She grinned.“Did you know I flirted with him when I first met him?”
After a tense pause, Knox said, “No, hadn’t heard that.”
“I was awful.I think deep down, I wanted to prove to Skye that she wasn’t so special.”When Knox didn’t move away from her in disgust, she admitted, “She is, though.Skye has always been the most amazing person I know.She’s not just my sister, or just my twin, she’s my best friend and the one person I can always rely on.”
“What did Ford do when you were flirting with him?”
“He laughed at me.”Remembering made Laylee smile again.“He saw right through me, and he made his preferences clear.Most guys are easy, but Ford wasn’t.”
“That’s not true.”Knox turned toward her, and even though it was too dark to see him, she knew he was frowning.
“You think Ford is easy?”
“Of course he’s not, and neither am I.I don’t like being lumped in with dunces.There are good men and men who are too easy, just as there are with women.”
She appreciated his defense of males everywhere, mostly because she knew it was true.Her own father was a good, loyal man, as were most of the men in her family.Same with Knox, Ford, Marcus, and Bray.Paul, their friend who sometimes helped with walking the dogs, was equally awesome.“Sorry.”Now she felt catty for the generalization.“Maybe I was just acting like one of those easy women, except Ford treated me differently.”
“How’d he treat you?”
“Like Skye’s sister.”She snickered at Knox’s huff.“It’s true.He teased me, but he was still respectful and nice.I think he was already hooked on Skye, even if he hadn’t yet realized it.”She felt Knox relax beside her.“Just so you know, the way Ford blew off my interest made me like him even more—for my sister.”
“You’ve got me wondering, Laylee.Have you dealt with some jerks?”
“Sure, but as you said, it wasn’t just the guy who was a jerk.If it had been, I’d have easily gotten over it.”
Knox went still again.“But you’re not over it?”
She snuggled closer, her arm across his chest, one of her legs over his.“I am now.”Loving how Knox smelled and the heat of his skin, she relished being so close to him.“I was at a backyard party with a date.My best friend, Marta—ex-best friend now—was there, too.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Yeah, ‘uh-oh’ is right.Marta went into the house for something, then a few minutes later he went into the house for something.After standing around the yard waiting for them to return, I followed because I had a feeling, you know?And there they were, hot and heavy in a hallway, all but screwing each other.It was … gross.Infuriating.Mostly humiliating.”
“Heartbreaking?”
She drew a slow breath.“Not over him.Never over him.”He hadn’t been that important.Until Knox, no guy had.“What he did dented my pride, but what she did was worse.I thought we were close.I trusted her and then she went behind my back withmydate.That was crushing.If she’d told me she was interested in him, I would have stepped aside—because I thought we were friends.”Thinking about it made her heart ache all over again.In a mere whisper, she confessed, “I’ve never felt like a bigger dupe.”
“You shouldn’t.What they did reflects on them, not you.”
“Maybe.But what I did …” The memory of it had her squeezing her eyes shut, but still she saw it all in vivid, mortifying detail.The worst was the way the other guests had reacted, with surprise, giddiness, and then soul-crippling pity.“I lost it.Instead of walking out with some dignity, I put on one hell of a show.The party was outside until I had such a fit that others heard.Prettysoon everyone was crammed in the house watching it all go down.”Her throat went tight.“I made a complete fool of myself.”
Knox turned suddenly, pinning her under him, holding her face in his hands and kissing her until she forgot about the scene she’d caused and the humiliation she’d felt.
All she could feel now was Knox, his arms braced around her, his chest hair tickling her breasts, his mouth hot and damp as he offered her the very best of distractions.
When he lightened the kiss a minute later, she was breathless and too warm and wondering if she should insist on round two.
“Listen up, Laylee.I happen to think you’re incredible.”He kissed her again.“Funny and sweet.”Another kiss, this time on the sensitive spot beneath her ear.“So sexy you’ve been killing me by small degrees, and far too sensible to continue having any concern about what an ex-girlfriend did.If you don’t trust her, no one else will either—including any guy she hooks up with.All in all, I’d say you’re the winner in that scenario.”
After several heavy thumps, Laylee’s heart felt lighter.Her thoughts did, too.Shewasa winner.After all, she was here with Knox, and she couldn’t think of a better place to be.
Knox turned again, bringing her with him so that she was half sprawled over his chest, held close with his arms locked around her.Once he got them settled, the covers over them both, he asked, “Okay?”
“Perfect,” she whispered.
“Great.Then let’s get some sleep.Tomorrow we have to make plans.”
She lifted her head.“What plans?”
