Knox patted Chance. “He’s fine. Just let him get some energy out.”
“He really needs to learn not to maul people,” she replied. “He was doing so well walking from the shelter to here, but that was only two blocks. I guess he couldn’t take the excitement anymore. His owner was elderly and had to go live in a nursing home. No other family members wanted him. Poor guy.”
Knox bent down onto one knee, easing Chance down with him. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”
He rubbed on the giddy dog for a bit before something struck him as odd. He glanced up to Ruby, who was shielding her face from the sun with her hand.
“Why don’t you have a dog if you love them so much?”
“I work crazy hours,” she replied. “I’d always wanted a dog, but my dad was allergic. Honestly, after he passed I considered it, but with living alone and never knowing if I’m going to have to pull a double shift . . . I’ve just never brought one home.”
After a few minutes, the dog seemed to calm down. He’d stopped licking all over Knox’s face and now all paws were on the ground. Slowly, Knox came to his feet, but made sure to keep one hand rubbing the dog’s ear.
Ruby’s smile was just as vibrant and breathtaking today. “You’re good with animals.”
“We always had dogs growing up,” he explained. “Once I settle down, one of the first things I plan on doing is seeking a shelter dog.”
“They’re the best pets.”
She wrapped a portion of the leash around her wrist and kept a tight hold on her rambunctious friend.
“Do you have time to walk with us?” she asked, pulling him from his questioning thoughts.
He needed to shower, get to the store, and start making one hell of a dinner for her, but what would another few minutes be. He liked spending time with her and she looked just as sexy and beautiful today in her yoga pants and hoodie with her hair in a ponytail as she did last night in her dress and makeup.
Ruby was a vixen—there was no doubt about that. She could draw him in with the arc of a brow or the tilt of her head. And that smile . . . His heart kicked up a notch every time she flashed it his way. What man could deny her?
And that thought had jealousy sliding through him. The thought of her with another man didn’t set well with Knox, at least not the image he’d conjured up. The fact that he was instantly jealous of a faceless man was rather telling, but he didn’t want to access that area of emotions in his mind—not quite yet.
“Sure,” he told her.
Knox fell into step beside her as she tried to maneuver Chance into some sort of pattern. But this St. Bernard mix didn’t have a care in the world. He was just happy to be out in the fresh air.
“So do you always run in the mornings?” she asked as they rounded the fountain and took the path leading toward the tree-lined walkways.
“Always. It’s a great stress reliever, plus it keeps me in shape.”
“Maybe I should make time for a workout,” she muttered, pulling back slightly on the leash.
Knox reached over and slid the leash from her hand and took it into his. “I think you’re getting enough right now. Besides, you look fine . . . if that’s why you were thinking you need to work out.”
“I’m a woman. We always find something wrong with our bodies.”
Knox glanced over at her. “There’s not one thing wrong with your body, and I should know because you were plastered against mine last night.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Excuse me? I believe you’re the one who did the plastering.”
He couldn’t help but laugh as he shrugged. “Guilty.”
And he planned on taking full advantage of this extremely odd friendship again. Kissing Ruby wasn’t what he thought it would be. He figured a kiss was something he could handle. Nothing wrong with a little physical contact. But then he’d done it once, and all he could think of was how soon they could do it again. He hadn’t slept well, not for planning and figuring out what to make for dinner. He wanted to impress her and he wanted to make sure she had just as good a time as last night.
Despite the emotional shock right at first, and the restaurant catching fire, that had been the best date he’d ever had. Ruby was a special woman; there was no denying that.
Fear held him back from ever seeking more from anyone. He’d vowed long ago never to put his heart on the line again because there was no way he could ever love another woman. He hadn’t expected to care so much, though. Having Ruby reenter his life had seriously thrown him and his plans for a loop.
“So, if I bring wine for dinner, what do you prefer?” she asked. “Or are you more of a beer guy?”
“Honestly, I don’t drink,” he told her. “But you are more than welcome to bring wine.”
“Oh, no. I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
Knox held the leash in one hand and slid his other hand into hers. “Nothing to apologize for. I drank my fair share in the military. I just decided to become healthier now that I’m out, and that was one of the things I cut.”
“But you still devour cookies?” she asked, quirking a brow.
Knox guided Chance back onto the path when he tried to head off onto the grass as a squirrel ran toward a tree. “Cookies are important and it’s so rare that I have them.”
“I can’t just show up at your house empty handed.”
He tried to think, but there wasn’t anything that came to mind. “I’m cooking, I’m making dessert, and you are just going to show up and have a good time. No arguments.”
She opened her mouth to say something else, but he squeezed her hand and guided her through the park. Ruby wised up and didn’t say another word about dinner. They walked in silence and he wondered what she was thinking. Was she replaying that kiss? Was she wondering what tonight held?
Knox didn’t recall wanting to impress anyone the way he wanted to impress Ruby. When he’d dated Lydia, they’d been so young, getting her attention and keeping her satisfied was pretty easy. What did he know now about this whole dating thing? Was it even fair to Ruby to drag this out? She was obviously a settling down type of woman and he’d already put a line in the proverbial sand, not allowing anyone to pull him over that long-term boundary again.
