Chapter 22
Sloane
Knox couldn’t stop smiling.
I caught him glancing at me again, that soft expression transforming his usually guarded features into something light and open. My hair whipped in the wind. His hand, warm and solid around mine on his thigh, anchored me to this perfect moment.
He’d kissed me back. Not for show, not as part of our fake relationship cover, but because he wanted to. Because whatever this thing was between us had become too big to ignore, and he felt it too.
“What?” I asked, catching him watching me.
“Nothing.” He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. The gesture felt natural now. “Just thinking.”
“About?”
“About how much can change in one afternoon.” Knox turned onto the road leading to my house, the familiar landscape of sound and marsh grass rolling past.
The sun was starting its descent toward the horizon, illuminating the world in a masterpiece of color. The perfect ending to a day that had started with a heartbreaking interview and finished with the taste of Knox on my lips.
He scanned the driveway, the tree line, the marsh grass. Looking for threats.
My gaze caught on the porch roof coming into view. “I can see the cameras Colton and Archer installed from out here,” I said, following his gaze. “That’s nice.”
Knox nodded, some tension leaving his shoulders.
A multitude of mental images appeared. All excellent ways to spend the evening together with such solid security in place. The ideas evaporated, along with my good mood, when I spotted a familiar Lexus in my driveway.
“Son of a bitch,” I muttered.
Knox’s hand tightened on the wheel. “Tyler’s here.”
Tension coiled in my stomach as we pulled into the driveway beside him.
Tyler climbed out and leaned against his Lexus, arms crossed over his chest, wearing pressed khakis and a polo shirt. His expression was a carefully crafted mix of concern and condescension. A look he’d perfected over three years of trying to control every aspect of my life.
“Stay in the Jeep for a second,” Knox said, his voice shifting into protective mode. “Let me see what he wants.”
“Knox—”
“Sloane.” He looked at me, and I saw the concern in his careful eyes. “I just need to assess the situation first.”
I wanted to argue that Tyler was my problem to handle, but I’d agreed to his rules of protection on the morning I asked him for help. So, I nodded reluctantly.
Knox climbed out of the Jeep, and Tyler pushed off from his car, radiating entitled confidence.
“Hawthorne.” Tyler’s voice carried clearly. “We need to talk.”
“I don’t think we do.” Knox’s stance was deceptively relaxed, but I recognized the coiled tension hiding in his limbs. “What are you doing here? Sloane made it clear she wants you to leave her alone.”
Oh, to hell with staying in the Jeep. This was my house, my ex, my problem.
I climbed out just as Tyler said, “I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m worried about her.” His gaze shifted to me, and I saw calculation beneath the concern. “She’s been through a traumatic experience, and I think you’re taking advantage of that.”
Fury heated my core and flooded my face. How dare he.
Knox’s body went rigid. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” Tyler stepped closer, then hesitated.
Apparently, finally, registering Knox’s size, his posture, and quiet, powerful control.
“You swooped in while she was vulnerable,” he accused.
Always using his words to bend others to his will.
“You played the hero, and now you’re living in her house. This is textbook manipulation.”
“You don’t know anything about our relationship,” Knox said. “And from what I’ve seen so far, you don’t know much about her either.”
“Don’t I?” Tyler’s smile was condescending. “We were together for three years. I know how she thinks, how she reacts to stress. And I know she doesn’t actually want you. She’s just confused and scared and latching onto the first person who made her feel safe.”
“Like I said.” Knox crossed his arms, emphasizing the broadness of his chest and shoulders, the size of his biceps. “You clearly don’t know her at all. And based on this tone you’re trying out like it’s one of your daddy’s best suits, you definitely don’t know me.”
“Tyler.” I crossed to Knox’s side, my hand finding his arm. Solid muscle, tensed to spring. “What do you want?”
“I came to check on you.” His expression bled into that practiced concern I’d fallen for once upon a time. Now it just looked manipulative. “I’ve been calling and texting. You’ve been ignoring me.”
“Because I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Sloane. Just hear me out.” Tyler took a step, and Knox shifted slightly, positioning himself between us. Tyler stilled. “I made a mistake. I know that. But what we had, what we built together, that was real. You can’t just throw it away because I screwed up once.”
I stared, wholly unmoved. Tyler had cheated multiple times with multiple women. I was just the last one to find out. The thought used to make me irate. Now, I was just immensely thankful it was over. “Go home.”
Tyler winced, but pressed on with the determination of someone who’d never been told no. “I was an idiot. I know that. But I love you, Sloane. I want to fix this. We can go to counseling, work through it.”
“Go. Home.” I kept my voice firm, final. “Do not come back.”
“Is this because of him?” Tyler’s gaze raked over Knox with barely concealed contempt, and I felt my protective instincts flare. “Come on, baby. You’re really choosing him? Over me? Your parents are going to have a field day with this.”
The mention of my parents stung, but I kept my face emotionless, taking a page from Knox’s book.
“Don’t call her baby,” Knox said quietly. “I told you that once already, at the gas station.” His voice carried more threat in its calm than shouting ever could. “And Sloane decides what’s best for her.”
