“It can wait.” She crosses her arms and hardens her jaw, challenging him. He chuckles, shaking his head before he faces me.

“All right, Knox, I’m gonna cut to the chase. If my little girl is—” He’s cut off before he can finish as Charlie rises from her spot on the couch.

“Yeah, I’m not sitting around listening to ‘my little girl’ talk. I think I will go get more stuff from the car after all,” she says, hurrying outside, leaving me alone with her dad.

He takes a drink of his beer and sits down in the recliner on the wall next to the couch. “I have to admit, I was already planning on my girl moving back home, so I was shocked as hell when she told me she was moving in with you. I may have hijacked her moving day so I could check you out. Your last three COs all give you glowing recommendations and speak highly of your character, but she’s my only daughter.”

“You spoke with my commanding officers?” What the hell? He must really be an overprotective father, but I can’t say I blame him.

“Hell yes I did. My girl may be stubborn as hell, but if you didn’t check out, there’s no way I’d let her step foot in this house.”

Swallowing my beer, I nod at him. “I respect that, sir.”

“You can cool it with the sir bullshit. I’m not your officer. We’re not in uniform. It’s not necessary.”

“Uhh, my bad. It’s just habit, I guess.” I’m suddenly wishing I’d gone out to help Charlie unpack her car. I’m not used to this scrutiny from a father, and hell, we’re only friends.

“All right, Knox. Do you intend to date my daughter?”

I almost choke on the beer I just drank, and I’m completely caught off guard by his question. “No, not, absolutely not. I have no intention of dating her. We’re just roommates. Friends in a bind who are both helping each other out. I swear, that’s all it is.”

“Why not? Something wrong with her? Is she not good enough for you?”

Holy shit, what’s with the third degree? I’m not sure what he wants me to say, so I decide just to be completely honest. “There’s nothing wrong with her, but I’m not at a place in my life where I’m looking for a relationship. Charlie’s beautiful, and I love having her around, even if she’s stubborn and infuriating at times. That being said, I have no intention of pursuing anything beyond a friendship. I can promise you that.” What I don’t tell him is that I’ve fantasized about her naked, in my bed, her hands exploring even further than she did last weekend when she thought I was asleep. Something tells me he wouldn’t appreciate knowing I have those thoughts.

Wade’s face breaks out in a smile and he starts laughing. He leans over and pats my shoulder. “I’m just messing with you, Knox. Charlie told me you two were just friends and it was going to stay that way. I really just wanted to meet you for myself. What kind of dad would I be if I let my only daughter move in with some guy I didn’t at least check out?”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about me, sir. I’ll take good care of her.”

He rises and walks to the door, presumably to help her move the rest of her stuff in. Before he opens it, he looks at me one last time. “You do that, Knox. She’s all I’ve got.”

Chapter 14

Charlie


IT’S BEEN three weeks since that nearly mortifying incident with Dad, and I’m still kicking myself for leaving the room. Dad stayed around and helped me get situated, and he talked to Knox more than he talked to me. I like that they were getting along, but I’m more than curious as to what they discussed that day.

“Dude, this is so fucking awesome!” Knox exclaims, interrupting my thoughts. When I turn to look at him, he’s standing in the middle of the living room in his usual getup of basketball shorts and nothing else. I swear, he has allergy to shirts, because he’s always walking around this place without one on. Not that I’m complaining. He’s rubbing a towel over the top of his head, drying off from the shower he just took, and I can’t stop staring, wishing I were the towel rubbing all over him.

“Umm, dude, what is so awesome?” I ask, even though I know exactly what he’s talking about it. It’s been a week since he was able to get rid of the brace. He’s been in heaven not having to bother with it, but I personally miss the close moments when I had to put it on or take it off.

He holds up his left arm, which is now free from its cast. When Dr. Branch told him he could lose it at his checkup this morning, he couldn’t stop smiling. I’m equally happy for him. He’s like a kid on Christmas morning, and he’s been that way ever since he left the doctor’s office.

“I’m finally free. It feels so damn good.” He moves towards the couch and pulls me to my feet, wrapping his arms around my waist and spinning me around the living room. I know he’s been cleared, but I still worried that he’s going to reinjure himself if he’s not careful. Trying to get out of his arms, I squirm, which causes him to tighten his arms around me. Finally, I just give in. After a few moments, we’re both laughing, and he stops suddenly.

“Okay, I’m going to make myself puke if I spin anymore. We have to celebrate. Let’s go out tonight,” he suggests, looking down at me.

I try to push away the butterflies that flutter within me. “Sounds good to me. I think Jace is in Cincinnati this weekend, but we can see what Kale’s up to if you want,” I suggest, happy that he’s got something to celebrate. I love seeing him in high spirits, and hopefully this is the beginning of his mood swings ending.

Shaking his head, he pulls back from me. “No, let’s go out, just the two of. I owe you for being here these last few weeks and for putting up with my ass. It’s only about to get worse once I start physical therapy. Let’s celebrate and enjoy the night together. If you’re lucky, I might even serenade you with that guitar your dad brought over.” He winks, and I grin, knowing that he’s been practicing. I’ve caught him playing around on it in the living room a few times, but he always puts it up when I join him.

“Sounds perfect. Dad’s been asking me about your playing. I’ll be happy to report back to him that you’re actually finding his guitar to be useful.”

He chuckles, moving away from me. “I wish I’d thought about getting a guitar sooner. It’s been a nice way to pass my time, trying to figure it all out. I won’t be playing at the Grand Ole Opry anytime soon, but you might get me to play a little Hank one of these days.”

