Chapter 11
The BMW leftthe smooth concrete of the road and bumped along the gravel driveway of a barn style building with faded, white trim along the roof and a wraparound porch. Twin shadows moved across the roof and the sound of high-powered drills and nail-guns shattered the serene quiet of the surrounding area. Trees lined three sides of the property while an extended lawn reached out towards the road. The last house we had driven past was half the size of the monstrosity before us and a good two or three miles back up the road. I wondered who livedhere.
“I thought we were going to drop Cleo off with Texas,” Isaid.
“I will,” Marv replied. “Don’tworry.”
“Then why are we here?” I asked. Marv shook his head and startedwalking.
Shouts could be heard from the backside of the house and I trailed behind Marv as he strode toward the porch. He waved to a few guys who passed by, their eyes lighting up with recognition and camaraderie. A few paused when they spotted me, their eyes curious and zeroing in on Cleo as she surveyed them from myarms.
"Aww." One man slowly approached and cooed at her. A friend followed close behind them, their eyes big and wondrous as Cleo preened under their attention. Marv shook his head at them, took me by the arm, and steered me through the front door. I had never seen such big men coo over a smallkitten.
The more men we passed, the more attention Cleo got. Some got all big-eyed, staring with wonder and adoration while others put whatever tool they were wielding down and reached out to pet her on the head or scratch behind an ear. Cleo merely yawned and meowed every so often, allowing them to worship her. Marv finally released me when he realized I would still follow him without coercion. I wasn't about to be left alone with these strangers if I could followhim.
I ducked my head after another bulky man stopped to pet Cleo. When he patted me on the head as well before heading back to his work, I barely resisted the urge to reach for the back of Marv's shirt. We managed to make it past most of the workers without too many stops and I noted they all seemed relatively fit, even the older men. Assuming it was because of the type of work they were doing, I focused on where Marv was heading andfollowed.
The living room was an open space with an elaborate chandelier. The place smelled like pine and I breathed deeply, inhaling the scent. To the left was an equally spacious kitchen with a rectangular island. The counter tops had yet to be installed, but it was still beautiful. To the right were wooden stairs leading up into a balcony hallway that overlooked the living room and kitchen. Four doors lined the downstairs wall, and the second to last opened before Knix steppedout.
"Finally." The sound of his boots on the hardwood floor ricocheted in the openspace.
Marv raised his brow. "Was there a time limit? I came over as soon as I got her in the car." He gestured to me and Knix's eyesfollowed.
"Hey, Little Bit." Strong, masculine lips curved up in greeting. Gooey liquid squished in my stomach, warming me. Butterfliesfluttered.
"Hey." I halfheartedly raised my hand in reply. Knix smiled again, then turned his attention back toMarv.
"It's just about lunchtime for the guys. They'll take off for an hour or so, and we can get her into some training while they'regone."
Marv put a hand to his unshaved chin and scratched. "Isn't it a bit early forlunch?"
"They call it second breakfast, I call it first lunch," Knix's low-toned chuckle washed over my skin, making me shiver, and I leaned into Marv's side involuntarily. Marv glanced down at me before leaning back, pushing his lightly muscled arm back into me, causing yet another bout of shivers. Knix continued, "They're working so fast, I let 'em have more than a little leeway when it comes to theirbreaks."
"You're a good boss." Marv waved his hand dismissively. "Anyway, here she is. I've gotta go pick up somestuff."
"Just get everything ready for tomorrow, that's all I ask," Knixsaid.
"Bellamy can pick her up after the guys get back," Marv replied. "Should I run out and grab yousomething?"
"Nah." A wide palm slid between the golden strands of Knix's hair as he rubbed at his scalp. "I've got a few snacks packed away in the cupboards for emergencies. The guys usually don't find them in there since they're already finished with them." That same wide palm dropped and reached for me, pulling me away from Marv and under his very large shadow. "I'll take care ofher."
Marv caught my eyes. "Will she bite me?" he asked, gesturing to Cleo. I looked down at the bundle in my arms, purring away, and shook my head. He sighed. "If you’ll give her to me, I'll drop her off with Texas. We were gonna take her thereanyway."
"You adopted a cat?" Knix's eyes widened with surprise. "Come on,seriously?"
My head jerked back and I glared up at him. "You don't like cats?" Idemanded.
He chuckled, a thick finger chucking me under my tilted chin. "I like cats just fine, Little Bit. I'm just teasing." I relaxed, passing Cleo over to Marv. She whined when our arms brushed and she was unseated from her comfy place, but curled up nicely enough when Marv soothed her, a palm to her back, rubbing lightly as he strodeaway.
"This way now." Knix led me out into the backyard, which was even more enormous compared to the front. Glancing around, I noted several different places he could fit another house and another and another – the entire back yard could be filled with half a neighborhood. "What I'm gonna teach you today are some basic self-defense steps – Harlow, are youlistening?"
I jerked back to face him. With everyone gone, I didn't exactly know how to act around him. He was in charge. He commanded attention just with his size, though usually his demeanor didn't make him seem intimidating. This wasn't the friendly, easy going Knix I had come to know. The agreeable man with too much muscle mass was gone. In his place was a serious, commanding Knix that finally made me understand some of the guys' reactions. Tattling to Knix became a threat that I suddenlyunderstood.
"This is important,Harlow."
"Why?" The moment I asked, I wanted to reach out, wrap my hand around the word, and shove it back inside mymouth.
"Because dangerous situations happen, whether we want them to or not. Unfortunately, it's simply a fact of statistics that as a woman, you'll likely end up in those dangerous situations more often than any of us would like you to. We want you to beprepared."