Taking Chances (Blackrock Book 2) (11 page)

“So what do you think?”
Knox asks from the doorway.

I
turn and look at him. “I’m confused” I say back to
him and shrug my shoulders.

Taking
three long strides he is beside me taking my hands in his. “Darlin’,
it’s our place. I rented it today and I’m sorry for not
calling but it was a last minute thing”

I
furrow my brow. “What do you mean our place? I thought we were
done?”

Rolling
his eyes at me, he pulls me into his arms. “No way darlin’,
we are in this together.”

Wrapping
myself in his arms, I breathe him in allowing myself to relax for
just an instant before pulling away.

“We
still have a lot to talk about, Knox, and we can’t just go back
to how it was.”

He
groans, “I know darlin’, that is why we are going to
dinner and then we will talk about everything.”

I
eye him up and down for a minute and he laughs.

“I
was dressed up for another reason but I will change if you want me
to,” he offers but I shake my head no.

“You look hot.” He
pulls me close again and kisses me hard. When he pulls back my lips
feel bruised but we both smile. “Guess all bets are off,”
I say making him laugh.

Knox
takes my hand and we walk down to the strip. I just walk along, not
knowing where we are going but I don’t care as long as he is
with me. Knox stops at the doors of the only French bistro in town
and I look at him.

“Babe
this place is full.”

Opening
the door, he pushes me inside where the hostess greets us with a
smile.

“Hello
Knox.”

He
nods and we follow her to a table for two. Knox pulls out my chair
and I sit down. He seats himself and the hostess put her hand on his
arm.

“If
you need anything.” She squeezes his bicep and then leaves.
Knox laughs and I look up at him frowning.

“Don’t you ever get
pissed off with girls touching you?”

He
shrugs. “Yeah, but what can I do?”

“Tell
them,” I mutter and lift my menu.

“Darlin’,
if we are going to argue on our first Valentine’s day then we
can just leave and do it in private.” He smiles at me. “No
I don’t want to argue with you.” He winks at me. We order
our meals and sit quietly.

“So
what did you want me to come to the lake house for?” he asks,
watching me.

My
good mood dissipates and I slump lower into my chair. “I got
more roses and a rather creepy note.”

He
leans over the table to me. “How creepy?”

Taking
my purse up off the floor, I reach in and hand the note to him. After
reading it the muscle in his jaw tightens.

“Bailey,
you need to tell the police. This is getting into stalking
territory.”

I
nod, knowing he is right but I just don’t want the drama.

“Darlin’,
please,” he asks, looking at me with pleading in his green
eyes.

“Okay,
tomorrow.”

He
smiles, taking my hand over the table. “I can come with you if
you like.”

“Yeah
thanks.”

Our
food arrives and conversation is light, but we both know we will be
having a very emotional discussion soon so neither of us drinks
alcohol with dinner. When we leave the bistro the air is chilly
making me shiver. Knox wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me
close to his side. I wrap my arm around his waist and hook my thumb
through his belt loop. We walk slowly back to his apartment, opening
the door I step inside.

“Coffee?”
he asks. I nod and smile.

Sitting
in the kitchen with our coffees we kind of just stare at each other
for a few minutes. Chewing the inside of my cheek, Knox laughs.

“Wow
this is the first time ever that we are together and quiet.” I
smile at him. “Ladies first,” he says, giving me the
floor. Taking a deep breath, I let it out and swallow the lump in my
throat.

“I’m
sorry for what I said outside the bar the other day. I don’t
think you have caused me nothing but trouble but I do think we need
to work on a few things, mainly trusting each other and believing in
each other.”

My
heart pounds as I watch his face.

“Yeah
I know. I was thinking about everything you said and you are right; I
shouldn’t have thought you started a bar fight. I mean look at
you. You’re tiny and couldn’t start a fight with a wet
bag.” I gasp at him and he cracks up laughing at me.

“That
was mean, Knox.”

He
nods smoothing his features. “Seriously I’m sorry
darlin’. I should have asked you before jumping to
conclusions.”

I
nod. “Yes you should have but more importantly, I need to know
that you believe me, Knox, and that what we have is worth something
to both of us.”

