Page 27 of Knockout (Whiskey Dolls 2)

“Like, yourwholefamily?” I inquired, curiously.

“With the exception of Gram, pretty much.”

I felt my face split into a shit-eating grin. “Aww. Is that why you take her to get her hair done every weekend?”

“For fuck’s sake,” he grumbled. “Those women at the salon tell you everything?”

I pinched my lips together and twisted them to the side in mock thought. “Well, noteverything. They didn’t tell me your blood type.”

He cast his eyes to the side, giving me a bland look as he replied drolly, “I’m O-positive, for your information. And if you must know, I take Gram to the salon every week because she lost her license and if I didn’t, she’d drive herself. And the last time that happened, the cop she cussed out for pulling her over nearly hauled her ass to jail. It’s just easier to take her myself than try to post bail.”

I let out a little snort that morphed into a chuckle. “I think your gram and I would probably get along really well.”

That smirk of his returned, and it took effort to keep from fanning my face at the sight of it. “Oh, you absolutely would. Which is why you two will never meet. I’ll do everything in my power to spare the world from you guys partnering up.”

That time I let out a full-blown laugh, tossing my head back as I got lost in it for a good thirty seconds. “Okay, okay,” I managed once I got a hold of myself. “So your gram is awesome, and the rest of your family sucks. Is that about it?”

“Yep. That pretty much sums it up.”

Without giving it a single thought, I reached across the center console and wrapped my fingers around his forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m really glad you had your grandmother,” I said gently. “But I’m still sorry the rest of your relatives are terrible. I get what it’s like not to feel wanted.”

I was met with quiet that lasted long enough for me to start to worry that my touch was maybe unwelcome. I started to pull my hand away, but before I could get it back to my side of the car, he released the wheel and grabbed it, twining his long fingers through mine. He shocked me breathless by bringing our tangled hands to his lips and pressing a feather-light kiss to my knuckles. “I know you do, princess. But still, thanks. Means a lot.”

His touch was unnerving. My breath caught at the intimacy of our fingers being wrapped together, and butterflies swarmed inside my belly. An electric current traveled from where his lips had just pressed against my skin and spiderwebbed until it encompassed my whole body.

It took serious effort to shake off the effect, but thankfully, I managed.Somehow. “I’ll let that whole princess things slide, because I don’t think you meant it as an insult this time.”

I’d gone for teasing, but my voice was much hoarser than I’d anticipated. “Never meant it as an insult any time I said it,” he confessed quietly. “It started because it pushed your buttons, and I liked seeing you go off, but now...well, it’s not an insult. Never was.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, not that I’d have been able to form actual words just then, even if my life depended on it, so I twisted my head to look out the window as our small town, mostly asleep for the night, passed by outside. The silence we lapsed into wasn’t uncomfortable. Far from it actually, it was almost as if we were old friends who didn’t need to talk to enjoy each other’s company except he kept hold of my hand the rest of the way home, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Meanwhile, I was struggling not to squirm in my seat as heat spread from my palm throughout my whole body before centralizing between my thighs.

The prickling sensation trickling through my veins was nearly too much to handle by the time he finally pulled the Jeep into the parking garage attached to our apartment building.

I felt bereft when he had to let me go so we could climb out, but when that large, warm palm returned to the small of my back on the way to the elevator, the electric shock made me shiver.

“You okay?” he asked as we waited for the elevator to arrive.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m fine. I...had an itch.”

And cue mental face-palm right now.

“Where? I’ll get it for you.”

“Oh, you don’t have to—” I began, but my words died off when his nails gently began to scrape across my spine, traveling up between my shoulder blades. “Oh, sweet merciful hell,” I groaned as my head fell forward. “That feels so good.”

I was completely at his mercy as he chuckled low and deep, still scratching my back, and I didn’t care one damn bit. I had a massage once a month to help with the knots that formed in my muscles from my work, but there was something about a good old back scratch that couldnotbe beat.

By the time the elevator arrived, I was practically purring like a cat.

“Did I get it?” he asked as he led me into the empty elevator car. When I looked up, the guy had a smug as hell look on his face.

“Yes, thank you.” I gave him a mock scowl and shoved my finger in his face. “But don’t think I’m going to return the favor.”

“Wow,” he started playfully. “You get a free meal from a five-star restaurant, a ride home,anda back scratch, and I get nothing? Gotta tell you, Layla, this relationship is starting to feel pretty one-sided.”

I puckered my lips and blew out a dramatic raspberry. “Please. Not even close! You got the privilege of my sparkling company all evening.” I poked him in his chest, ignoring the zing I felt at the realization this man wasstacked. “That’s priceless, buddy.”

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