Page 33 of Unmasked Rivalry
"We’re goin’ to the store,” he says, pushing to his feet. “You need some hardware to secure those doors properly. Let’s go.”
I follow him, but not before letting out a large exhale.
The hardware store is empty except for a single bored teenager pretending to restock. We walk the aisles, Knox pushing the cart, completely unbothered by the silence lingering between us. While I’m here, I decide I will get some more cleaning supplies, mostly so I have something to do with my hands.
I load up on bleach, gloves, sponges, and some trash bags. Knox pays for the lot of it, even when I argue, and continues to act as though I don’t exist as we walk into the parking lot. Not a single person in a five-mile radius would believe this man likes me.
If Ralston is watching, he knows I’m a fat fucking liar.
"You know Ralston's probably got someone following me," I mutter, "And I can promise you that they’re reporting back to him right now that there is no possible way the two of us are seeing each other, let alone even like each other. Hell, I am getting more attention from that homeless man by the road that keeps winking at me.”
I wink back at the man who gives me a toothy grin and goes back to sleeping.
Knox freezes right near the tailgate of his truck, hands gripping so tight the knuckles go bone white. Then, before I can blink, he grabs my wrist and spins me so we're face to face. The next thing I know, I'm pressed up against the back of the cold truck, my arms full of cleaning supplies and my heart full of bad decisions.
He kisses me. No warning, no buildup. His mouth crashes into mine and it’s not sweet, it’s not gentle, but it is everything I remember from the first time, only now, there’s nothing to hide behind. My entire body lights up and the bags crash to the pavement and I wrap my hands in the neckline of his shirt, pulling him closer even as I know I should run, scream, do anything to keep this second of oxygen from catching fire.
He breaks the kiss, panting, and his eyes are so wild it makes me dizzy. "That good enough for you?" he growls. “Or should I fuck you right here, too?”
I swallow, trying to catch my breath. “Flowers would have sufficed.”
He grunts, but I can see the hint of amusement in his gaze. “Don’t push your luck.”
He lets go, grabs the fallen bags, and gets into the truck. I force my wobbly legs to work, and follow him. We don’t talk the whole way home. When he drops me off, he holds my gaze for a long minute, his expression intense.
“Don’t fuck this up,” he says, “Or, I’ll kill you myself.”
A statement, not a threat. I almost believe him.
I snort. “Yes sir.”
With that, he gets out of the truck and gets to work.
And I am left even more confused than I was ten minutes ago.
This man is messing with my head, and I’m scared to admit that I might just like it.
9
“Awhat?” I ask, shoving a piece of orange into my mouth and staring at Sable, who is running her hands over her slowly rounding belly.
“A town fair, it’s actually fun.”
I crinkle my nose. “Sounds like something out of a horror movie.”
She laughs. “Oh come on, it’ll do you some good to get away from this place, you’ve been stuck here cleaning for days.”
She has a point.
“The only problem is,” Mera joins in, pulling a pair of gloves off after finishing another room, “Ralston will be there because he runs the cattle auction. Wolfe thinks it’s a good idea to sell a few cows, so they can get a better idea of how it all works and make some contacts.”
“Daisy is first on the list,” I mutter and Sable laughs.
“Poor Daisy, you secretly love her.”
“Oh trust me, I don’t.”
“So, are you going to come?” Mera puts her hands together. “The perfect reason for you and Knox to play happy couple.”
