Chapter 24 #3
“I just had an epiphany. I am like other girls. I like big diamonds.” My face must show my dismay. “A lot.”
Knox chokes himself on a laugh, which brings a smile to my lips. He grows faux serious. “If you think this is something, you should have seen the wedding band she picked out.”
“I can only imagine.” I swat a piece of hair back toward the ponytail that’s end-of-the-day limp. “So it isn’t a dealbreaker? You know, if the next girl really likes giant diamond rings?”
“Next girl?”
My breath stalls, my teeth nearly wearing a hole through my bottom lip. No one shoved me into this spot—I literally walked into the conversation all by lonesome. “Hypothetically speaking, that is.”
Omigosh. I am such an idiot. We barely know each other.
“Hypothetically speaking…” With a sly grin, he reels me back to him using both of his big, strong hands. “No.”
We both laugh as he repockets the ring.
I rest my palms back into their favorite position—flat against his solid chest. “Hold on a sec. You guys broke up a year ago. Becca is just now getting this back to you?”
His tongue clicks. “Thought I was going to have to file a lawsuit.”
“You’d have sued?” He’d have been well within his rights. Heck, I’d have filed the paperwork pro bono if he’d asked. The law is on his side on this one. But I have to admit, legal action against someone Knox once loved doesn’t sound very…Knoxy…of him.
“On bad days, I considered it.”
“Is it real?” The gauche question spills out. Four-carats-at-a-minimum, in that setting, takes serious money.
“For as much as I paid, it sure better be.”
“I can’t believe she was so frivolous with your money.” And then tried to hold on to it after breaking his heart. I shake my head. Some people. “Insult to injury.”
“Yep.” He shrugs and smooths his hand over the Velcro.
Yeah, don’t want to let that one wind up in the mud.
“Sounds like Rand found out she’d hung onto it, and that was a bridge too far.”
“A bridge he wanted burned?”
“Exactly, though, trust me, it went up in flames long ago.”
I fold my arms and sigh. “Well, at least now you can recoup some of your losses. Get the thing paid off.”
“It’s paid for.”
My finger toys with one of his shirt buttons.
Sure, counter to my initial impression, Knox is in charge at this large jobsite, so he must make a good living.
It just seems—the ring seems—next-level.
I earn a good living, but if I were unwise enough to buy the ring in question, it would be with the help of a payment plan that carried me into my next decade of life.
“Whatcha thinking?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head, shaking away the temptation to verbalize my thoughts. Knox’s financial decisions are none of my business.
“Hey.”
I feel his hands clasp at the small of my back, and his expression intensifies.
“Everly, there’s something I’ve been meaning to set straight with you. It’s not a big deal, but—”
The trailer door squeals. I peek over my shoulder to find Cliff filling the gap created by the open door. The December night rushes in, a shock to the system. “Got a problem out here, Knox.”
Knox sighs loudly enough for the crew to hear above their giant equipment. “I’ll be there in a minute, man,” he grumbles. If anything, his hold on me tightens, as if he’s not any more ready to go than I am ready for him to leave.
“No, now. Looks like Crawford broke his leg.”
I know Knox cares about his men, so I figure it’s a testament to his extreme fatigue the way he throws his head back and groans, “You have got to be kidding me.”
Cliff grunts. “Don’t I wish. And for the record, your brother is freaking out.” He ducks back outside and the door bangs.
Knox shakes his head hard and stands. “I’m sorry, Everly. I’ve got to go.”
“Of course you do.” I pat his arm, my hand sliding along his sleeve as he moves toward the row of hooks where his coat hangs. He puts it on, grabs a hard hat off a chair, and turns, grinning. “I was really looking forward to that chicken fried steak.”
“It’ll be here when you get back.” Whenever that might be.
“But will you?”
I check my watch, even though I already know the answer. “They need me at the diner.” Suzy didn’t like the idea of being left in charge.
His smile is resigned. “That’s what I thought. Won’t be the same without you.”
Our eyes touch and hold. So many feelings. I clear my throat. “You better hurry.”
Another longsuffering sigh shows the depth of not only his fatigue but of his reluctance to leave…me.
Lest any doubts remain about him using work to dodge me, the exhaustion and sheer frustration lining his face erase them. “I’ll call later.” He throws his head back, shakes it. “I’ll try to call.”
“I’ll be there when you do.”
Softness plays through his eyes, and his attention lingers as if he’s memorizing my face until next time. “Alrighty then. I’m gone.”
I rush toward the door. “Hey, Knox?”
He pokes his head back in. I’d say he’s cute in his hard hat, but cute isn’t nearly a strong enough word.
“Christmas Eve is in three days. Will you come for dinner?” The idea has been bouncing around my head for days. I finally made the suggestion to Mom, and she was on it like a kid begging to open presents on Christmas morning.
His face splits slowly with sparkling delight, brighter than the megawatt lights making nighttime work possible. “Text me the time, Ev…and I will be there with jingle bells on.”