“What time should I be at your house?” she asked after several minutes.
Chance spotted a flock of birds and attempted to take off. Knox held tight to the leash and guided him back the way they came.
“Dinner will probably be ready closer to seven, but come over whenever.”
Ruby reached for the leash, her hand gliding over his. “I’ll come a little early. Thanks for helping me walk this big guy. I think he likes you.”
Chance turned and reached one paw up, swatting at Knox’s stomach as if to ask for more affection. There was no denying this dog was loving and absolutely adorable. If Knox were staying in Haven, he’d seriously consider adopting Chance.
“I better get him back,” Ruby stated. “I have several more to walk before I clean some of the cages. See you this evening.”
Knox didn’t know how she juggled it all. And by “it all” he meant all of the lives, human and canine, that she sacrificed her life for. Did anyone truly appreciate her? Did anyone ever give back to her and make her take a break? Who pampered her?
Knox watched her walk across the street, picking up into a light jog to keep up with Chance. As she disappeared into the shelter, a wonderful idea crossed his mind.
He’d promised dinner, but there was no reason he couldn’t throw in another little surprise.
* * *
Knox opened the door to his rental town house and greeted Ruby. As fine as the man looked in his long-sleeved black T-shirt and well-worn jeans, the aromas that hit her in the face were positively mouth-watering. He knew how to pack a punch between his looks and his cooking.
“Whatever you’re making, I already want seconds,” she told him as she stepped over the threshold with a bundle of bright red flowers in her hand. “These
are for you.”
Knox closed the door and took the bouquet. “Isn’t the guy supposed to bring flowers?”
Ruby shrugged and turned to face him. “Nothing about our relationship seems traditional and you wouldn’t let me bring food, so flowers it is.”
He stared down at the bouquet, his eyes widening as if seeing them for the first time.
“You’re not going to believe this.” He clutched the flowers and shook his head with a slight laugh. “These were Lydia’s favorite. I had them delivered to her grave every month while I was overseas.”
Ruby’s heart clenched. “Knox, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“Bad memories? I have amazing memories of her. It’s nice to remember. You bringing these almost feels like a sign, you know?”
A sign of... what? That he should move on?
The man was beyond remarkable with the outlook he took on life and the recovery he’d made since losing his wife. “You must have done some serious counseling to have that attitude.”
Knox held the flowers in one hand and wrapped his other arm around her shoulders as he led her into the living room. “I did do counseling, but I soon realized that Lydia wouldn’t have wanted me to remember the bad times at the end. So I choose to focus on the best.”
Ruby turned to face him, still in awe at how he’d circled back into her life and how he was seriously helping her heal a year after she’d lost her father. She firmly believed everything happened for a reason and she knew . . .
She pulled in a deep breath. He’d come into her life at this moment, but she couldn’t say for sure why. Was it just to help her heal? Or was there to be more? Ruby needn’t get her hopes up—he’d made things perfectly clear. But at the same time, she couldn’t help it. She was human.
“Come on into the kitchen,” he told her. “Dinner is just about ready.”
“Whatever that aroma is, it’s amazing.”
As she passed through the living room, she noticed the leather couch, some weights in the corner by a treadmill, a few end tables, lamps, pictures on the walls. It was like he lived here, but not fully here. The pictures were floral prints and the lamps were fairly feminine, as were the throw pillows on the sofa and the rug.
“Did the place come furnished?” she asked.
He threw her a glance and a side grin. “The motif doesn’t necessarily fit me, does it?”
Ruby merely shrugged as they rounded the corner to the small galley kitchen. There was a pass-through with a bar and stools.
“Do you need help?” she asked, standing in the doorway.
“If you want to grab a mason jar to put these flowers in, they’re with the glasses by the fridge.” He went to the oven and pulled out a glass dish. “Sorry, I don’t keep vases on hand.”
Something she should’ve thought of. But she figured flowers were at least a nice gesture to show him how much she appreciated him.
Ruby grabbed a mason jar from the cabinet and filled it with water. The stems were clearly too long for the jar, so she snapped them down to a shorter size and made a new arrangement.
“How long did you volunteer today?”
Picking up the jar of flowers, Ruby turned to figure out where to put it. “Until about three. We had two dogs get adopted out today. It’s always so bittersweet. I’m happy they found their forever homes, but I miss them. Chance is still there even though I thought for sure one family was going to take him.”
Knox readied their plates and took them to the small table in the dining area. Ruby followed and sat her bouquet right in the middle. Instant romantic dinner.
No. No romantic dinners. Just a dinner between friends. Friends who kissed. Friends who have seen each other two days in a row and have a good time and there just happens to be a sexual energy charging around them. Nothing to worry about.
“Is that chicken parmesan?” she asked as she stared down at the plates.
“It is.” He rounded the table and pulled out the white, wooden chair. “And there’s bread I’ll grab, too. Is sweet tea okay?”
She took a seat and glanced up at him. “Perfect.”
