Page 13

CHAPTER 13

LARK

“Are you sure you’re okay with going out?”

Even though Knox has asked me the same question at least half-a-dozen times since he got here, I still smile as I tell him patiently, “Yes. I’m sure.”

He pockets his phone and comes over to stand beside me, watching for a moment as I transfer all my things from my winter handbag to my holiday one. A puzzled V forms between his eyes. “Why are you switching bags?”

“Because it’s Christmas.”

“Um.” The V gets deeper. “I’m not sure I understand. The blue bag you’ve been using seems fine. Do you need a new one?” He perks up. “Do you want a new bag for Christmas? We could go to that new store in Bliss. The one with all the weird-looking mannequins in the window. And you could pick one out for me to get you for a present. ”

A beat later, he adds, “Actually. You could pick out a few. That way I can buy one and it’ll still be a surprise.”

He’s so cute.

Setting my little makeup pouch aside, I turn to Knox. Using his shoulders for balance, I go up on my tiptoes so I can press a quick kiss to his lips. “There’s nothing wrong with either of these. But this bag”—I gesture at the deep blue leather one—“I use in the winter. Because it’s dark. And it has more room than my summer ones, so I can fit my gloves and a hat inside it.”

Knox loops his arm around my waist as he inspects the two bags with a narrowed gaze. “So what makes the other one a Christmas bag?”

“Well.” I grab my wallet and slip it inside the cranberry-colored bag. “It’s a Christmassy color. So it makes me feel more festive when I have it with me.”

“Oh. So the color matters.”

“Yes.” I give him another kiss. “The color is important. So in the spring, I use one that’s a brighter color. And in the summer, a pastel shade.”

“So in the fall, you would use something like… orange? For pumpkins and leaves?”

Laughing, I reply, “Something like that.”

Knox grins. “Okay. Color is important. Got it.”

“Yes.”

As I arrange everything inside the cranberry handbag, feeling very thankful I have my tampons in a separate pouch and not just thrown in on their own, Knox says, “I know I’m probably being annoying, asking you over and over if you’re okay with going out tonight.”

“You’re not.” Snapping the bag closed, I sling it over my shoulder. I reach for his hand, giving it a little squeeze as I reply, “I don’t think you’re being annoying. I think you’re concerned.”

“I am. It’s not that I don’t think you’re strong, Lark. But you’ve been through so much. And it’s only been a few days since everything with Ric.” Worry tightens his features. “If it wasn’t for Finn and Hanna coming, and Devin and Mal, I wouldn’t have even brought it up.”

“Am I a little nervous about it? Yes.” As he starts to frown, I add quickly, “But I don’t want to let that control me.” Tightening my grip on his hand, I tug him out of the kitchen and through the living room and over to the coat rack by the door. As I reach for my puffer coat—dark green, of course—he takes it and holds it open for me to slip into.

“It’s December,” I continue. “I have Christmas shopping to do. The Winter Wonderland Walk is coming up. The big holiday party at my company is coming soon, and I really want to be there. Plus—” I hold his gaze. “I’m dating this incredible man, and I want to spend time with him. Meet his friends from the Army.”

Knox smiles, his eyes soft with affection. “I think I’m the one dating someone incredible. And I’m looking forward to you meeting them, too. I want to take you to the Wonderland Walk and be your date for the party. But I don’t want to be selfish, pushing you into something you’re not ready for.”

“You’re not.” Wrapping my arms around his waist, I tilt my head back to look at him. “I want to do this. A little fear isn’t going to stop me. And anyway, the way I look at it, I couldn’t be safer. Of everyone that’s going to Blissful Brews, there are seven former Special Forces, right?”

“Yes. Finn and Devin were Green Berets, too. And I think Max will be there. I’m not sure if you’ve run into him, but he runs the car shop in town. He’s not former military, but he can be intimidating if you don’t know him.”

With a smile slightly more confident than I’m actually feeling, I say, “I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.”

And I’m not going to let the little flutters of anxiety in my stomach ruin it. No way. Not when I’m about to spend the evening with some of Knox’s closest friends. And not that I mind spending quiet evenings together, but I’m excited about going on a regular date with my amazing and very sexy boyfriend.

He’s looking particularly sexy tonight in dark jeans and a charcoal sweater that stretches just the right amount across his chest and biceps. His jacket is this dark blue that makes his eyes pop, and every time he smiles at me, my heart jumps.

