Jana climbed out of the SUV, her red hair tied up into some sort of bun, her white shorts paired with a pretty red blouse, and looking like a million-and-a-half dollars.
He tried to calm down his grin as she walked to the playground, but there was no stopping it.
“Hey,” she said, her gaze flitting from Knox to Ruby, who was currently on her dozenth round of going down the slide.
“Hey.” He walked toward her and leaned down to kiss her cheek. She smelled sweet. Like fruit. He wanted to pull her close and kiss her for real. “How are you?”
Jana’s lips twitched. “Good. And you?”
“Excellent.” He winked. “Got your writing done?”
“A little.”
“What’s happening now between Ryan and Sandy?”
She pursed her lips, but her eyes were full of amusement. “Don’t want to give out any spoilers.”
Knox couldn’t help it; he had to kiss her mouth. But as he leaned down, Ruby called out, “Watch, Daddy!”
Jana’s brow lifted. “You’re getting paged, Mr. Bull-Rider.”
He kissed her on the lips before turning. “Yeah, baby?”
“Watch me fly!”
“No, Ruby.” Knox sprinted to where she was getting ready to jump off one of the wide climbing ladders. The distance was only a few feet, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He grasped her waist before she could move. “No jumping.”
“I can do it,” Ruby said. “Mom lets me.”
Knox hesitated. “Well, wait for Mom, then. I want you to meet my friend.”
Ruby was sufficiently distracted, and her brown eyes locked onto Jana.
“What’s your name?” she asked, her tone suddenly demure.
Knox wanted to laugh. His daughter wasn’t fooling anyone.
“Jana Harris,” Jana said. “I saw you once in the grocery store, remember?”
Ruby scrunched up her nose. “I don’t know.”
Jana was smiling, though, and she extended her hand, very formal-like. But Ruby ate it up and shook Jana’s hand.
“How old are you?” Ruby asked, tilting her head.
“Ruby—” Knox began.
“It’s okay,” Jana cut in. “I’m twenty-six. Same as your dad.”
“That’s a lot.” Ruby wrapped her arms about Knox’s neck, and he pulled her close, safely stepping away from the ladder. “I’m five.”
“I thought so,” Jana said. “You look like a very smart five-year-old.”
Ruby grinned. “You’re pretty.”
Knox bit back a laugh. Leave it to Ruby to say every thought that came into her head.
“Well, thank you,” Jana said. “You’re pretty, too.”
Ruby’s shoulders sighed up and down. “Everyone tells me that.”
Knox had to laugh, then, and he sure hoped Jana was taking this all with a grain of salt, even though putting any bias aside, his daughter was beautiful.
“Everyone’s right,” Jana said simply, her tone warm. She’d moved closer to Knox, and he liked that very much. “What’s your favorite thing to do at the park?”
With no hesitation, Ruby announced, “The swings. But Daddy got tired of pushing me.”
Knox groaned. “Tell her how you really feel.”
“I can push you,” Jana said, giving Knox a smirk as she followed Ruby to the swings.
“Can you push me really high?” Ruby said, grinning from ear to ear as she expertly hoisted herself onto the swing.
“Um…” Jana glanced at Knox. He gave a subtle shake of his head. “I think we should be listening to your dad.”
Knox smiled approvingly, and Jana smiled back.
Okay, then… he should probably stop staring at her. But he was finding that his heart was soaring while he watched Jana pushing his daughter on the swing.
Ruby’s laughter rang in the air, and Knox walked over to stand by Jana. He linked their fingers, and smiled when Jana’s cheeks flushed pink.
“Thanks for coming,” he said in a low voice. “What changed your mind?”
She looked at him with a half-smile. “You made your bed.”
“What?” He chuckled. “Is that all it took? After this, I’ll come clean your whole house if it gets you to hang out with me more.”
Jana squeezed his hand. “Knox, you’re laying it on really thick.”
