Chapter 2
Knox heard a commotion in the backyard as soon as he stepped out of his truck. Smiling, he headed in that direction. Tank was at the gate barking his head off, and Maybelline’s tail swung wildly in the air.
“Guess you guys heard me, huh?”
More joyous barking filled the air.
He noticed that both dogs were soaking wet.
“Whoa. What have you two gotten into?” Knowing Tank and his antics, Knox slipped quickly through the gate.
After securing it again, he bent down to give both dogs plenty of love.
Tank tilted up his little round head and closed his eyes in bliss.
Maybelline leaned against Knox, soaking his jeans and pushing him off-balance.
If he hadn’t fallen against the fence, he’d be on the ground with them.
“Has she been torturing you with baths? Is that it?”
Maybelline answered with a huge swipe of her tongue along the side of his face.
“Girl, seriously, that was way too wet.” Knox used his shoulder to wipe away the slobber, then laughed and gave her a hug.
That left his shirt covered in wet fur. Maybelline was a hundred pounds and looked like a yeti, but he loved her.
Tank, a mixed breed, had some Chihuahua in him and only weighed eight pounds.
They were an odd couple but closely bonded, and totally adorable.
“Go fetch something.” When the dogs took off, Maybelline in a lope, Tank like a speed racer, Knox went in search of Laylee.
Only a few steps later, he saw her sprawled in a lounge chair on the back porch, as soaked as the dogs and looking pitiful.
Head tipped back with her eyes closed, her wet top and shorts clinging to her curves, beautiful legs stretched out in front of her and hands laced together on her stomach, she was quite the sight.
More than enough to cause his heart to skip a beat.
For a few seconds, Knox just looked at her, but when she didn’t stir, he grew concerned. “Hey.”
Lazily, one eye opened. “Have I died yet? Maybe melted? Please tell me you have your keys to get in.”
That didn’t make any sense. “Yes, I have my keys.” To savor the moment, Knox approached her slowly. With her long blond hair slicked back, her perfect features were even more noticeable. High, smooth cheekbones. Arched brows. That tempting mouth that could be so sassy.
Her dark blue eyes took his measure. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
That had to be a joke. “You look hot.”
“Duh. I’m roasting.”
“I meant …” No, hold that thought. Now was definitely not the time. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Oh, yeah, well, I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but I locked us out.”
Knox drew himself up. “When?”
“Not long after we spoke.”
No way. “Laylee, that was hours ago.”
“Yup, believe me, I’m aware. The pooches and I have been out here killing time.
It’s hotter than Hades, but the hose helped.
” She gestured to the yard. “Plus, I cleaned up the mess from the storm. I mean, why not? I would have put it off, you know, but I grew tired of my own company, and the dogs wouldn’t play anymore.
It was either clean up the yard or cry.”
Frowning, Knox squatted down by her chair. “Why didn’t you just call me?”
“You were working, and you’d already fallen off the roof once.” Suddenly sitting forward, she said, “Knox. You fell off the roof.”
Had she only just remembered? He hid his smile. “As you can see, I’m fine. Probably fared better than you.”
“Knox,” she softly chided, lightly brushing her fingertips below a long scratch on his neck, then a few more on his forearms. Wearing a tortured expression, she said, “I’m so sorry.”
The second he felt her touch, his body kicked into hyperdrive: breathing deeper, skin warmer, heartbeat racing. Once she’d sat forward, they were close. Kissing close.
The temptation to put his mouth to hers, to finally taste her, to show her how good they’d be together, was so strong he could barely resist.
Timing won out. Right now, it was all wrong.
Laylee was wilted, worried, and he could tell that she was drawing unfavorable comparisons between her ability to withstand the heat and his.
Yes, he’d worked under the hot sun, but that was his job, one he loved.
He’d put on roofs in worse conditions, as had his father, who’d started the business.
Laylee wasn’t into construction. She was a tall, slim woman with soft skin and manicured nails, not a man who labored for a living.
“It wasn’t your fault that I lost my footing. I was practically raised on a roof. The fall was just one of those freak accidents.”
She huffed in disbelief, making him grin.
“Seriously, my dad supported our family with his roofing company. As soon as I was old enough to hold a hammer, he was teaching me the proper way to nail down shingles. Used to make my mom nervous.”
“Gee, I can’t imagine why.” A teasing mood was better than guilt.