It might sound weird, but ever since I watched Knox come storming in to protect me from Ric, I haven’t been able to get the image out of my mind. Not the scary Ric-pointing-a-gun-at-me part, although that’s wedged firmly in my memory, too, but the sexy Special Forces soldier part. The part where Knox looked so intense and dangerous, but I knew it was because he was protecting me.

Even his voice was sexy, all growly and tough. And then when he rushed to me, pulling me so carefully into his arms and kissing me …

Oh. My.

Now I understand why people like reading romances with military men in them. But this is even better because it’s real. And Knox is mine.

“Songbird.” Laughter is dancing in Knox’s eyes as he looks at me. “Is there any reason your cheeks just went pink?”

Argh. Sometimes being a redhead stinks.

But I’m not pussyfooting around it this time. Since the incident at the Edwardsons’ house, Knox has been staying at my place, but still on the couch. And he’s been extra cautious with me, stopping our very pleasurable make-out sessions before they can go too far. Which is very sweet and I didn’t mind at first, but now? I’m ready for more.

With a defiant lift of my chin, I say, “I was thinking about how sexy you looked when you went all tough Special Forces guy the other day.”

He blinks. “Tough Special Forces guy?”

“Yes. All intense and dangerous. And growly.”

Lips twitching, he asks, “Dangerous and growly?”

“Yes. I knew you were Special Forces, of course. But actually seeing you in action… well, sort of… it was sexy. I haven’t stopped thinking about how you looked.”

“Oh.” Eyes darkening to a deep twilight, his voice goes rough as he says, “Well. I could try to be growly later, if you’d like. And maybe… I could rescue you again?”

And now I’m imagining Knox scooping me into his arms and rushing into the bedroom, his gaze all intense and dark with desire, and I’m breathless with need, aching to be filled. He looks down at me, his voice all rumbly as he says?—

“Lark?”

“What?”

“If you don’t stop looking at me like that, we’re not going anywhere.”

Then I notice the very obvious bulge in his pants. And my nipples somehow poking through my sweater, despite having a bra and shirt underneath it.

“That’s it,” I announce as I fan my flaming cheeks. “I’m never thinking another sexy thought again.”

“Oh, don’t say that.” Knox strokes my cheek. The amusement in his eyes gives way to something softer. Sweeter. “I love it when you think sexy thoughts.”

“Maybe later, when we get back, we can try some of them out?”

“Oh, songbird. Definitely.”

“So this one time, Knox had this idea to go on a road trip.”

Knox groans and tosses his knife at Finn. “Do you really need to tell that story?”

Finn snatches the knife out of the air and spins it, then throws it back at Knox. “Yes. I do need to tell it. So Lark knows what she’s getting into.” He grins, turning his attention to Lark. “Do you see this? He threw a knife at me.”

“It was a butter knife,” his wife, Hanna, says with a laugh. “And you deserve it for trying to embarrass Knox.” She smiles at Lark. “These guys. Every time one of them gets coupled up, the rest of them love to tease them.”

“It’s a right of passage,” Devin agrees as he loops his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “You should have heard the shit I got?—”

“You did not,” Mal interjects, shooting a puzzled look at her husband. “Everyone was so nice and encouraging?—”

Enzo snorts. “That’s just because they were giving him a hard time when you weren’t around. I wasn’t even there, but I’d put money on it.”

Devin nods. “It’s true. I just told the guys they had to keep it quiet around you. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

Mal’s expression softens. “Aw.” She kisses his cheek and says, “Well, I appreciate you trying to protect me.” To Lark, she adds, “Try not to get too annoyed with these guys when they get all protective. It’s in their blood.”

Enzo picks up his beer and takes a long sip. “We mean well.”

Winter smiles at Enzo, and her whole face lights up with it. “Enzo was a little overprotective in the beginning.”

Knox coughs. “A little?”

“Well, maybe more than a little,” she concedes. “But I understood. And I love him for it.”

My heart melts at the adoring gaze Enzo gives Winter.

Then Knox reaches under the table and takes my hand, stroking his thumb gently across my palm, leaving tiny sizzles of electricity in its wake. He kisses my cheek and whispers in a throaty rumble, “But you like it when I’m protective, right?”

Need throbs in my core. My breath catches.

The lacy bikinis I wore just in case grow damp.

Heat floods my cheeks. “Yes.” I pause, and then so quietly it’s barely audible, “And all growly and dangerous.”

