“Why would I have them?” Knox scowled over at him as Jace looked through the small box Knox kept those kinds of things in. “Have you looked in the bathroom?”
“Amanda won’t let me in.” Having no success at finding them in Knox’s possessions, he snapped the box lid shut.
“Jesus, what the hell is that woman doing in there?” Knox muttered. “It’s been near two hours. I told her to be ready at six, and that was twenty minutes ago.”
“I don’t know.” Jace shrugged. “When I tried to get in to take a shower, she told me she wouldn’t be coming out until she was all done. Apparently it has something to do with making an entrance.”
“It has more to do with driving men insane,” Knox corrected him.
“You two don’t understand jack,” Cody snorted. “Women like to walk into a room and have men go wow! Seeing her running around in her bra and pantyhose beforehand sort of ruins the effect.”
“Speak for yourself, kiddo.” Knox smirked. “Personally, I always go wow for a woman running around in nothing but a bra and pantyhose.”
Jace laughed. He couldn’t disagree. He’d watched Amanda dance between the bathroom and bedroom a couple of times these past few weeks, and it had more than a temporary effect on his day. Waking up next to Amanda, seeing her clothes hanging in his closet, smelling the sweet fragrance coming from the feminine bottles cluttering the bathroom counter, all of it filled him with a warmth he carried through the day.
“And you accuse me of being the pig.” Cody snorted as he turned to look at Knox’s handiwork in the mirror.
“At least I know how to tie a tie,” Knox shot back.
“And I know how to get somebody else to tie them for me, so who’s really the dumbass?”
Knox threw a light punch at Cody who ducked and fled out of the room with a laugh. The small scuffle kept Jace and Knox from noticing right when the bathroom door started to open. The dry, slightly annoyed cut of Amanda’s voice couldn’t be ignored though.
“This is the problem with dating three men at once. They’re easily distracted by each other.”
Jace’s eyes cut to the doorway and then widened at the sight. He could feel the tension blossoming all around him as Amanda smiled and strutted toward Knox. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Jace honestly didn’t think he’d ever been so shocked.
“It’s a good thing you’re brothers and not lovers or I wouldn’t get any attention around here.” She’d come to a complete stop directly under Knox’s nose, and that asshole smiled down at her as if he were actually happy with what he’d done.
“Don’t worry, baby girl. You’re going to get more than enough attention tonight in that outfit.”
“You like?” She did a little twirl.
“The real question is, do you?”
Amanda’s smile bloomed into a thing of unrestrained joy. With a squeal, she launched herself into Knox’s arms and started to cover his face with kisses. “You know I do.”
With a great, excited gasp of breath, she stepped back and turned to stare at herself in the mirror. Jace could see her eyes dip down to that damn necklace. Her fingers fluttered over the sparkling diamonds before sliding down to shape the sides of the little black dress Jace had bought for her.
“The dress is beautiful.” Amanda turned a smile on him before stepping up to drop a quick kiss across his lips. “Thank you, Jace. I love the gift.”
Not as much as she loved that necklace. Her fingers had already begun to caress it again, and she smiled so dreamily. Jace couldn’t believe Knox had done this, but he had. His older brother was quite pleased with himself and as close to happy as Knox came. Even as Amanda darted out of the room, Knox stood there grinning after her.
He turned, and slowly the happiness in his features drained back toward its normal tenseness until they’d reassumed their natural scowl. “What?”
“I can’t believe you did that!” Jace hit Knox in the arm, eliciting a growl from his older brother.
“Watch it, Jace. I wouldn’t want to see you get your tux all bloody.”
“It’s going to be yours, once Cody sees what she is wearing,” Jace shot back, not the least bit concerned with Knox’s threat.
“Cody?” Knox managed to look both confused and pissed at once. “Cody ain’t got nothing to be pissed over. Neither do you. I didn’t claim all the gifts as mine. He’ll get his kiss and thanks, too, for the shoes and bag.”
