Page 67 of Knox

And suddenly I wanted to be the one biting that lip and causing that flush of pleasure.

“What?” I asked, my voice too low, too rough.

“I was just wondering what we’re going to do about this.”

An unexpected bark of laughter broke on my lips. “Get in the Jeep, Sloane.” I didn’t have an answer to her question, but I knew it was unwise to stand outside the diner any longer. Sloane was in danger. I couldn’t forget that. Not for another second.

She climbed into the passenger seat and watched closely as I rounded the hood to slide behind the wheel.

I stole a glance at her smug, beautiful face, as I started the engine, unable to fathom how someone as smart, fierce and kind as her could look at me as if I was something precious.

Moreover, how had a trip home to grieve the loss of my mother given me the space to feel such joy?

“So we agree,” she said. Sloane swiveled in my direction, making no attempt to fasten her seatbelt. “You’re definitely into me.”

I clenched my jaw to stifle a goofy grin. “You got me.”

The smile that broke across her face was like the sunrise. “Good. Because I really want to kiss you again.”

I scanned the lot, the street, the tree line in search of danger. Anything I’d missed. Anyone intending this perfect angel harm.

“Knox.”

My gaze snapped to hers.

“Kiss me.” She leaned closer, a look of challenge in her eyes. “Before I think you’re joking.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I let my natural southern drawl pull the words from my core as I obeyed her command. This time when our lips met, it wasn’t sweet or tentative. I kissed her the way I’d been dying to kiss her since the day we first met. And when Sloane opened for me, sliding her sweet tongue over mine, I was completely gone. No coming back. Lost to this little powerhouse.

We broke apart far too soon, and I rested my forehead against hers. We needed to get on the road. Back to the island. To someplace far safer than my Jeep.

I pulled onto the road a few minutes later, immediately testing the speed limit.

“This complicates things,” I said.

“It doesn’t have to.”

I shot a disbelieving look in her direction. She knew better. She was too smart not to. “I’m supposed to be protecting you. I need a clear head for that.”

Sloane’s smile was small and patient. She set a hand on my thigh, pressing gently. “Then protect me as if I’m already yours to lose.”

My heart and gut drew weapons at the thought. I’d do anything to protect the people I cared about. I would do anything to protect her.

Whether we’d kissed or not. Whether I’d tried to ignore those feelings or not, nothing would’ve changed this inevitable conclusion. The fact she cared for me too, only sealed the deal.

No one was getting to Sloane without going through me first.

And no one was getting through me.

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.