Chapter Twelve
KNOX
Three Weeks Later
"Parts should be here tomorrow morning,” Thorn says, kicking his feet up on the desk.
“It’s about time.”
We’ve been waiting over two weeks for the custom headers because the customer kept going back and forth over specifics. It's longer than I like to drag things out, but I'm hoping the end result will be worth the wait.
“Speaking of being about time for things. When are you going to do something about that heap out there in the lot?”
My lips twitch. Thorn's been trying to help me figure out how to get G to let me buy her a new car.
Her's is a piece of shit, but I know the woman will blow a fuse if I get rid of it without saying a word to her about it first.
She's stubborn and independent, always saying how she wants to stand on her own two feet — all things I love about her.
That being said, she needs a new fucking car. Her Honda doesn't even have a working air conditioner, for crying out loud. She says it doesn't bother her, but she's been helping out with hauling the boys around, and they've been complaining nonstop.
Looking back at Thorn, I smirk. “Today.”
I've thought about it long and hard and have come up with a solution that I think will work with minimal blowback.
“She actually agreed to let you buy her a new car.” His brows shoot up. Can't say I blame him; she's been pretty damn vocal in her refusal.
Agreed? I rub the back of my neck. Well... “Not exactly.” Her birthday is coming up, and I want to do something big for her. I'm prepared to pull out the big guns and use my boys as a bargaining chip if I have to.
Thorn looks down toward reception to where G's sorting shit, then looks back to me and smiles.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just going to enjoy watching her bust your balls.” He laughs.
“Fuck off,” I grumble.
“Better get to workin’ on that.” He smirks.
Ignoring him, I fire up my laptop. “Baby! Come up here.”
“I'm coming!” My dick twitches behind my zipper. It’s only been hours since she shouted those words for a whole other reason.
“What?” she asks when her feet hit the top step.
“C’mere, baby.” Without complaint, she rounds the desk and sits on my lap. This has become routine, and to tell you the truth, now that I've had it for a few weeks, I'm not sure I'd be able to handle not having her close every day.
“Getting a new car.”
“Knox.” Her head drops into her hands as she blows out a breath before sounding really fucking annoyed when she says, “I already told you—”
“It’s not for you; it’s for me,” I quickly clarify.
Thorn snorts, and I shoot him a glare. It isn't a complete lie. It's for my sanity, so in a way, it is for me.
She spreads her fingers and peeks at me through the gap. I don't blink as she scrutinizes my face. “Okay, fine, I'll bite. Tell me about this new car you're getting.”
“Okay.” Leaning around her, I shake the mouse, bringing my computer to life, then hand it over to her to scroll.
She mumbles to herself until a blacked-out Yukon appears on the screen.
“Ooo, that one’s pretty, and it looks like something you’d drive," she says excitedly before turning her eyes down to me to see what I think.
I smile back, glad that's the one she likes.
“That’s the one I have my eye on, but I want to make sure it’s something you’ll be comfortable driving, too.” Her eyes flash, and just when she opens her mouth to argue, I hold up my hand. “Just in case, baby. Crystal is still M.I.A.—”
Her nose wrinkles at the mention of my ex-wife’s name. G's not a fan and has repeatedly mentioned she could throttle Crys for abandoning the boys. My heart swells. “When she shows back up, things are changing. They ain’t going back to live with her.”
“Good.” Her shoulders drop as she visibly relaxes. This woman.
My eyes close when it hits me exactly how much she loves my boys. Tightening my arms around her middle, I pull her close. “Fuck, I love you.”
“Knox,” she whispers breathily as her eyes widen, tears gathering at the corners.
“Baby, don’t fuckin’ cry,” I groan, rubbing her back as her body shakes. When she lifts her head, tears streaming down her cheeks, I exhale heavily. I hate it when she cries.
“Knox! You just told me you love me,” she snaps, switching gears and throwing sass. That's better.
Lifting a brow, I go for broke, hoping to draw out even more of her feisty spirit that gets my dick hard. “I did, and you ain’t said it back yet, even though I already know you do.”
“Oh yeah? You already know, huh? Well, I have news for you, mister,” she growls.
There it is, that fire that goes straight to my dick. Lips twitching, I slide my hand up her back and into her hair, clutching my fist around the silky strands. Dragging her lips to mine, I whisper, “Because you show me every day.”
Her eyes dilate.
Fuck yeah.
“I do. I love you,” she whispers back. It's taken three years to hear those words fall from her lips, but fuck is it worth it.
“I know.”
Tired of talking, I slant my head, taking her mouth the way I want.