“I’m not talking about that, you moron,” Jace snarled. “The necklace?”
“What about it?” Knox’s face broke as some understanding hit him. “Oh, I get it. You’re pissed because my gift is the best. Well, too damn bad. I can’t help it if—”
“Sharon’s necklace.”
“Sharon’s necklace?” Knox shook his head. “That’s my necklace.”
“You bought it for Sharon.”
“But I never gave it to her.”
“Her fucking mother picked it out!” Jace wanted to yell, but his voice just hadn’t fully returned to him.
“And I paid for it.” Knox shot back. “I bought it. I never gave it to anybody. That makes it mine, mine to give to who I want.”
“God!” Jace released a great deal of tension into that one word. “You are such an ass.”
Knox stepped right into Jace, glaring straight down his nose at him. “Excuse me?”
Jace wasn’t the least bit intimidated. “How do you think Cody’s going to feel when he sees that necklace? And how do you think Amanda is going to feel when she finds out her necklace was bought for another woman?”
Jace couldn’t believe Knox hadn’t considered any of the consequences, but from the look on his face, his older brother really was that dumb.
“So Cody will be upset,” Knox stated softly. “He’ll get over it. And even if Amanda somehow finds out that the necklace had originally been bought for Sharon, she’ll get over it, too. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You are so delusional,” Jace whispered.
* * * *
Amanda couldn’t take her eyes off the necklace. As nice as all the other gifts had been, none of them could compare to the three solid rows of diamonds gracing her neck in a classy pattern. The reflection of the light off so many sparkling gems almost blinded a person, but that wasn’t what held her so spellbound.
Every woman will know tonight that I’ve been claimed. It would be all the right women, too, because this was her fairy tale night. While Amanda had certainly heard the brothers talking about the formal at Henry’s, she hadn’t actually thought they’d go. Well, that she’d go.
It hadn’t really bothered her. Cody and Jace both knew how she felt about being at their club—sort of like the rabbit in the lion’s den. Cody hadn’t seemed interested in the coming party, and somewhere along the line Amanda had assumed he’d be staying home with her.
At the time, it hadn’t occurred to her they’d be taking her to the ball. And why not? Amanda was legitimate. She was living with them, sleeping with them. By now, her title had to have evolved from friend to lover to girlfriend, significant-other kind of territory. Knox’s necklace proved it.
As if drawn in by her thoughts, Knox’s reflection appeared behind her in the living room mirror. The smile he’d worn minutes ago had faded back into his usually hard expression. Warm and firm, his hands settled on her shoulders, and she smiled up at him.
“The necklace really is beautiful, Knox.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Like it?” Amanda turned in his arms so she could hold him in a loose embrace. “Try love it. I know I should be saying it is too much and I can’t accept it, but I can’t bring myself to lie to you.”
“I wouldn’t accept it back, anyway.” The intensity in his eyes warmed her, and it felt almost like he was making a vow to her. “I gave the necklace to you, Amanda. No matter what happens, it’s yours.”
He melted her with his words, and her hands slid from his waist around his back, as she snugg
led into his front. “You better watch it, Knox, or I just might start to fall in love with you.”
The words slipped out without thought, and she instantly regretted them. A woman didn’t tell a man like Knox she’d fallen for him. She certainly didn’t do it after he gave her such an extravagant gift. He’d only read it as a sign her affection could be bought, but Amanda felt too good to let that worry darken her night.
She knew he heard her but wasn’t the least bit shocked when he ignored her confession in its entirety. Instead, he gave her a quick hug back before disengaging from her embrace and talking as if nothing had just happened.
“Remember, tonight you are Cody’s date, and the rest of us are just your boyfriend’s brothers.”
Amanda rolled her eyes and turned back to the mirror.
“I mean it, Amanda.” Knox’s tone sharpened. “This is our first public outing, and you need to behave appropriately.”
“We’ve been out before, Knox, and I didn’t embarrass you then.”
