The Darkest Knight (The KNIGHT Brothers Book 3)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  Warning bells shot off in his head. Don’t go inside. Stay outside where it’s cold and not contaminated with beautiful Reese. But he didn’t listen. Never did.

  He stepped across the threshold just as she turned on the bedside lamp in the open room. He could have kicked himself when he strolled his hungry gaze down the itty-bitty pink cami and the sleeping shorts. Apparently, he didn’t drown himself in enough beer because his dick pressed against the zipper until he swore he heard seams break.

  “Don’t you have anything else to wear besides those show-all shorts?” he snapped.

  She squinted. “What are you talking about? I was asleep in bed before you came rolling in here like a brewery in boots.”

  “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. Do I need to remind you how enticing…I mean, how short those shorts were today? That little fringed edge. The hole in the pocket that could make a man think it’s a peep hole. Oh yeah, you know what I mean. I could read your mind they were so short.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her chin. “You came here at this hour to talk to me about this? My shorts?”

  “How’s a man supposed to think?” He sniffed.

  “Oh, I don’t know, possibly the first suggestion I have would have is for you to stop looking at my clothes if you’re offended, but since you think I have some deviant intention, wearing hat you call ‘peep holes’, I’ll put you out of your misery. Knowing I’d be painting, I didn’t want to wear any of my nice clothes since my entire wardrobe fits into a duffel bag, so I bought a pair of old shorts at the consignment store. Unfortunately, they were too long and the scissors too dull, and maybe my vision was lopsided because I couldn’t cut a straight line if it killed me. Before I knew it, I had Daisy-Dukes. Happy?” She rolled her eyes. “I guess next you’ll accuse me of taking a shower to smell good for you.”

  He shrugged, dropping down into the chair. Her frown couldn’t be unseen. “You’re irritated.”

  “Wow. Handsome and smart. You can go now.” She tapped her bare toes.

  “Come on. Can’t a man sit and take a load off?”

  “Do you have something else to speak to me about besides my wardrobe?”

  “Yes. I don’t know how to put this lightly…because I know you probably don’t see it…but a pretty woman can sometimes take a man away from what he’s supposed to be doing.”

  Tapping her foot harder, she sighed. “Is this ‘man’ you?”

  He cleared his throat. “No, the crew here working. For instance, Lex. If you haven’t noticed…”

  “Go on…” her frown deepened as she dropped her hands to her hips which drew his gaze to her slender waist, another part of her that he needed to steer clear of.

  “I’m just saying, while we were sitting around at Mountain Mug, they mentioned your name.” He plucked at a loose thread on the arm of the chair.

  “Your friends mentioned me? Why?”

  “They think you’re pretty.”

  She blinked. “Well, you can tell them thank you from me. Good night.” She took a step toward the door.

  “Not so fast.” His words stopped her. She turned on him, the blue color of her eyes darkening. “You got a thing for Lex?” Now where the hell was he headed? This wasn’t what he’d meant to ask.

  Her snort bounced off the walls. “Are you being serious?”

  “Well do you?”

  With a frustrated shake of her head, she came back to the middle of the room and he caught a glance at her red painted toenails. “If it’s any of your business, no, I don’t have a ‘thing’ for Lex or any of your buddies. Now are you happy?”

  An unexpected war raged in his body between logic and desire. Her scent seemed to replace his oxygen. And those legs sticking out of the thin shorts were never ending and only making him want to wrap his hands around her thighs and dive into heaven here on earth. He should have resisted the beer…no, he should have stayed cleared of her cabin, but now he was neck deep in a conversation that wouldn’t end well. He’d bet his life on it.

  And he was a bit drunk.

  “No, I’m not happy,” he grumbled.

  “Surprise, surprise,” she moaned. “Go ahead, clear your system.”

  She dropped down on the end of the bed and brought her legs up crisscrossed. The hem of the shorts lifted on her thighs and again he caught a glimpse of ass. His zipper cut into his balls and all he wanted to do was reach into his jeans and adjust the problem, but now was not the time. Not only would she think he was an ogre, but a pervert as well.

