Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
“Knox.” I smiled as I stepped back, inviting him inside. “It’s good to see you.” I blinked, my smile faltering. I was an idiot. “I mean, you know, up close and personal. You’re usually off by yourself.” Would he think I wasn’t grateful he watched over us? Because I knew without a doubt Knox was doing exactly that.
He gave me an amused smirk. “Good to see you too, Evelyn. Glad to see you’re getting settled.”
“You’ve been here a lot since we moved in. We’ve settled in because you and Grover have basically seen to our every need.” It was a gentle reprimand, but I doubt he caught it. If he did, he didn’t pay attention.
“Good. That’s what I was aimin’ for.”
“Hey, Knox.” Luke lifted his chin in greeting as he helped Aneshya put on her backpack.
“Luke. Thought I’d give you guys a lift to school.” He shrugged. “If you want.”
“On your bike?” Luke’s eyes got wide, then he looked puzzled. “But how can we all three ride?”
Knox chuckled. “Right. That’s not happenin’, and I think you know it, you little punk.”
Luke grinned, his cover blown. “Never hurts to try, big guy.”
“You don’t have to do that.” It was automatic on my part. I always said that whenever Knox dropped by and offered to take the kids to school. I didn’t want him to feel like he was obligated. Besides, I was growing attached to the big man. He looked so much like Danny it was off-putting at first, but he was nothing like his brother.
“Fully aware I don’t. Also, I think you know me well enough by now to know I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.”
“If you’re sure.”
He gave me a cocky grin, like he’d won this round when I had no idea we were even competing. “I’m sure. Mind if I drop in after I get them off to school?”
“I, uh… W-what?” My heart pounded. Knox. In my home. With me. Alone. Grover had gone to run some errands he said would take all day and to not expect him before the kids got home from school. It was both a fantasy and utterly terrifying. Because, like it or not, smart or not, I was becoming attached to Knox. And we’d barely said two words to each other.
“It wasn’t a hard question, Evelyn. Either you’re good with me coming back to talk with you or you’re not.”
“This is more your home than it is mine. You don’t need permission to come over.” It was a non-answer, and we both knew it.
“It’s fine.” Luke said, looking from one of us to the other. “Come over anytime you want.” He grinned. “Especially if no one else is here but my mom.”
If he’d been closer, I’d have head slapped him. My darling son just grinned and urged his sister out the door.
“You’re in big trouble when you get home.” I pointed a finger at him and tried to look stern.
“No, I’m not.” He waved cheerfully.
Knox grinned like an ape. “See you in half an hour.”
“You want some breakfast?” If he was coming over, I might as well feed him.
The smile Knox gave me was positively wicked. “Absolutely.”
I gasped, feeling the blood rush to my face. How the hell could he make that exchange sound… sexual? He winked at me before ushering the kids out the door. Luke glanced at me over his shoulder and grinned.
Well, shit.
As the door shut and I heard Knox and the kids chatting on their way to his truck, I peeked out the door. It had only been a couple of weeks since one of these brothers had turned my world upside down. Was I a fool for letting Knox get close? I still didn’t know where he’d been this whole time, and it wasn’t my business. But what if he disappeared again? Grover had told me he’d thought Knox was dead all this time.
I hadn’t been close to Danny. If it hadn’t been for Luke and Aneshya, I’d have left him years ago. But we weren’t married, and since he’d never threatened or abused any of us in any way, I’d never keep his children from him if they wanted to see him. I hadn’t spent much time one-on-one with Knox, but he’d quietly but persistently inserted himself into my life. Even though we weren’t romantically involved with each other, if something happened to Knox, I wasn’t sure I could ever let go. Especially knowing he’d come back from the dead once already.
Breakfast consisted of biscuits and gravy, eggs, hash browns, and sausage. Thankfully, there had been leftovers of everything other than the eggs, which were easy to make. I’d just taken them off the stove when there was another knock at my door.
My heart leapt. God! I felt like a stupid schoolgirl with her first crush. It was insane.