He leaned over and kissed her temple. “I’m glad you came. That’s the truth.”
“Me, too,” she said.
Those two simple words were the best thing he’d heard in a long time.
“Look,” Ruby was saying, “there’s an airplane! Is that what you’re going on tomorrow, Daddy? Mommy said you’re leaving.”
Knox cleared his throat. “I’m not flying on an airplane. I’m driving to San Antonio for their rodeo.” He felt Jana’s gaze on him, but he didn’t meet her eyes. He wasn’t sure where all of this was going between them, but he didn’t want them to go back to not talking to each other for a bunch of years.
“In your truck that’s always broken?” Ruby asked as her little legs kept pumping below her swing.
Knox bit back a laugh. “That same truck. She’s been with me a long time.”
Ruby looked back at him, which made her hair fly around her face. “Why don’t you get a new one like Holt?”
Holt’s truck wasn’t new, but it was a heck of a lot newer than Knox’s. He wanted to laugh it off, but for some reason, the comment stung a little.
Jana released his hand and slipped her arm about his waist, then whispered, “I like yours better.”
He looked down at her. “You wanna go for a ride?”
Her smile only solidified his decision—and he no longer cared about his brother’s newer truck.
“Let’s get out of here.” He must have said it too loud, because Ruby heard.
“Can we get ice cream now?”
“Sure thing,” he said. He turned to Jana. “You comin’?”
Did she not realize when she bit her lip like that, it made it hard for him not to lean in and kiss her?
“I don’t think so,” she said. “I’ve got more work to do.”
“Aww,” Ruby said. “Don’t you like ice cream?”
“I do, but I have some work.” Jana then met Knox’s gaze. “A little too public,” she said with an apologetic smile.
Knox got it, he did. All they needed was for someone like Barb to see them together, and then everyone in Prosper would know. Which Knox wouldn’t exactly mind, but he could see that Jana did. So he had to tread carefully here and respect her wishes.
As they followed Ruby to his truck, Knox asked Jana, “You coming tonight?”
“To watch you ride bulls?” she asked, the edge of her mouth quirking.
“That would be correct.”
She turned to face him then. “I’ll come.”
His heart skipped a beat, then three. “Good.” He moved a piece of hair from her face, then leaned in and kissed her.
It was much too brief, because he was interrupted by, “Daddy! I can’t get the door open.”
“Hang on, baby,” he called to Ruby as he reluctantly stepped away from Jana. “You better not be giving me false hope, Jana Harris.”
She only smiled as she walked away.
Knox won the bull-riding event again. Jana couldn’t say she was surprised, yet, it was thrilling all the same. The lights, the cheering crowd, the thundering bull—and Knox made it all look like a work of art. She’d sat by Barb and Patsy, who were never ones to miss out on any social event in Prosper that included single men. Specifically, cowboys.
“Please come to the dirt dance with us,” Barb said for at least the hundredth time as the crowd filtered out of the stands.
Jana hadn’t confessed to her friends about Knox staying at her place, and the turn of events in their relationship. She didn’t know if she could exactly define it, anyway. He was leaving town tomorrow, and then going on to another rodeo, then another. He didn’t have a permanent home that sh
e knew of. There was still so much they hadn’t even talked about.
Yet… when Knox had climbed up onto that bull and as he was strapping on his grip, he somehow spotted her in the stands. She’d seen his smile and had no doubt it had been just for her. Jana had never experienced such a rush of emotion before. She couldn’t even fully describe it, but she still felt like she hadn’t floated back to earth yet.
“You’re somewhere in outer space, hon,” Barb said. “Haven’t you been sleeping, or something?”
“I’m fine,” Jana said quickly.
“So we could go get something to eat, then come back to the dirt dance,” Barb said. “What do you say, girls?”
“I’m in,” Patsy announced.
