“Don’t do it,” I warn, narrowing my eyes.
“Do what?” he asks, deepening his grin.
“I swear, if you?—”
He flicks the brush before I can finish my threat, sending more bright pink splattering against my black overalls. My outfit was starting to look like something Avril Lavigne would wear.
I gasp. “You didn’t just do that.”
“Oh, but I think I did,” Knox replies smugly.
A retaliation plan forms in my mind, and I quickly bend down to pick up a paint roller that’s already coated in paint and swipe a thick streak across his chest. His mouth dropswide open and he lets out a boisterous laugh that echoes around the room.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Bambi.”
My eyes widen when I see the way he flips from casual laughter to determined espionage. His eyes darken to a stormy grey-blue color and before I can run to safety, he lunges. I squeal and try to escape him, but he’s faster and backs me up against the dresser. My only weapon slips from my hand and crashes to the floor.
When I look up, his face is inches away from mine. He’s so close I can see small flecks of pink decorating his long lashes. My chest starts to rise and fall rapidly.
“What are you going to do?” I ask, gripping the edge of the dresser.
Knox’s face still has a determined look on it, but when his eyes dip to my mouth, I start to wonder what his end goal is.
“I’m not sure,” he says, his voice low and deep. “What I have in mind won’t be much of a punishment.”
I swallow hard, causing his eyes to flicker down to my lips again. Anticipation pounds low in my stomach, and warmth begins to grow there.
And then, he leans in. His nose brushes mine, and my heart slams against my ribs. We’ve kissed before, but that was unexpected. I didn’t have time to anticipate what might happen. I didn’t have time to think about whether I wanted it to happen.
Truthfully, I shouldn’t want it. I should shove him off me. It would make things easier down the line. But suddenly, I don’t have the strength to do what needs to be done.
But apparently Knox does because just when I think he’ll close that gap between us, he pulls away—a lump forms in my throat.
“I’ll help you clean this up,” he says, dropping his gaze to the floor.
Did I do something wrong?
But I don’t have time to run through the possibilities because one second I’m pressed up against a hard surface, and the next, a mop is shoved into my hand.
I guess I’m not the only one playing it safe. The thing is, I hate losing at my own game, and Knox had just beaten me to the punch.
CHAPTER 18
KNOX
If I grip this mop any tighter, I think one of my veins is going to burst. That and my jaw is sore from clenching it for the past thirty minutes. My only saving grace is that the early-2000s pop-punk blasting through the speakers is covering up the sound of my teeth grinding together.
It took all of my restraint and a little bit of pixie dust to keep from smashing my lips against hers. And the worst part is, she looked like she wanted me to. But I promised I’d respect her boundaries even if it had me considering taking up meditation or some dumb bullshit like that.
I meant what I said. I won’t kiss her again until she asks me to, no matter how much it pains me.
The music cuts out, making me flinch just enough to lose grip on the mop. I watch it skitter to the ground, and that’s when I realize I’ve been cleaning the same spot for five minutes even though the floor no longer looks like a Barney massacre.
Emery clears her throat, and I press my hands to my sides before facing her.
“I think I’m going to head out,” she says, shoving her hands in her pockets. She’s still covered head to toe in pinkpaint, including her black overalls that somehow hug every sweet curve perfectly. Who knew overalls were hot? I sure as hell didn’t until her.
“You’re not going anywhere looking like that,” I sigh, picking up the discarded mop and leaning it up against the wall. “Follow me.”
