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Jana soaked all of this in. “You shouldn’t quit the rodeo, not when it’s been your dream for so long.”
“I’m not quitting anytime soon,” he said in a quiet voice. “But sometimes, dreams change.” He lifted a hand to her shoulder, his fingers lightly stroking her neck. “Whatever happens, though, I want you to be a part of it.”
The warmth from Knox’s touch traveled all the way to her heart. She didn’t know how to answer, she really didn’t. He was saying things she didn’t know if she was ready to hear. Or feel. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”
“I’m not asking for answers from you, Jana,” Knox continued. “I’m just telling you how I feel. Plain and simple.”
Jana exhaled. She wanted to pull over to the side of the road and hug this man, bury her face in his neck, feel his heartbeat against hers. For years, she’d missed Knox, but she’d completely given up on him. Yet, here he was…
Needless to say, Jana felt a lot of trepidation as she pulled up to her parents’ home. Seeing her parents yesterday had been stressful enough, and digging up the past hadn’t been fun, either.
When she parked, Knox took her hand and squeezed. “You don’t have to come in.”
She met his gaze, and her heart practically melted. No matter what her dad thought of Knox, or the mistakes he’d made, or any of them had made, she wanted this man in her life. Hopefully, permanently. “I’m coming.”
“Okay.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Let’s go.”
So Jana walked hand in hand with Knox to her parents’ place. Her mom answered the door.
Her mom’s eyes looked as wide as an owl’s as her gaze landed on Knox. Jana guessed that her dad hadn’t informed her mom of the phone call. And now, she wondered if her dad had gotten the message.
“Hi, Mom,” Jana said. “You remember Knox Prosper?”
Her mom’s gaze moved to Jana’s hand in Knox’s. “Of course, I remember you, Knox. Uh, come in, you two. I’ll get Dad.”
She hurried off, leaving Jana to open the door and walk in with Knox. Of course, her mother wouldn’t want to have a conversation alone with them. But Jana didn’t mind; it was her dad they needed to confront.
“Your mom seems…”
“Frazzled?” Jana suggested.
“That’s a good word for it,” he said. “Not that I spent much time around your parents, but I don’t remember her being so skittish.”
“She’s gotten more that way over the years,” Jana said. “She hates conflict and avoids it at all costs.”
Knox merely nodded.
Jana led him into the living room, and Knox checked out the pictures on the wall. There were several of Natalie, at her various graduations—high school, college, and law school. Another few from a rare family vacation. Jana’s high school graduation picture was on the wall, but it was the only picture of her in the whole place, that she knew of. Jana had been the daughter her parents had tolerated more than anything.
And she supposed they were still tolerating her. They didn’t even want to live in the same town anymore. But those were issues that Jana would deal with another day. This moment was about what Knox wanted to say.
She and Knox sat on the couch together not saying anything, their hands linked, Knox absently rubbing his thumb over her wrist.
They waited almost ten minutes before her father came down the stairs. She assumed his office was on the second floor. She’d never explored her parents’ place. But what had taken her dad so long?
Knox released her hand and rose to his feet when her dad entered the room. Her dad was dressed in a suit and tie, which made Jana frown. Was he trying to intimidate Knox or something, or was he on his way to a business meeting? She’d rarely seen him so dressed up.
“You came, too?” her dad said, his gaze moving from Knox to her. He’d completely ignored Knox’s outstretched hand.
“I can wait somewhere else if you want your conversation to be private with Knox,” Jana said, already feeling her neck heat up.
“I have nothing to hide,” her dad said, his gaze slicing to Knox. “Never did.”
This wasn’t completely true, and her dad knew it.
Her dad took a seat on the chair opposite the couch. Leaning back, he folded his hands. “What was so important that we need to have this discussion again?” Once again, he was looking at Jana.
She bit her lip and looked over at Knox. He’d taken his seat again, and she could practically see the tension vibrating in his shoulders.
