CHAPTER FOURTEEN KNOX
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
KNOX
Iwas three steps down the hallway when the sight in my favorite chair stopped me midstride.
Memphis had Drake on her knee, holding him up by the armpits. She leaned in and blew a kiss on his neck, making him giggle. When he laughed, she laughed. When her eyes twinkled, his did the same. He had her eyes, chocolate brown flecked with gold.
The pair of them were in their own little world in that chair.
Memphis had rolled out of bed when he’d started making noises this morning. I’d rushed through a shower but now I saw the error of my ways. I should have been right here, watching from the sidelines because goddamn it, that was a view.
Nothing beyond my windows would ever compare.
Memphis pulled in an exaggerated breath, then kissed him again, earning another laugh. A big laugh for such a small person.
Drake would have a happy life. She’d make sure of it.
And after last night, I would too.
There was no going backward now. Not after last night.
She’d given me her best days. I’d give her mine.
Both of them.
I unglued my feet and padded into the living room, going to the back of the chair.
“Hi.” Memphis smiled as she looked up at me.
“Hi.” I pulled her blond hair out of her face and leaned forward, bending at the waist to kiss her. Then I stole Drake from her lap. “Morning, boss.”
He drooled and shoved a chubby fist in his mouth.
I kissed his cheek. “You’re getting big.”
Drake answered by popping that fist free and letting out a squeal that filled the house. The noise startled him, his eyes wide, and then he did it again, stretching it out louder and louder.
Memphis laughed. “This is his new party trick.”
“I like it.” I settled him against my ribs and carried him to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator door.
Memphis followed, taking a seat on a stool at the island.
“When does he start getting solid foods?” I pulled out a carton of eggs.
“When he’s six months.”
“Couple more to go. Then I’ll hook you up, little man. We’re not doing boring baby food in this house.” I glanced over at Memphis. “Can babies have—what? What is that look for?”
She looked like she was about to cry. “You’re really not going anywhere, are you?”
“No.” I abandoned the fridge and walked around the island, crowding her space. “This is new. We’ll take a little time. Get used to each other. But I’m not the kind of man who gives up what’s good. And we’re good. We’re fucking good, honey.”
She nodded and smiled, wiping at her eyes. “We are good.”
I kissed her forehead, then handed her Drake. “What do you want for breakfast?”
“Whatever you’re making.”
“How hungry are you?”
She shrugged. “I’m not starving.”
“Think you can wait an hour? I can make a quiche.”
“I’ll wait.”
I winked. “Good choice.”
“Wait.” She held up a hand as I pulled out a mixing bowl. “What about work?”
“I’m not working today.”
“But . . . it’s a Saturday.”
And since the day she’d moved in, I’d worked every Saturday. “I texted Roxanne last night and asked if she could cover today.”
“You did? When?”
“After you fell asleep.” I wanted a day with them. A full day, no distractions. Just another normal day to show her how good normal could be. “Got any plans today?”
“Um . . . no. I was going to clean the loft. Do some laundry.”
“How about we hang here instead?”
The smile that stretched across her pretty mouth made the flack I’d catch from Roxanne later worth it.
Never in my life had I canceled on work to be with a woman.
Roxanne had already been teasing me for ditching out on prep work to hunt Memphis down in the hotel.
So last night when I’d told her I’d give her an extra vacation day over Christmas if she worked for me, she’d sent a string of heart and eye-roll emojis and a single thumbs-up.
I went to the pantry for flour and salt to make the pie crust.
Memphis put Drake on a blanket on the floor in the living room to kick and squeal. Then she sat at the island and watched me work, her attention fixed on my every move.
“Watching you cook is better than TV.”
I chuckled and put the quiche in the oven. Then I washed my hands and tossed the towel aside before I slid onto the stool beside hers, fitting her legs between my spread knees. I skimmed her thighs, looking forward to Drake’s first nap, when I could strip her out of these pajama bottoms. “Kiss me.”
She leaned in but stopped, a whisper away from my lips. “Say please.”
“What if I don’t?”
“Then I won’t kiss you.”
I grinned, dragging my mouth across hers. “Sure about that?”
“Say please.”
“Please.”
She launched herself at me, flying off her stool. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders and her tongue was in my mouth. Fuck breakfast, I didn’t need a damn thing more than this woman.
Drake gave a wail, causing Memphis and me to freeze. Then we both laughed when he kept on babbling, testing the acoustics of my house.
“I’m going to run to the loft and grab a few more diapers.” She glanced at the timer on the oven. “Maybe take a quick shower.”