But Jana was looking toward the bull-riding pen, where Knox and a couple of the other cowboys had come out to greet fans. Women surrounded them, and Jana couldn’t look away from how they were obviously trying to get Knox’s attention. From this distance, she couldn’t see his eyes beneath his cowboy hat, and she was pretty sure he wasn’t flirting back. Right?
“What are you in the mood to eat?” Barb asked Jana, cutting into her thoughts.
She exhaled and looked at her friend. “I’m not going to the dirt dance, so I’ll just head home.”
“Come on, Jana,” Patsy said, her painted red lips forming a pout. “You’ve skipped out on us the last couple of times.”
“Yeah, she’s right,” Barb cut in. Then her gaze slid to where Knox and the other bull-riders were talking to the women. “You’re crushing on him, aren’t you?”
“What?” Jana said. “No. I’m not crushing on anyone.”
“Knox?” Patsy whispered. “Is that who we’re talking about?”
Barb only nodded, her eyes wide, her brows rising in question.
“Look, I’ve really got to head out.” Jana rose and started down the aisle. “Let me know how the dance goes.”
“Jana, wait,” Barb called out, while Patsy just stared at her.
“Text me,” Jana said. She waved her friends off, then headed down the stands without looking back. The arena dirt was already being cleaned, and people were congregating near the walls, waiting for the dance to begin.
She wanted to talk to Knox, to plow right through those women, but she didn’t want to embarrass herself, either. She’d probably end up waiting in line to talk to him. Was he going to the dirt dance? Her stomach twisted as she thought about the one from years ago, when he’d met Macie.
So it was just better that Jana leave. She was happy that Knox won again, and well, it would be amazing if things progressed with their relationship. But reality was starting to set in. Knox was currently surrounded by admiring women. So nothing had changed on that front. And what were the chances that he really would return to Prosper and want to settle down, with her?
She moved with the crowd leaving the arena, saying hi to a few people that she recognized. But mostly, she stayed focused on her walk back to her SUV. She hated how every approaching truck made her pulse leap in anticipation. Knox would be at the arena awhile yet.
By the time she reached her SUV, her heart felt tight, and her stomach had shrunk to the size of a pebble. She was changing her mind every few seconds. Should she stay? Congratulate Knox around all those people? Should she give him space? It wasn’t like she was truly a part of his life. Yes, they’d kissed, more than once… But who was she to harbor expectations about him? They’d barely reconnected, and now she was falling back into old insecurities. Which, incidentally, had been partly due to Knox.
Most of all, she wondered if he’d stay for the dirt dance. He’d have plenty of women ask him to dance, there was no doubt, and Jana knew she couldn’t watch it. They weren’t an item, or in a relationship, at least nothing official.
So she went home. Got her laptop out, and looked up the incoming emails that had come into the advice column to decide which one to answer. She’d focus on someone else’s problems and love life. Hers had too many unknowns and variables.
Dear Miss Jewel,
My best friend is acting a lot different lately. I think he has a crush on me, and I don’t know how I feel about that. I don’t want to lose my best friend.
Sincerely, Unsure in Corpus Christi
Really, there were two answers. Try a relationship with the best friend, and risk losing the friendship if it didn’t work out. Reject the relationship, and lose the friendship. What were the chances of a happily-ever-after in this situation if they didn’t feel the same about each other?
How did Knox feel about her?
How did she feel about him?
It was too early to even know, she knew that. But it wasn’t like she didn’t know him. Maybe they hadn’t talked for years, but she knew they were always friends first.
Jana sighed and typed a response to the email, one she’d have to fine-tune later, because she probably had too many emotions warring inside of her.
Dear Unsure in Corpus Christi,
A best friend is priceless. You need to decide how you feel first, or you will both be hurt. Look at it from his perspective. It sounds like he’s willing to risk everything to have a deeper relationship with you. Are you willing to take that same risk?
Good luck.
Miss Jewel
Jana re-read her response. It was all anyone could advise without knowing more about the individuals. She closed her laptop. She didn’t have the heart to answer another question for her column. What did she know about finding love and keeping relationships strong? Nothing, that’s what.
