To a degree he had used the excuse of inviting her to lunch and then to visit with Karen and Geoff and the babies as a way of seeing her again?
Knox knew that was exactly what he’d done.
He was also scared shitless at the thought of meeting the babies!
“So, you said you would tell me why I’m doing you a favor by accompanying you to Karen and Geoff’s?” Ellie turned to look at Knox.
They had been driven to this Italian restaurant by one of the cabs that were always waiting outside the busy Aragon Tower building. The restaurant they had chosen was close to where Karen and Geoff lived in Long Island.
She and Knox were now seated in a secluded corner booth at the back of the room, and the waitress had already taken their order and promised to be back with their drinks soon.
Knox chuckled. “You’re a ‘tell me the truth and nothing but the truth sort of woman,’ hm?”
“I’m not sure I can reliably expect that from anyone anymore,” she answered heavily.
“You can from me,” he instantly assured. “Time will show you that I always speak the truth,” he added at her skeptical glance.
“We’ll see,” she dismissed, not altogether sure when this “time” was going to take place. The two of them were only business associates. Weren’t they? “But to answer your question, I’m actually a ‘not interested in hearing any bullshit’ kind of woman,” she clarified.
“Always, or is that a recent development?”
She gave him a knowing look. “I think we both know the answer to that.”
His jaw tightened. “You really should have called the police this morning.”
She snorted. “So they could do what, exactly? Look at the same security footage I did? Which would tell them nothing. Or tell them that yes, I currently have ongoing friction with my ex-partner. They then go and speak to him, Andrew lies like he always does, and then sometime, either later today or tomorrow, he pays me a visit. Probably at home, so there are no witnesses—” Ellie realized she said too much when she visibly saw the fierce anger now glittering in Knox’s eyes. “Can we just enjoy our lunch and forget I said that?” she encouraged as the waitress put the glasses of water—they had both declined wine—and breadsticks on the table before leaving again.
“Witnesses to what?” Knox ground out.
She avoided meeting Knox’s probing gaze. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“I can see that. Unfortunately, for you, I’m insisting that you do.”
She frowned. “You have no right to insist on anything where I’m concerned.”
“What does Day do to you in private?” he persisted.
“When we were together? Nothing.”
“And now?”
She glared fiercely. “None of this is any of your business.”
“I’m making it my business.”
She gasped before demanding, “Under what aegis?”
“Under the aegis I very much intend being a significant part of your personal life in future.”
“What?” Ellie stared at him in disbelief, the breadstick she had just taken from the glass container snapping in two as her fingers instinctively tightened.
She and Knox had only met for the first time on Monday morning, and they hadn’t seen each other again until today, Friday. She must have misheard him?—
“You heard me correctly.” He cut in on what she had thought were her dismissive thoughts but had obviously been spoken out loud. “You should also know I don’t allow anyone to hurt the people I care about.”
She swallowed. Hard. “You’re saying you care about me?” To her consternation, her voice came out as a squeak.
Of course it did, because this man couldn’t really mean what he was saying. Although he hadn’t come across to her as a frivolous man or a liar…
