Taking Chances (Blackrock Book 2) (22 page)

“Thanks, babe. It goes
great with my locket,” I joke with him.

“Stop
complaining. It’s just a small treat to remember today.”

Hugging
him, I kiss his lips. “Babe, I will always remember today. You
don’t have to buy me stuff.”

Knox
rolls his eyes walking back the way we came. “It was five
bucks, darlin’.”

Punching
his arm, I laugh. “Thank you, Knox. It is the most precious
little sea shell I have ever received,” I say sweetly kissing
his cheek,

“Smart
ass,” he says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. We walk
back to the car laughing and kissing. It’s been a great day so
far.

“I have to see my dad
tonight.”

He
nods pulling out onto the highway. “Okay darlin’, but are
you coming to watch me tonight?”

I
shrug. “Maybe.” Shaking his head, he squeezes my hand all
the way home. The minute I cross the threshold of the apartment I
kick off my heels groaning, “My poor feet.” The apartment
smells amazing as my nose is assaulted with the fragrance of all the
roses.

Walking
into the bedroom, I slip off my skirt and blouse and Knox wraps his
arms around my waist.

“I
see you found some stockings,” I laugh at him remembering our
texting from last week.

“Yeah babe, but right now I
just need them off and a nice warm bath.” He leaves me to fill
the bath and adds bubbles. “Thanks babe. I don’t know
what I’d do without you.”

Helping
me into the bath, he sits down on the floor beside me. “You’ll
never have to find out.”

Sliding
down I moan with pleasure “This is so nice.” I close my
eyes, letting my hands float in the water. Knox gets up and leaves.
“Babe?”

He
comes back with his guitar. “Yes?”

I
smile at him. “Awe, you gonna sing for me, Knox?”

Nodding
his head, he strums the strings a few times before settling on “Just
the way you are” by Bruno Mars. His voice echoes around the
room as he sings and I blow bubbles from my hand at him. After about
five songs he gives up and sits back on the floor beside me. Brushing
my hair off my face with his finger, he watches me.

“Do
you like the flowers?”

I
nod. “Yes I do. Thank you, but why did you buy so many?”

His
smile saddens a little. “You deserve it, darlin’. That’s
all that matters.” Reaching down I let the water out, and stand
up. Knox wraps me in a towel drying me off.

“I
could use a nap,” I yawn, making him laugh.

“Okay,
then one nap coming up.”

I
get one of his t-shirts and slip it on, then climb into the bed while
Knox follows me. “I love this bed.” I smile, snuggling
closer to him.

“I
love you in this bed.” He kisses me gently before wrapping
himself around me.

I
wake with a fright, hearing pounding on the door. Knox groans and
rolls out of bed where he pulls on his jeans to go answer it.

“Hey bro, did you have a
fight with a rose bush?” I hear Max in the hallway.

“No
Max, I didn’t,” Knox replies and walks back into the
room, grabbing his t-shirt from the floor.

Max
waves at me from the door. “Shit, I didn’t know you guys
were busy.” He grins at us, wiggling his eyebrows. Knox pushes
him out of the room, closing the door behind him. Jumping out of bed,
I dress in jeans and a leave on Knox’s t-shirt although it ends
just above my knee.

Walking
into the kitchen, I find them drinking coffee with one for me on the
counter. “Thanks.” I smile at Knox.

Max
is complaining he is hungry and Paige refuses to cook for him, which
makes me laugh. I don’t understand why he moved in with her
when he is here everyday.

My phone rings from my purse. “Hi
dad.” I smile.

“Hey
sweetheart, just home. Where are you?” I tell him I am in
Knox’s apartment, earning a frown from Knox. My dad asks me to
come home that he needs to speak with me.

“Oh
okay, sounds ominous.” I say and he laughs.

“Okay, I will see you in
thirty,” he says and ends the call, leaving me staring at my
phone.

“Everything
okay darlin?”

Downing
the rest of my coffee, I stand up grabbing my purse. “Have to
go. Dad needs to talk to me.” I shrug. Walking back to the
bedroom, I slip on my shoes and collect my clothes from school.

Knox
follows me. “You sure you’re okay?”

Nodding
I smile at him. “Yeah, babe. I’ll see you tonight. I will
just grab dinner at home.” I give him a hug, and kiss. “Bye
Max!” I yell and wave to Knox as I run down the stairs.

