Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

KNOX

Jessica flips her hair over the collar of her coat, so it falls down her back in dark waves. She casts a shy glance over her shoulder at me, and my heart squeezes.

Jessica is hard to read. She’s open and friendly, but there’s something reserved about her. She’s guarded, as if she’s been hurt before. The person responsible for the pain in her eyes better hope he never meets me.

She liked the kiss, though. I know she did. The way she raised up on her tiptoes, her soft breasts pressing against my chest, lingers in my mind.

We step outside, and Jessica locks her door. When she sneaks a glance at my bike, I see the excitement in her eyes. “What if I would have said I hated motorcycles?”

“I had a feeling you were going to say yes,” I say.

“Motorcycles are dangerous,” she says.

“I was an EMT before I became a firefighter.” It’s all I have to say. I’ve seen firsthand how dangerous motorcycles can be. I’m also addicted to the thrill of riding my bike along the winding mountain parkway.

I can’t help watching Jessica’s ass as she walks in front of me. It’s so freaking cute. I want to get my hands on it, but I need to take it slow. Jessica isn’t like other women.

It took me forever to get a date with her. I’ve spent Friday nights at the library for months trying to get her to notice me, but she hardly looked in my direction.

I had to take things one step at a time. I got a kiss. We’re moving in the right direction.

“Where are we headed?” she asks, fixing the helmet over her head.

I planned the date very carefully. Our first date needs to be unique, something she’ll remember. “You know Castle Montague in Sapphire Valley?”

It isn’t so much a castle as an old mansion with a reputation for being haunted. Built over two hundred years ago by some of the first residents of North Carolina, all the materials came from Europe. It’s a spooky place with gothic spires and gargoyles on the roof. According to the legends, several people have died at Castle Montague and were perhaps buried in the walls.

“I’ve heard of it. That creepy old, haunted house, right?”

I climb on the bike and turn to look at Jessica. “They’re having an estate sale today.”

“Oh! Wow!”

Her tone of excitement confirms I’ve made the right choice. Jessica’s just as excited about poking through the stuff of eccentric millionaires and wandering the deserted halls of a supposedly haunted mansion as I am.

The advertisement listed some of the items for sale, and I know one that is sure to delight Jessica.

“I figured we could creep around there for a bit, then stop for lunch on the way back. We’ll be home in plenty of time for your baby-sitting job.”

Jessica climbs onto the bike behind me. Her heat is right there. So close. I need her closer. I reach back for her hand and secure it around my waist. “You’re gonna want to hold on tight.”

She looks down, her long lashes curling against her cheeks. I need to kiss her again, but I know I need to rein myself in.

Patience.

I don’t want to scare her off. I’ve had a crush on her since the third grade. I can wait a little longer.

We pull away from the curb, and I increase the speed. Jessica snuggles close as we take a corner, and I want time to stand still. Her arms feel so good around me, and I can’t get enough of her pressing close. I reach down and tug her hand more solidly around my waist as I open up the speed on a straight-away. Her thighs clutch mine, and I’m in heaven, imagining myself buried between them.

Soon, we’re tearing down the parkway, taking the winding curves and the hills with efficiency and speed. Riding my bike through the mountains never fails to thrill me.

The mountains rise high on our right, so close we can reach out and touch the slick, gray rocks. To the left, the road drops off in a dramatic cliff with views of the bare treetops. Last month, the branches were covered in snow, but spring is only weeks away and soon, the dark branches will be draped in green.

Sunny skies and mountain highs. Welcome to North Carolina. After spending my college years in Chicago, I appreciate the mild weather of my hometown more than ever.

There’s no place I’d rather be.

Especially when the woman I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember is pressed against me.

The ride to Castle Montague isn’t nearly long enough. I turn off the main road and navigate the long driveway, which is lined with cars. I find a spot to park right in front of the gothic mansion and cut the engine. The house looms over us in disapproval as we climb off the bike and remove our helmets.

Jessica flashes me a grin, her eyes bright behind the lenses of her glasses. I don’t know if it’s leftover from speeding along the parkway or seeing Castle Montague up close, but a blush spreads over her cheeks.

