Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Knox: What are you wearing tonight?
Adriana: Oh, I thought clothing was optional.
Knox: Your humor is lost on me right now.
Adriana: Shouldn’t you be working on the case with Jessica while I play dress-up?
Knox: Yes, but I’m thinking about you and what is under that dress.
He was deflecting. He had to be. The man had learned his mother had once been part of some secret black ops group, and a close family friend may have been behind the assassination attempt to cover it all up.
So yeah, he had to be reeling. And he was dealing in the way he knew best by making jokes.
They still didn’t even know if his dad would show up tonight.
Would he drop out of the race altogether?
Adriana: Maybe I’m wearing a pantsuit.
Knox: No way. This is your first ball, and you love Disney films. You’re in some fancy gown. Am I right?
Adriana: Maybe I’m in something pretty, but I did put panties on since you won’t be the one taking me.
She stood in front of the mirror and smoothed a hand over the layered black fabric, which had a slit going up one leg. A halter style for a top and a low-cut back.
She’d done her makeup, too, which was a rarity.
Dark eyeshadow, black liner, and mascara. A touch of blush on her cheeks and a semi-nude lipstick with gloss. She’d left her hair down in soft waves over her shoulders since her mother had always loved it that way.
Knox: . . .
Knox: . . .
Adriana: What?
Knox: And I’m now imagining twenty different ways I’ll be making you scream my name after we have that second date.
Adriana: One for each year, huh? And I see you’ve given in to my 2-date request.
Knox: Everything will be okay. You know that, right? You have my word.
And he was protecting her again. Always.
Adriana: I know.
And there were so many other things she wanted to say to him, but not over text and not with so many lives on the line.
But could she go to a ball and give a speech in the meantime?
She looked at her phone, not sure what else to say, when there was a knock at the door. Her dad lived only twenty minutes away, so he’d be escorting her to the ball tonight.
Adriana: My dad’s here. I won’t be long. I’ll meet you back up in the suite soon.
“Coming,” she called out, tucking her phone in her black clutch.
When she swung the door open, she nearly tripped backward in her tall heels at the sight before her.
“You’re not my dad.”
She observed Knox in his tux. Black slacks, a crisp white shirt beneath the jacket. Broad shoulders. A bow tie to boot. He’d also shaved, and he was a man who looked hot with or without the scruff.
“Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?” She looked left and right in the hall. He reached for her hips and pulled her tight to his body, and she surrendered to him in every possible way.
“I asked your father if I could take you instead,” he said. The rich huskiness of his voice had her thighs squeezing. “I was hoping for a redo.”
“A redo?” She slung her arms over his shoulders, hating how much she actually loved he’d shown up, even though he wasn’t supposed to be there.
“Senior prom.”
“But you brought me to prom.”
“And you know I screwed that night up,” he said as he moved his mouth near hers but didn’t yet kiss her. “I wanted to be there as more than your friend, but you were only seventeen and too young for the things I wanted to do to you, and I also never thought—”
She kissed away his words. Apologies and remorse for the should’ve-could’ve-would’ve no longer needed.
“What was that for?” he asked with a smile after she pulled back.
“For being you. For always being you.”
She could see the conflict in his eyes.
He thought there were two sides of him. The Teamguy and the man he was with her. And maybe he’d done his best to keep it that way, but he didn’t need to do it anymore. No more barriers between them.
“You talk to Rodriguez?” he asked after letting go of a breath, and she turned from his grasp to retrieve her clutch from the room.
“Yeah, and he’s not sure how he feels about keeping Glenn out of the loop, especially since I provided him with spotty details.” She frowned when facing him where he stood inside the room. “I hate lying. He’s the agent in charge and has your father’s best interests at heart.”
“I can’t risk the truth coming out about my mom or tip Glenn off we’re onto him.” Stress cut lines across his forehead as he observed her.
“You do realize people may find out anyway, right? I mean, from the sounds of it, Glenn’s willing to kill to keep it a secret, too.” She tucked her clutch under her arm and stood before him. “And whatever Nina knows may be all we’ve got to prove Glenn’s behind this.”
“I know.” His eyes dropped to his black shoes. “And we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” His broad shoulders shifted back as he found her eyes once again. “I’m not used to trusting people not on my team, though, so this is all a bit of an adjustment.”
“No?” She stepped closer. “What are you used to?” She swallowed when his eyes seemed to gleam with the overhead light shining above.
“Not this. Not having you right here with me, that’s for sure.” The deep timbre of his voice cut through to her belly and produced the battery of wings to flap and flutter. “Not having you within my reach when I need you.”
“So reach for me. I’m here.” She let her clutch fall to the floor when he pulled her into his arms.
His lips were so close to hers, but he didn’t kiss her this time.
He held on to her, staring into her eyes as if he were seeing her as a woman right now and not the teenager who’d lost her mom.
“You know how much I care about you?” His hand slid up her bare back while his other shifted to palm her cheek.
“I think I have a pretty good idea.”
“When this is over, I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”
“I trust you,” she whispered and brought her lips to his, needing to be his right now. And every moment after that.