Page 62 of Unmasked

Knox rose and stretched one hand over the desk. “I appreciate your help. I'll talk with Everleigh again and see if she can think of anyone who might have ties to Beaumont.”

“Sounds good.”

Knox headed back to the Beaumonts’ house and parked in the circle out front. The door opened before he mounted the steps, and he smiled at Lettie. “You'd better stop before I get used to this. Who's gonna take care of me once I go back home?”

She grinned widely. “Oh, I have an idea.”

Heat coiled in Knox’s belly. He could only hope that Everleigh would move in with him. Not that he expected her to take care of him, to cook or clean, but... he wanted her with him. He hated it anytime they were apart, especially now. He knew she was safe enough here at the house with the staff working, but it wasn't the same. He wanted it to be just the two of them, at home.

As if Lettie read his thoughts, her smile turned coy. “Miss Everleigh is upstairs. I'll let her know you’re home.”

This gargantuan mansion felt like a display for HGTV, and Knox hated it. He'd take his tiny cabin any day over this as long as he had Everleigh with him. “Thank you. Oh, and Lettie?” She turned, head cocked in silent question. “I'm going to have a look around Mr. Beaumont’s office. Tell her she can find me there if she needs me.”

“Of course.”

She left to find Everleigh, and Knox moved toward the office at the back of the house. He felt Beaumont’s presence everywhere, and his skin itched like Beaumont was looking over his shoulder, watching every move. To the best of Knox’s knowledge, Beaumont's office hadn't been touched since the incident at the country club the other night.

Knox entered the room, keeping to the perimeter, his gaze sweeping over the contents. His gaze snagged on a photograph on the bookshelf, and he wandered closer. At first glance, he thought it was Beaumont and his wife at their wedding. A nauseating sensation roiled in his stomach when he recognized Everleigh instead, clad in a white gown and smiling at the camera.

Jealousy reared up hard, and Knox forced it down as he stared at the picture, unable to look away. She smiled back at the camera, but her expression looked tight, forced. He wasn't sure anyone else would really notice, but he did. His gaze flitted over the man's face. Everleigh was right; he bore a solid resemblance to Knox. From what she said, he was a decent enough guy, but Knox hated him on principle. He hated that he had gotten so much time with her that he'd lost.

Hurt and regret stung Knox’s heart, and he fought to push the emotions away. Everleigh had been young, just trying to move on and make the best of her life. That was behind her now, as was everything Knox had done over the last fourteen years. All that mattered was that she was with him now.

Forcing his feet to move, Knox continued his circuit around the room. He paused behind the large desk, examining everything spread out over the surface. It was impeccably neat, everything in its place. He remembered Everleigh telling him that she’d found the photos under the blotter, and he carefully lifted one corner of the black leather. The photos were still there, and careful to avoid touching them, he studied the one on top.

A soft sound drew his attention across the room. Everleigh leaned against the doorway of the office, and Knox shot her a smile. “Hey, beautiful.”

Dropping the corner of the blotter back into place, he turned and spread his arms wide as she moved toward him. Her hands slid over his shoulders, and her nose found its home in the crook of his neck. He pulled her in close, holding her tight, loving the way she felt against him.

The two of them—they just fit. He knew when he met her that she was special, and more than twenty years later, he had never been more sure of anything in his life.

Everleigh nestled her cheek against Knox’s chest, breathing in his familiar scent. One hand banded around her back, the other buried in her hair, Knox pressed his lips to her forehead and held her close. So many heavy emotions swamped her.

Knox seemed to understand, because he swept one hand comfortingly up and down her spine. “It's okay, honey. Your father would want you to be happy.”

She wasn’t entirely sure that was true, but she appreciated Knox’s attempt to placate her nonetheless. For the next several minutes, they lay there in comfortable silence. She felt the steady rise and fall of his chest, each breath getting slower and deeper as his pulse returned to normal. As his heart thudded steadily beneath her ear, she could practically hear the wheels turning in his head.

“Everleigh?” His quiet voice cut through the silence.

“Yeah?” On some deep level, she knew what he was going to ask before the words even left his mouth.

“Are you using any kind of... protection?”

She didn't want to tell him. Hot tears scalded the backs of her eyes. What would he say? They'd already been down this road once. If she got pregnant a second time, would he be furious with her? She knew he would want to do the honorable thing, which only made her feel guiltier.

Because the truth was, she wanted a baby. Not just with anyone—but with Knox. The tears she’d been fighting slipped free, splashing onto his warm, broad chest.

“Hey. Shhh...” he soothed as her breath hitched. The hand on the back of her head slipped over her hair, gently petting it away from her damp cheeks. “Sweetheart, talk to me.”

She shook her head slightly and sniffed away the burning sensation that raced over her nose as more tears threatened. “I don't want you to be mad.”

“Oh, Everleigh, I would never be mad at you.”

There was a beat of silence as they both recognized the falsity of his words. He'd hated her once, for good reason. And there was nothing stopping him from doing the same thing this time. If she was pregnant, she'd effectively be trapping him into the exact same fate.

“Sweetheart.” Knox adjusted them so they were face to face. Though she tried to avert her gaze, he lifted her chin and forced her gaze to his. “Whatever the answer is, I won't be upset. I promise.”

His words were sincere, the look in his eyes more so. She bit her tongue to stave off another volley of tears and shook her head. “N-no.”