KNOX: An Enemies-to-Lovers Sweet Romantic Comedy

by Horrocks, Heather

A member of the press asked, “Did your family fly in from Waco to hear you make this announcement?”

  “No.” He smiled. “They flew in to see this.”

  * * *

  Amy stared at Knox, who shot a glance at her.

  He turned back to the podium and said, “I was so skeptical at first that I didn’t think the treatment would work. Ms. Kingsley told you I supported my brother’s treatment, but actually at first I tried to talk him out of it. He’s stubborn, though, which is why he was such a great quarterback, and so I’m glad to announce that he won that particular argument. And now I’m a believer in this treatment — and in this lady beside me as a therapist. I understand she has a lot of letters after her name, which means she’s really smart and has earned degrees I probably can’t pronounce, and she’s really good at her job.”

  Why was he saying this? He had hijacked the press conference for this? And why had Paul agreed to let him do it? Everything was spinning wildly out of control here.

  “My father told me once that what all women want is for a man to make a fool of themselves over them. Well, I’m about to do that.”

  Amy caught her breath. Oh, no. She whispered, “Do you want to get shut down in front of the press?”

  “I have been known to jump to conclusions on occasion, like thinking the treatment program and Ms. Kingsley were, respectively, a scam and a scam artist.”

  The buzzing began again.

  Knox waited until it died down again before proceeding. “And then I saw the miraculous results the treatment brought about. But then I made another incorrect assumption. As you might know, I’m a left tackle, and my job is to help keep the quarterback from getting blindsided. I tried to protect my brother from Ms. Kingsley’s treatment. In the process, I fell in love with the lady.”

  Amy put a hand on the edge of the podium to steady herself from the impact of his words.

  He turned toward her, as though he was forgetting the crowd that was there, though his voice still went over the loudspeakers. “Amy, I was a fool and I was wrong. I hope you’ll forgive me. Over the last three weeks since I accused you of things that didn’t matter anyway, I’ve been miserable. I don’t want to live without you.”

  He went down on one knee and people began standing throughout the crowd. Flashes were going off from the members of the press, and other people had their cell phone cameras clicking.

  “Amy Kingsley, will you marry me?”

  Stunned, she looked at the man she’d fallen in love with. “Would you repeat that?”

  The crowd laughed and he smiled at her gently while he pulled a ring box out of his jacket pocket. He opened it, and she saw a beautiful engagement ring gleaming there.

  She looked into his eyes. “I would have said yes three weeks ago, but a lot happened that day.”

  “I was a fool. Will you please forgive me?” He looked at her earnestly, his brow furrowed, looking worried. “Please. I love you so much.”

  She paused, her heart absorbing his words. “You love me?”

  “So much I can’t bear not to have you in my life. These last few weeks without you have been hell for me.”

  A happy grin began to spread across her face, and she said, “Yes.”

  He reached out for her hand, and she rested it in his as he slipped the ring onto her finger.

  This was so surreal.

  And then he stood and pulled her into his arms and kissed her in front of the cameras, for all the world to see.

  She’d never been happier.

  * * *

  In the hotel’s penthouse, where the Reid family was staying and hosting a family party, Amy stared at her ring. The large diamond caught the light and sparkled.

  Knox held her other hand and grinned at her. “You like it?”

  “I love it.” She looked up at him. “I thought there was nothing you could say to make me want to be with you again.”

  “My dad told me to grovel.”

  Ace Reid clapped his son on the shoulder. “I sure did. And you did a good job of it, too, son.”

  “Thanks for giving him that great advice,” she said with a smile.

  “Welcome to the family, young lady,” Ace said warmly. “We’re thrilled to have you.”

  Rebecca nodded. “Thrilled,” she repeated and hugged Amy for the third time.

  Katie wandered over. “I’m just wondering if my running partner’s going to be staying in Waco — or moving to Denver to run this new clinic?”

  Amy froze. She hadn’t thought that one through.

  Knox said, “Paul and I talked about it. He said he wanted to offer the clinic here for you to run. I told him I was hoping you’d decide to stay in Waco — with me. But if you told me no, he could ask you.”

  She laughed. “I told him I wouldn’t move because I couldn’t leave my parents’ house.”

  Katie nudged her shoulder. “If you want someone to rent your house so you can move away from my awful brother, I might be interested. If the price is right.”

  Ace grinned and joined in the teasing. “I’ll pay the difference if it’s not.”

  “It’s great to have a rich, generous dad.” Katie grinned. “And to have a rich, generous husband, too, I’ve heard.” She looked at her brother. “You will be generous, right?”

  He nodded and looked at Amy with such love in his eyes that she thought her heart would melt in response.

  Jessie pulled Daniel toward them. “Did Daniel tell you his good news?”

  “No.”

  Daniel grinned. “I just accepted a job as a sportscaster.”

  “That’s wonderful! Congratulations.” Amy stood and hugged him, and then Jessie.

  “We really do owe you a gift as a thank you for all the help you gave Daniel, and us.” Jessie said.

  “That’s so sweet.”

  Jessie grinned. “We didn’t know how to wrap a puppy, though.”

