Page 77 of Knot What I Expected

Rough.

Familiar.

My traitorous body recognizes it before I even turn. Heat rolls through my belly. My secret nature stirs beneath my skin.

And when I turn? There he is.

Havoc.

Of freaking course he’s here. Because apparently the universe has decided four nights a week isn't enough.

He’s wearing clean jeans today.

Not firefighter gear.

Not the dark clothes he usually wears at Dick’s.

Just faded denim hugging powerful thighs and a tight T-shirt stretched across a chest that should require some kind of permit.

His blond hair is loose. Swirling tattoos disappear beneath his sleeves and climb the side of his neck. And those eyes.

Lord, help me. His eyes are positively hypnotic.

Gold.

Bright.

Predatory.

Beautiful.

They flick toward me. And my traitorous heart stutters.

“Havoc?”

For one stupid second, I think he came over because he saw me. My stomach does this ridiculous little flip.

Then I realize he isn’t looking at me anymore. He’s looking at Matteo. And something about Havoc changes.

The hard lines of his face ease.

The heaviness that seems so much a part of him lifts a little.

Not much.

Just enough that if I weren’t already paying way too much attention to him, I might miss it.

“You like cookies?” he asks my son.

Matteo nods enthusiastically.

“Yes, sir.”

“Me too.”

Havoc studies the display with grave seriousness.

“But I don't think I could finish one of those by myself.”