Page 28

twenty-seven

Harlow

The drive from Chelsea to the Flatiron District wasn’t long since the neighborhoods border each other. We were quiet for the duration of the trip, just stealing glances when we thought the other wasn’t paying attention. It seems safe to say that subtlety is neither of our specialties.

Knox pulls up to the valet in front of our destination for the night—a tall building with ample rooftop space. He exits and comes to my door, opening it before taking my hand and helping me out of the car and onto the sidewalk.

“Name?” the valet driver asks as he notes the license plate number.

“Knox Spencer,” he replies.

“Enjoy your night then, Mr. Spencer.” The valet driver nods at us, and Knox, hand in hand, leads me into the building. By some bit of fortune, we end up in the elevator alone as we ascend to the rooftop.

With no audience, he severs the distance he’s been keeping between us, standing right behind me and running his fingers lightly up and down the exposed skin of my arms. “You’re going to fucking kill me tonight, Pierce.”

I lean back against him, surrendering myself to his touch. “Is that so?”

“You’re a goddamn vision in that dress, Harlow.”

I smirk. “Not so hard to picture me in a gown now, is it?”

“No, it isn’t. And you look really fucking good.” His breath on my ear causes my body to involuntarily shiver against him, and he softly chuckles. “You like that, do you?”

“I can’t control how my body reacts when you’re that close to me, Knox.”

“But letting go of your control could be good, don’t you think?”

Ohh, there’s a whole other meaning to that, isn’t there?

“I do think,” I say breathily. “Maybe giving up control is exactly what I need to do.”

The groan that escapes Knox’s lips tells me everything I need to know. He wasn’t caught up. He’s been keeping some distance between us because he has the same thoughts I do— sleeping together would be a really bad idea . But he still wants it just as much as I do.

“No, I think that would be a very good thing for you, Harlow.”

I turn to face him, and the fire in his eyes burns red hot. We may both think this is a bad idea, but holding back is arduous. I don’t believe I have it in me to keep myself from him much longer, and if his rapid breathing is any indication, he doesn’t have it in him, either.

Our saving grace right now is the ding of the elevator, alerting us to our arrival on the building’s rooftop terrace. We break our eye contact as the doors open, and we step out to join the throngs of people meandering around.

I spot my brother over by the bar with Lane, which is perfect because I really need a glass of wine right now.

Actually, make that the whole bottle.

Things have been a bit awkward between Knox and me since we arrived. We’re sitting at a table with our friends, and we’ve hardly joined in on any conversations, so lost in our own heads.

I’ve no doubt they noticed.

I’m two glasses of Riesling in, and Knox has already downed an entire beer. I know he doesn’t drink much during the season; none of the players do. But between that and the way he keeps adjusting the collar of his shirt, he seems to feel as hot as I do right now.

Every look from Knox has me burning up. And he’s hardly taken his eyes off me. Cole and Lane have been shooting each other glances but otherwise not addressing the obvious tension in the air.

But Lucia isn’t one to refrain.

“What the hell is going on with you two?” she says loudly. “You’ve been quiet all through dinner.”

“Because they’re both being really fucking weird tonight,” Cole replies.

“We’re not being weird, dick,” Knox states, annoyed.

“Well,” Lane says, “you sure as hell aren’t acting normal.”

Rory sips her glass of wine from where she sits next to Cole. “You should’ve seen them when he came to pick her up from Luc’s. You could’ve cut the tension with a knife.”

“You’re being dramatic,” I reply weakly. “There was no tension.”

Lucia stifles a laugh. “Babe, you were both eye-fucking each other the moment he walked into the room.”

“Spare me, please,” Cole groans.

“Your sister is dating Fort,” Rory says, nudging him with her arm. “This all comes with the territory, Pierce.”

“Hey, she doesn’t want to hear about my sex life. I don’t want to hear about hers.”

“Do you even have a sex life, Cole?” Rory asks, eyeing him curiously.

“Why are we focusing on me right now?” Cole cries.

As our friends now turn their attention to Cole and Rory’s bickering, Knox and I both breathe a sigh of relief at not being the focus of the conversation.

He takes a deep breath before leaning closer to me. “How is your salmon, Lo?” he asks.

“Not the best I’ve had,” I reply, “but it’s pretty good.”

“Ah, good,” he says back. “That’s good. The weather’s nice tonight, too, isn’t it?”

I can’t hold back a giggle. “Are you trying to make small talk, Knox?”

“If you have to ask, I’m doing a terrible job.” He gives me a soft smile.

“Not terrible, I don’t think… but why are you trying to make small talk with me?”

Knox sighs. “Things have seemed a little… awkward since we got off the elevator. I’m trying to get us past that.”

“How sweet of you,” I say with a smirk. “Such a thoughtful boyfriend I have.” My hand rests gently on his thigh.

“You just love teasing, don’t you?” Knox says as his lips lightly brush the outside of my ear. My shiver is involuntary and immediately creates a charge between us again.

No matter how hard we try, we always end up right back here. Same situation, same feelings, same internal monologue telling us this is a terrible idea. But I’m so tired of listening to that voice in my head.

That spark between us is never going to go away. So instead of running from it, maybe we should just give in. Maybe that’s all we need to eliminate this awkward tension once and for all.

I turn my head to look Knox right in the eyes. “That’s not teasing,” I say before lowering my voice. “But I know how to tease if that’s what you want.”

He takes those words as an invitation to run his fingers gently up the exposed skin of my thigh without taking his eyes off me. “Bit of a dangerous game, that is, don’t you think, Harlow?”

“What’s life without a little danger?” I say, leaning in closer. Knox’s throat bobs as he tries to maintain his composure.

“Harlow!” Lucia says as she claps a hand on my shoulder, and he all but jumps away from me. “Come with me to get another drink.”

“Oh, uh… sure,” I stammer out. “Let’s go.”

I stand up on shaky legs as Lucia leads me toward the bar. I glance back at Knox to find Lane leaning over, talking to him about something. Based on the vacant look on his face, I’m willing to bet I’m the subject of that conversation.

We get to the bar and stand while waiting for the bartender’s attention. “So,” Lucia says now that she has me alone. “What were you and Knox talking about?”

“Nothing!” I say too quickly. I know she won’t believe me, but I’ve got to try. “We were just making small talk.”

Lucia looks right at me. “Some small talk that must have been since he was ready to slip a hand under your dress.”

“Lucia!” I whisper shout. “Be quiet, will you?”

“How interesting that you’re not denying it,” she smiles.

“Why didn’t you bring Rory with you to get a drink?” I ask in an attempt to steer the conversation.

“Because,” Lucia says, “she’s been chatting up Cole all night, and he’s hanging on to her every word.”

“What’s going on there?” I wonder curiously.

“Oh, ojitos ,“ Lucia says, stepping up now to speak with the bartender. “You’re so naive.”