16. Take It As It Comes

"Hey," Sage said. "What are you doing here?"

"I have no idea," Knox said. He'd finished up the job he was working on and went to check out a few others and was done for the afternoon.

He could be in his office right now doing paperwork, something he was going to do anyway, but found himself driving through Mystic and parking his truck to visit Sage on Friday afternoon.

It's not like he wouldn't see her tonight either.

She grinned at him. "I'm not sure why that is funny. Is everything okay? You're lucky I was in the shop or you'd have to ask for me."

Which he realized the minute he opened the door and she saw him. She was in the back of the store talking to someone and they both turned and she came rushing forward.

"Again, as I said, not sure why I'm here other than I just felt the need to stop."

"Since you are here, I'll give you time to figure it out. But I can introduce you to a few people."

"Me first," the one that was talking to Sage said. She was on the smaller side with light brown hair, streaks of blonde in it. She appeared younger.

"Ivy," Sage said. "Come on over here and meet Knox."

"Ooohhh," Ivy said. "The hot boyfriend that came knocking on Sage's door. I've been waiting to meet you."

"You talk about me," he said.

"Girls talk," she said. "I'd ask if guys do, but I know the answer to that."

"I talk to men on the job site but not so much about my personal life."

He had a few employees, but they were married or older. One was younger and single, but it felt as if he didn't have much in common with Kyle so they only talked about work.

"Trace always said the same thing," she said. "That guys don't talk like girls do. You know Violet, so I don't have to introduce you to her."

"Jasmine and Dahlia are here," Ivy said. "Poppy and Rose have left for the day. Daisy is here and then there are the rest working in the shop and upstairs."

He noticed three staff walking around the store. He was an idiot to come here. He was in old jeans, work boots, a cotton shirt that said Bradford Electrical on it. He didn't want to be an embarrassment to her in front of her coworkers and didn't think this would have happened.

"Knox is looking a little shy," Sage said. "Why don't I show you to my office?"

"And if anyone wants to stop up there to say hi, they can," Ivy said, giggling.

Which meant that was going to happen.

He was glad that Sage took his hand and pulled him to the back and up some stairs.

"Sorry for just stopping in. I didn't think this would happen. Hope you won't get in trouble."

"Never," she said. "We all like sexy guys to stop and say hi."

"How many are stopping to talk to you?" he asked, frowning.

"None," she said. "You're the first. Lucky me. But all my coworkers have their own sexy guys that stop in now and again."

"Oh," he said. "So it's a common thing?"

"Somewhat," she said. "Not all the time. Everyone works."

Sage had filled him in on most of the people. They were just names to him and what they did.

He knew Ivy worked with Sage the most besides the owners. And that Ivy was engaged to Brooks who was an investigator with the State Police.

"True," he said.

"This is my office," she said. "Not very big, but most of the offices aren't here. Lily has the biggest but even then not that big. This is where the three sisters used to live with their mother. It was converted to offices and then they expanded the second floor of the retail store to have more office space since they were growing."

"I hear there is a guy in here?"

He turned his head and saw a brunette with a big grin. "Daisy Jones, this is Knox Bradford. Daisy works with Rose."

"I remember," he said, reaching his hand out to shake.

"I gave Knox a rundown on the who was who and that he remembered is awesome. Most men, it goes over their head and they have to be reminded," she said.

"I'm sure I'll mess up. You're engaged to a doctor?"

"Theo," Daisy said. "You're good."

"Not good enough to remember his name," he said.

"He's cute, Sage. And I won't stay any longer. I hear feet coming up the stairs."

Daisy snuck out and then Violet popped her head in with two more women. They looked like sisters to him and he guessed they were Jasmine and Dahlia.

"Knox, this is, Jasmine, and her sister, Dahlia."

"I figured. You look somewhat alike. Dahlia works up here with you and Jasmine in the greenhouses. Both are having babies?"

"Wow," Jasmine said. "He's good."

"I should quiz you on who they are with but won't," Sage said.

"Jasmine's husband owns the marina. We went to dinner there and I met your mother-in-law, Mona."

"Ding, ding, ding," Jasmine said.

"Dahlia, I remember FBI."

"Yes," Dahlia said. "Hugh works for the FBI. I'm going to take my sister out of here and give Sage peace. You lucked out with none of the sisters here. Rose would have been great. Poppy would be dragging you around like Ivy would do if she had her way."

He watched the three women leave. Violet was just grinning at him and not saying a word.

"Sorry about that," Sage said. "I expected more, but this late on a Friday, you did luck out. Rose is actually home with baby Colin today. She tries to work from home when she can. The same with her husband, Thomas. Poppy ran to the manufacturing plant to take care of something and then she's going home. She's doing double duty with Lily out."

"It's nice they can all make it work," he said. "Sorry again for just stopping over."

"No worries," she said. "I'm winding down for the day too. Just catching up with Ivy on a few things and then I'll be calling it a day."

"I know we were going to see each other later but didn't have plans really."

"No," she said, grinning. "I'm good with taking it as it comes."

He liked that about her. Not many women were that laid back.

"I thought maybe I could cook you dinner at my place. You haven't seen it yet."

"I'd love to see it," she said.

"Maybe you wouldn't mind spending the night?" he asked. "I don't think I cook as well as you, but I'm not bad. I've been fending for myself for a long time."

"I think it'd be great," she said. "Do you want to give me your address and then I can come over after work? I just need to go home and put a few things in a bag."

"Good," he said. "I'll run to the store and get some food."

She laughed. "Ahh, and maybe go home and clean up some too?"

"No," he said. "Or yes, but the rooms I use the most are clean. The rest of the house I should at least walk through to determine if there are enough dust bunnies to bring on a sneezing fit if I open the door."

She smiled. "I doubt that, but have fun."

Sage leaned up and kissed him. "I will. Anything special you want for dinner?"

"You can surprise me," she said. "I like surprises. I told you that." She had said it before. "I'll walk you down now too. We can sneak out the back and you can walk around front to where you most likely parked."

"Probably smart," he said.

When he was in his truck, he decided what food to get for dinner and drove home toward Groton and stopped at the store.

He ran in quickly, picked up steaks that he could grill and then a few potatoes to go in the microwave. That was easy enough.

He got a bag of premade salad and then some carrots. There, well rounded enough.

His mind was racing and he decided to get eggs and creamer so she could have her coffee. Bread would be for toast.

Good enough and he was out the door and driving home.

After the food was put away, he was moving from room to room with a vacuum in his hand and sucking up as much dust as he could.

The next thing he knew, Sage would be out of work so he took a shower and decided to relax before she showed up.

He just hoped she didn't have too many questions about the house, though she knew it was left to him.