My dad sounded a little weird but
happy. He has never hung up on me before; maybe he is joking around.
I pull into the driveway about ten minutes later, seeing puffs of
smoke coming from the back of the house and can smell the barbeque
from here. My mouth waters as I climb out of my car and walk through
the kitchen to find my dad manning the grill.

“Hi
dad.”

He turns and then envelops me in
a bear hug. “Hi sweetheart.” He kisses my head then
smiles at me, looking over my shoulder. “Where’s Knox?”

Frowning,
I lean back and look at him. “I thought you wanted to talk to
me?”

He
laughs, releasing me so he can turn the steaks. “Yes I do, but
I didn’t mean for you to abandon him. Invite him up.”

Pulling
my phone out of my purse, I call Knox.

“Hey
darlin’, you okay?” he answers sounding a little worried.

“Yeah
I guess I was supposed to bring you, but dad never said that,”
I say glaring at my dad who laughs.

“So if you and Max want
some steaks they are on the grill.”

He
asks Max if he wants steak and Max shouts enthusiastically, “Hell
yeah!”

“Okay
darlin’, I’ll just get changed and be there soon.”
We hang up and my dad offers me a beer.

“No
thanks.” Who is this man? “So talk dad. They will be here
in ten.” I slink down on the reclining chair, watching him
debate internally.

“I heard Cara showed up.”

I
nod I’m sure my uncle was moaning to my dad. “Yeah, she
was here last weekend. I suppose uncle Ethan was complaining what a
bad influence I still am.”

My
dad shakes his head. “No he wasn’t, and he doesn’t
think you’re a bad influence.”

I
snort at him. “Yeah right, and what about your lovely sister?”

He
gives me a stern look and I hold my hands up in surrender. I never
got along with my aunt she always complained that I was reckless and
a bad influence on her daughters. At first my uncle brushed it off,
then after an incident involving Cara getting drunk last year, he
jumped on that bandwagon.

“I
hear you are going home for spring break. When did that come about?”
He has his back to me as he talks while turning the corn over.

“I
haven’t decided, dad. Cara kept saying it and now Knox and
Paige want to go as well.” Which I have to say feels like I am
being ganged up on.

“And what did I hear you
say earlier? That Knox has an apartment.” He raises an eyebrow
at me in question.

“Yep
and he wants me to move in with him,” I sigh like a real drama
queen.

Dad
laughs at me. “And what do you want?”

I
shrug because I am fifty-fifty on the situation.

“Well
you could try it for the summer, see how it goes,” he says,
shocking me into silence with my mouth gaping open. Laughing he sits
beside me, using his finger to close my mouth. “I will be away
most of the summer anyway, so why not?” So that is why he
wanted to see me.

“Well
because I am nineteen and it is something grown ups do,” I
pout.

“Bailey
you are grown up,” he chastens me. “You should give it a
try. You never know how life will turn out. Sweetheart. You have to
take chances when they present themselves, otherwise you may miss
them.”

I
watch as he lowers the flame on the grill checking his watch.
“Speaking from experience, dad?”

Smiling
he pushes my shoulder to get up off the lounger. “Yes, don’t
I always?”

I
hear two doors closing and look over the deck railing to see Knox and
Max walking towards us. My dad shakes their hands and makes polite
conversation about school and summer jobs.

“Actually that is what I
wanted to speak to you about,” he says looking at me.

“What?”
I ask biting into my buttery barbeque corn.

“You are starting a new
part-time job in the summer.”

Slowly
I remove the corn and wipe my mouth. “Really, where would that
be?”

He
laughs as Knox and Max try to slide lower in their chairs. “With
me, of course. Well in my company in the IT department. Its going to
be all yours someday, sweetheart, so you might as well get your feet
wet.” I sigh at him for telling me this in front of Knox
without warning. Glancing at him I see he looks uncomfortable.
Oblivious, my dad continues talking, “I have an engineering
position too.”

Max
nearly falls off his chair and raises his hand. “I’ll do
it.”

My
dad laughs. “I thought you were doing business?”

Max
shakes his head, pointing at Knox. “Nope, that’s all
him.” Knox smiles and rubs his hand through his hair.

