“Where’s Finn this morning?” I ask.
“He had a sleepover at Muriel and Stan’s.”
It shouldn’t surprise me that Holt’s parents would act like grandparents to Finn. They’re constantly bringing ducklings under their wings.
“Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the way Holt’s family loves each other?” I ask.
Knox raises an eyebrow at me, and I roll my eyes.
“Oh, sorry. Was that too emotional for you?”
He gently knocks his shoulder into mine, upsetting my balance, and I crack up laughing.
“You’re a pain in the ass,” he grumbles. “But yes.”
He doesn’t elaborate, but the fact that he admitted it is enough for me. A comfortable silence stretches between us. The frogs and bugs start to sing their summer song, providing a soundtrack to the morning. I bask in both the warmth of the sunshine and the heat coming from Knox. For a man whose anger gets tripped so easily, he’s an oddly calming presence. I’m still fighting the urge to lean further into his side like Whiskey curls up with me for a cuddle.
I don’t want to disrupt this peaceful moment between us, but my ass is starting to go numb from sitting on the groundfor so long. Adjusting my body brings Knox out of his thoughts, and he jumps to his feet with more agility than a man of his stature should have.
He holds out his hand to help me up, and I cautiously take it. His big paw swallows mine, making me feel delicate in a feminine way instead of fragile. We lock eyes, his gaze piercing mine as if to read my every thought. I’m not sure if I want him to know how I feel.
My stomach is in knots with the knowledge that I find this exasperating man extremely attractive. I have from the very beginning, and I’ve never truly known what to do with those feelings.
How could I like a man who has been nothing but an asshole to me from the moment we met? Why, of all people, did I have to likehim?
Then he switches things up and is suddenly nice to me. I’ve got whiplash from his behavior.
It was easy to ignore my attraction when his personality was so horrid. Now that I’m finding out he has a whole other side to him, I’m more confused than ever. I shouldn’t want this man to kiss me silly. I’ve had my share of difficult men in my life. There’s no reason for me to pursue this one.
And yet, my lips are tingling at the thought of him leaning down to press his full mouth to mine. What would his beard feel like against my cheeks? Is it soft or rough?
His horse snorts, making both of us startle. I catch a tinge of pink on Knox’s cheeks before he turns and strides away. He swings himself up into the saddle with ease and then nods at me before he kicks his horse into a gallop.
I have no idea what just happened, but something passed between us that I’m not sure I’ll be able to ignore the next time we’re together.
CHAPTER 21
Knox
As the words to “Happy Birthday” ring through the room, emotions threaten to clog my throat. It’s all fucking Holt’s fault. He cries at every single birthday party for his girls, and for some reason, it’s getting to me this time.
Lauren is eight today, and it’s a reminder that Finn turns seven next month.
Time has absolutely flown, yet every day feels longer than the day before. I wish I understood how that works.
I clear the emotions away. I refuse to cry like a sap at my best friend’s daughter’s birthday party. It’s fucking ridiculous.
Lauren blows out her sparkly pink candles to the cheers of her family. Mr. Basil and Holt work together to cut and pass out slices of chocolate cake. I swear, this is the best dessert Stan makes. It’s one of the few reasons I enjoy attending these big family gatherings.
“How are you, honey?” Mrs. Basil asks softly. Her sparkling gaze might be on everyone around the table, but her full attention is on me. She’s always been good at not puttingme on the spot with her questions but making it clear I have her full attention.
“Just fine.”
“Are you still terrorizing our sweet Farrah?”
I whip my gaze toward her.
Muriel’s fighting a smile as she looks up at me. “I know all about the two of you and your blowups. Are you still picking fights like a little boy who doesn’t know how to tell a girl he likes her?”