  “Don’t you see what’s going on here?” He finally decided just to throw it all out on the line.

  “Yes. Clearly You’re jealous of Lex.”

  “Yeah…wait, what?”

  “You asked and I can see it. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be worried.”

  “I’m not jealous.” He tore a hand through his hair.

  “Okay then, what’s this about?”

  He blew out a long breath. Where to begin?

  *****

  Reese could see the stress lines around Seth’s eyes and mouth. She should put him out of his misery by sending him on his way, but in reality, even drunk, she was glad to see him. In fact, she found it sort of amusing that he was a lightweight when it came to alcohol.

  “Why did you do this to yourself?” she asked.

  “Good question.”

  “Is there something else you’d like to tell me? I’m all ears.” Two sheets to the wind and he was still the best-looking thing she’d ever laid eyes on. His eyes were bright and the layer of beard made him appear dangerous—sexy and dangerous. A big smile crossed his handsome face.

  “I forget, but I know there was something.”

  “I’m sure there was.”

  “I’m not a bad guy, you know.” The low, sexy timbre of his voice made her inner thighs tremble.

  “I never said you were.” An abundance of words hung on the tip of her tongue, things she wanted to say, but the business side of her warned her to keep a safe distance. Already things were out of hand and they hadn’t even kissed. She felt a strong desire to add ‘yet’ to the end of the thought.

  Seth eased back into the chair. His brawny body was almost too big for the confines of the wicker. “You are a woman with many expressions, and I’m afraid I can’t read a majority of them. Sometimes you look at me as if you could lap me up like an ice cream cone, and other times I’m the evil spawn. This is hell—pure hell.” He rubbed his forehead.

  “I think you should stick to what you’re good at because you’re certainly terrible at reading a person.”

  “You’re going to drive me insane.” His face twisted.

  “I think you’ve already done that to yourself.”

  “I have this hunger, you see, one that I can’t seem to satisfy. After a shitload of pizza and wings, and a pitcher of beer, I’m still starving…to see you.” He shifted and the wicker chair creaked. “This is your fault. All your fault, woman.”

  She swallowed hard. Would he regret his drunken revelation tomorrow? She watched him closely. He really was a stunning man. When he smiled, it triggered the light in his eyes and softened the usual harsh features. She remembered all too well how he’d taken care of her after the seizure and it made her smile too. And now, he was opening up to her, just unfortunately he was drunk.

  “What triggered these feelings?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you. Maybe the shorts. Maybe seeing you vulnerable after the seizure. Hell, maybe because you’re the best conversation I’ve had in a long time.”

  She nibbled her bottom lip, wrapping her brain around his words. “Honestly, I’m glad you stopped by, even if you smell like a bar. This is the most in touch you’ve had with your emotions in a long time.”

  “Yeah? You’re probably wanting me stay, aren’t you?”

  “Ha. Good one. No. I like my men sober.” She laughed.

  “Shot down. Ouch.”

  The
attraction between them rose a notch. Her toes curled and the butterflies came back with a vengeance. That’s when the only logical part of her remaining lit up. She could easily drown herself in his affection, like an addiction, but she wasn’t prepared for this onslaught of emotion, or his disclosure. Once she jumped off that cliff, she’d either have to learn to fly or she’d fall to her death. Last she knew, her wings were damaged and she wasn’t yet sure they had healed. Not enough to take on a man like Seth Knight. He was known as the Dark Knight for many reasons.

  She started to move and felt a little woozy as a scorching wave of sensation drove through her center. Seth had a hold of the reins of more than just her future. He sat in the driver’s seat to her heart that was now beating rapidly. He had managed to find his way into her trembling core that cautioned her once she gave the go ahead, she would be wetter and hotter than ever. Her? Hot? She’d never labeled herself with that term.

