“Oh, come on.” I groan. “She clearly doesn’t care one iota about you. She’s there for the visibility.” I continue to watch the train wreck of a dating show. I know half the things on the show are scripted. They play up the drama for ratings, but I think a few of the contestants might genuinely be there for love. I pretend they are anyway, so I can justify watching these shows.
A knock on my door makes me freeze.
No one should be randomly coming to my house. If it were one of the girls, they’d have texted first. It’s not… There’s no way. He’s in prison.
“Farrah? It’s Knox.”
My shoulders relax. I jump off the couch to open the door for him. It takes me half a second to remember I’m in my pj’s. My ratty T-shirt and messy hair areexactlywhat I wanted Knox to see.
Ugh. I’m so stupid. “Knox… What are you doing here?”
“I—” He falters, his eyes scanning my body. I clench the door handle to keep from tugging my tiny shorts down. Hisgaze finally makes it back to mine, and the heat in his eyes makes me blush. “Finn is with Holt’s girls tonight.”
I blink. “Okay?”
“What are you doing?”
“Having a party. What the heck is going on?”
Knox frowns. “You’re having a party?”
I drop my forehead into my palm. “What are you doing here at ten o’clock at night?”
“I was thinking about you on my way home from Grayson’s and wanted to see what you were doing.” He shoves his hands into his pockets, and I suddenly realize Knox is unsure of himself right now.
“I’m just watching TV. Do you want to come in?”
“So you’re not having a party?”
I step back from the doorway with a snort. “No, Knox. If you couldn’t tell from my outfit, I’ve been rotting on the couch.”
He steps inside, his gaze raking over me yet again as he takes his cowboy hat off. The way his eyes move across my body is like he’s physically touching me. It sends goosebumps racing across my skin.
“You look beautiful to me.”
My cheeks bloom at the compliment. He said it so casually, it felt more like a fact than an opinion.
“Thanks.”
Whiskey’s meow is the perfect distraction. He winds his way through Knox’s legs, the traitor. Although watching Knox give my cat attention is worth the betrayal. A vision of him running his hand across my skin in the same way sends a bolt of lust through me so sharp I have to bite back a gasp.
Jesus. I need to walk away from this ridiculous situation. Am I actually getting turned on watching a man pet my cat?
You wish he’d pet your kitty.
The ridiculous thought sounds like Gia,and I stifle a laugh. “Do you want something to drink? I have soda or red wine.”
He straightens, his brown eyes pinning me in place. “I’ll take a glass of wine.”
His answer surprises me, but I manage to hide it. “I’ll be right back.”
When I get to the kitchen, I take several deep breaths. I have a man in my house. I have a man I’m supremely attracted to in myfreakinghouse. If I survive the night, I’ll die of shock.
* * *
“Noooooo.” I groan. “You’re not supposed to like her. She’s the drama queen.”
Knox smirks. “But that’s why she’s fun. She stirs all these women up into a tizzy, and it’s hilarious.”
