Wrapping me in another warm towel, he carries me into his large walk-in closet. There’s a center island the height of a kitchen counter, and he sets me on it. He grabs one of his shirts and pulls it over my head before he tugs on a pair of sweatpants.
Finally, he carries me to his bed and places me under the covers before he finally speaks."You okay with what happened, Princess?"
I snuggle up to his side."Mm, very okay with it. It was hot as hell and a fantasy of mine for sure."
He chuckles and runs his hand up and down my arm. "One of my fantasies too. Are you telling me you’ve been purposely teasing me all these years?" He eyes me suspiciously.
I hug him a bit harder. "Why is it so hard to believe? I've had a crush on you since Gemma’s sixteenth birthday party."
"I was way too old for you then. Hell, I still am. There’s no way a beautiful young woman like you had a crush on an old man like me. Besides, you were dating that football player at the party. I remember it clearly. I didn’t like him one bit. He was too cocky, and his friend had his eyes on Gemma. I had my eyes on the two of you all night."
"I remember you came out, took off your shirt, and got in the pool. That was the day I knew there was something different about you. Every time I looked up, you were looking at me, and it made me feel things I hadn't felt before. A week later, I dumped the football player."
Knox is quiet, but his hand never stops moving as he rubs my arm, my back, and any place he can reach. It's a comforting movement. Is he thinking of that party like I am?
"I was thankful when you two stopped hanging out with the football players. The guy you went to prom with wasn't so bad."
My prom date and I had been friends since kindergarten. Even though I had a ton of guys ask me out, I figured going with a friend was my safe bet since many of them were more interested in whether I would put out.
Until I went to college, I played it safe. But in college, I had a serious boyfriend, lost my virginity, and had all those firsts. Through it all, I thought this silly crush was over until I came back into town and saw Knox again.
"He was a nice guy. A little too nice, I guess. I dated a bit in college, but none of them made me feel like you have in the past few days."
There’s a break in the conversation, and he's quiet, thinking about what he wants to say next. But it's not an uncomfortable silence.
"Gemma's mom and I were high school sweethearts. She ended up pregnant, and we got married because that's what you did. We had a long ride, but we were more friends who had a child together than anything else. We made it work for Gemma's sake, and I took care of them."
I want to hear what Knox has to say, so I remain silent.Gemma doesn't talk about her mother. She died when she was young, and Gemma doesn't remember much about her. I never pry because it seems a touchy subject for her, yet I would like to know more.
"When Gemma was six, her mother was killed in a car accident. Hit by a drunk driver. I couldn’t grieve her like she deserved. I grieved her as a friend, not as the love of my life. Gemma doesn't talk about her much, and that's probably my fault. I found Club Red a few years ago. The club was enough for me, and I never felt the need to date, so there hasn't been anyone serious. Instead, I focused on raising Gemma. I love that girl, but she was a wild child, as I'm sure you probably remember."
I do remember. Gemma’s a risk-taker and a daredevil, but a good person and one of the best people I know. I have a sudden urgency to make sure Knox knows that too.
"She was a risk-taker back then. Not so much anymore, but she still loves to push her boundaries. She respects you, and she didn't do drugs or sleep around. She was a good person and didn't care about being popular. If someone was bullied, she was the first to help. Often she’d give up her lunch to some kid who needed it."
We talk a bit more, and I drift off to sleep at some point. I don't know how long I nap, but I sense Knox’s gaze on me before I open my eyes. He's leaning up on his elbow, watching me.
"This isn't a dare for me or something temporary from the club," he says.
"It’s not a dare for me either," I admit.
"I want all of you, Summer. This isn't a fling. You are mine, and I'm not letting you go. I love you. Have for a long time now."
My eyes sting with tears because this isn't how I expected today to be."I love you too," I tell him and pull him in for a kiss.
"Stay the night. Gemma gets back tomorrow evening, so we’ll have one last night together before we tell her about us."
I agree. Knox spends the night making love to me and giving every inch of my skin attention. Driving me crazy in the best way.
Chapter 8
Knox
As I wake up, the smell of coffee and bacon fills the air. For a moment, I think Summer is up before me making breakfast, but when I open my eyes, she’s still sound asleep beside me. I enjoy the sight of her in my bed for a little longer before getting up. I dress and head downstairs to see who’s cooking breakfast. Normally I’d say it’s my daughter, but she isn’t here. Maybe it’s my buddy Grant, who isn’t supposed to be in town but has a key to my house.
I find Gemma and her boyfriend in the kitchen. "I thought you two weren't getting back in until tonight," I say as I walk in and pull my daughter in for a hug.
Gemma has a huge smile on her face. "We weren't. But we were able to get an earlier flight, so we thought we’d surprise you. We have something to tell you."