Page 36 of Make the Play

My eyes move from my best friend to Knox, and our gazes collide.

“They were sold out of cinnamon roll croissants,” he tells me as he places the four boxes on the island. “I bought everything they had left. I figured I was bound to get something you liked that way.” It’s such a sweet gesture, and my heart races because he thought of me, and I’m blushing. I don’t have to look in a mirror to know. I can’t seem to help myself. When he’s around, I can’t control it.

“Oh, she likes all the sweets,” Sloane tells him helpfully. “But Boston cream donuts are her other favorite.”

Knox winks at me. “Noted.”

Sloane elbows me and clears her throat. “Thank you for these. That was really sweet.”

“I’m pretty sure there’s a Boston cream.” He lifts the lids of the boxes until a triumphant smile lights up his face. He plucks the donut out of the box, tears a paper towel off the roll on the counter, and hands it to me. “Time to celebrate you, Corie girl.”

“I’ll save it for after dinner.”

“Beckett, I thought you were going to be boring and stay home,” Reid says, stepping into the house. “Ladies, Landry says the meat is done.”

“Thanks, Reid.” I smile. “Can you tell him to bring it inside so everyone can make their plates? There’s no point in carrying all of this out there.”

“Got it, gorgeous,” he says with a flirty smile.

“Montgomery,” Knox growls.

Reid’s laughter follows him outside.

“Right,” Sloane says. “I think I’ll go see if the guys need any help. You know they can get easily sidetracked without proper supervision.”

My gaze follows my best friend’s every step until she’s outside. I know why she’s out there. She’s going to distract them and stall so that I can have a moment alone with Knox. I know how her mind works, but I don’t need that moment.

A moment is scary.

It’s risky.

I’m still staring at the door when Knox steps next to me. The warmth of his body standing so close to mine is comforting in ways it shouldn’t be. It’s as if my body already recognizes his after only sharing a few simple touches.

His hand rests on the small of my back, and he guides me closer, and of course, I go without complaint. There’s nothing but my thin tank top between his hand and my skin, but I feel the heat, almost like a burning sensation through the fabric. It’s always this way when he touches me. My body responds to him in a way it’s never responded to anyone else.

That should be even more reason for me to stay away, but I can’t. Not when he’s this close, and I can smell his cologne. Not when the memory of the way he held me against his truck is still so fresh in my mind.

“Why is it that I can’t stop touching you?” he asks. His voice is low and gruff.

I want to look at him, but instead, I keep my eyes on the island, pretending to be busy. Anyone could look through the window and see us. My body is turned so they’d be unable to see him touching me, but I know he’s touching me.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

A low, gravelly chuckle fills the air around us. “You’re sorry for being irresistible? That’s not something to apologize for, sweetheart.”

I shrug. “I guess I’m used to taking the blame.” The words are out before I can stop them.

“Explain that.” His voice is a little harsher than before, but I can still hear the command.

“Nothing.” I wave my hand in the air.

“No. You don’t get to do that. It’s something, or you wouldn’t have said it. You can tell me.”

“My ex was an asshole.”

“Did he hurt you?”

I laugh. “No, he’s too weak for that, but he did like to blame me for him cheating on me.”

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