He quizzed her about her day a little more and she found out he not only used his mother’s recipe for dinner, but he’d made the noodles from scratch. Was this guy for real? Scratch? Who in the world had time for such things? She barely had time for not scratch dinners.
“You’re lying.”
He met her gaze across the table. “Do you think I need to lie to impress you at this point?”
Ruby swirled her fork for another bite of noodles. “No, but I cannot believe you’re this talented in the kitchen.”
“My mother insisted I be raised helping to cook and learning all she knew. She was Italian, by the way, so I do have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
Swallowing her bite of chicken, noodles, and an amazing red sauce, Ruby replied, “God bless her. This is the best thing I’ve eaten in a long time.”
Knox chuckled. “I haven’t made it in years. Six, actually.”
Not since Lydia. The words hung in the air just the same as if they’d been said aloud. So what did that mean that he’d opted to pull this recipe out now and fix this for her?
“It’s not much fun cooking for one,” she replied, wiping her mouth with her napkin. “It’s cheaper to eat out or make a sandwich.”
“It’s cheaper for you when your dates pay for dinner, but you’ve been set up with jerks.”
Ruby laughed as she picked up her tea glass. “That’s a very good point.”
There was so much she wanted to ask him about, but she wondered if she had the right to do so. They were friends, yes, but did that mean he wanted to open up to her?
“I don’t want to pry, but can I ask why you haven’t dated since you’ve been back? You said it had been two months.”
Knox dropped his fork to his plate and eased forward on his forearms. “I haven’t found anyone that I wanted to date. I haven’t been looking, either. I know I’m not staying here and I’m not planning to settle down again, so dating didn’t seem like a priority.”
Not settling down. Not staying. The words went into her head, but her heart wasn’t quite grasping. How could there be such an emotional pull when the end result would only be heartache on her end? Was life this cruel?
“Why did you agree when Jax offered?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure,” he stated. “I guess I figured what would it hurt. I planned on being up front with whomever I went out with, but then it ended up being you and I was a little relieved.”
“Relieved?” That hadn’t been her first response upon seeing him when she opened her door.
With a grin, he eased back in his seat. The wide shoulders and broad chest hid the entire chair. “You already knew my past, so I didn’t have to tell you all about it in the get to know you stage.”
Well, there was that. “I still don’t know you very well.”
When his dark brow quirked and his eyes dropped to her lips, Ruby’s entire body tingled just the same as if he’d reached across the table and touched her . . . or captured her mouth again.
“I bet you do,” he countered. “Think of some things you know about me that you didn’t know when we met six years ago.”
Ruby slid her thumb over the condensation on her glass. Had it only been a little over twenty-four hours since she opened her door to him? Her mind traveled through the last day and all she’d experienced.
“You’re an amazing cook,” she started, her mind rolling through the list. “You can decorate for Christmas like a pro. You love animals and you’re a pretty good kisser.”
His eyes widened. “Pretty good? You call that pretty good?”
Fine, their kiss had been toe-curling and palm-dampening, but she didn’t figure she should throw those terms around to her friend.
Ruby shrugged and came to her feet. “Pretty good,” she confirmed as she picked up her plate to take it into the kitchen.
She pu
t her dish in the sink and was immediately caged in. Knox’s firm chest rested against her back, those thick, muscular arms settled on either side of her. Heart beating quicker than ever, she tipped her head back to attempt to meet his gaze.
“Pretty good,” he muttered a second before his lips descended onto hers.
Ruby shifted and instantly found herself being turned by strong hands. Knox had plunged one hand through her hair and the other was on her back, pulling her in closer. This kiss was nothing like the sweet, sultry kiss of last night. No, this one held promise and passion and everything she knew he could deliver.
And there was nothing she could do but hold on for the ride and savor every blessed moment. There had been so many belly-tingling moments since yesterday, Ruby had lost count.
A low moan escaped her and she should have been embarrassed at the way she was clinging to him, but then she realized his hands had traveled and were gripping her waist. His fingers eased beneath the hem of her shirt and just that simple, harmless touch set her on fire. She’d been playing with the matches since she opened the door.
Knox lifted his head and Ruby was just about to say something—what, she didn’t know—when he dove back in for more.
Yes. This was exactly what she thought. He wasn’t immune to the attraction between them. He could give all the well-meaning speeches he wanted, but they were all for naught. His body told her more than any of his words ever could.
Knox’s teeth nipped gently on her bottom lip before he eased back just enough to disconnect their mouths. His warm breath came out in pants just as wild as hers. The man made her feel reckless, needed, desired, and absolutely glorious.
Never before had she experienced such an onslaught of emotions.
“Don’t tell me that was just pretty good,” he murmured against her lips, his forehead pressed to hers. “I pulled a moan out of you.”
Not to mention she was still clutching his biceps like he was her only lifeline and the only reason she was still remaining upright when her legs had turned to complete jelly.
“Did you only kiss me to prove a point?” she asked. Knox lifted his head. Those dark, heavy-lidded eyes told her all she needed to know before he opened his mouth.
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