I transfer my coat to one arm and squeeze his sleeve anyway. “I don’t mind. You look like you could use a hug.”
Dancing light flares in his eyes. “Oh, baby, you don’t know how good that sounds.” His deep voice gravels to a new low. “But I’m gonna save the pleasure of having your arms around me for when I can do things right.”
Be still my heart. Baby? I do believe I’m blushing. Clearly, I should be this forward more often.
The Saturday event I’ve been dreading now feels lightyears away.
Knox turns his face to the side for a cavernous yawn. “My apologies. That could not be helped.” He smiles wryly and jams the heel of his hand against his temple as if trying to keep his eyes open. “Now. About Saturday—”
“You’re still coming?”
He blows out a breath, shoulders in full collapse. “You really did think I’d changed my mind.”
I watch a lone car pass on the street.
He lifts off his cap and taps it against his leg. “I’m sorry, Everly. That is completely my fault. Trust me, I never intended to disappear, but like I said, the week’s been brutal. We even brought in extra lighting and started working extended hours.”
“I understand.”Now.
“Let’s nail this thing down. What time should I pick you up?”
I shake my head. “Oh no. I’m picking you up.”
He frowns. “I don’t like this plan.”
“Sorry. I’m driving. Non-negotiable. This is my event.” I’m traditional to the core, but lately, I’ve been feeling the need to work on independence. Strength. The world is too tricky a place to let others run the show for me.
He strokes his stubbly chin between fingers and thumb. There’s dirt caked around the fingernails. “Will you be wearing a little black dress?”
If feels like a mischievous elf is dancing in my stomach. “Something like that. But it is Christmas, so, maybe red. I haven’t decided yet.”
“Red is good on you.” He kicks off the truck. “I sure like it on your cheeks.”
My fingers fly to my face. The man has game—which means I’m going to have to step mine up.
Chapter 18
Everly
Has Knox considered that his crazy busyness during the holiday season might be a blessing in disguise?
The motel his directions lead me to falls mid-range on the scale between dicey and generally bleak, putting a new twist on the concept of business travel. Weeks in this place would send me into a deep funk.
I park two doors down from room one-twelve. Knox’s work truck occupies the closest spot.
I’ve reached the hood of my SUV when the handle to his room turns and he appears in the doorway. My throat gulps a giant swallow.
Knox leans into the frame, consuming the space. He’s spiffy and sharp-dressed in a charcoal suit, with a festive holiday tie around his neck. His hair has been trimmed and combed into a smooth wave. He’ll blend right in with the hotshot attorneys.
Only…not. The polished attire doesn’t hide his ruggedness, and there’s nothing soft about Knox—except maybe his heart, my increasingly favorite thing about him.
His cheek crooks to one side. The gold in his irises sparkles as his gaze sweeps over me. “What happened to the red dress?”
The little black dress I opted for in the end is tame but pretty. Fitted on top, flowy to right above the knees, comfortable but elegant for evening wear. On the flip side, the heels, all four inches of them, may be the death of my feet before the night is done. “I’m going to a party with a bunch of strangers. I decided I preferred to blend.”
Goosebumps dapple my skin as Knox’s gaze skims me a second, more thorough time. “Impossible. Every eye will be on you.”
My heart stutters before taking flight. I’m not that girl, never have been—but from Knox, the compliment lands like sprinkled magic, and I almost believe him.
