Once inside, Laylee tipped her head back and said, “I’ll never again take air-conditioning for granted.”
Damn, she was beautiful.“I’ll get the dogs their treats.Why don’t you sit down?”
“As sweaty as I am?No way.Shower first.”She headed for the kitchen.“And I’ll get the treats because you worked.”
He beat her to it, then held the treat container out of her reach.Since they’d been sharing the duty of watching the dogs, he knew his way around her kitchen.Her living room, too.
It was the bedroom that interested him most, but he hadn’t yet been invited there.
Now, with her frowning at him, he said, “You also worked, not only taking care of the dogs, but your house, too, and then you cleaned your yard.”He turned, saw both dogs impatiently waiting, and laughed.“Sorry, guys.Had a dispute to settle.”He got out a big treat for Maybelline, and a smaller, softer one for Tank.
They grabbed their snacks and went to their favorite corner of the kitchen—together—to indulge.
“Fine.You won that one,” she conceded.“But don’t think you’re always going to win.”
He wouldn’t—not until he’d won her.
Never had she known anyone like him.Once Laylee had showered and somewhat repaired her hair, she put on a touch of makeup and, wishing she could read Knox’s mind, went to find him.
He was seated at the kitchen table, a bottle of cold water in front of him, absently massaging the back of his neck.
“You’re hurt!”
Glancing up, he said, “No, I’m not.”His gaze skipped over her, taking in her pretty sundress and still bare feet.“Feel better?”
“Yes.”Drawn to him, she stepped up behind his chair and again checked the scratch on his neck.Up close, she could see it was much deeper than a normal scratch, disappearing beneath his shirt.“This looks angry.”Carefully, she edged away the neckline and peered at his hard, tanned shoulder.Her wince came automatically.“You need to clean it and get some ointment on there.”
His skin was hot to the touch, a little damp, and as she breathed in, she caught the scent of sunshine and man.Heavenly.
Another scratch at the top of his ear had her smoothing her fingers into his hair, relishing the thickness of it as she lifted it away to assess the damage.“How many scratches did you get?”
When he didn’t answer, it dawned on her that he’d gone completely still.Because he liked her touch, or because it made him uncomfortable?
She stepped back, he twisted to see her, and … holy smokes.No, that wasn’t discomfort in his eyes.Dark as they were, they practically glowed with heat.
The way he held her gaze made it difficult for her to breathe.
Slowly, he stood, and she realized his breathing had deepened, too.
She thought he might kiss her, but then he growled, “Okay if I use the shower, too?”
Words got stuck somewhere in her throat, so she only nodded.
“Thanks.”
And just like that, he broke away.Both dogs became alert, watching as he went out the front door, but relaxing when he returned less than a minute later with a small overnight bag.Without another word, he disappeared into her bathroom.
Laylee stood there until she heard the shower start; then she looked down at Maybelline.“I didn’t dream that, right?”
Tank barked.
“You’re a guy,” she said.“You wouldn’t understand.”
Maybelline, however, totally got it, given the affectionate way she looked at Laylee and how she tilted her head.
“He has a bag with him.That can’t be a coincidence.”Then again, as sweaty as he likely got when working on roofs, maybe he kept a change of clothes with him for days like today.
Apparently, Knox was a quick shower guy.No more than fifteen minutes had passed when he reentered the kitchen—shirtless.