“Playing pool at Studs & Spurs doesn’t count. We’re going to a formal at Henry’s. We’re going to have to socialize and network.”
“Believe it or not, Knox, I know how to do both those things.”
“I don’t doubt you can pull off being graciously polite if you try,” Knox conceded with a little doubt in his tone. “But you need to mind your manners even with our dates.”
Amanda’s hand froze over the cool diamonds as her eyes darted to meet Knox’s in the mirror. “Dates?”
“It’s expected.”
“And you just happened to have a few phone numbers hanging around, didn’t you?” Amanda whipped around with her accusation.
“Listen, Amanda—”
“No!” She gripped the necklace in a fist and tugged. “If you think a gift like this buys you the right to treat me any damn way you want, then I don’t want it, and I don’t want you!”
She’d have flung the damn necklace at him, but the clasp actually held. Snarling, she blindly tried to undo the latch at the back of her neck.
“Stop it!” Knox stepped forward to grip her wrists and pull her arms forward, holding onto them even as she tried to wrench free of his grip.
“What the hell is going on in here?” Jace’s shocked question had both of their heads snapping in his direction.
“And you!” Amanda managed to break free of Knox. “This coming from him,” she jerked her head at Knox, “not so shocking, but you?”
“What the hell did I do?” Jace asked indignantly.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“Tell you about what?” Jace’s voice rose along with his demand for an answer. “What is she talking about, Knox?”
“Your dates,” Amanda snarled.
Jace froze, and Knox actually winced. She couldn’t follow what the hell just passed between the two brothers until Jace’s question decoded their look. “When the hell did we get dates, Knox?”
“We always have dates, Jace,” Knox snapped. “This is the way it always works, so don’t go acting all shocked.”
“Well, it doesn’t work for me.” Amanda brought the pointy end of her high-heel right down on the tip of Knox’s shoe. He winced and stumbled back, giving her the perfect opportunity to shove him the rest of the way to his very arrogant ass. Pleased her work there had been accomplished, Amanda ended with a dramatic exit.
“Amanda, wait.” Jace managed to catch her right at the top of the porch steps. With a hand on her arm, he not only brought her to a stop, he forced her to turn around.
“What?”
“I know you’re mad, and you have every right to be, but do you really want to walk away?”
Amanda’s eyes narrowed on him. “Just take one for the team, right?”
“You’re looking at this the wrong way.” Jace’s desperation sounded in his tone. “They’re not dates. They’re more like escorts, and I swear this will be the last time you ever have to do this.”
Amanda wasn’t the least bit swayed by his reverent vow. “Escorts with boobs that hang on your arms and believe they might get lucky enough to share your bed at the end of the night, or do you honestly tell these women how you are using them?”
Jace cringed under her accusation. Knox came to his rescue, not at all intimidated. “Obviously, we don’t tell them the truth, but you’re missing the point.”
“No.” Amanda turned on him, feeling out-flanked and overwhelmed by the large cowboys. “You’re missing the point, Knox. It doesn’t matter if anything happens. It’s the fact you go to such extremes as to fool people that tells me you’re embarrassed. Jesus, you’re the ones who want a relationship like this, and then you turn around and act ashamed of it. Don’t you see how hypocritical that is?”
“That’s very noble,” Knox snorted. “But we don’t exactly live in a noble world, do we? We live in a world where appearances matter. If everybody was to know the truth about our situation, life would become very uncomfortable, particularly for one of us.”
Amanda lifted her chin at the insinuation in his voice. “And what is that supposed mean?”
“It means while people might wonder about us, they wouldn’t be as reserved in their speculations of you to keep their thoughts private.”
“Oh.” Amanda gave a bitter laugh. “So, you’re doing this for me? You are really trying to tell me that you need to go out on a date with another woman for my protection?”
“I’m saying this is the way the world is,” Knox growled. “Sometimes it’s better to keep your private life private.”