“Go for it. I’ll watch Drake.”
“Are you sure? I can just take him with me.”
“Nah. He’s happy.” My hand glided over the curve of her ass. “Bring over anything you want for today. And tonight.”
Now that she’d slept in my bed, there was no way she’d be spending another night in the loft.
“Thanks.” She kissed my cheek, then hurried for the door, stepping into her shoes and pulling her cardigan tighter.
When she was at the staircase to the loft, I stretched out beside Drake on the floor, pinching his toes and tickling his tummy.
The pain of being near him, the ache I’d felt early on, had vanished. When I looked at him, I didn’t see Jadon. I just saw Drake. My tiny boss.
“We need more toys.” Every time I’d gone to Griff and Winn’s place, Hudson had at least three new toys. Their living room had a basket overflowing with stuffies and plastic baubles. “Maybe you and Hudson can play together one day too. Build forts. Chase dogs. Be buddies.” Cousins.
I rolled onto my back, staring at the white ceiling. My brain was getting way too far ahead of reality.
That had been my problem with Gianna too. I’d been so lost in planning the future, in the idea of my own family, rowdy and rambunctious, that I’d missed the signs that she’d been keeping a secret.
Not long after she’d found out she was pregnant, Gianna would stare at me and open her mouth, but nothing would come out.
There’d been times when I’d found her staring at a wall, her arms wrapped around her belly and her knee bouncing wildly.
Other times, when I’d talk about the future and maybe moving us all to Montana one day, her face would pale.
“What’s the deal with your father?” I rolled to my side and looked at Drake. He had his feet in his hands and a glob of drool on his bottom lip. I wiped his mouth dry, then sighed. “Want to tell me about it since your mom doesn’t seem like talking?”
Another trickle of drool escaped.
She’d tell me. Memphis would eventually explain, wouldn’t she?
“What else should we have for breakfast? Fruit?” I jackknifed off the floor and swept Drake up, ruffling his hair. Then we retreated to the kitchen, where I shut down my own mental bullshit and concentrated on the meal.
There was no point in worrying. Memphis was not Gianna. She hadn’t confided in me about her past or Drake’s father and I had to believe that was for a reason. That she’d tell me when she was ready. We just hadn’t gotten there yet.
Like I’d told Memphis this morning. We’d take a little time. Get used to each other.
I was raiding my fruit bowl, pulling out a couple of peaches, when the crunch of tires and the hum of an engine sounded outside.
“Of course they show on my day off,” I muttered, sure it was either a parent or a sibling. But as I peered through the window that overlooked the sink, an unfamiliar black SUV rolled to a stop in the driveway.
“Someone got lost, didn’t they?” I asked Drake, walking to swipe up his blanket and wrap him up.
I was just pulling on a pair of boots when a man about the same age as my father stepped out from behind the SUV’s wheel. He adjusted the tie at his neck and tugged at the sleeves of his suit jacket.
But he didn’t come toward my door. He had his gaze on the loft.
Memphis stood in the middle of the staircase, her hand wrapped so tight around the railing that even from this distance I could see her white knuckles.
“What the hell?” I hustled to get my boots on.
By the time I opened the door, Memphis had come down the stairs to stand in front of the man, her shoulders stiff. Her expression was blank and as cold as the November morning. Her eyes narrowed. Her lips pursed.
The SUV’s passenger door opened as I came down the sidewalk and a woman dressed in an ice-blue pantsuit stepped out. Her heels teetered on the gravel as she walked to stand at the man’s side.
It was only when she looked over her shoulder—not at me, but at Drake—and pulled the sunglasses off her face did I recognize the resemblance. The brown eyes. The blond hair. The pretty nose and lovely chin.
Her mother.
My free hand balled into a fist.
“You’re unwelcome here.” Memphis’s voice carried strong and clear.
Damn straight they were unwelcome.
“Unwelcome?” The man I assumed was her father scoffed. “Enough of this act for attention, Memphis. We are leaving. Today.”
“Safe travels.” Her voice was as flat as her gaze.
I walked past her parents, taking a stance behind Memphis. It wasn’t easy, but I kept my mouth shut as her father looked me up and down with a sneer. When the mother stared at Drake like she was about to snatch him, I spun him away.
“I’ve been calling,” her mother said, her eyes still locked on the baby.
“And I haven’t answered.” Memphis shifted, putting herself in front of Drake.
That was who’d been calling. For months and months. Persistent, wasn’t she?
“Get in the car,” her father barked.
“No.” Memphis’s lip curled. “You have no say in my life. Leave.”