Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“That should work.” She gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Go on now. I’ll lock up.” She waves me off. I want to ask her more questions, but I know my time has run out.
“Love you,” I throw over my shoulder before I head toward the front. Knox is standing in the center of the bakery waiting for me with something pink and fluffy in one of his hands. When his eyes come to mine, a smile pulls at his lips. Why does he have to be so damn handsome?
“Your girlfriend isn't going to get mad that another woman is staying at your house?” I lift one of my eyebrows at him.
“Nora is not my girlfriend.”
Relief fills me instantly with his words. I watch as he opens the pink thing in his hands, and I realize it’s a coat. “In.”
“Whose coat is that? Is it Nora’s?” I take a step back, not wanting to touch anything that has come in contact with that mean-spirited woman.
“Why would I have Nora’s coat?” He closes the space between us and starts putting the coat on me.
“I don’t know. She could have left it at your house or in your car.”
“She’s never been in either.” He buttons it up. “Are you jealous?” He smirks.
“Knox, I swear on Christmas cookies I will smack you.”
“Liar, you wouldn’t hurt a soul.”
“Knox.” I sigh.
“I got the coat for you, obviously. I know you love pink. You always have.”
I’m taken aback, to say the least. “How do you know that?”
“You always wear it.”
“Again, how do you know that?” I laugh.
“Instagram.”
“Instagram? You don’t even have the Gram or Facebook.” The second I say the words, I know I’ve said too much. It’s only confirmed when Knox smiles even bigger than he already is. I don’t know what it is about this man that makes my lips all loose. And we all know what they say about those.
“And how do you know that? Have you been looking for me?” His tone is teasing, and dammit, sexy too. Ugh.
I might as well 'fess up now.
“Sometimes I get bored and poke around. Shall we go? I'm hungry. I can’t live off sweets and a few fries.” I quickly change the subject, not wanting to delve any deeper into that conversation.
“There you go lying to me again.”
“Oh, hush.” I smack his chest. His hand comes down onto mine, trapping it against him.
“I’ve been hushed for far too long, Ruby.”
My fingers flex against his hard chest. “What does that even mean?”
“It means I’m going to kiss you.” He doesn’t give me time to respond or second-guess it. His other arm around my waist pulls me flush against him as his mouth comes down onto mine.
His lips are gentle as he kisses me tenderly. The softness of it has my knees growing weak. I’m thankful he’s got a hold on me.
“Open for me babe, been dying to taste you for far too long,” he says, his tongue licking along the seam of my mouth.
I part my lips, giving him what he asked for. His tongue meets mine, and I start to kiss him back. I swear I hear what sounds like a small growl leave him.
The kiss turns quickly from soft and sweet to something else altogether. I forget where we are until he breaks his mouth away from mine. I gasp to catch my breath.
“Knew you’d taste as sweet as you are,” he says, his eyes still on my mouth. I can still feel his lips there. My brain is mush as I stare up at him.
Never in a million years did I think there would be something sweet about Knox. Especially his kisses. But I was so, so wrong.
9
KNOX
“You live over here?” she asks as she peers out the passenger side window.
She’s been avoiding my gaze ever since that kiss, but I’ve noticed how her cheeks are still a warm pink and the way she touches her mouth every so often in a sort of absentminded way—as if she’s remembering how my lips felt on hers.
“Here? No.”
“So …” She finally looks at me. “What are we doing by City Hall?”
“You’re hungry.” I pull up in front of Ms. Minnie’s Kitchen.
Her eyes widen. “Is this the Ms. Minnie who had that little cart at the—”
“Christmas tree lightings every year? Yeah, it’s her.”
“Oh my God!” She clasps her hands. “She always made the best little sandwiches with the ham and the melty cheese and that sauce. Waffle fries were always—” She does a chef’s kiss on her fingers.
I can’t help but smile. She’s seriously too adorable, and I want to kiss her so badly right now. But she’s hungry, and there’s no way I’m going to make her wait another second to get comfortable.
“Don’t forget the funnel cakes.” I step out of the car and go around to help her out.