Page 31

Chapter Seventeen

K nox

My system is all jacked up, but I have no regrets.

I dozed a little with Corie until her alarm woke us both up.

Instead of going to my room, I went downstairs and made my girl coffee and breakfast—Sloane, too.

They both seemed surprised at my gesture.

They assumed I’d still be sleeping. I should have been, but the choice between sleep and time with Corie, there’s no competition. I’m choosing her every damn time.

After breakfast, I asked Corie to take me with her to get my car, saying that I was meeting my mechanic there to either take a look or tow it. She was going to the stadium. It just made good sense, right?

Sloane smirked, reading right through my bullshit, but I didn’t care.

I left Landry a note on the kitchen island telling him the same thing and rode to the stadium with my girl.

She parked next to me in the empty lot. She was early for her meeting, and since there wasn’t another car around, I kissed her good morning.

Again.

I can’t get enough of her. At this point, I don’t see myself ever letting her go.

No, instead, I see her in my life, wearing my jersey to games and so much more.

I’m sunk for my best friend’s little sister.

It was gradual, and even though I knew it was wrong, I still pursued her.

I tried to fight it. I tried my damnedest, but the pull between us was too strong to resist.

Corie Reynolds is the first and only person to test my discipline, and I failed, but this is one loss I’ll gladly take.

I’ve fought hard to take my time with her. To ease us both into this, but with each day that passes, I fall harder and grow less concerned about feelings getting involved and anyone finding out about us.

I want her feelings involved because mine are.

I want the world to know she’s mine.

I shouldn’t. The consequences could be stiff as far as our careers go, as well as my relationship with my best friend.

But he can’t hate me forever if I’m his brother-in-law, right?

I know it’s too soon to be talking like that, but damn if I don’t see it all happening one day.

If I think about the future, it has Corie in it.

My phone rings, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Hey, Dad.”

“Knox, good game yesterday.”

“Thanks. The team’s looking good this year.”

“I’d have to agree. The first regular season game is next week, at home, right?”

He’s asking, but we both know he already knows. My entire family keeps up with the Rampage schedule. “Yeah. We’re playing Minnesota.”

“We’ll be there.”

“Good. The suite will be ready for you. Is everyone coming?”

“Your mom, me, Emma, Everly and Matt, and Reagan and Tyler, for sure. I don’t know about the others.”

That’s when an idea hits me. “Landry’s little sister is home. She just graduated from college. She and her best friend may be there, as well.” I might as well go ahead and plant the seed. Talking her into it will be the hard part.

“The more the merrier. What are their names so I can be prepared?”

“Corie and Sloane.”

“And which one is yours?”

I chuckle. “What makes you think one of them is mine?”

“Because you’re a Beckett, and we don’t invite random women into our lives to mingle with our family unless she’s more.”

“It’s Landry’s little sister and her best friend.”

“Fine, I’ll take a guess. It’s the sister.”

“Why do you think that?” I ask, pretty much giving myself away by not confirming or denying that it’s her.

“Because you mentioned her first. Both times. It’s not Sloane and Landry’s little sister.” He laughs. “Does Landry know?”

“Nope.”

“Son.”

“I know, Dad. I know. It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way.

I was supposed to push her out of my mind.

I tried, I tried like hell, but it never worked.

It only made me think about her more. Then she kissed me.

Just a quick kiss, but, Dad, all bets were off after that.

We decided to keep things between us and see where it goes. ”

“And you’re inviting her to spend an afternoon with your family.”

“You’ll have to meet her eventually.”

“Is that so?”

“More so every day,” I admit. My dad is someone I’ve always been able to talk to. To be open and honest with him. He’s always been there to help guide me, and I guess I want his guidance with this, too.

“How does she feel about all of this?”

“It’s risky, not just with Landry but also with our jobs. She works for the Rampage, too. They have some rule that if two employees date, you have to come forward immediately. We would have had it not been for Landry, so we kept it quiet, and now, as the weeks pass, we’re in too deep.”

Dad whistles. “Knox, your career is on the line?”

“It could be.”

He’s quiet for several minutes, letting the meaning of my reply sink in.

I knew what I was doing. I know what we are doing and how it could affect both of us, but I’m not stopping.