A thrill runs through me. Jessica, blushing with pleasure, is so sexy I can’t hold back. I wrap my arm around her waist and tug her against my chest. She’s so tiny, I have to stoop to steal a kiss.

Her lips are warm and inviting. The woman makes my blood hum. It’s a wonder I got through so many Friday nights at the library in her presence.

We aren’t alone, and I force myself to pull back, ending the kiss before it gets out of hand.

“That was incredible!” Behind her glasses, her brown eyes are alight with excitement. “I’ve never seen the parkway like that before.”

“The kiss wasn’t bad either.”

Jessica fixes her glasses and adjusts her clothes. She fidgets when she’s nervous, and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

“Hey, guys! I guess we had the same idea!”

I tear my gaze from Jessica and see Sloane Smith, the event coordinator at Sky Valley Vineyards, standing in front of us. She has a knowing smile stamped on her face, and I’m sure she saw our kiss.

“I guess you two know each other?” Sloane says.

Yeah, she definitely saw the kiss. “We went to school together,” I say.

Sloane nods and smiles at Jessica. “I’ll see you next week,” she says, then looks at me. “And I’ll see you on the fifteenth. It’s too late to back out now.”

Sloane waves goodbye and heads to her car, pushing a wheelbarrow full of her purchases down the long driveway.

“You need a hand?” I call after her, but she waves me off.

“I have someone helping. He’ll be right along.”

When Sloane is gone, Jessica turns to me. “What can’t you back out of?”

I roll my eyes. “I got talked into doing The Men of Mossy Oak calendar.”

Jessica’s eyebrows raise, and she bites back a smile. “In your underwear?”

“Yeah.” I run a hand through my hair, fixing my helmet head. “It’s for a good cause.”

She smirks. “I’m sure.”

Eager to change the subject, I take Jessica’s hand and tuck it under my elbow, then lead the way to the mansion’s grand entrance. We pass through the doors, and I immediately feel like I’m in a different century. There’s a long, dark hall leading to the kitchen where the cold stone and tall ceilings give it a scary vibe, but the merchandise laid out for sale is as ordinary as it comes.

There are vintage canister sets, cast iron cookware, and sterling silver. Jessica is drawn to a needlepoint wooden tray.

“My granny had one of these.” I pick up a soap dispenser shaped like a frog.

Jessica laughs, and my entire world tilts. Memories tickle at the base of my spine. That laugh drifting down the halls of elementary school had beenthe highlight of my day.

We wander through the gigantic house, along halls lined with portraits of somebody’s ancestors for sale. Down an endless hall, we finally get to the room I’ve been waiting for—the library.

Jessica’s jaw goes slack as we enter the room, and she spins around like she’s in a fairy tale. I can’t help but smile as I watch her bask in the glow of antique books.

I stride over to the shelves stuffed with collector’s items and search through the books. My eyes go wide when I spot an original book three of Clan of the Warrior Cats in hardback, signed by the author.

“Check it out.” I show her the book, and she gasps.

“No way.”

She reaches for the book, and our fingers brush. A spark of electricity races down my spine. Her grin falters, and her gaze connects with mine. “You remembered?”

I hand her the book, and I’m suddenly embarrassed. I’ve been trying to get Jessica’s attention for months, but now that I have it, I feel tongue tied. She must think I’m a creepy stalker, remembering the books she liked to read from third grade. There was a picture of us in the yearbook, and she was holding the same book. I’d looked at it so many times, I recognized the cover immediately.

Jessica looks at the book in awe and then darts a glance at me.

I sense this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. We are alone in the secluded room, surrounded by Jessica’s favorite things. I take her free hand and draw her close. “I have a confession to make.”

Her brows draw together. “What?”

I pull in a sharp breath and go for it. “I’ve had a crush on you forever.”

Her eyes go wide. “Knox, don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

She shakes her head, tears filling her eyes. “Don’t be cruel.” She slams the book against my chest, angrily rushing by me.

I blink in confusion, too stunned to move as the woman I adore walks away.