Becca? Off the charts beautiful.
“Hey.” He edges me loose and gently knuckles up my chin. “Don’t think the thoughts you’re thinking.”
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
He studies me. “Because I’m not as dumb as I look, and because, despite our rather short acquaintance, I know you. Deep down, there’s a mushy soft spot that doesn’t completely jive with the girl-boss who took me to task for not paying for a meal.”
“Hey, I’ve apologized for that.”
His head tilts. “Did you?”
“I gave you lots of extra food, remember?”
“You tried to give me heartburn.”
I play punch his chest. “That’s not true.”
“If you say so.” He snugs me in tightly. “You know, they say food is the way to a man’s heart, and I do believe that’s wherethis thing with us started. The fire in your eyes when you tore into me lit me up.”
“Knox!”
“What? It’s the truth!”
Relaxing into his chest, I resolve to let him hold me for as long he’s willing. I haven’t been held like this in so long.
In fact, I’veneverbeen held this way. Lance wasn’t a cuddler. He had two speeds: go-mode where I felt sidelined—or let’s-see-how-far-I-can-push-things-tonight mode. It galls the ever-lovin’ daylights out of me how long it took to see what we had wasn’t real.
I uncurl only enough to look into Knox’s eyes. “Are you okay?”
