Page 55 of Worth the Want
“Okay, ladies,” Rhett says, grabbing Winnie, pulling her to him. She turns into his embrace and snuggles.
“I’ll see you this weekend! And I’m s-so excited to g-go camping! In a tent! I have to tell Han!” Indie’s shouting, swaying on her feet. She steadies herself with her hand on the table, but it’s obvious she won’t be making it to my truck without help. I lean down without thinking and wrap my arms around her knees, swinging her up over my shoulder. I hear a gasp followed by giggling. “Are you manhandling me, Knox Holloway? I’ve never been tossed over someone’s shoulder before—I’ve never been tossed around at all actually. I don’t hate it,” she announces. She’s drunk. Really drunk, and she’s so fucking cute.
“Night, guys,” I call, heading for the exit. Uncle Buck meets me there, holding the door open for me.
“Goodnight, Indiana. Come back soon. I haven’t had a dance partner in forever,” he tells the woman dangling from my shoulder.
“Please call me Indie! You’re a wonderful dancer, Buck. I would be honored,” she tells him earnestly.
“The pleasure is all mine,” he replies, then to me adds, “Will you be okay getting her home, Knox?”
“I think I can manage,” I tell him before walking out into the now-cool night.
“Speaking of managing things, I think I can walk to your truck,” she says. “Although the view from back here is…” she trails off, when I let her slide down the front of my body. “Your eyes…are so blue, Knox.” Her voice is low, the compliment coming out slowly. Lazily.
“Thank you,” I tell her. Eyes roaming over her flushed, heart-shaped face.
She smiles at me. “And your teeth. Oh god, they’re so nice. When you smile at me, it makes me want to…” she trails off again, and I wish she would keep talking. Her feet fully planted on the ground now, she’s not swaying anymore when I unwillingly pull away from her. I’m stuck between wanting to know what she was going to say and making sure she isn’t going to be sick.
She leans back into me, her lips curved into a devilish grin, looking up at me, biting down on that full bottom lip. I feel the leash I have on my control loosen.
“Fort Knox…” she muses.
“What was that?”
She giggles. “I called you F-Fort Knox.” She hiccups. “You’re just so hard to get to know. Your walls are so high, like a fortress. I’m trying though. I’ll keep trying,” she says wistfully, trailing her fingernails down my chest and nuzzling into me. I’m in trouble.
“Indie, I think you overestimate my willpower.”
“Really? I think I estimate it just fine,” she quips.
“If you did, you wouldn’t be rubbing yourself against me right now, Honey.” Her eyes spark at the nickname.
“Are you flirting with me, Knox?” she teases.
“If I was?”
“I might flirt back.”
She’s still leaning into me, looking up at me with kiss-me eyes. I only want one thing more than to kiss her pretty lips swollen, and it’s for her to be stone-cold fucking sober when I do.
My head throbs. Like there are little people with hammers inside it, trying to get out. I’m afraid to open my eyes because I’m worried it will make me nauseous. I had three too many shots last night. The last time I had more than two glasses of wine was months ago, and for a very different reason. I snuggle deeper under the soft blankets and inhale. It smells like trees and mountain air. Crisp and clean—like Knox.
At that, I do open my eyes, taking in my surroundings. The first thing I see is a glass of water and two pills on a sticky note placed on a nightstand beside the bed I’m in. I smile before reading the note.
Take these for your head and then come meet me out on the dock.
I laid some clothes on the chair for you.
Grinning, I take the pills and guzzle the whole glass of water. I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, my eyessearching for the chair in the corner—noticing my jeans folded over the back of it—then down at my bare legs. I’m in my shirt from last night and my blue panties. That’s it. My skin heats at the thought of Knox’s calloused hands working my jeans down my thighs, touching my bare legs—focus, Indie.
I stand slowly and wait for a moment to move, making sure I’m not going to feel sick. Surprisingly, I feel okay. I go to put my jeans on but see that there is a clean pair of shorts and a sweatshirt on the chair beside them. Did Knox go get me clothes from my house? If it were anyone other than him, I might think it was odd, but since itishim, I find it endearing.
I pull the shorts up and slip the sweatshirt over my head. It’s the one with women holding hands around a fire. Above them it says: It’s Nice Here, and then under them: In The Cult. I laugh at his choice, but I love that he picked it for me. I know for a fact this one wasn’t just lying on top. He had to dig for it. I make a quick stop in the bathroom, splashing some water on my face.
Last night comes back to me in pieces. Dancing with Buck, laughing with Colt. Shots. Cora’s hand on Knox.Now,I feel a little bit nauseous. Knox offering me a ride. Standing on the sidewalk by his truck. Had I nuzzled into his chest? Oh, yes. There was definitely nuzzling. One more handful of cold water to my face, and then I head outside and down to the water.
The sun is already out, making the lake sparkle. Sally is basking in it on the porch, but she gets up to walk with me.
