My phone buzzes and I’m a little slow on the uptake. Knox has it in his hands before I can register what’s happening.
“Rowan’s phone. This is Knox speaking.”
My eyes go big and I reach for the phone, but he holds it out of my reach.
“Hold on and I’ll check if she’s available.” He mutes the phone then slides it to me.
I look at the screen and drop my head. “You had no right to answer my phone.”
He has the nerve to reply with a straight face. “I know. I shouldn’t have.”
“What am I supposed to tell him? I don’t even know why you’re here.” I don’t wait for a response, but lift the phone up to my ear after taking it off mute.
“Hi, Mike. I’m so sorry about that. Can I call you back in a little while? We’re just closing up the restaurant.”
Mike is hesitant, clearly perturbed. “Yeah. I guess.”
I end the call and slump in my seat. The adrenaline from the phone grab leaks out of me, and I can barely lift my head to stare daggers at Knox.
“Sorry for being a jerk.”
Okay, that wakes me up. I straighten my spine and narrow my eyes. “You’ve been a jerk to me every day since I met you. What’s happening?”
“What isn’t happening? My life’s falling apart. Can we talk?”
He’s a little blurry around the edges. His skin is tan as usual although maybe not as glowing, and his deep blue shirt is pressed but his slacks aren’t quite as crisp.
I want to hear more but I’m so freaking tired. “Follow me.” I get up without a backward glance. If he doesn’t follow, I’m perfectly fine with it.
“See you tomorrow, Wyatt.”
I exit through the front door and marvel at the heat this late at night. Looks like we’re skipping spring this year altogether. Knox is on the sidewalk next to me so I lock the front door. There’s still staff in there resetting the restaurant for tomorrow, but I don’t like to keep the door unlocked after we’ve closed.
We walk around the side of the building and up the back stairs. When we get to the top, I pause. “You said you wanted to talk and I’m tired of being in the restaurant. That’s all this is. Nod your head that you understand.”
He grins, then nods.
I put the key in the lock and turn, allowing Knox Everheart into my apartment.
My place is always clean. Mostly because I’m not here a bunch but also because I’m a neat freak. When I leave in the morning, my bed is made and there are no dishes in the sink.
Knox looks around completely uninvited. At least he stays within the living area. He sits at my desk and scans an eleven by seventeen piece of paper I’ve been scribbling on. It doesn’t matter to me that he sees it. They’re only ideas, none that will ever see the light of day.
“Pâté, duck au poivre.” He nods. “Spring pea ravioli?” He turns to me and raises an eyebrow, most likely because he knows I can’t make pasta for shit.
I shrug. “They’re just ideas I’d like to serve. No big deal.” In my spare time, I’ve been crafting a new menu with items I’d love to add if I have my way.
He continues reading, then picks up a pencil and starts scribbling. “These are some great items.”
I walk over and take the pencil out of his hand. “Thanks, but it’s pretty late. Did you come over to review my menu choices?”
“In my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d wind up in your apartment tonight. So, no.”
I breathe in his juicy fruit scent, and catch myself before I do something I don’t mean. I walk over to the couch and kick my shoes off.
He moves from the desk chair to the couch, sitting on the opposite end. “Tell me about your mom.”
Because I don’t have anyone to talk to really—Wyatt will only go so far before getting upset. And because Knox doesn’t have his mom and hasn’t had her in a very long time. And just maybe because I’m a little tired and have let down my guard, I tell him everything. Not just about Mama, but everything with the restaurant, with Sue. Everything.
He listens and doesn’t interrupt. And when I’ve finished confessing like the biggest sinner around, he only nods and says, “Thank you. That really puts things into perspective.”
“Glad I could help, Knox.”
“Do you want me to fix it? Give you the solution?”
“Of course not. I just thought you might have more to say.”
“Growing up without my mom is the absolute worst part of my life. Your mom is sick but from what you said, she’ll be okay if she takes care of herself. And I’m so glad for you. I’m sorry she’s stubborn. If I had any insight there, I wouldn’t be where I am with my father.”
“Where are you with your father?”
“An impasse it would seem. I’ve tried getting backing for my little corner of the world, but he’s had me blackballed. His reach is far and wide. Getting into this competition was a fluke, and it was too late for him to stop it. He even threatened to fire all three of us.” He lays his head against the back of the sofa, and closes his eyes.
If he’s expecting me to be surprised, that ship has sailed. Mama has told me enough about Flynn Everheart to have a pretty good understanding of how ruthless he is. It’s unexpected that he would act this way with his sons though.
“That’s awful, Knox. But it’s good that your brothers stood by you.”
He turns his head my way and opens his eyes. “Yeah, it is. Dad would never fire us
