Page 64 of Knox Unleashed
“We were.”
He tugs a hand through his hair. “So, what did you want me to do? I already went out on a limb to come and intervene in something I should never have intervened in.”
“What?” I ask. Fury flames in me. “Inter-fucking-vened in? So, if I’d been any other woman on any other day, you’d have just allowed that scumbag to go grab me in the parking lot.”
“You’re twisting my words, Maren. Of course, I would have kept an eye on the situation after I heard what he said.”
“And that’s another thing.” I’m mad now, and no amount of mindful thinking is going to calm me down. “You knew of the stupid bet, but you didn’t think to stop the man before he even left his seat. When you do that, you’re part of the problem. If you’d stopped him right there at his table in the diner, he’d never have even touched me.” I slam my basket to the ground and roll up the sleeve of my T-shirt. “There. Yet another bruise that could have been avoided, right?”
I grab my basket and march out of the aisle.
But Knox keeps up with me. “You were about to throw yourself into my arms in the middle of the parking lot, and I didn’t have time to explain why you couldn’t.”
I spin on my heel and nearly collide with him. “You treated me like I was radioactive after a man tried to grab me in the parking lot. I was scared, Knox. Don’t you get it? My knees were shaking, and I’d never been more relieved to see someone as I was to see you.”
“It was our deal, to keep it private.”
“So you said.” My shoulders sag as the anger escapes me. Intellectually, I understand why he made the call he did. “I remember the deal. I was just utterly unprepared for how much it would hurt. My father has been embarrassed of me most of my life. Friends drifted away because they didn’t want to hang out with a cop’s daughter. Apparently, you don’t either. And, in hindsight, that doesn’t feel like a healthy thing for me.”
“I need to talk to you somewhere I can hold you,” Knox says. “I’m gonna follow you home.”
I shake my head. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Shock hits his face in the O of his mouth and the furrow in his brow. “Now or ever?”
I take a breath and look over to the fish counter. I don’t know why anyone would ever buy fish wrapped in plastic when you can just drop a reel in the bay or go to the local markets.
“For the record, I get I was an asshole, Maren. I battled myself to not pull you to me. I’m sorry it hurt. My intention was the complete opposite.”
“But nothing changes, right?”
To be fair to Knox, I can see his conflict. Like, he wants something to change but isn’t prepared to make the shift.
“You know what?” I say. “Let’s not beat ourselves up. It was fun. And now, the reality of it has set in. Stay out of trouble, Knox.”
I head to the dairy department to pick up some yogurt and milk. But no sooner have I opened the chiller doors than Knox appears beside me again.
I tug out the milk. “Are you planning on following me through the whole store? Or are you actually going to finish your grocery shopping?”
“Fuck the grocery shopping.”
I step away from the cooler the same moment he steps forward, and we nearly collide. His hand comes out automatically, steadying me before I can lose my balance. For a second—just a second—his palm rests at my waist.
It’s warm and familiar in a way that makes my stomach twist.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“It was just a collision,” I say, stepping out of his touch.
He shakes his head. “No. After what happened today.”
I gesture between us. “Clearly not.”
He shakes his head again. “No. Not us. After what that guy tried to do. I’m sorry it happened. I’m truly sorry I didn’t comfort you more, after.”
His voice is quieter this time. Less defensive. More honest.
“I know why you did it. I don’t like it, but I get it,” I admit.