She opened the document containing her novel and scrolled to the last scene. Ryan and Sandy were on their first tentative date, and as she read through the interactions of the two characters, she realized that she used dialogue that sounded like Knox. Which meant that it was easy to continue writing the scene, even though she felt like she was stealing something.
When her phone rang, it startled her out of the world she’d immersed herself in, and it took her a moment to realize that Knox was calling. She glanced at the living room clock to see it was nearly midnight. The dirt dance should be in full swing. Had he texted her, and she hadn’t heard it?
Her heart was racing by the time she answered, and she was pretty sure she sounded breathless.
“Where are you?” Knox said, his voice low, but in the background, she could hear music and people.
“Home.”
He said something that was muffled, to another person she guessed, then he was back on the line. “I’ve been looking for you, Jana. Did you ditch me?”
“Was I invited somewhere?” Maybe she shouldn’t give him a hard time—after all, he’d just won the bull-riding event, so she should probably be congratulating him.
“Where’d you go?”
She pulled her legs up under her. “I told you.”
“You did, but I want to know why.” Again, he was interrupted, and she could hear someone gushing over his win.
“I didn’t want to get in the way,” she said. “I mean, you were surrounded by people. And I thought you’d enjoy your night more without having to worry about me.”
Knox didn’t say anything for a moment as the background noise shifted around him. “Remember you agreed to go for a ride in my truck?”
Of course, she remembered. “Yeah.”
“How about I collect on that right now?”
She straightened. “It’s really late.”
He chuckled, and the sound of it was like a slow burn in her chest. “I’m not tired, are you?”
Not even close. “No,” she said in an almost whisper.
“Be there in about thirty,” he said. “I’ll be the one in the rumbling truck pulling into your driveway.”
When Jana hung up, she leapt off the couch. Knox hadn’t forgotten her, not in the least. She touched up her appearance and was outside waiting for him when he pulled up to the house. She didn’t want him doing anything ridiculous like honking, or even coming inside. She was worried she’d
jump into his arms, and the kissing would start, and then she wouldn’t be able to ask him her bigger questions.
Like what would happen once he left Prosper?
She climbed into the truck and was surprised he smelled freshly showered. He wore a dark T-shirt and faded jeans. His hat wasn’t the one from the rodeo, either, but a hat that looked like the one he wore in high school. “You already cleaned up?”
He reached for her hand and pulled it onto his thigh. “I stopped in at my parents to say goodbye and cleaned up there. I’m heading to San Antonio tonight.”
“You are?” She couldn’t hide the surprise from her voice. Her chest was already tightening with regret. This little fling with Knox would have been better off not happening at all. She was glad to know what had split them up in high school, but reality was that they couldn’t ever go back to what they used to be. Too much had happened since that time.
“Yeah, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Knox left it at that as he continued to drive down the dark, country road. She wasn’t sure where they were going until he turned on the road that led to Prosperity Ranch. This surprised her more than anything.
“Aren’t your parents asleep?” she asked as they neared.
“We’re not going into the house.”
He parked before the road curved to the driveway, then he popped open his door, still holding her hand. “Come on,” he said, tugging her so that she scooted to his side of the truck.
She stepped out, and Knox shut the driver’s side door with a quiet click. Then he led her around the back side of the property, an area she knew would eventually take them past the farthest barn. She hadn’t been to Prosperity Ranch for ages, since high school, really. The velvety night was warm, and the barely-there breeze raised prickles on her neck. Knox still held her hand, and she relished the warmth and strength of his fingers. She was already missing him. Wishing he didn’t have to leave so soon.
“Did Ruby like the rodeo?” she finally asked, because she was truly wondering if Knox was going to say something, or if they were just walking the ranch in the middle of the night.
Not Over You (Prosperity Ranch Book 3) Page 8