Page 68 of One Last Thing Before You Go

I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want him to start asking questions. I don’t want him to say stupid shit like “Have you considered adoption? What about IVF?” Because that’s what people do when they find out. They ask you to elaborate on the most personal thing ever, thinking they’re going to end up helping you solve the issue that is your fertility as if you haven’t explored every single option out there for you.

“I like you,” I sigh, looking down at my hands. “I like you a lot. More than I ever expected I would. But you and I? This thing? It scares me a lot. And if we’re going to do this, just know that I’m trying my best. But I’m gonna have freak outs, okay? And if that’s too much for you to handle, I totally get it. I come with a lot of baggage.” More than you know. “So it will be no hard feelings if you decide not to do this with me anymore.”

Knox’s hands tighten on the wheel, pressing himself back into the seat with a deep sigh. “I can be more understanding. I’m sorry if I haven’t been. I’m just impatient, I guess. I like you a lot, too. Obviously. But I hate it when you shut me out.” He takes a deep breath, unbuckles his seatbelt, and turns to look me straight in the eye. He reaches out to cup my face in his hands and kisses my forehead like he did this morning. “I’ll do my best to calm down, to stop being so needy.”

I smile, grabbing his hand by the wrist, and turning my face to kiss the palm of his hand.

“And I’ll do my best to be as open and honest with you as possible.”

“Okay, then.” His crooked smile makes an appearance before ducking to kiss me again, this time on the lips. “Now, you better go upstairs and get dressed quickly. I’ll wait here until you’re ready and will give you a ride back to work.”

“What? No. I need to shower, too. It’ll take me at least twenty minutes if I hurry. If you’re going to stay, just come upstairs.”

“Nope. Can’t do that, sorry. Gonna stay in the car.”

“What? Why?”

“Because if I go up those stairs with you into your apartment, we won’t make it out of there until dinner. Seeing you in my clothes, sex-haired…” He shakes his head. “I can’t. So, get a move on, will you?”

With a smile, I kiss Knox on the cheek and open the door.

“Wait! Can you leave your e-reader with me? There’s this chapter I want to finish…”

Laughing, I toss it in his lap and run upstairs.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

KNOX

Igrin stupidly as I bring the cream and blue mug to my lips, relishing the taste of the bitter roast.

Though the coffee I sip on is scalding, it’s not the only thing that’s got me hot. It’s Lottie’s determined face, her furrowed brow and stern expression as she speaks to our contractor. The authority and respect she commands has me dying to take her into the office, bend her over the desk, and fuck her crazy while the entire crew hears us from the site.

I smirk at my fantasy and pull the camera hanging from around my neck, quickly snapping a couple of pictures of her, focusing on her chocolate eyes, fierce and fiery.

“We can’t do it by the end of the month, Lottie. It just isn’t possible.” I watch as Luke, a six-five beast of a man, wider than a linebacker, cowers under the glare of the beautiful brunette before him.

“I think you’re lying, Luke. Or not trying hard enough. Either way, it’s not my problem. It’s yours. We already agreed on when the project was to be completed—check the contract—and you’re going to stick to it. Or else.”

He grinds his teeth before speaking. “I understand, but that was before you asked us to redo the shelves and knock down the bay in the middle of the⁠—”

“Luke,” Lottie sighs and closes her eyes, placing a hand on his shoulder. For a second, I feel the slightest bit territorial—that is, until I realize she’s patronizing him. I stifle a laugh, and shake my head, because no one can stand up to this powerhouse of a woman. If only she were able to see that herself sometimes.

I snort as he recoils, causing him to look in my direction for the first time since my arrival. Luke sizes me up before asking, “Can I help you? We’re in the middle of a meeting, here.”

“Luke.” Lottie sighs, and squeezing her eyes shut, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. “Can we not have a rehash of last time, please? You guys were working so well together up until now.”

“Barely,” he growls back at her. “Your guy caused more trouble than help during the demo.”

I scoff and take a sip of my coffee.

“We both know you’d be even more delayed if it hadn’t been for my help.”

“Especially seeing as you were two men short, and he saved your ass by stepping in during the demolition,” she adds.

Trying to intimidate me, Luke shoots me a killer glare. I laugh at his attempt, which only seems to piss him off and make me happier. He can try and come at me, but it’s agility and finesse that wins fights, not always strength.

“Luke, Luke, Luke. Can we get back to the topic at hand? You keep telling me no and it’s not possible, but we both know you could finish by the previously agreed-upon date if you wanted to, right?” She looks up at him, squeezing her grip on his shoulder. Unconsciously, I take a step forward. “Don’t lie to me and tell me you can’t just because you want to take extra long breaks—” Luke opens his mouth to interrupt her, but she holds a hand to stop him. “Ah-ah! Don’t try to deny it. I saw it when you did my loft, and I’ve seen your boys in action this week.”