Page 2 of Pucking Knox
After two songs, I've worked up the nerve. I catch Harvey's eye across the room and smile – the kind of smile I've been practicing in the mirror all week. He smiles back, warm and inviting.
"Target acquired," I whisper to Sawyer.
She squeezes my hand. "Go get him, girl. Text me if you need an extraction."
I make my way to Harvey, swaying my hips slightly more than necessary. Up close, he's even more perfect for this – kind eyes, gentle smile, responsible demeanor. The type of guy who would never kiss and tell.
"Kennedy," he says, genuine surprise in his voice. "You look... different."
I lean against the counter beside him, letting my dress ride up just slightly. "Different good?"
His eyes drop to my legs for a fraction of a second. "Yeah. How are you?"
"Actually," I say, summoning every ounce of courage the shots have given me, "I was thinking we could go somewhere quieter to talk?"
Harvey's eyebrows shoot up, but he recovers quickly. "Yeah, sure. Upstairs is usually—"
"Perfect." I grab his hand before I can lose my nerve.
The stairs are crowded with couples, but we manage to find an empty bedroom on the second floor. Harvey closes the door behind us, muffling the party's chaos. My heart pounds as he turns to face me.
"Kennedy, are you sure you—"
I kiss him before he can finish the question. For a moment, he's too surprised to respond. Then his hands find my waist, pulling me closer. It's nice – he's gentle, tastes like beer and mint gum, and his hands stay respectfully above my clothes.
Which is exactly the opposite of what I want right now.
I push him toward the bed, channeling every romance novel I've ever secretly read. He sits when his knees hit the mattress, looking up at me with wide eyes. I move to straddle his lap—
The door bangs open.
"Party's over," Knox's deep voice cuts through the room like ice.
I freeze, mortification flooding my system. Harvey practically shoves me off his lap, stammering apologizes.
"Knox," I snap, anger burning through my embarrassment. "What the hell?"
He fills the doorway like a dark angel of cockblocking, all six-foot-three of barely contained violence. The bruise on his jaw looks worse in the dim light, making him even more intimidating.
"Reynolds," Knox says, ignoring me completely. "Get out."
Harvey doesn't even hesitate. He squeezes past Knox with another mumbled apology, leaving me alone with my brother's best friend and my worst nightmare.
"You had no right to do that," I seethe, hands shaking with rage. "You're not my keeper."
Knox steps into the room, shutting the door behind him. "Your brother—"
"Isn't here," I cut him off. "And even if he was, I'm an adult. I can kiss whoever I want."
"Kiss?" Knox's laugh is sharp and humorless. "That's not where that was heading and we both know it."
Heat floods my cheeks. "So what if it wasn't? Again, none of your business."
"It became my business when you decided to throw yourself at my teammate." He takes another step closer, and I resist the urge to back away. "What's this really about, Princess? Daddy's campaign got you feeling rebellious?"
The nickname hits like a slap. "Don't call me that."
"Why not? Isn't that what you are? Daddy's perfect little princess, trying to play the bad girl for one night?" His eyes rake over my outfit, leaving me feeling exposed in ways Harvey's kiss hadn't. "This isn't you, Kennedy."