“Dad never let me fall, but through the years he taught me a lot of usable skills.” He’d also taught Knox, along with his siblings, the importance of commitment, the awesomeness of having a family you loved, and the value of doing your best. “The house we worked on today was small enough that the job didn’t take long.
The last hour was just cleanup and writing out an invoice. ”
“Thanks for making me feel better.”
To ensure he wouldn’t do anything rash, like jump the gun and kiss her, Knox stood. Catching her hands, he hauled her to her feet. “My pleasure. I’m glad you had some shade, but you have to be getting hungry. And where are your shoes?”
“I left my sandals inside.”
“You could have stepped on a bee or a prickly weed, or—”
She smiled. “I didn’t, Dad, so stop fretting.”
Oh, hell no. “Wrong category, honey. I’m feeling far from parental here, believe me.”
Her brows lifted. “Do tell.”
“Maybe later. For now, the beasts want out of this heat and so do I.” He kept one of her hands clasped in his and whistled for the dogs.
“I promised them treats,” she whispered. “Right before I found out the door wouldn’t open.”
“They’re understanding pooches. I’m sure they’ve forgiven you.
” Together, with the dogs dancing around them, they walked to the gate.
He realized they didn’t have leashes handy because Laylee hadn’t planned to get stuck outside.
And now that both dogs were waiting, he’d feel like a jerk if he left them in the backyard while he ran around front to unlock that door.
“I need to get a key to the back door, too.”
“Okay.”
She’d spoken without a moment’s hesitation.
It was a good idea—in case something like this ever came up again.
Did she know he didn’t have the key to any other woman’s home?
That he’d never wanted one? Probably not, because she didn’t see their relationship the same way he did.
“Maybelline will follow. She’s well-mannered.
” He paused to scoop up Tank. “But you, you little miscreant, will get a lift.”
Naturally, Tank didn’t mind.
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.
Okay, sure, she’d seen him that way before. She’d been swimming with him in Ford’s pool next door, and often when she was hanging out with Knox and his group of friends, all the guys lost their shirts.
Still, this was the first time she was alone with him, in her home, and in a kitchen that seemed to shrink in size with the two of them occupying the same space. Where did all the oxygen go?
The heat remained in his eyes as he pulled out a chair from the table and straddled it. Then he lifted a tube of ointment. “Do you mind? There are a few scratches I can’t reach.”
Oh. Oh. “I can do that,” she said, but she sounded croaky. Laylee took a bracing breath and stepped behind him. It would be easier if she wasn’t looking him in the eyes. Get hold of yourself. She was the fun twin, after all. The one who played without ever getting serious.
Guys did not rattle her, not ever.
She’d had more than her fair share of male interest, and she’d never had trouble brushing it off. She was not an overly serious person—except that she did have a pregnancy test to take.
Getting herself in gear, she removed the cap on the tube of ointment and squeezed a small amount on her finger. When she looked at his back, her heart almost stopped.
“Knox!”
Keeping his gaze averted, he asked, “What?”
“You’re covered in scratches … and damn it, bruises, too!” His back looked painful, whether he acted hurt or not. “You should have gone home and iced … everything.”
He actually laughed. “It’s a few bruises, honey. Nothing serious.”
Her eyes widened, both at the endearment and the dismissal of his injuries. “Listen up, honey,” she quipped right back. “It is serious.”
“The bruising will be gone in a day or two. Nothing is broken, and it doesn’t even hurt.”
“Liar,” she returned. Then she oh-so-gently dabbed the ointment on the worst of his scratches, wincing the entire time.
Knox turned his head to watch her for a moment or two, smiled, and faced forward again. “When you’re done, you should do that test so you can get it over with, and then we’ll figure out dinner. I was thinking maybe a pizza.”
Her hand shook a little. “And if I’m pregnant?”
“We still have to eat. I don’t know about you, but challenges always make me hungry.”
“I think a pregnancy would be a little more than a challenge for me.” She finished treating his back and moved on to the marks on his neck and arms.
“I’m just saying—I’m here with you. Whatever the test says, that won’t change.”
What did that mean, though? That he’d remain her friend? That he’d help her figure out the difficulties? That he’d stand beside her, no matter her choice?
However he meant it, his statement struck Laylee’s heart in a way she hadn’t experienced before. She didn’t mean to, but an overload of emotion had her leaning forward, embracing him from behind in a very gentle hug. “Thank you, Knox. You really are the very best.”