His pupils dilate, flaring with desire.

Across the table, Finn has a giant grin stretched across his face. But it’s not smug or teasing. It’s pleased. He raises his mug of beer and says, “Well. I’ll save the embarrassing story about Knox for another time. But I’d like to make a toast. It’s really great being here, seeing you guys. It’s been too long.”

“Agreed.” Devin lifts his glass. “Texts and calls are nice, but there’s nothing like catching up in person.”

Hanna’s glass joins the others as she says, “I’m so glad we found the time to come out here. Now that GMG is here, we can visit you whenever we come to Vermont to hike.”

Knox smiles at me as he raises his bottle. “I’m really glad you could make it. And that you could meet Lark.”

Winter and I follow suit, our mugs rounding out the toast. Winter meets my gaze as she says, “I’m so happy to meet the friends Enzo’s been telling me about. And Lark. Maybe it’s cheesy, but I’m really glad Knox met you.”

“I’m glad I met you,” Knox adds. He kisses my cheek again. “I’ve never been happier.”

As Winter and Hanna aww quietly, I turn to Knox. “Me neither.”

The table goes silent for a few seconds before Finn chuckles. “Okay. Are we finishing this toast or what? My arm’s getting sore and I’m getting thirsty.” After a beat, he adds, “And hungry. I think we need more food.”

Enzo adds his mug to the mix. He laughs. “Far be it from me to keep Finn from his food.”

Then he pauses to glance across the bar, his gaze landing on Gage, Alec, Ronan, and Max midway through a cutthroat round of darts. Gage is shaking his head ruefully as Ronan can be heard over the music arguing, “That was cheating. Sting did not just walk in here.”

“I’m so damn glad you’re all here. Old friends and new,” Enzo says. He lifts his glass. “Cheers. And let’s not leave it this long next time.”

As I take a sip of my holiday porter, Hanna looks over at me. “You guys should come to Sleepy Hollow for a visit. Everyone would love to meet you.”

“That would be nice,” I reply. “I’ve read about Sleepy Hollow, but I’ve never been there.”

“Lots of Headless Horseman stuff,” Finn says with a smile. “But it’s really nice there.” His smile turns serious as he gazes at Hanna. “When I moved to Sleepy Hollow, my whole life changed. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Aww.

Knox scoots his chair over so our legs are touching. He presses a soft kiss to my head.

“Oh, come out to Colorado,” Mal insists. “It’s gorgeous out there. And we have plenty of room at the ranch. There’s a little bar, and horses…”

Devin lifts his chin at Knox. “It would be great to have you out there. ”

Glancing at me, Knox asks, “What do you think, Lark? Would you want to take a couple of trips later this winter? Or maybe in the spring?”

Anticipation replaces the last of the anxiety in my belly. “I’d really like that.”

As I take another sip of my beer, Knox says to Devin, “I’ve been thinking about Fitz lately. Now’s not the time, but… maybe when we get out to Colorado…”

“Yeah.” Devin gives him a sad smile. “He was a great guy. I think about him a lot.”

Devin went through the qualification course with Knox and Fitz, and from what Knox told me, they all became good friends. I don’t know if Devin has any unresolved feelings about Fitz’s death, but I hope it helps Knox to talk to someone who really knew him.

Knox swallows hard. “How about another toast?” He whistles, drawing the rest of his friends’ attention. Once Gage, Alec, Ronan, and Max are clustered around our table, drinks in hand, Knox raises his glass. “To Fitz. Gone but never forgotten.”

Tears burn in my eyes as I clink my glass with Knox’s.

When the toast is done, he turns to me. “Thank you, songbird.”

Cupping his cheek, I lean over to capture his lips.

When we pull apart, he looks at me with a vulnerability I haven’t seen before.

He’s not Knox, the strong and confident Special Forces protector who can handle anything.

This is the Knox he keeps hidden from most people. The part he protects to keep from getting hurt.

And he’s trusting me with it .

My heart squeezes.

I love him.

The realization isn’t slow like I’d thought it would be; a tide rolling in.

It’s a tidal wave. Engulfing me. Leaving no uncertainty.

Maybe it’s too soon, but I don’t care.

I love him.

“Lark, are you alright?” Knox squeezes my hand gently. “Do you want to leave?”

“No.” I smile at him, feeling lighter and happier than I can ever remember. “This is perfect.”