He
slides closer to me, taking my hands in his.

“Bailey,
I love you more than I could ever explain. When you’re not with
me, I am wishing you were just so I know you are safe and in my arms.
I know I still have some issues when it comes to trusting people but
I do trust you darlin’, honestly I do and I want to spend
forever with you.”

My
heart leaps and beats wildly in my chest as Knox leans in to kiss me
tenderly. Our lips fit together perfectly and move in a slow rhythm.
Moving lazily together, Knox pulls my hair tie out letting my hair
fall down my back. He tangles his hand in the back, tilting my head
to allow him deeper access to my mouth.

We
finally pull apart, and when I gaze into his hooded eyes, I can see
desire plain on his face.

“Babe,
I have to ask you something,” I say abruptly as he kisses down
my throat, resting on the hollow point at the base dipping his
tongue. “What do you think of Sean?”

He
pulls back, looking at me. “Bailey, I am making out with my
girl and she is asking about another dude?”

Smiling
I shake my head.

“Not
for that reason.” I tell him about Sean’s visit the other
night and then getting the roses with basically the same words on the
card. “Do you think it could be him?”

Knox
contemplates my question for a minute. “I’m not sure
darlin’. I don’t know him well. Max is in most of his
classes.”

I
nod. “I better get home, babe. It’s getting late.”

Standing
up, I walk towards the door and he grabs my wrist. “Darlin’,
you can stay here.”

“No,
I can’t and all my school stuff is at home.” I smile;
taking his face in my hands I kiss his lips.

“Wait
I’ll grab my stuff.” I follow him to the bedroom and
watch him get his books and laptop. “Do I still have clothes up
there?” he asks, opening drawers.

“Yes,
just jeans. You need the rest.”

He
grabs a t-shirt and boxers, socks and his boots. We walk down to my
car holding hands. Knox opens the door and I slide behind the wheel.
Driving up the hill, I sing along to the music as Knox watches me.

“So
you never said why you look like a model today, babe.” I wink
at him.

He
laughs as I pull into the garage and we climb out of the car. “I’m
not dressed up, darlin’. I just decided not wear jeans.”
He shrugs but I don’t believe him.

“If
you say so.”

We
walk into the house and go straight to my room. Knox strips off his
sweater and I allow my eyes to appreciate his well-defined body; each
muscle sculpted to perfection and his tattoo’s decorating his
broad chest and arms.

Crawling
into bed beside him, I look over. “Knox, are we going to make
it this time?”

His
face falls and he pulls me close.

“Yes
Bailey, we are because nothing and no one will ever come between us
again. I promise.” The fierceness of his voice holds me still
as I look into his eyes.

“I
promise too,” I whisper.

He
kisses my head and squeezes me tight then pulls back. “I forgot
something.” He jumps out of bed, running down stairs. I breathe
a sigh of relief as Knox walks back in with his hands behind his
back.

“I
remember what you said about apologies.” He smirks producing a
giant box of chocolates from behind his back. “Happy Valentines
day darlin’, and I’m sorry.”

I
laugh as he hands me the box and climbs in beside me. I open the box,
and we share a few pieces tasting each other’s choices and
smiling. “I love you,” I say crashing my mouth to his.

Thursday
in school is usually quiet and chill but all the girls in my class
are still yapping about last night and the gifts they received.
Blah
blah blah
. Agent
Daniels strolls in smiling and claps his hands in front of him.

“Morning
everyone, today I have a surprise for you all.” He smiles then
digs through a pile of notes on his desk. Pulling out a sheet of
paper, his smile becomes a slightly evil grin. “Okay, group
project.”

A
collective groan rumbles through the room and we all look at each
other, some hoping to get paired with a particular person and some of
us hoping not to be put with a particular someone. He reads out the
names and by the time he reaches me most of the hard workers are gone
so I am a little worried that I’ll get stuck with that stoner
guy over in the back corner.

“Bailey and Ryan,” he
calls out.

