Sunny salutes, and I watch them walk into the storeroom.
I feel as though I might actually like these men. Having spent years dancing around my father, trying not to say anything that would trigger him in any way, it’s kind of refreshing to be honest with people.
Sunny and Ridge clearly meant me no harm. And I understand they are going to have challenges with their president’s sudden pivot.
Heck, I have whiplash from the speed with which who we are to each other has changed. Occasionally, I’ll pick up a romance book, and one of the things that always seems hard is how to capture the progression of a meaningful relationship in thirty chapters without making it feel rushed. The way this has happened would only take ten, I guess.
I settle back to the accounts, and after a short while in the back, Sunny and Ridge set about replacing the glass in the window. Once they’re done, they leave with a wave, but only after I hand Sunny a free bag of bait to compensate for the loss of his bet.
I’m just sending an email to my accountant when the bell rings.
This time, when I look up, it’s Knox. He’s wearing a fitted black T-shirt that hugs his biceps and skims his firm chest. He’s wearing his cut and denim jeans, and scuffed cowboy boots rather than his usual biker boots.
His gaze finds mine immediately, and he smiles at me before curling his finger, urging me to go to him.
And yes.
I melt.
I don’t even pretend to be coy about it or suggest he come to me. Because seeing this man at the end of our working days might just be my favorite thing.
I hurry over to him, throw my hands around his neck as he catches me around my waist, and I wrap my legs around him.
There’s no one in the store, but even if there was, I’d probably still greet him the same way. When our lips meet, I remember how it felt to be taken up against the wall last night.
“God, you smell good,” he mutters as he finally lowers me to the ground. “Taste good too. How was your day?”
“Better than it should have been, thanks to all the help you sent my way.”
“Always gonna look out for you, sweetheart.”
“I just need to go tell Leo we’re headed out. He’s going to lock up for me.”
“You do what you need to do. I’ll be waiting outside.” When I turn to head into the storeroom, he pats my ass firmly.
And yes…I melt…again.
Once I’m done, I grab my purse and head out to meet Knox in the lot. “You’re gonna need to get changed, and you’re going to need this.”
I take the leather jacket from him. It’s a million sizes too big, and likely too warm. “Why?”
He smiles at me, a real smile that touches his eyes and makes me wonder how he keeps his teeth so white. “Because we’re going on my bike.”
My eyes go wide. “Your bike?”
“That’s what I said.”
I glance over his shoulder to where the huge hunk of black metal and chrome sits sparkling in the sunlight. “Would it not be easier in the truck?”
“Are you nervous?” He touches his knuckle to my cheek.
I nod. “Never been on a motorcycle before, and I kind of like my skin still attached to my body.”
Knox chuckles as he dumps a half-helmet on my head that I’ll need to remove to change. “I’m a solid rider. I’ll take care of you. I promise. Take a risk for me, sweetheart. Because I really want you on the back of my bike.”
32
KNOX