“Make it Luke Bryan and you’ve got yourself a deal,” I tell him, secretly fantasizing about his shaking his hips just as hot as Luke does.

“No way, sweetheart. We’re going old-school tonight. I can listen to new country from time to time, but not tonight. It’s all Hank, Johnny, and Waylon.”

Groaning, I fall onto the couch in an exasperated, exaggerated state. “Serenade me with Boy Named Sue and I’ll be yours forever.”

He stops in his tracks and his eyes darken as he takes my words in. A smoldering look crosses his face, but it’s gone in an instant, replaced by his trademark cocky grin. Sweet Jesus. If Knox was a Disney character, he’d definitely be Flynn Ryder because he definitely has the smolder down.

“Oh, no, sweetheart. My Cash song of choice is and always will be Ring of Fire. It’s a bittersweet reminder…” He trails off, not completing his thought.

Shaking his head, he changes the subject before I can ask what he means, but I’m pretty sure I can read between the lines.

“Get dressed up, Charlie. Tonight, we’re going out. Just you and me. And my fucking castless left arm,” he grins, raising it up in the air one last time. I stare after him as he walks down the hall, leaving me alone to think about the upcoming night. Sure, we’ve hung out around the house together, but we’ve never gone out socially just the two of us, and at this point I’m not really sure what to expect.


A WHILE later, I emerge from my bedroom freshly showered and put together. I had no idea what Knox was planning when he said that he wanted to go out. I decided to keep it simple yet sexy. I let my hair air dry, so it falls in natural waves down my back, and I make sure the ever present hair tie is on my wrist in case it gets too hot later on. Heading down the hallway, I hear a low whistle when I enter the living room.

Knox is sprawled across the couch with ESPN on the television, but his eyes are only watching me as I enter the living room. Those gorgeous green irises make a hungry path over my body, where he takes in the green and brown sundress that covers my body—well, the important parts, anyway. It stops at mid-thigh, and I know I’m going to have to be careful getting in and out of the car. He eyes rest of my ample cleavage, and I immediately know that he’s a breast man. Thank the Lord for this latest push-up bra purchase, because his eyes are glued to them. His eyes then lower, and when he looks at my toned thighs, I swear he draws his bottom lip into his mouth, biting gently. Okay, breast and leg man. After a moment, his gaze finally reaches my face, and he smiles warmly.

“Ready to go?” he asks, standing up from the couch. I’m able to check him out as he walks into the kitchen to get his keys. He’s incredible sexy in the dark-washed jeans that fit his ass perfectly. The green button-up he has rolled up to his elbows complements his eyes, and I can’t get enough of him. My mouth’s gone dry at the sight, and I have to force myself to look away before he catches me staring.

“Yep, let’s go.” I wince as the words catch in my throat and he looks at me questioningly. Avoiding his eyes, I grab my purse off the table by the door and make my way outside. I head towards my car as he locks up, but when I go to get inside, I hear him yell my name. Still standing on the porch, he gestures for me to come back to him. When I do, he dangles a set of car keys from the tips of his fingers.

“You’ve played chauffeur long enough. It’s my turn to take you for a ride,” he says, shooting a sexy grin my way.

Shaking my head, I disagree, hating to burst his bubble. “Knox, you heard the doctor. You’re supposed to ease back into it. And under no circumstances are you supposed to drive while still on your meds.” I feel awful that I’m acting like his mom, but if he won’t follow the doctor’s orders, someone’s got to make him.

He frowns at me, and I prepare for the argument that’s about to ensue. I shouldn’t be surprised since it’s par for the course for us. “For your information, sweetheart, I started cutting down on them weeks ago, and I haven’t taken a pill since I got my brace off. I was tired of how they were affecting me.” He pauses to clear his throat. “I just stopped cold turkey. I’ve only had naproxen since then, and I’ve started weaning myself off that as well. I think I can handle driving for one night.”

How the hell did I miss that he’d stopped taking his meds? Racking my brain, I realize I never did see him take them. I guess I just assumed that he did, and since we don’t share a bathroom, I haven’t seen the state of his pill bottle. Thinking back on it, I have noticed a slight shift in his personality over the past couple of weeks, and I have to wonder if the meds were part of the reason he was so gruff when we first met. Pushing the thought aside, I decide to give in since this is his night.

“Okay, Knox. But you better not have a lead foot after having not been able to get behind the wheel for so long.”

Grinning at me, he grabs my hand and leads me to a detached garage that I’ve never been in. Leading me through the door, I gasp when I see his ride. A sleek black classic Mustang sits inside. Aside from the color, it’s the spitting image of Eleanor, the car from Gone in Sixty Seconds. I’ve been wanting her ever since I saw that movie when I was fifteen years old.

I don’t even realize that I whisper her name until Knox’s voice echoes in the garage. “What’d you say?” he asks as I walk towards the car and gently slide my fingers over her hood.

Turning towards him, I can’t contain my awe. When I was a kid, I loved going to custom car shows with Dad, and I was always drawn to the classic Mustangs. I’m kind of freaking out that I’m about to ride in one.

“You have Eleanor!” I squeal, unable to contain my excitement. I can’t believe she’s been sitting out here so close to me this whole time.

Chuckling, he leans his ass against the hood, and it’s all I can do not to tell him to take his ass off the car. “Actually, she’s Evelyn, but close enough. I’m kind of shocked you see the connection. No chick that’s ever been in my car has caught that.”