Hours later, we walk back into the shop, the proud owners of a brand new Yukon Denali.
“You get what you wanted?” Kidd asks, tracking my girl as she rounds the counter. G test-drove the rig and fell in love with it immediately, which is why she's been sporting a perma-grin since I signed the papers. I have to admit, seeing her happy does some crazy shit to me.
“We did. You’ve gotta see it; it’s so pretty,” she chirps, hopping up on the stool next to him.
“You happy?” I ask, moving around the counter.
“Honey, I was happy when I woke up this morning.”
"Oh yeah?" My lips twitch, thinking about the way I woke her with my head between her legs.
Her cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink. “You’re incorrigible.”
I shrug my shoulders. Maybe, but it was her idea to spend our morning rolling around in the sheets.
“Pay attention, Knox, okay?” Seeing the conviction in her eyes, I swallow thickly.
My eyes track her every move as her fingers close around the hem of my tee and tug, a subtle demand for me to come closer. More than happy to oblige, I lean into her space, being sure to hold her eyes as she softly blows my mind. “I don’t need fancy things. I just need you.”
My chest swells. Fuck, I don't deserve her.
“Y’all are adorable. Are y’all going to fuck again?” My head falls.
“Kidd! That’s none of your business." My head snaps up, hearing the venom in her voice. A slow smile spreads across my lips as I watch the fire build in my girl’s eyes. Call me crazy, but I love when my baby gets riled up and bitchy.
"God, you're fucking adorable." I laugh.
Her arms go up, then come back down, slapping against her thighs. “It’s not funny, Knox.”
“It sort of is.”
“That wasn’t exactly a ‘no’ babe, and just sayin’, we got customers coming in soon,” Thorn adds, adding fuel to the fire.
“Y’all are the worst. I’m going upstairs.” My smile grows bigger when she drags me closer by the hem of my tee and offers up her lips. Once I give her what she wants, she proceeds to put on one hell of a show as she sashays her perfect little ass up the steps.
“You’re a goner.”
I turn to Thorn and smile.
“I’m going to snap his fucking neck.” I'm already planning the trip to Gatortown.
“That’d be bad for business,” Thorn deadpans.
My eyes narrow into slits.
He's right; it will be, but the customer talking about building a bike can't seem to keep his eyes off my woman.
“He’s not here for a fucking bike, and you know it. Look at him.” I nod to the asshole in question. “He’s not the slightest bit interested.” Thorn agrees, watching as Kidd wastes his breath explaining the process of the build.
“See.” I point out. The asshole isn't even paying attention. He's more worried about trying to break his neck to get a better look at G.
Fortunately, she disappeared upstairs, but it still pisses me off.
Thorn claps me on the shoulder. “Yeah, I see that.”
“I’m going to check on G.” I head for the stairs, unable to stand here any longer.
I’ve never been possessive over a woman before, but things with G are different.
She's mine.
When I hit the top step, I spot my girl and still. Damn.
Heart beating wildly, I take my time memorizing the sight of G sitting at my desk, eyes focused on the computer, teeth sunk into her plump bottom lip, and her hand laced in her hair, holding it away from her face.
Never in my life have I ever seen a woman more beautiful than she is at this very moment.
Feeling eyes trained on her, she lifts her head and smiles brightly when she catches me staring.
“You’re beautiful. I don’t tell you that enough, but you are.”
Her smile drops.
“Honey,” she whispers, holding out her hand for me.
My feet obey on their own accord, and I go to her.
I ignore her hand, instead sliding my hands under her arms and lifting her from the chair. Her arms and legs lock around me as she closes the distance, crashing her lips onto mine.
"Want you," I groan, already on the move to the bathroom as her hips roll against my already hard cock.
It turns out she was just as desperate to connect, seeing as she initiated round two.
"Be careful!" I shout, blowing out a heavy breath as my boys run across the yard with Mila hot on their heels. If they think they can hide from Thorn's little girl in their treehouse, they're in for a rude awakening.
That little shit is a daredevil, and to be honest, it's a wonder Thorn doesn't already have a head full of gray hair.
"Thanking God you have boys?" G asks as she sits on the arm of the chair.
"Fuck yes, I am," I admit, tightening my arm around her shoulders. I don't have the slightest clue how to deal with little girls. They're so fragile, something I'm not sure I'm equipped for.
"G, when did you have time to do all this?" Her brows lift in confusion.
Thorn motions to the new patio furniture we've been arguing about — a topic that still isn't settled even though she thinks it is.
"The other day. Do you like it?" she asks, smirking up at me.
Thorn settles back against the outdoor sofa and takes a long pull from the beer in his hand.