  Nervously, she stood. “Time for you to go. It’s late, I’m tired, and if I plan to be any good tomorrow painting the next cabin, I’m going to need sleep.” She motioned for him to follow her to the door.

  With hesitation, he finally stood and moved a little more stable in his work boots. He’d gone quiet. Was he pondering the silliness of showing up here drunk? No, he’d have plenty of time for that when he woke up in the morning with a hangover.

  “Thank you for the scintillating midnight conversation.” He stuck his hand out.

  Was this a test?

  Reluctantly, she laid her palm against his, and his long, callused fingers wrapped around her much smaller ones. Seconds ticked by—months and years—and every part of her body was affected with his heat before he finally pulled away. An uninvited warmth spread between her legs, making it hard to stand steady, and she hadn’t had anything to drink.

  As if she felt the same turmoil of awareness, he blinked and shook his head sharply. “See you tomorrow,” he muttered and quickly made his way down the steps, pretty fast for a snozzled man.

  Waiting until his shadowed silhouette disappeared into the darkness, she sucked in a healthy amount of oxygen until she could think clearly. She turned on her heel and started back into the cabin, spotting a spider crawling across the wooden floor. Hurrying inside, she grabbed a piece of paper, rolled it up, and searched for the critter, finding it almost to the bed.

  Reaching down, she gathered the spider onto the paper and walked it to the door. “Sorry, I don’t share my bed with creepy crawlies…” But I’d certainly like to share my sheets with a sexy soldier.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Waking up with the headache from hell, Seth lingered in his cabin longer than he should have. He’d already seen the Howard crew driving toward the cabins. He’d searched to see if he could find Reese in the bunch, but she was nowhere to be found.

  Spike was sitting next to the bed, eyeing him in disdain. “Did I do something to you too?”

  He received a grunt in response.

  He dressed and winced at the throbbing in his temples.

  The problem, something he’d known since he was in his early twenties, drinking was only a temporary fix. A buzz didn’t make a man forget his problems, but instead only made him do stupid things. Yeah, he’d bought the corner lot on stupidity last night when he’d showed up at Reese’s cabin. Now he had that shit to face.

  Avoiding her was an option, but he’d never been a coward. He wouldn’t start now. He’d opened the bull’s pen and now he had to face the horns.

  He could fall back into bed and rest his weary head, but there was no time. He’d downed mugs of beer so he had to live with the punishment. He couldn’t shun his duty because of a little headache.

  Starting the coffeemaker, he planned to douse himself in enough caffeine to kill a cow. Then he’d be ready to face the day—to face a blue-eyed beauty. What could she possibly think about him?

  He was about to find out…

  The knock on the door interrupted his morning plans of drinking three more cups of coffee. He’d know that soft tap anywhere and his gut tightened. Here were the horns he’d referred to.

  Swinging the door open, he about swallowed his tongue. Reese and Abby were on his stoop. “Ah, you’re up.” Her smile plucked his arteries.

  “Barely.” She had those same tantalizing shorts on again. Hell, it wasn’t her fault that he couldn’t control himself. Last night she’d told him to stop looking. Yeah, right.

  “You planning on heading up the hill anytime soon?”

  “I planned on taking a caffeine bath first.”

  “Probably a good idea considering you look like hell. Can I grab a ride with you?”

  What other choice did he have? “Sure.” He used his chin to motion for her to come in and he headed straight for the coffee. He filled a large mug with the legal drug, foregoing the cream. “Want a cup?”

  “No, thanks. I’ve had my coffee already. Have you taken pain meds?”

  “I don’t need medicine.” He took a long drink of the brew and it slid down his pipes, warming his body.

  “Suit yourself.”

  He leaned against the counter. “About last night—”

  “We don’t have to do this.”

  “Yes, we do. I’m sorry. I was half expecting you to be gone this morning.”

  “It takes more than a drunk who likes to shed light on things to chase me away.” She winked. “After all, I need this job.”