  “A puppy?” Amy laughed. “I’m not sure I’m ready for a puppy.”

  “Then when you come back to town, we’ll throw a party for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  After they wandered off again, Knox said, “I got you a gift, too.”

  She held up her hand. “This ring wasn’t enough?”

  From a Silos bag, he pulled out a Bakery sign.

  “You remembered!”

  “I remember everything important.”

  15

  Epilogue - I’ll Give You the World

  Knox stood inside the glass sliding doors of their Rome hotel. He’d finally made it to Italy, accompanied by a companion he couldn’t have dreamed of a year before.

  Amy stood on the balcony overlooking the city, just as she’d stood on the balcony that night at his family’s cabin. He hadn’t gone out to talk with her that night because he’d been afraid he’d scare her off. Even then, he’d been attracted like crazy to her. From the first moment he’d danced with her at the masquerade ball.

  The old man had been right, after all. Knox had made a fool of himself, and that had touched Amy’s heart. The bridge hadn’t been burned after all.

  But he’d made a fool of himself long before that. He’d started with the first crazy accusation he’d uttered, causing all that trouble for both of them.

  It had turned out well, thank heavens. Thanks to her forgiving heart, his loving family, and his being willing to take a good hard look at himself and change.

  With a contented heart, Knox slid the door aside and stepped out, closing it behind him.

  Keeping her hands on the railing, Amy looked back at him and smiled that special smile she reserved just for him. The one that melted his heart and revved his motor, all at the same time. “Glad you could join me.”

  “My dad wanted to talk more than usual. His business is doing really well, but he’s considering selling it and doing something else.”

  “Your father has an adventuring spirit.”

  “I don’t think he’ll do it, though. Sell the business, I mean. He might do so
mething else, but he’s not going to get rid of it.”

  Reaching her, he wrapped his arms around her, her back pressed to him. He kissed the top of her head.

  “I’m also glad you finally got to take your trip to Italy,” she said softly, leaning back against him, wrapping her arms around his. “A year late, but you made it.”

  “I’m glad I get to take it with you. Last year’s trip would have been lonely with just me.” He sighed, happy. “Even if we had to schedule it between football seasons.”

  “This is the best delayed honeymoon ever.” She turned in his arms, looking up into his eyes. “Can you believe we’ve been married for six months already?”

  He nodded, his own heart overflowing with joy. “It’s been great, too, taking you to team parties and having all the other guys die of jealousy.”

  She laughed. “I’m sure that’s what they’re doing while half of them are with their wives and the other half are with their groupies. Yeah. I’m sure they’re wishing they could have me.”

  “It’s because you’re so darn cute when you’re mad. They like seeing you take me down a peg or two.”

  “Hey, that’s only happened a time or two.”

  “And they love it every single time. Like when you threw the vase at my head because you didn’t agree with me.”

  “I remember it a little differently.”

  “Okay, maybe there wasn’t a vase involved.”

  “Not to change the subject,” she said, changing the subject, “but can we go see the Sistine Chapel tomorrow?”

  “Anything you want, baby. I’ll give you the world.”

  “You are my world.” She sighed happily. “I love you.”

  Pulling her tight to him, he said, “I’m so thankful I fell for you.”

  “I am, too.” She hugged him back fiercely. “And even more thankful I didn’t turn out to be a real scam artist, I bet.”

  He chuckled. “I’m most grateful that you love me, even with all my flaws.”

  “In other words,” she said with a wicked smile, “You fell for my scam, after all?”

  * * *

  Are you dying to read the story of Noah, Knox’s action movie star cousin?

  Stuck on a tropical island with her childhood nemesis? Bring it.

  Noah Reid Kapuni Sullivan — former Waco Wranglers player and current action movie star — and his big dog are about to be taken down a peg or two by his childhood nemesis. Cute little Riley Archer, who once demanded to be allowed in the boys’ clubhouse, is now storming the island with her tiny dog. Who knew an 80-pound Boxer would be afraid of such a 12-pound Chihuahua? Or that big Noah Sullivan would be intimidated by his former best friend’s little sister? Can a relationship that started with The Fire Ant Incident take a turn for the better on the beach?

  CHAPTER ONE

  A Beautiful Summer Day Twenty Years Before

  “Let us in!”

  The angry girls’ voices from below interrupted the ghost story Noah Sullivan had been telling his buddy, Preston Archer, and his cousin, Knox Reid. And he was just getting to the good part, too, because Preston’s eyes and Knox’s mouth had been growing wider and wider.

  Noah jumped up to look out the window of their boys-only clubhouse built in the tall oak tree of Preston’s yard. To make the membership requirements crystal-clear, they’d nailed a sign to the bottom of the tree: NO GIRLS ALLOWED. Preston and Knox pushed Noah partially aside so they could see through the window, too.

  Below them, two stupid girls stood glaring up at the tree house, and he knew for sure they were old enough to read the sign.

  Preston’s seven-year-old sister, Riley Archer, and her friend, Ashley Fredrickson.

