Page 103 of Make Me Yours
Knox spots me first. The smug bastard gives me a chin lift. “Hey, Cap. Didn’t know you’d be joining us. Grab a chair, we were just about to order.”
Lilah’s eyes widen. “Steele?”
I don’t bother to hide my irritation as I drop into the empty chair across from her, my stare fixed on her face.
“I didn’t realize you’d be going out to lunch with Knox,” I say, barely able to keep my voice level.
She shifts on her seat. “It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing.”
Knox jumps in, humor simmering in every word. “I’m on the hunt for a new PA and thought we couldshareyours. What do you think?”
My mouth flattens. “That you have a death wish.”
He grins. “Yeah, I figured that might be your response.”
“And yet, you still took her out and asked her to work for you.”
Knox shrugs, the picture of innocence. “I need someone I can trust. Someone who won’t sell my secrets to that gossip site. Lilah fits the bill.”
I shoot him a sharp look. “Find someone else. Lilah’s not interested.”
He leans back in his chair, fingers tapping thoughtfully on the table. “Maybe you should let her answer for herself. For all we know, she mightenjoyhandling two hockey players at the same time.”
Any second now, I’m going to lunge across this table and wring his damn neck. The guy is purposely pushing my buttons.
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” I grit out, muscles coiled tight.
“Nope. Once Lilah agreed to go out with me, I cleared the entire afternoon.” He flashes her a wink. “But, hey, no pressure.”
“This isn’t a date,” I snap. I’m dangerously close to dragging him out of here by his collar. I’ve always held a tight leash on my temper. On the ice, in the locker room, and in life. But that leash has now reached its snapping point. “It’s not happening,” I state. “She’s busy.”
Lilah exhales. “Steele, you’re being ridiculous.”
I glance at her. “Am I?”
Knox bites back a laugh. “You seem a little territorial for someone who claims she’s just a friend.”
“I swear to God, Knox, you’re about two seconds away from finding out exactly how territorial I can be.”
With a grin, he holds up both hands in surrender. “All right, all right. I can take a hint.” Standing, he straightens his jacket and flashes a wink at Lilah. “If you change your mind, give me a call. I’d be more than happy to have you on the Knox McNichols team.”
The guy has no idea how close he is to needing dental reconstruction.
Once he’s gone, the silence stretches tightly between us.
I don’t speak.
I just stare at her.
Lilah fidgets before finally breaking. “I wasn’t seriously considering it, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“It kind of looked like you were,” I say, arms crossing over my chest. “You were laughing and smiling. Giving him your attention.”
“It was Evelyn’s idea, and I thought I’d hear him out. That’s all.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “That’s never all when it comes to Knox, and you know that.”
She rolls her eyes. “Knox doesn’t have an effect on me.”
