Chapter 3
ROSIE
I sit in my car, gripping the steering wheel, trying to get my head straight. Everything feels too intense—like the air around me is thicker, my skin too sensitive. I’ve never had someone do to me what Knox just did, and it’s like my body doesn’t know how to handle it.
I close my eyes, taking deep breaths, but all I can think about is his hands on me, the way he touched me like he knew exactly how to break me apart and put me back together in the span of minutes.
I grab my keys, but my hands are shaking. Come on, Rosie, pull it together. You’ll be fine. You’re good.
But as I try to start the car, my vision blurs, and I realize I’m nowhere near as calm as I’m pretending to be. I’m still buzzing, and not in a good way. My whole body is on high alert, and I don’t know how to come down from this.
Just as I’m about to force myself to drive, there’s a knock on my window. I jump, my heart pounding as I look up and see Knox standing there, concern written all over his handsome face.
I roll the window down, swallowing hard. “Knox, what are you—?”
“I couldn’t let you leave like that,” he says, his voice soft, but firm. “You okay?”
I nod, but it’s not convincing, even to me. “I’m fine.”
He arches a brow, clearly not buying it. “You sure about that?”
I want to say yes. I want to tell him I’m fine and drive off like nothing happened, but I can’t. My hands are still shaking, and the thought of focusing on traffic right now? Not happening.
Knox watches me for a moment, then sighs, opening my car door. “Give me your keys.”
“What? No, I—”
“Rosie,” he says, his voice gentle but commanding, “you’re not in any shape to drive. Let me take care of you, okay?”
I stare at him, my mind racing. Part of me wants to argue, to say I’m fine, but the truth is… I don’t want to fight him. Not right now. Not when the idea of Knox taking care of me sounds like the most comforting thing in the world.
I hand him my keys, and he gives me a small, reassuring smile. “Let’s get you home.”
* * *
Knox is quiet as he drives, but his presence fills the car in a way that makes me feel safe, grounded. The tension in my body starts to ease, little by little. After I’ve rattled out my address, I keep glancing at him, watching the way his large hands grip the wheel, the strong veins on their backs…
“I didn’t mean to leave like that,” I finally say, breaking the silence.
“It’s okay,” he replies, his voice soft. “You don’t have to explain.”
But I feel like I do. “I’ve just… I’ve never had anything like that happen. With anyone.”
Knox doesn’t look at me, but I see the small smile tugging at the corner of his sculpted lips. “You don’t have to say anything, Rosie. I get it.”
I don’t know if he really does, but the way he says it? It makes me feel like I can let my guard down. Like I don’t have to pretend I’m okay when I’m still trying to process everything. Plus, he must have heard it all in his line of work.
When we pull up to my place, Knox kills the engine and turns to me, his eyes soft and full of something I don’t quite recognize. “You gonna be alright?”
I nod, but there’s something in his gaze that makes my chest tighten. He’s not just asking to be polite. He really cares. “I think so,” I whisper, my voice catching a little.
Without a word, he gets out of the car and comes around to open my door, offering me his hand. I hesitate for a moment, but then I take it, letting him guide me up to the front door. His fingers are strong, warm, solid, and I feel myself relax a little more with every step.
* * *
Once we’re inside, Knox shuts the door behind us, and I feel the quiet settle around us like a blanket. It’s comforting. Calming. I kick off my shoes and take a deep breath, but before I can even say anything, Knox is there, gently guiding me to the couch.
“Sit,” he says, his voice soft but firm. “I’ll get you some water.”
I don’t argue. I just sit down, sinking into the cushions as I watch him move around my kitchen like he’s been here before. He grabs a glass, fills it up, and comes back, sitting next to me as he hands it over.
I take a few sips, the cool water soothing the dryness in my throat, and then set the glass down, feeling a little more like myself. “Thank you,” I whisper, glancing up at him.
He doesn’t say anything, just watches me with those green eyes, like he’s making sure I’m really okay. And for some reason, that makes my chest tighten all over again.
“You didn’t have to do this,” I say softly.
“I know,” he replies, his voice low. “I wanted to.”
There’s a weight in his words I can’t quite unpack, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is that he’s here, and for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel like I have to handle everything on my own.
Knox shifts closer, his hand resting on my knee. It’s a simple gesture, but it feels like an anchor. “You don’t have to be okay right now, Rosie. It’s alright to just… be.”
I nod, biting my lip as the emotions start to swirl in my chest again. I’m not used to this—letting someone else take care of me. But it feels good. Safe.
Without thinking, I lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder. He wraps an arm around me, pulling me close, and I feel myself relax for the first time since the deck. His warmth, his strength—it’s… grounding.
We sit there for a while, the quiet between us comfortable, and I can feel the tension in my body melting away. He doesn’t try to talk, doesn’t push me to explain anything. He just holds me, and that’s exactly what I need.
After a few minutes, I feel my eyes getting heavy, the exhaustion from the night catching up to me. I shift, trying to fight it, but Knox notices. His hand gently rubbing my back.
“You should get some rest,” he murmurs in a low voice.
“I’m fine,” I mumble, but the yawn that follows betrays me.
He chuckles softly, standing up and holding out his hand. “Come on, let me put you to bed.”
I should probably say no, but the way he’s looking at me makes it impossible to argue. Green eyes, tender. I take his large, warm hand, letting him lead me to my bedroom, and before I know it, I’m sinking under the covers, my body finally relaxing.
Knox pulls the blanket up over me, and I feel the warmth of it settle around me like a hug. He leans down, brushing a soft kiss against my forehead, and I close my eyes, feeling a wave of comfort wash over me.
“See you soon,” he whispers, his voice low and soothing.
And as I drift off to sleep, I know he means it.