  He brought the cup to his mouth and missed the hole completely. The hot coffee spilled down the front of his shirt, seeping into the cotton and burning his skin. He cursed under his breath and dropped his mug into the sink, then hurried to drag the shirt from his shoulders. Once the shirt was gone, he caught a glimpse of Reese who stood watching, her mouth slightly open. It had been a long time since a woman had looked at him like this. He realized his scars and blemishes were a lot to handle for some. He started to brush passed her, but her hand on his elbow stopped him.

  She brought her chin up to meet his gaze and her expression socked him straight in the gut. “This is where you were struck by shrapnel?” She stepped in front of him, the toes of her boots nestled against the toes of his.

  “Yeah.” Her fingers gently skimming his shoulder made him jerk. She paused, but only for a mere second before she continued to brush the tips of her fingers along the puckered, scarred skin of the wounds. They had long healed, but having her touching him made his skin burn.

  “And these deep, red scars…are they from shrapnel too?” Her attention was now on the thick blemishes where he’d been hit hardest.

  “I brought home a bit of Syria.” He could barely force the word through his constricted throat.

  “Here…what’s this?” She crouched down, leaning closer, her gaze on his side as her warm breath swept across his skin. Goosebumps scattered his arms. “Is this a knife wound?”

  “The first year I had enlisted. I found myself in a fight with a disgruntled enemy in Afghanistan.”

  He’d never had anyone investigate his wounds so closely. Probably never had anyone who cared too. His body was battered and beaten, and what remained were ugly scars. He’d gotten used to them, but he wasn’t so sure anyone else could. “I’ll go put a shirt on.” He was fully aware how husky his voice sounded. He was slammed with wave after wave of emotion, both from her close inspection and soft touch. A warmth spread through his body.

  “Don’t be embarrassed, Seth. Don’t hide from me. I think we’re passed that, don’t you?” She worked her bottom lip.

  Hearing his name on those seductive, sweet lips made his limbs ache. Primal desire stroked his spine and he had a strong urge to drag her into his arms, but he couldn’t fall to every sensation that rocked his body. This deserved and needed a light touch…logical reasoning

  “I’m not embarrassed, and I’m not hiding.”

  She stepped closer, stealing all his oxygen right out from his lungs. From his vantage point, he could see straight down her smooth chest and into th
e cleavage between her firm breasts. She stood there, staring at him, but saying nothing.

  As if an invisible force had control, he could no longer fight it. He buried his hands into the satin blanket of her long hair and pulled her closer. “My God, you’re far more dangerous than any badass enemy. What are you doing to me? What are you doing to my wall?” He was ready to taste those beautiful lips…

  Knock. Knock.

  He jerked back. “Who the hell could that be?”

  “Someone with very bad timing.”

  *****

  Oh brother! She’d almost lost herself in the arms of the Dark Knight. How in the world would she manage working so closely with him without sampling his beautiful lips and masculine body?

  Reese kept up with Seth’s stride as they headed toward the group of men standing in a semi-circle near the barn. Gage, Lex, Johnny, and a few men she didn’t have the opportunity to meet, all turning their gazes to watch as they approached. Reese felt as if they could see straight into her internal turmoil.

  They all proved they had manners by greeting her with a dip of their hats. “Mornin’, ma’am.” She smiled and waved in return.

  Gage shifted in his boots. “Sorry I had to drag you out here this early,” his gaze shifted from Reese, then back to a frustrated looking Seth, “but we have a problem. Taylor didn’t get beyond the first cabin before he realized the electricity isn’t up to code.”

  The man who must have been Taylor, stepped forward. “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but not only does the one cabin need electrical updates, but I’m going to assume that they will all need work. These wires look like they’ve been chewed up and spit out by a rat. It’s a problem.”

  Seth shifted from one foot to the other. “What’s your suggestion?”

  She listened as they exchanged “construction” terms that she didn’t quite understand, but she was able to decipher that whatever there was, it was a big problem. Her heart dropped.

  “This will definitely put us behind. I hadn’t expected this issue.” Seth kicked up dust with the toe of his boot.