Ryan?
Who the heck is that? Looking around, I don’t see anyone who is
looking to find me but then a guy from the front of the room stands
up. I have heard the guys call him the hulk before and with reason
too. He is about six foot six and twice the size of Knox in width, he
stops beside me holding out what I can only describe as a bolder
attached to his wrist.

“Hi
I’m Ryan.” He smiles.

Shaking
his hand I smile back. “Hi Ryan have a seat.” I point to
the empty chair beside me and he sits down.

“So
why do you sit alone?” he asks, flicking his pencil against his
hand.

“No
reason. The girl who used to sit there dropped out.”

He
bobs his head a few times. “Cool.”

Agent
Daniels stops beside us handing over a large manila envelope. Looking
around I see each group has one.

“Okay, so this assignment
is a group project as you know.” He grins at the class “And
inside your envelope you will find the details of your business
venture. You have to come up with a name for your company and of
course you specialize in cyber security. So one week from today you
will present it to the rest of the class. Each team has ten minutes
to sell me your company on why I should choose you and what it is
about your company that will keep me and mine safe from the evilness
of the World Wide Web.”

I
can’t help but chuckle at him; for an FBI agent he has a flare
for the dramatics. Ryan and I spend the next hour going over an
outline for our company then it’s time for lunch. We walk out
to the quad together and sit at the table. Ryan is actually quite a
nice guy. His size makes you want to turn and run but after talking
to him he is growing on me.

“What
are you doing this weekend?” he asks biting into burger.

“Don’t
know, why?” I wait until he finishes chewing.

“We
can hang out Sunday if you want and knock this out. I have football
practice on Monday and Wednesday.”

I
nod in agreement. “Sounds good. Do you want to come up to my
place? It’s quiet and we can get loads done.”

I
feel a hand wrap around my hair and pull me gently backwards. Knox
bends down and kisses me. “Hey darlin’.” He smiles
sitting down with one of his legs behind me and the other resting
against my knee.

“Hi babe, this is Ryan. We
have a project together.”

Ryan
nods and shakes Knox’s hands. “Hey bro.” Knox nods
as he circles my back with his hand.

“So
what time on Sunday?” Ryan asks, pulling out his phone.

“How
about noon and we can work until dinner?”

He
agrees by bobbing his head. “Yeah sweet.” I give him my
address and phone number then he stands up.

“Hey
nice meeting you bro. Bailey, I have to bounce; gotta see coach.”
I wave as his very large frame lumbers away.

“Moving
on darlin’?” Knox teases, kissing just below my ear.

“No babe, you’re all
the man I can handle.”

He
laughs as he pulls out a bag of chips and starts munching. “So
I’ll be waiting by your car today,” he announces.

Turning
I look at him. “Okay, if that makes you happy.”

He
snorts at me. “You’re not getting out of it, darlin’.
We are going to the cops with those notes.”

Shit,
I forgot all about going to the police. Now my day has been ruined.
“Yeah sure,” I sigh, closing my notebook.

Knox
laughs shaking his head at me. “You goanna eat that?” he
points to my half eaten lunch and I shake my head no. Grabbing it, he
smiles then inhales it in two bites.

“Didn’t you get
lunch?”

“No
time,” he says, rubbing his chest then drinking my water. I
grab his bag of chips and eat the last few, rolling my eyes at him.

“So
the apartment,” I say, looking at him.

“Yeah
what about it?”

“Why did you get it?”

Sliding
his hand up my top, he plays with my piercing and looks off into the
distance.

“It was time, I guess.”

I
scowl at him, not accepting that answer for a second.

“Okay, I had a bust up with
my uncle and moved out.” He shrugs, smiling at me.

“Wow and people say I run
away from stuff.” I smile.

“I
don’t care darlin’, because I want you to move in with me
so you can’t run away again.” He tickles my ribs, making
me squirm and scream. A few people stare at us as I laugh trying to
get away from him. “Oh no you don’t, darlin’.”
He pulls me closer, throwing his leg over my knees so I can’t
move away. “Say yes and I’ll stop,” he says with a
gleam in his eye.

“Babe,
I can’t move in with you.”

He
stops tickling me and I wipe my eyes. “Why not?”