  Good thing he and Preston had pulled up the rope ladder so no one could come up during this important meeting. Noah, especially, wasn’t about to let any girls come up, even if Riley was kind of cute — not that he would ever say that. Even at ten years old, he knew you didn’t think your buddy’s little sister was cute. Besides, she was a stupid girl.

  He leaned out the window and taunted them. “You need special permission to come in.”

  “We do not, Noah Sullivan. Let us in.” Riley shook her head, and the sun glinted in her red ponytail as it swung from side to side. “My mom said you can’t keep us out.”

  “Whatever.” Preston laughed. “Mom said we could have our meetings up here, just Noah and Knox and me. So go away.”

  Moving closer into the shade of the tree, Riley put her hands on her hips and narrowed her green eyes up at them. Scowling, she yelled, “I hate you all, Stinky Butts.”

  That didn’t make him feel good, but when he saw Preston laugh again, Noah laughed, too.

  Ashley pointed up at them. “If you don’t let us in, you’ll be sorry. Really sorry.”

  Riley nodded. “We’ll go find a bunch of girl fire ants and put them in your beds. Then you’ll be sorry and wish you’d let us come up and join your stupid meeting.”

  Noah laughed in earnest then. “Where are you going to find girl fire ants?”

  Texas did have fire ants, but Noah was pretty sure Riley wouldn’t go to that much trouble to get back at them. Just in case, though, he was going to ask his mother to put a lock on his bedroom door.

  He called down, “I’m glad I don’t have any sisters.”

  Riley smiled up at him. “And I bet all girls are sure glad they went to another family so they don’t have you as a stinky brother.”

  Well, that was just mean.

  “Come on, Ashley,” Riley said, tugging on her friend’s arm.

  “Okay,” Ashley said with another scowl up at them.

  “Let’s go searching for” — Riley turned her face up again and smiled sweetly as she raised her voice to make sure she was heard — “fire ants.”

  To read more, go to Amazon.

  To see all of Heather’s series (and if your device gives you an error message when you try to go to Amazon), visit www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com.

  (Formerly published as The Guy Next Door Billionaire)

  Thank you!

  If you enjoyed this book, a 5-star review is the sweetest gift you can give me. I always read your comments and do my best to learn from them. Even a quick “it was good” helps tremendously. Please click here to leave a review.

  GET A FREE BOOK!

  If you’d like to receive emails announcing my future book releases, just click here to push the Magic Button. I promise I won’t share your email address and I won’t send a flood of emails. I’ll just let you know when I have a new book ready for you to read or I have significant exciting news (for example, when a book becomes an audiobook).

  CONNECT WITH ME.

  Heather Horrocks Author on Facebook, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn. If you’d like to be on my Street Team and become an official Scathingly Brilliant Reader, click here.

  DID YOU SEE ANY (GASP!) ERRORS OR TYPOS?

  Though this book has gone through numerous edits, by myself and others, including two professional editors and numerous beta readers, we are human. If you spot any errors or typos, please email me at Corrections@BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com and let me know! I want my books to be as clean as possible, both in content and in format.

  THANKS AGAIN...

  For your time and interest, and for telling your friends about my books. If you’d like to know more about my other books, that section is just a page or two away.

  Happy tales, Heather Horrocks

  www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com

  Author’s Note

  This book was originally published as The Blindsided Groom. There have been a few minor changes to switch it into this new series.

  Watch for the next two Reid family romances: Cousin Noah, an action movie star, finds love on a tropical island, while brother Sam hires a real estate agent to find him a house, hoping she’ll help him make it a home.

  The therapy company in this book, Cerebration Works, is based on a real business. Amazingly enough, Cognitive FX
’s program actually lasts just one week, not two, but I needed a second week for the romance to work (you know how we authors are, shifting reality to suit our needs). In that one week, I saw my son-in-law improve dramatically and continue to improve with the home exercises they gave him to perform.

  For more information about ALS, check out ANSWER ALS. Here’s an article about the work they’re doing.

  About the Author

  Heather Horrocks is the USA Today bestselling author of numerous light-hearted, cozy, funny, feel-good books (Moonchuckle Bay paranormal romances, Chick Flick Clique and Christmas Street romantic comedies, romances in the American Mail-Order Bride and Rocky Mountain Romances series, Who-Dun-Him Inn and Bad Mothers Club cozy mysteries), the Women Who Knew inspirational books, plus an upcoming series for writers.

  Raised overseas for her first seventeen years, she hid under the bed with her mother during a South American coup, waterskied through an oil slick in the Persian Gulf, partied with a Kuwaiti princess classmate at her palace, flew in and out of the blacked-out Cairo airport mere moments before it was bombed during the Six Day War, rode a camel (and ate a camel steak), crossed the finish line first at Utah's Miller Motorsports Park, and walked on hot coals — without getting burned! — at a firewalk workshop!

  She loves anyone who can make her laugh, which explains why she adores her witty husband, her funny friends and sisters, Southern Sisters mysteries and Molly Harper Half-Moon Hollow books. She loves to cook for friends, siblings, and especially her children and their families. She and her husband reside in Utah. You can find her online at www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com.