Chapter 14 #2
“I stuck out like a sore thumb. Me and my surprise baby.” He laughed. “Don’t get me wrong. Everyone was welcoming. Friendly. Loved on Juniper. Except for Cash, but that was expected. He’s still pissed I didn’t reveal who I was sooner.”
“Did he say something today?”
“Sure did. After birthday cake, he and I ended up in the kitchen alone. He said some things. I said some things. Then I decided it was time to call it a night.”
“I’m sorry. Cash has a good heart, but he doesn’t hide when he’s upset.”
Knox shrugged. “He’s entitled to his feelings. I’m lucky the rest of my half-siblings have made peace with me already. I hung out with Seth. It was all surface stuff, but there was no animosity.”
“I like Seth. And Holden, he’s so easygoing.”
“Holden’s been great from the start. He was welcoming before he knew who I was, and he’s been accepting since I told them we’re related. Hayden too.”
“Cash will come around.”
“Not today apparently.”
“I hate that he spoiled the day for you. It was a big one,” I said. “It’s not every day you get to meet bunches of family for the first time.”
“Bunches is right.”
The fireplace turned back on automatically, filling the dimly lit room with a warm glow and the faint hum from the fan.
This was cozy and comfortable like I never would’ve believed it could be considering I’d only been here for just over a week.
My stepmom’s accusation rang through my mind, about my “cozy setup.” Then I shooed her out of my head, because this was just Knox and me talking, being friendly.
Even if we were inches apart and my body was extra aware of every move he made.
“I always wondered what it would be like to have a big, rowdy family,” he said. “Our house was always quiet, tidy. Sometimes lonely.”
“And then you find out you have this huge family here,” I said. “That must have been wild.”
“Today I got to see what it’s like to have a house filled with family, people who love each other.”
“I bet it wasn’t quiet.”
“Not for a single second.”
I rolled to my side again, propping my head on my elbow so I could see his face as he described it. He smiled faintly. Then it disappeared.
“It was fascinating to witness, but…” He shook his head.
“But what?”
He turned to his side, his body bridging from the cushion to the ottoman, which put us facing each other. “I was an outsider. It was like watching someone else’s family, not mine.”
“It’ll take some time,” I said. “You just met half those people, and the other half just found out you’re one of them.”
“I know. I know I can’t expect to feel like I belong on the first day. It’s just…I don’t know if I’ll ever be more than the odd guy out with the cute baby.”
“Blended families are so tough,” I said with conviction. “Been there, done that, still trying to fit in. Or maybe I stopped trying, and that’s part of the problem.”
His hand landed on mine, just a brush of his finger next to mine but an intentional one, and I met his gaze.
Dove into it and got lost for several seconds, and I could swear he was lost too, because neither one of us looked away.
Neither one of us made a move. Tension arced between us, the kind that made my heart pound harder and my body respond down low, between my legs and deep in my middle.
“We have a lot in common, don’t we?” he finally said, his voice lower, rough around the edges.
“We do.”
Still, we didn’t move. It would only take a small shift for him to join me on this side of the sectional and press his body against mine, roll me to my back, and let me feel the weight of him all over me. I stopped breathing with wanting that.
My God, I wanted that. I wanted him.
Knox rolled to his back suddenly, clearing his throat, yanking me out of that moment where time had seemed to stop.
“We should get some sleep,” he said as he sat up. “The princess’s schedule was wonky today, so who knows how long she’ll be out.”
I forced my brain to reality. “I’m covering tonight. You’re meeting with Ava tomorrow morning, right?”
“Right. Monday morning planning meeting.” He stood, pushing the oversized ottoman sideways to give us more room.
He turned to me and held out his hand to help me up. I did everything in my power to act like touching him was no big deal and my heart wasn’t about to leap out of my chest.
But it so was.
His hand was strong, masculine, warm.
I hated to let go, but once I was upright, I did, because no big deal.
Forcing my mind to something besides him, I asked, “When’s the last time you fed—”
My foot caught on the leg of the ottoman just as I started moving forward, and somehow I went flying forward into Knox.
His hands landed on my arms to steady me, but then we were both going down.
The next thing I knew, I was sprawled half on top of him, chest to chest, my foot throbbing, adrenaline racing through my veins, my heart pounding for an altogether different reason. I tried to get my brain unstunned.
“Shit,” he said. “Are you okay?”
“I think so. Are you?”
A second or two passed as he seemed to assess. “I’m fine.”
“I’m so sorry. I’m such a klutz. Always. God.” I closed my eyes in embarrassment. “You didn’t hit your head?”
“No.”
As I peered into his eyes to make sure he was telling the truth, our gazes got caught up again, and my embarrassment slid away as heat and awareness rushed in.
His eyes were intense, the pupils so big that the blue was only a thin ring as he stared up at me, neither one of us moving.
Without thinking, I glanced at his lips.
They were slightly parted, and I instantly wondered what it would feel like to kiss a man with facial hair, as my ex had been almost obsessive about shaving.
My cheeks grew warm, and I flicked my gaze back up to his. He hadn’t moved, still looked back at me, our faces only inches apart. With the smallest lean in on my part, my lips would be on his. Just a subtle shift forward to learn his taste, feel his textures, breathe his scent.
There was a tiny voice in my head saying kissing him would be inappropriate. He was my employer. He was considerably older than me. It would be wrong.
Knox didn’t move away.
Nothing felt wrong. Everything felt extremely right, including his solid body below mine.
Ignoring the voice, I leaned in and touched my lips to his.