shock. Maybe not my finest moment, but still.
The surprise on his face deepened, before he put a mask over it. “’Course I do.”
I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not. Did he really not see it, or was it that he wasn’t used to a man thinking that about him? Knox didn’t strike me as the insecure type, but hell, maybe he hid it well.
“Knox…”
“You got something.” He took a step closer, then another one. “Right here.” He reached out, and his thumb brushed under my eye. My stomach got light and my pulse sped up while I was thinking, Great, I just told him he’s hot, and I had stuff all over my face? Typical. “Piece of a leaf.” He pulled back, and I missed his calloused touch instantly.
He cleared his throat and moved away. A second later Frankie Blue was jumping all over us. I knelt and petted her as Logan walked over and gave us each a bottle of water.
We drank them down before getting back to work on the fence again. Stupid me still felt his touch against my face.
We were almost done, Knox and I working on one of the corners, adding the fencing. I held it while Knox did his part. Our arms were touching, shoulder to shoulder. He didn’t seem to notice, but I definitely did.
There was a deep bark, and we both turned around to look just as a big-ass horse dog rounded the corner. “Oh shit.” I backed into Knox quickly, and he held on to my arms to keep me steady, my back against his chest.
“It’s okay. He’s the sweetest boy you’ll ever meet,” Knox said as Lawson and Remington fucking Monroe walked around the corner. Their eyes landed right on us. I felt Knox tense up, and I pulled away.
“He won’t eat me, right?” I asked, trying to ignore the way Lawson’s gaze shot between me and Knox.
When he didn’t reply, Remington said, “No. He’s a lover, not a fighter. We were, um…close and thought we’d introduce Bear to Frankie Blue.”
I took another step away from Knox. Logan and Frankie Blue had gone back in the house a few minutes before and now came barreling back out. The two dogs went right over to each other, and Logan said, “Bear!” before the three of them started playing.
“Hey, Callum,” Remington said. He had on an old T-shirt, inside out.
Jesus Christ. What in the hell world had I stepped into? “Hi.” I glanced at Blond Curls. “Hi again, Lawson.”
“You can just call him Law if you want.”
“Just, huh?” Lawson said, apparently snapping out of whatever daze he’d been in. He wrapped an arm around Remy, pulled him close, and kissed the top of his head.
Remy looked at him like he hung the moon, making something squeeze in my chest. Law grinned at him, giving him the same intense stare. Just like that time at Sunrise, it was clear as day how much they loved each other, and I suddenly felt very, very alone. I’d had boyfriends, lots of them, but no one had ever looked at me with the adoration they did each other. “We’re, um…building a fence,” I said stupidly.
“I see that,” Lawson replied.
Knox rubbed a hand over his beard. “You guys want a drink or anything?”
“Nah, we can’t stay long. We have a family thing. Believe me, I’d rather be here,” Lawson said, and Remy chuckled.
“They’re getting better,” Remy said.
“Yeah, because they like you more than me,” Lawson countered.
“Who wouldn’t?” Knox asked.
“Aw, you better be nice to me, Knoxy.”
My eyes widened at the nickname Lawson used for him. “Knoxy? That’s so cute! I think I’m gonna call you that from now on.”
“So…it was nice being friends with you and all,” Knox teased me, then playfully tried to push me away.
“Aw, Knoxy doesn’t like it? I’m so sorry, Knoxy,” I joked back.
“If you’re not nice to me, I’m not cooking you dinner for helping.”
Knox was basically a grill master. I loved his food, so I said, “You win!”
We smiled at each other. I felt eyes on me, so I looked at Lawson and Remy to see them watching us.
Knox cleared his throat. “You guys wanna stay for dinner later? Shit. Family thing. I forgot.”
Yeah, because this wasn’t awkward at all. It shouldn’t be. There was no reason for it to be, but it most definitely was.
Frankie Blue, Logan, and Bear all came running for us then. We laughed and talked about random stuff. Mostly they laughed and talked