“You act like nobody knows,” Amanda snapped. “Surely the women in your past didn’t sign confidentiality agreements.”
“A little kink is not the same as a serious relationship,” Knox shot back just as harshly.
Amanda stilled, not sure if she believed him or not. “Is that what we have?”
“Given that you’re living with us, I’d say yes!”
“So you’re having a serious relationship with me, and who is your date tonight?”
“That’s not—”
“Who!”
Knox’s jaw clenched so tightly his muscle started to twitch. “That’s not relevant.”
“Whatever.” Amanda turned her back on him and stormed down the steps. “I’ll send the dress and everything back to you.”
“No.” Knox didn’t sound like he had moved, but the next thing she knew, she was levitating nearly two feet off the ground. Nose to nose with Knox, she could see the rage spiking his navy gaze with black shards. “We are expected at Henry’s within the hour. After everything we’ve done for you, the least you could do is smile and put on a front for the evening.”
“Oh, I owe you?”
“Yes, you do, and not for that damn necklace, but for the several dozen orgasms we give you on a nightly basis.”
Amanda’s mouth fell open, knowing words should be coming out. They just didn’t form. Of all the outrageous and outlandish things he’d said so far, Knox had finally said something that left her speechless.
“I know you want a strip off my hide,” Knox continued on. “I say bring it on after the party.” His face softened, his eyes widened slightly, and she could hear soft hints of desperation as he spoke. “Please. You’re not really going to walk away from Jace just because I’m an asshole. You’ve known that all along.”
Yes, she had, and damnit, he had a point. It’s just she’d thought…whatever. Amanda deserved to suffer for her stupidity in thinking it in the first place. It was all right. She might not deserve the picture-perfect family, but Amanda could carve out one that lasted.
She just had to be strong. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll go tonight, but if I sense even a second of inappropriate behavior, I’m making a scene to end all scenes. Don’t think I won’t go down just to take you with me.”
Knox heaved a suffering sigh. “You don’t have anything to worry about, Amanda. I swear nothing is going to happen.”
“It better
not.” She spared Jace a quick glance before focusing back on Knox to make sure he understood her conditions. “And next time and every other time after, you go stag. I don’t care what anybody has to say about it.”
“You better think about that, darlin’,” Knox growled. “Stag means open to be hit on by every woman in the place. The question you have to ask yourself is do you want to worry about one woman or a roomful of them.”
He had a point, and that just pissed Amanda off even more. She vented her frustration by kicking him. If nothing else, it got her released and back to standing on her own two feet.
“Hey, what are you guys doing out here?”
Cody’s question broke the tension in the air with a mild slice. With one last evil look at Knox, she left his question unanswered. “Jace and Knox are lucky they’re still men,” she explained with a frigid look at Jace. “Whether or not they still are in the morning…well, we’ll just have to see which pound of flesh I find most useless when we get home tonight.”
Cody laughed, not at all intimidated. “Amanda—”
“Just remember I’m going to have to disinfect any part of you that touches another woman. That means bleach and steel wool.” Amanda couldn’t stop from lobbing another insult at Knox before stepping around Jace to grab onto Cody’s arm. “Let’s get the hell out of here before I change my mind.”
Amanda expected a swift response from Cody. He was good for it, but he didn’t deliver. Caught by his silence, she glanced up at him. His grin had faded right along with most of his color, and he stared at her neck as if she had some mutant growth there.
“Oh, this.” Amanda fingered the necklace before pointing at Knox. “That jackass gave it to me. He’ll be lucky if I don’t pawn it and use it to finance my honeymoon with a man who doesn’t feel the need to take other women on dates.”
“That’s it, baby girl,” Knox threw back at her. “Get it all out of your system now because in twenty minutes I expect you to be all smiles.”
“Enjoy tonight, Knox.”
She gave him a smile that said the rest. It would be the last night he enjoyed for a long time. With a smirk, Amanda yanked on Cody’s arm and led the march toward his truck.
Kansas Heat Page 40