Page 4 of Red Rose Cupcake

I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding, my heart still racing as I glance up at Knox. He’s smiling down at me, his arms still wrapped around my waist, holding me close.

“Told you I could prove it,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear, sending another shiver down my spine.

And that’s when I push out of his arms and bolt.

Chapter 3

ROSIE

I sit in my car, gripping the steering wheel, trying to get my head straight. Everything feels too intense—like the air around me is thicker, my skin too sensitive. I’ve never had someone do to me what Knox just did, and it’s like my body doesn’t know how to handle it.

I close my eyes, taking deep breaths, but all I can think about is his hands on me, the way he touched me like he knew exactly how to break me apart and put me back together in the span of minutes.

I grab my keys, but my hands are shaking.Come on, Rosie, pull it together. You’ll be fine. You’re good.

But as I try to start the car, my vision blurs, and I realize I’m nowhere near as calm as I’m pretending to be. I’m still buzzing, and not in a good way. My whole body is on high alert, and I don’t know how to come down from this.

Just as I’m about to force myself to drive, there’s a knock on my window. I jump, my heart pounding as I look up and see Knox standing there, concern written all over his handsome face.

I roll the window down, swallowing hard. “Knox, what are you—?”

“I couldn’t let you leave like that,” he says, his voice soft, but firm. “You okay?”

I nod, but it’s not convincing, even to me. “I’m fine.”

He arches a brow, clearly not buying it. “You sure about that?”

I want to say yes. I want to tell him I’m fine and drive off like nothing happened, but I can’t. My hands are still shaking, and the thought of focusing on traffic right now? Not happening.

Knox watches me for a moment, then sighs, opening my car door. “Give me your keys.”

“What? No, I—”

“Rosie,” he says, his voice gentle but commanding, “you’re not in any shape to drive. Let me take care of you, okay?”

I stare at him, my mind racing. Part of me wants to argue, to say I’m fine, but the truth is… I don’t want to fight him. Not right now. Not when the idea of Knox taking care of me sounds like the most comforting thing in the world.

I hand him my keys, and he gives me a small, reassuring smile. “Let’s get you home.”

* * *

Knox is quiet as he drives, but his presence fills the car in a way that makes me feel safe, grounded. The tension in my body starts to ease, little by little. After I’ve rattled out my address, I keep glancing at him, watching the way his large hands grip the wheel, the strong veins on their backs…

“I didn’t mean to leave like that,” I finally say, breaking the silence.

“It’s okay,” he replies, his voice soft. “You don’t have to explain.”

But I feel like I do. “I’ve just… I’ve never had anything like that happen. With anyone.”

Knox doesn’t look at me, but I see the small smile tugging at the corner of his sculpted lips. “You don’t have to say anything, Rosie. I get it.”

I don’t know if he really does, but the way he says it? It makes me feel like I can let my guard down. Like I don’t have to pretend I’m okay when I’m still trying to process everything. Plus, he must have heard it all in his line of work.

When we pull up to my place, Knox kills the engine and turns to me, his eyes soft and full of something I don’t quite recognize. “You gonna be alright?”

I nod, but there’s something in his gaze that makes my chest tighten. He’s not just asking to be polite. He really cares. “I think so,” I whisper, my voice catching a little.

Without a word, he gets out of the car and comes around to open my door, offering me his hand. I hesitate for a moment, but then I take it, letting him guide me up to the front door. His fingers are strong, warm, solid, and I feel myself relax a little more with every step.

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