“I know. I’m sorry.” Slinging my purse over my chair, I take the stool opposite her. “Work has been insane lately.”
“I’m just glad our busy schedules aligned today, and we can catch up.”
“Me too,” I smile. “I’ve got a lot to unload, and your fiancé is smack dab in the middle of this crazy mess.”
“Oh God, what did Miles do now?”
Even the mention of my brother’s name sends stars to her eyes. Out of all my brothers, Miles was the one I had doubts about ever settling down. He fell in love with his first drum set at a young age and started a band in high school calledSouthern Tides.They got their big break and began touring all over the world.
After years on the road, he surprised us all by leaving that lifestyle and coming back home to Blue Haven. He now owns Montgomery’s, a music bar just outside of town. He met Olivia during the renovation of the old dive bar he transformed, and the once noncommittal bad boy was suddenly falling hard. The rest is history as the glint of her diamond engagement ring in the afternoon sun catches my eye when she reaches for the menu on the table.
“Apparently, he and my other three asshat brothers all agreed I could have a roommate for a few weeks. He showed up last night and scared the shit out of me.”
“What! Why would they do that? I can’t believe they didn’t ask you first or at least tell you.” Her eyes get big all of a sudden as she leans forward. “Wait. You said,he. Who is it?”
“Knox.” I breathe the word quietly as I wait for what I know is going to be a big reaction.
“Knox!” She practically yells, causing a few people at the bar to glance our way.
“Jesus, tell the world, why don’t you?”
“I’m sorry,” she giggles, putting a hand to her mouth. “I just can’t believe you are living with Knox Stone. Half of the female population right now would die to be in your position.”
“Yeah, well, he’s an ass ninety-nine percent of the time, and I’m pretty sure we are going to kill each other before this is all over.”
Olivia smiles widely, and I furrow my brows at her as her eyes get a mischievous gleam to them.
“What?”
“You like him.”
“If by like you mean how a dog loves a flea, then yes.”
Her laugh is cut off as the waitress appears to take our orders. I decide to join Olivia and have a margarita to go with our fish tacos. The rest of my afternoon is just paperwork, and Dr. Matthews is on call for any emergencies, so I’m in the clear to have a drink. Besides, I’m going to need one for the rest of this conversation if I’m going to ask for advice.
Once we are alone again, she immediately diverts her attention back to me, giving me a devilish grin. “Admit it. You like him. I’ve seen you two together, and it’s like watching one of my enemies-to-lovers romance books come to life right before my eyes,” she laughs. “I’m just waiting with popcorn in hand for thefuck-itmoment.”
“You may have to wait a long time. He said no.”
“What do you mean he said no?” Her hazel eyes search mine, and I sigh as I break the contact and focus on the view of the water. No one but Knox and a few therapists I’ve seen through the years knows the full truth about what happened that night. Telling my family wouldn’t have changed anything and would have only caused them pain. It would have killed my brothers, and I know they would have blamed themselves for not being there.
I haven’t told my sisters-in-law for the same reason. I couldn’t ask them to keep this secret from their husbands, and Olivia fits into that category, so I weigh my words carefully as I come up with an explanation.
“I did what you did?” Turning back to her, I shrug my shoulders like it’s no big deal when in reality I’m shitting myself. “I asked for a night, and he said no.”
Our drinks and food arrive, and I reach for the margarita right away, needing something to take the edge off.
“Let me get this clear. You asked Knox to sleep with you, no strings attached, and he said no?” She looks just as confused as I was this morning. I mean, he does it all the time, so why is it such a big deal with me?
“Yep,” I nod, taking a French fry from the basket between us.
“Hmmm.” She takes a sip of her margarita as she digests what I just told her. “Why did you ask him?”
“The truth is, I work a lot, and going on multiple dates and trying to find a connection with someone is exhausting. I’m not into sleeping with strangers, so my sex life is nonexistent,” I say, which is true. I’ve been on every date imaginable, and not one has come close to making me feel even a tiny ounce of what I felt this morning when Knox was pressed against me.
“Been there, done that,” she laughs. “Dating is the worst.”
“Agreed. The thing is, even though Knox drives me up a fucking wall most days, I trust him. I’ve known him since I was seven, so I’m comfortable with him. Now that he’s literally landed in my lap for a few weeks, I thought I could scratch an itch that desperately needs to be taken care of. He’s not bad to look at, and the ladies seem to love him, so why not have some fun while I have him here?”
