Knox was frowning, leaning against the back of the couch. “Lunch is ready. Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m good. Just lost in thought, I guess.”
Don’t look at his mouth. Don’t look at his mouth.
His mouth was set above his strong jaw, his tan skin curving around his lips, with a cupid’s bow above them that was sharper than I would have expected from a guy like Knox.
“I think I might have a solution for that. Lunch is ready.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Knox. You’re the best.”
I set Jackson down on the cushion and followed Knox into the kitchen, sliding my way onto a stool, where a plate of pasta sat on the island.
“Pasta?” I picked up my fork and twirled it into the noodles, smelling a strong herb in the green pasta, with its red sauce on top.
“Basil and tomato, yeah. I was going to add mushrooms, but thought it might mess with the color, so you get cod instead.”
I laughed. “I wouldn’t have been mad with mushrooms, you know.”
“But are you happy with this?”
I softened, then nodded. “I am.”
He returned my smile, and we sat together in peaceful quiet for almost the entirety of our meal.
Then Knox’s phone rang.
His eyes widened, and he scrambled for his phone. “Sorry, I’ve got to take this.”
I nodded, a little bewildered, if I was honest. He seemed so laid back until his phone was ringing. And this wasn’t the firsttime it had happened. And each time, he disappeared down the hallway to the spare room where he’d been sleeping so that I couldn’t eavesdrop.
Not that I would, even if I wanted to.
And fuck, did I want to.
Luckily, Knox didn’t retreat all the way today. Instead, he pushed open the balcony door and stepped just outside, without bothering to close the door behind him.
“Yes, this is Knox. Of course I remember our meeting. Yes, ma’am.”
Then his shoulders sagged, and he deflated, resting his forearm on the balcony rail and leaning his weight forward.
“Oh. I see. Yeah, I understand. Thanks for the call. You too. Goodbye.”
He hung up the phone and let out what must have been a full-body sigh, dropping it on the small table outside and sagging over the railing, his head drooped in a truly pitiful gesture.
I stood and cautiously approached. “Knox?”
He grunted.
“Is everything alright? What happened?” I took one step onto the balcony and picked up his phone. I slipped it into his pocket without looking at the screen. Nobody used caller ID anymore anyway.
Knox shook his head. “Nobody important.”
I hesitated for only a second before laying my hand on his back and rubbing it, wanting to soothe him. “It sounded important.”
Knox groaned. He stood up and turned, leaning back against the railing instead and dropping my hand from his back. He crossed his arms, then fidgeted before dropping them back to his sides and gripping the railing instead.
“I had an interview the other day.”