I can’t. She’s too far under my skin. Let’s be honest. She’s also taken root inside my heart.

Football has always been my life, but damn if I wouldn’t walk away from the only professional team I’ve ever played for, for a life with her.

“That’s deep, son.”

“Shit. Did I say that out loud?”

“That you did. You’re in love with her.” It’s not a question.

“I’ve never been in love,” I tell him. “I know I care about her. I know I want to be with her all the time. I know she’s all I can think about.”

“That’s exactly how I felt about your mom.”

“It’s too soon to be tossing out the L word, right?”

“There is no timeline, Knox. You’ve seen it.

You’ve lived it. You have many role models to show you what love looks like in all its variations.

Only you can decide what it looks like for you.

Take it from your old man. The heart knows.

Follow those feelings. I did, and it gave me your mom and your sisters.

My life would be nothing without the four of you. ”

“Thanks, Dad. I’ll let you know for sure if they’re going to be there. I plan to talk to Corie tonight.”

“Sounds good, son. Love you.”

“Love you too, Dad,” I say, ending the call. Ridge Beckett, my father, was a single dad and followed his heart. It led him to my mom, and as a result, they had my little sisters. Their story is complicated and full of heartbreak. I guess it’s mine, too, but everything turned out okay.

Our story will, too.

It’s a few minutes before five when she knocks on the door.

Dinner, her favorite Chinese, was delivered not five minutes ago, so it’s perfect timing.

Running from the kitchen to the front door, I pull it open, grab her hand, and pull her inside.

She drops her bags to the floor, and I lift her into my arms, kissing her like it could be the last time.

Her arms and legs are wrapped around me, and it feels right.

She fits me as if she were made for me.

“I’m happy to see you, too.” She grins.

“I ordered dinner.”

“It smells delicious. Thank you.”

“I was going to cook, but I didn’t want anything to take away my time with you.” Her eyes soften, and she leans in for another kiss as I carry her to the kitchen and set her on the island. I stand between her legs and reach over for the bag of takeout Chinese.

“Are we eating here?” she asks.

“Yep.”

“Don’t you want to sit down?”

“Nope. I’m going to stand right here between these gorgeous thighs and feed us both.”

“Then what?” she taunts.

A challenging gleam in her eyes appears, so I go for it. “Then I carry you to my room, strip you naked, and have my way with you.”

“You know what? I’m not really that hungry. We can skip dinner,” she says, and I toss my head back in laughter.

This fucking girl.

She gets me.

“Tempting, but I also need to make sure you’re taken care of, and feeding you is a part of that.”

“I don’t need you to feed me. I’m a big girl.”

“I know, but you’re also my girl, and I take care of what’s mine.” I open the container, fork a bite of fried rice, and feed it to her. We don’t have time for chopsticks. Dinner is simply the prelude to what’s to come, and we both want it out of the way.

I take turns feeding us both, bite for bite, and steal several kisses in between.

By the time we’re finished, we’re both primed and ready.

It could have something to do with the fact that my cock is hard and nestled between her thighs.

Maybe it’s because her legs are wrapped around my waist, and we’re both imagining what that’s going to feel like once we have no clothing between us.

Whatever the reason, we’re both more than ready, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that what happens next is going to change me.

Change my life forever. After pushing the empty container to the side to handle later, I lift her into my arms. Her legs are still locked tightly around my waist, and her arms do the same around my neck.

She tortures me with kisses all down my neck as I make my way to my room.

Reaching the bed, I ease her back onto the pillow-top mattress, and she keeps her body locked tightly around mine. She pulls me into a frantic kiss as she buries her hands in my hair, gripping the strands. I grind my hips into hers, and she moans.

“Fewer clothes,” she murmurs against my lips.

“Hey, you changed the plan with that kiss,” I tease.

“Well, it was a nice addition to the itinerary, but now we need to get back on schedule.”

“Stand up, Corie girl.”

She releases her arms and legs so I can stand.

Offering her my hand, I help her up. I take a minute to allow my eyes to roam over every inch of her.

Today, she’s wearing a gray pencil skirt and a light pink short-sleeved blouse.

It’s the same outfit she wore this morning, but it’s now somehow sexier since I know it’s about to be on my bedroom floor.