“Ah,”
my dad says nodding and watching Knox who checks his watch again
after ten seconds.

“We
have to get on stage soon, Max,” he says and Max nods.

“Yeah.”
They thank my dad for dinner and I walk them to the truck “You
coming tonight, darlin’?”

Smiling,
I nod. “Yeah, I am going to give the finger to my lifetime
ban.”

He
laughs at me. “Okay, see you soon.”

I
watch him drive away looking a bit sad. Turning I walk back around to
my dad.

“So
what was all that job stuff about?”

He
pretends he doesn’t know what I am talking about. “Just
giving you something to do during the summer Bailey.”

“You’re such a bad
liar,” I tell him, siting back down beside him.

“Well now you know where
you got if from.”

We
watch the lake for a while then I clean up the dishes while my dad
camps out on the sofa.

“I’m
going to get ready.”

I
wave as I pass the sitting room on my way up stairs. I don’t
put much effort in to my clothes tonight, just a simple denim skirt,
black tank, and heels. My makeup is still intact from this morning
even after a bath so I just add another coat of mascara and
lip-gloss.

I
arrive to a full house and see Max sitting on the stage. I wave at
him then look for Paige.

“Hey.” I slide into
the seat beside her.

“Hey,
what you doin’ here? I thought you got banned.”

“Jesus,
Paige, don’t sound happy about it.”

Shrugging
her shoulders, she sips her drink. Knox walks out form the beaded
curtain smiling as his eyes meet mine.

“I didn’t see your
car, darlin’.”

I
kiss him. “I parked at the apartment.”

Leaning
down, he whispers, “So I get you to myself tonight.” His
voice makes my skin tingle and I shiver making him chuckle.

“Yes
you do,” I answer before kissing him again.

As I pull back I freeze and my
face drains of all color.

“What’s
wrong?” Knox looks confused as I sit with my eyes locked on his
uncle who is glaring at me with his arms crossed. Knox looks over his
shoulder and groans. Pulling away from me, he and his uncle go out
back.

Paige
looks at me. “Did you know he was here?” I ask her,
turning in my seat.

“I
thought he left; it was ages ago.”

What
the heck has gotten into her? She could have warned me. Knox walks
back into the bar, scowling as he talks with Chase who then looks at
me. Knox walks over to me. “Do not leave this bar, Bailey.”
He kisses me then walks over to the stage.

“Wow, trouble maker much?”
Paige laughs at me.

“What?”
I shake my head at her not understanding what is wrong with her but
she waves me off.

Chase
walks over. “Hey Bailey, want a drink?” he questions me
like he is hoping I don’t want one.

“Just
a coke thanks.” He relaxes and grabs a glass filling it from
the soda gun.

I watch as Knox starts singing.
At least I know one person in this place is not being a weird douche
tonight. I watch as Knox and Max sing together. I smile at them as I
ignore Paige and her PMS, because that is all I can think of as to
why she is being so bitchy.

When
the band breaks Paige shouts at Chase for two beers before I can even
open my mouth, but I end up saying nothing anyway. Knox helps Max off
the stage, who winces, holding his side as they walk over.

“You still sore, Max?”
I ask when he stops in between Paige and I.

“Just
stepping up and down stuff.” I nod while Knox plays with my
hair.

Paige
holds out their beers. “Here you go.” She smiles as they
take them .Max nods and Knox thanks her.

I
can feel the tension between them all and it is strange to say the
least. I turn on my stool so that I am facing Knox.

“Hey
beautiful.”

Smiling
I wrap my arm around his waist. Leaning on his chest I look up at
him. “What’s with them?” I whisper and nod behind
me to where Max and Paige are clearly not speaking.

Knox
rolls his eyes and mouths, ‘later,’ and I nod.

The
house music is slow and soft. “Wanna dance?” I ask him
and stand. Holding his hand, he laughs as I pull him with me.

Wrapping
my arms around his neck, he pulls me close holding my waist. “What’s
up darlin?”

Resting
my head on his cheek, I respond, “Nothing just wanted to
dance with you.”

“Okay,”
he whispers, kissing my temple as we move slowly around the floor,
which only has us and one other couple dancing. But I don’t
care; I like it here, in his arms.

He hums along with the song as I
smile. “You know you sing a lot?”