Page 13 of Knottily Ever After (Crescent Lake Cozy Omegaverse #1)

Chapter Thirteen

Violet

“ C ’mon, Vi! Push it!”

My entire body aches, my legs quake as I power through the last minute of my stair-climber workout, letting out a roar of frustration and celebration when the time ends.

“Yeah! That’s my girl.”

Quinn does his own celebration beside me, pumping his fist in the air with such joy that it’s as if he’d completed the torturous workout himself.

And I didn’t miss the fact that he called me his girl, either. The little flutter in my chest a clear indicator that I enjoyed the possessive declaration, even if he only said it to spur me on as my trainer.

“Let’s slow it way down,” he says, handing me an un-capped bottle of water. “Two small sips. We’ll stretch it out in three.”

I do as instructed, sipping twice then handing the bottle back, letting him replace the cap.

When I’d arrived, Quinn had been helping a male Beta with free weights, and greeted me with unadulterated excitement that had me grinning.

I’d stretched then hit the treadmill, and after thirty minutes, I was cooling down, ready to move on to the next station, when Quinn popped up beside me.

He was looking fresh, although I’m sure he must have done his own workout and showered before anyone else came into the gym, just as he’d said he would.

His dark blond hair was clean, looked soft, like there was no styling product in it.

He wore loose athletic shorts with compression shorts beneath them, and his tee was swimming around his torso today.

Those chocolate eyes of his were sparkling as he looked at me, making my belly flip more than once.

I blame that for why I’d allowed him to be my trainer today.

More like a personal cheerleader.

When I hit the mat to stretch after my cooldown, he’s right there with me, all massive legs and muscular arms. After free stretching for a few, he rises and motions for me to lie back. “I’ll help with your hamstring and hip flexors.”

As I lie back, he kneels by my left thigh, and I suddenly can’t breathe when he firmly grips the back of my knee to bend it, bringing it into my chest slowly.

His eyes never leave mine as he presses, releases, then presses again.

When his hand slides to the inside of my knee and pushes down, warmth builds between my hips that has nothing to do with stretching my muscles.

Quinn never touches me inappropriately, and the disappointment I feel is… frustrating.

His large hand presses my leg almost to the mat, spreading me half open, our gazes locked, and all I can think about is wanting him between my thighs. His muscular body looming over me. Wanting him inside me.

That last thought makes me start, and I blink rapidly.

What the fuck am I thinking?

I don’t really know Quinn, despite living with him now. And I’d just been betrayed by the man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

Maybe my body longs for revenge. I mean, I could make a worse choice when it came to men to sleep with. Quinn seems kind, if cocky. And he’s definitely hot.

But… there’s no way he’d want someone like me. I’m not some fitness fanatic. I only work out to try and stay healthy, not to get super skinny or buff.

When he finishes stretching out my other leg, he helps me stand, handing me a towel and the water bottle again with a gigawatt smile.

“Good work today, Vi.” His voice is deeper than usual, quiet.

My thighs squeeze together involuntarily. “Um, thanks. A-and thanks for helping me today.”

His head bobs. “Any time. Will you be back Wednesday?”

“Yeah,” I say, way more breathy than I’d intended. “I’ll be here.”

“Great.” He blinks slow, those dark lashes dipping then rising over pools of brown, making my heart stutter. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Gods. I am in so much trouble.

I take it back.

Forget my libido getting me into trouble, I have writer’s block.

I got back to my room, showered and changed, then sat in front of my laptop staring at a blank page for—I check the time on my phone—almost four hours.

I haven’t written a single word. Again. I haven’t even had an idea to write down for a plot breakdown.

The pressure of following up a bestseller makes me grind my teeth until I let out a frustrated cry and melt into my chair.

What the fuck am I going to do?

I’m in a strange and unfamiliar situation.

I have no specific deadline because I was supposed to begin planning my wedding.

Steve and I had decided to ensure we could get everything we wanted for our ceremony and give everyone ample time to make arrangements to attend by starting the process more than a year in advance.

Now, I have no plans to make and no ideas to write.

I swipe my phone from the desk and hit the contact at the top of my favorites—right beside Steve, who I still haven’t removed from his Number One spot.

“Vi!” Bec’s voice calls over the speaker. “How’re things in podunk town?”

