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His brow furrowed. “The opposite, actually. I like you, Sarah. I thought I was protecting both you and me by keeping a boundary between us, but I can’t ignore this attraction anymore. I like spending time with you, and the more we’re together, the more I want to kiss you.”
“I like you, too,” I admitted, not quite believing this was real.
He cupped the back of my head and stepped even closer. “I don’t know if this is a good idea, but I’m following my instincts here, and everything inside me is telling me to kiss you.”
I licked my lips, and his gaze snagged on the motion. “Then you should.”
With a groan, he lowered his lips to mine. His touch was tentative at first, as if testing my response. My hands went to his biceps to hold on as he deepened the kiss, taking me to a place I never thought I’d go with him. My heart fluttered in my chest as I sank into him, the warmth of his body and the firm grip of his hand in my hair.
When he slowed the kiss, he said, “I’ve been holding myself back, thinking I’m not the right man for you or that you deserve better.”
“Don’t you think that’s for me to decide?” I asked, keeping my tone light.
“I’m going to do what feels good, and right now, that’s pursuing whatever this thing is between us. But I don’t want to do anything you’re not ready for.”
“I want that, too.”
“You don’t think Addy will be upset if you’re dating someone?”
Pleasure coursed through me that he wanted to pursue this. “I’ve been on dates before. She understands it, and I think she’d be thrilled if that man was you. But I have to be honest, if things don’t work out, then she might be hurt.”
“I won’t cut you out of the farm or my family. You’ll always have a place here. Not that I’m thinking we’re doomed or anything.”
He’d said he wasn’t ready for a relationship before, though. “What changed your mind?”
“I talked to my family about it, my mom and Emmett. They made me see that I was closing myself off to something that could be good for me.”
“I’m glad you changed your mind.”
He smiled. “Me, too.” He kissed me softly, as if he wanted to reassure himself I was real. “We should probably head back before they send a search and rescue team looking for us. I have to warn you, my brothers can be obnoxious.”
I barked out a laugh. “I have a feeling they’ll be harder on you.”
He grumbled. “They do seem to like you.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” I wanted his family to like me. They were good people, and if I was going to date Knox, then it only made sense that their opinion mattered.
We followed the path out of the clearing, toward the main house.
“I have to admit, I get jealous when you talk to Seb. I worry that you two have more in common.”
“Sebastian isn’t the reason I’m here. I’ve seen him at school events, but we didn’t know each other before, and I’m not interested in him.”
Knox let out a breath. “I’m relieved to hear you say that.”
“You don’t have a reason to be jealous.”
“I’m getting that.”
Then I smiled. “But I’m kind of enjoying that you were. It’s been a while since I’ve held a man’s interest.”
He draped an arm over my shoulder and pulled me into his side. “You’re having fun at my expense.”
“I’m enjoying the attention.” Warmth spread through my limbs, and it had nothing to do with his body heat.
“I can’t promise that this will go anywhere. Next week, you might decide that a farmer doesn’t hold your interest.”
I held my arms out to my sides. “You’re not a farmer. Your family owns this property, and you own a business. You’re smart, resourceful, and a family man. Everything I look for in a guy. You’re kind and thoughtful and sweet to my daughter.”
