Page 4 of In the Long Run
‘Wait.You’re really in the Army?’
His expression dims.‘Yes.So’s Yeti.’
‘And the nicknames are an Army thing?So Forty’s—’
‘Fort Knox.’He rolls his eyes.‘I made the rookie mistake of saying I didn’t like it, so of course, it stuck.’
‘Yeah, it did.’Brody laughs again.
‘Okay, thanks,’ I say, snapping a quick picture and sending it to my flatmate Caleb with a short text promising to explain later.‘Thank you too,’ I say to Brody.
‘You kids have fun now,’ he replies, knocking Knox’s hand away when he tries to shove him.
We don’t speak until we’re outside.The air has cooled significantly and I curl my hands inside my jumper sleeves.
‘I’m just there.’I point at the old white brick building down the block that’s been my home for the last two years.I never expected to stay so long, but living with Caleb is easy and the view over the bay is one of my favourite things to look at.If it wasn’t Caleb’s aunt’s flat, there’s no way I could afford it, especially not now while my new bookkeeping business struggles to find its feet.
‘Really?’Knox stops next to one of the large Norfolk pines that marks the start of the path to the beach.‘I grew up there.My godfather still lives there, too.’
I’m about to ask who Knox’s godfather is when a shadow near the front door distracts me.A man steps forward and the glow of the streetlight illuminates his face.It’s Brand.
Knox sighs heavily.
‘Persistent, isn’t he?’I say.
‘Persistence is usually admirable.Blindly ignoring a woman asking you to leave her alone is the opposite of that.It’s not hard to be a good guy.’
That settles it.I’ll be seeing Knox in my dreams later.
Brand doesn’t say anything as Knox opens the metal front gate before twining our hands together.One of the ground floor tenants has filled their courtyard with lavender, but Brand’s presence sours the sweet scent.
Knox’s steps slow and he releases my hand.But before I can be disappointed, he slings an arm around my shoulder and pulls me in tight next to him.Can muscles have muscles?Because it feels like his do.‘Just keep looking at me,’ he murmurs.‘I’ve got you.’
‘Genny, please,’ Brand says.‘You’re making a mistake.We could be so good together.’
‘What do you say, Gen?’Knox asks, a playful lilt curling around my name, making me scrunch my toes in my sneakers.I shouldn’t like it as much as I do.‘Him or me?’
‘You’ slips from my lips on a breathy sigh I’m not even close to faking.
Knox uses his key fob to unlock the glass front door and guides me into the foyer.The door shuts with a soft snick.‘Is he still there?’he whispers.
The words rumble across my skin, setting off a trail of goosebumps.I peek around Knox’s shoulders.Brand frowns back at me.‘Yes.’
‘This okay?’Knox pushes me back against the wall and slides his hands up my arms until one is buried in my hair and the other cups my jaw.He runs his thumb across my lip and lowers his head towards mine.
‘Uh-huh.’
Honestly, it’s a miracle I can respond at all.I’m caught in the heat of his gaze, the gentle grasp of his hands and the weight of my own desire, which no longer has anything to do with Brand.Sue me for wanting to kiss a kind, hot guy.It’s been forever since I’ve had real chemistry with someone.
Knox leans forward, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.I like the idea of doing that for him, so I press up on my tiptoes, my fingers gripping his shoulders for balance.Anticipation floods my system; this is like waiting for the starting gun at a race.Also, I’ve figured out what I’d like for my thirtieth birthday.It’s to climb this man like a tree.No pressure, no expectations, just fun.
I deserve a little fun.
The promise of how good this is going to be heats the air and when Knox ducks his head, a quiet moan escapes my lips.God, tell me you’re hard up without telling me you’re hard up.
‘Bolton still there?’he asks softly.
‘Who cares,’ I mutter, inching closer … until my brain catches up and I realise what Knox’s asking me.The front stoop is empty.‘Oh, um, no, he’s gone.’Embarrassment washes over me and I duck out of Knox’s embrace, smoothing my hair and dropping my gaze to the floor.Of course Knox didn’twantto kiss me.This was all about Brand.They clearly have history.He was pretending, like I asked him to.