I huff a laugh. “It’s not like that here,” I explain. “It’s actually really nice.”

“Well, good. I was worried you might be sulking with a bunch of hillbillies.”

Now, I laugh for real. “More like the hottest guys I’ve ever seen.”

That piques her interest. “Oh, really?” she sings. “You said the guy who owned the place you’re staying was hot, but now there’s more than one?”

I go into minor detail, telling her about how Vaughn failed to mention he lived in the apartment, too, along with two other gorgeous Alphas. How they’re all exceedingly kind.

“Hot damn,” she whistles. “You hit the jackpot.”

I shake my head, although she can’t see. “That’s actually not why I’m calling.”

“Lay it on me.”

I take a deep breath and say in a rush, “I have writer’s block.”

“That’s all?”

I frown at my phone. “Bec, this is a big deal. I have to get my next book out ASAP to follow up on the bestseller.” Like, she should know this.

“Honey,” she sighs, “you’ve been through hell. And you aren’t supposed to be writing right now anyway. I know things have changed, but you need to give yourself some grace. I say this as your friend and your editor.”

I groan and let my head fall into my hands, fingers gripping my hair.

“You need to get out,” she says with a stern tone. “Go touch grass. Breathe the fresh air out there. If anything is going to help you clear your head, it’s going to be that.”

What she says makes sense.

Even if I don’t like it.

“And if an idea comes to you, write it! But don’t push yourself right now.

The last thing you want is to produce trash in your current state.

Then you’re wasting your time writing something I’ll have to tell you there’s no way in hell we’re publishing.

Or worse, following up a bestseller with a bomb you can’t take back. ”

I let out a growl and sink deeper into my chair. “Why are you always the voice of reason?” My voice is so wimpy, I barely recognize it.

Bec laughs heartily. “That’s why you love me.”

Truer words…

“Thanks, Bec.”

“No problem. I’m always here to give you your daily dose of reality and a kick in the ass.”

When the call ends, I look at Remy with a pout. “What do you think? Should I get out of here?”

He stares at me with his usual judgmental 12’s, and I sigh.

“Yeah. You’re right.”

I shut down my laptop and head for the closet to pull on my sneakers, grab my phone and keys, then head downstairs. The brewery beckons me when I’m outside, and I make my way through the door to tell Vaughn I’m going for a walk.

There’s no reason for me to tell the man, but yet… I can’t help feeling he’d appreciate it. And I want to do even the smallest of nice things for him.

And the look in his beautiful gray eyes once I divulge my plan confirms that I’ve done the right thing.

“Hang on,” he says in a rush before disappearing through the door behind the bar. He emerges a moment later with his own keys in hand, a young man in tow.

“This is Will,” Vaughn supplies, gesturing to the young guy who is clearly an Alpha by the way he carries himself, and how his scent reaches my nose stronger than any Beta’s would.

“Hello,” he says, his voice deep but shy. His dark blue eyes twinkle as he smiles kindly. His brunette hair is darker and shorter than Vaughn’s.

“Hi!” I smile broadly, trying to ease his shyness a bit. “I’m Violet.”

“I’ve heard.” He gives a sly, sideways glance to Vaughn who clears his throat in warning, making me laugh.

“I guess I’m famous.”

Will’s shoulder muscles ease, his smile brightening. “A bit.”

“Well,” Vaughn interrupts, “Will is here to cover for tonight. Monday’s are slow. So, that frees me up to take you on a tour of Crescent Lake.”

My heart skips a beat at the devastating smile he gives me, his unexpected plan taking me by surprise.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” both Vaughn and Will say in unison, making me laugh again.

“Well, I’m grateful for the tour guide. And the company.”

Vaughn tosses and catches his keys once before pocketing them and making his way to the end of the bar where he lifts and then lowers the bartop to join me on the outside.

I turn back to Will and wave. “It was nice to meet you.”

“Don’t be a stranger,” he tells me, his hand raised in a farewell, a knowing expression on his face.

Once we’re back outside in the warming late afternoon air, Vaughn touches my elbow, sending shocks of pleasure down my spine. I look up at him with a small gasp, and find him grinning down at me.

Then he says in his low, sultry voice, “Allow me to show you the sights, Ms. Marshall.”