“You don’t know her.” Tyler’s mask was slipping, anger bleeding through the concerned-ex facade. “You’ve been here for what, a few days? I know how she takes her coffee, what she does when she’s stressed, what makes her laugh.”
“How to betray her trust,” Knox interrupted. “How to lose her affection. So, why don’t you do us all a favor, save the sheriff a trip out here, and piss off.”
Tyler’s face flushed red. “You’re calling the sheriff? For what?”
I bristled. “Trespassing. We’ve asked you to leave.”
Tyler blinked, stupefied.
Knox looked from me to Tyler, confused as well. “I thought he’d want to make a report with Nash after I punch his fuc—”
“Whoa!” I threw my arms wide, fighting a smile. No one had ever stuck up for me this way before. And I liked it. A lot.
“Do you hear this guy?” Tyler asked. “Threatening violence? That’s what you’re into now?”
I turned to face Knox and lowered my voice, though not enough to stop Tyler from hearing me. “If he stays, I want to be the one to knock him out.”
One corner of Knox’s mouth twitched. He nodded somberly.
“Should I punch him? Or hit him with something?” I made a show of looking around at the rocks and driftwood near our feet.
“Lady’s choice.”
I nodded. “He’s a lot taller than me.”
“Try the driftwood,” Knox suggested. “Or I can give you a boost.”
Tyler swore. “All right! That’s enough. You’re both ridiculous.”
I tugged at Knox’s bicep. “On second thought, do you want to go inside and make me forget he’s out here?”
“Absolutely.”
As we headed for the door, I felt almost giddy.
Maybe it was the absurdity of Tyler showing up after everything else today.
Maybe it was the relief of being able to laugh about something, even if it was threats we’d never follow through on.
Or maybe it was just Knox, making even the worst day feel manageable.
I didn’t look back as I unlocked the kitchen door, but I saw our reflections in the ultra-clean windows.
Knox feinted in Tyler’s direction, flinching his shoulders as we passed. Tyler fell backward against his car, kicking up loose shells and stones as he hauled himself behind the wheel.
His car spun out of the driveway, leaving only the distant cry of gulls and the lap of water in his wake.
Then I broke into laughter.
Knox caught me around the waist and spun me, smiling as we turned. He set me down too soon but held me close. “I wanted to knock that guy’s head off. I don’t know how you defused the situation so quickly, but it was ten-out-of-ten work.”
“Thank you.”
“You think he’ll be back?” Knox asked.
“Possibly. But not tonight.” In truth, this might finally be the end of Tyler’s nonsense, because he wasn’t good at having his ego dismantled. He’d be slow to do that again.
Knox cupped my face gently, making me look at him. “He was right to say you’ve been through hell, though. And I’m living in your house, touching you like this, letting things get emotionally complicated.”
I pressed my hands to his, holding them in place, and meeting his worried gaze with determination.
“Knox. Listen to me. We’ve had this conversation already.
I know my own mind. Period. So either you trust that, or you don’t.
But I’m not going to keep trying to convince you.
” The firmness in my voice seemed to reach him.
His worry cracked, and something like relief flooded his features. “I trust you,” he said quietly. “I’ll try to stop second-guessing that.”
“Good. Because I’m tired of talking about whether we should be together.
” I rose onto my toes. “I’d much rather just be together.
” I edged my chin up. I moved my hand to his chest, the way I had outside the diner, and felt his heart pounding beneath my palm.
“I want this, Knox. I want you. Because when I’m with you, I feel seen and valued and safe.
Because you make me laugh and you challenge me and you don’t treat me like I’m fragile. ”
“You’re not fragile,” he agreed, something in his expression softening. “You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”
I kissed him softly, briefly. Then I pulled back and held my breath as I waited for his response. “Good.” I inhaled sharply and smiled. “Now kiss me like you mean it, Marine.”
Knox didn’t need to be told twice. He curved one hand at the nape of my neck, the other flattened across my back, and he pulled my body flush with his. Then, he brought his mouth to mine.
I made a sound of pleasure, and Knox deepened the kiss, a low growl of desire rumbling through his core.
We stumbled backward until my back hit the island. Knox caged me in with his arms, his body pressing against mine in a way that left no doubt about how much he wanted me. My hands slid under his shirt, palms flat against the hard muscle of his stomach, and Knox groaned.
In the next moment, I was off my feet and seated on the granite countertop, knees parting to make room for the mountain of a man sliding between them.
Knox pressed his lips to my jaw. Slid his tongue along the curve of my neck and spread hot kisses across my collarbone.
My head lolled to the side, dizzy with delight. My body squirmed against his, seeking the hard heat of him, desperate to be closer.
Knox anchored my back with one strong arm, the opposite hand exploring my curves and tugging me forward until my ankles locked around his middle.
I arched, and his mouth returned to mine.
His phone rang, and he ignored it.
Knox laid me back on the countertop. “So damn beautiful,” he murmured, pressing kisses to the flat of my stomach.
The skin exposed by my new position. The heat of his breath and lap of his tongue made me squirm, needy and breathless.
The grip of his hands on my ass when he yanked me back to the counter’s edge pushed me to my mental limit.
Then his phone rang again.