Taking Chances (Blackrock Book 2) (45 page)

“Trying
to get me back for that night after the club, prince charming?”

His lips meet mine as we fall
onto his bed. “No I am only playing with you; you’re all
the woman I need.” His hands follow the contours of my body as
his tongue lazily explores my mouth. I don’t know how long we
stay this way but I am enjoying it, every minute I spend with Knox is
a minute well spent. By noon we arrive back to our apartment our
clothes still damp and smiles on our faces, Knox holds my hand as we
walk over to our building we hear Max before we see him. The roar of
his motorcycle engine turns our heads as he pulls into the parking
lot Knox walks back over to him still with my hand in his.

“Hey
bro what you doing?” he asks as Max climbs off his bike.

“I
was coming to see if you wanted to go for a ride today?” He
pats the seat of the bike then looks at Knox smiling.

“Go
babe,” I say when he turns to look at me I know he wants to but
he looks torn. “Go I will be waiting here for you.” I
slap his ass as he nods at Max.

“Okay, let me change.
Someone pushed me into the ocean.” He grabs me in a headlock
kissing my head.

“Did
you go to dad’s early?” Max asks walking with us.

“Nope.”
Knox smiles at him wrapping his free hand around Max’s
shoulders.

“Okay.”
Max looks between us. Knox holds up my hand to show Max my ring but
he doesn’t get it at first, then reality dawns on him and he
stops walking staring at Knox.

“You
asked her to marry you?”

His
eyebrows pull together as he scratches his jaw. “Yeah I though
you’d be happy for us?” Knox looks a little hurt so I try
to slip away but he holds my hand tighter not allowing me to leave.

“I
am, bro. Shit, It’s just so soon” Max runs his hand
through his hair in that trade mark Porter way but then grins at us.
“Fuck! You two are meant for each other.” He grabs both
of us in a bear hug. “Congrats bro and you sis.” He
kisses my head before letting me go. Knox changes his clothes and
pulls on his boots.

“Okay,
darlin’, see you later.” He kisses me at the door and
waves as they both run down the stairs.

I
take off my damp dress and sit on the bed looking at my ring I can’t
believe that I am engaged. It seems so unreal yet real, if that makes
sense. I slip into my shorts, and a tank, then race down the stairs
to collect the mail from the last few days. My mind is on my fiancé
as I walk back into the apartment, I really have to tell people now
maybe I can keep it between us like a secret bubble that I don’t
want to break, just for a little while.

I
know most girls would shout it from the rooftops, but I am not, most
girls, I am me and shit, I have to tell my mother. Flicking through
the mail I catch an envelope from the Grove DA’s office so I
open it and read the contents, sinking onto the sofa my wonderful day
just turned to shit. After a while of staring at the wall I decide I
need to run, getting changed I jump into my car and drive up to the
lake house.

My
dad’s car is gone, so I cut through the kitchen and take off
around the lake with my music keeping me company. Thoughts of that
day back in Grove replay in my mind looping like an old video all the
pain I fought to break away from surfaces and kills me over again.
Not only from being beaten up but from last year; burying my best
friend and leaving the other one, everything hurts; although I don’t
really think about it I can picture Knox kissing Lindsey that night.
That only makes me lose my balance so I push that out of my mind but
it’s always in the back like a predator ready to strike when I
am at my lowest, so I run and keep running hoping it will go away and
leave me alone. My legs burn so much I can barley walk back to the
house they are shaking from my exertion but I need it. I need the
freedom of running I wobble into the kitchen and grab a water from
the fridge sliding down the wall I sit on the floor drinking.

I
watch the afternoon turn to evening still on the floor just watching
and sipping water my phone rang a few times but I ignored it, I know
its Knox and he probably saw the letter on the coffee table, but
right now I just need to watch the sun go down on a day that started
out beautiful and turned to crap. Finally after a few hours I stand
feeling my legs cramp and my clothes cold with sweat. Driving down
the hill I listened to Knox’s voicemails on the way each one
telling me to come home keeping his voice clam and light but I know
he is freaking out. Pulling into my parking space, I gingerly climb
out of my car, and start towards the building only to be stopped by a
neighbor who likes to ask all kinds of weird questions. I listen and
artfully dodge his questions telling him I have to go about ten times
before I can finally walk away. Once inside the building I find Knox
standing on the last step arms crossed over his chest with a sad
smile.

“Come
on darlin.” Holding his arms open I walk into them wrapping
myself in his warm embrace. After another shower we sit on the sofa
Knox reads the letter again frowning “Why do they need you?”
His jaw tightens as he throws the letter down again. “I thought
you gave a statement already?” I crawl over to him settling
myself between his legs with my head resting on his shoulder.

“I
don’t know, babe, but I need to call my uncle; he is supposed
to be my attorney after all.”

Knox
snorts wrapping his arm around me. “You need a new one,”
he growls.

“I
know babe, I will talk to my dad tomorrow.”

Knox
runs his hand through his hair. “Yeah you need to darlin’
because we don’t have a million dollars to give that fucker and
why the fuck is he suing you for damages when he killed you.”

His
words make me jump, feeling I like I just got slapped. Grabbing me
tightly he kisses my cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t
mean it like that.” He shakes his head at himself.

“I
know, babe. I’ll figure something out,” I tell him but I
have no idea how.

The
next morning we walk into my dad’s office. Plunking myself in
the chair he looks up at us.

“Hi
sweetheart.” I nod in greeting and he sighs at me. “What
is it, Bailey?” Taking the letter out of my purse, I hand it
over and wait while he reads it. I watch his face morph into that of
anger as he grabs his phone and barks at my uncle once he answers.
Standing up I motion for Knox to follow me to my office.

Opening
the door, he whistles. “Nice digs darlin’.” The
first thing he does is walk over to the picture of us hanging on the
wall and smiles before taking a seat on the sofa. Sliding into my
chair I pull out the stack of papers and begin signing.

“Hey
babe, after this do you want to go get our schedules for school?”

He
nods resting his foot against the small coffee table and smiles at
me. “You look so fucking sexy behind that desk.”

Lifting
my head, I see desire in his eyes and it makes my heart beat a little
faster.

“No
hanky-panky,” I warn him returning to my signing and after an
hour I am finished. “Do you want to go have a coffee with Max?”
Knox jumps up stretching

“Yeah
sounds good.” I take him to the employee café and text
Max to meet us. I sit by the window watching the people below waiting
for Max.

“Hey
bro.” He smiles sitting down with us. I tune out while they
talk about work and Max offers to give Knox a tour of the engineering
room where all the drawing tables are set up.

“Hey
darlin’, do you mind if I take off for a minute with Max?”

Shaking
my head no, I smile. “If I’m not here I’ll be in
dad’s office.”

Bending
down he kisses me. “Okay.” I watch them walk out of the
room talking excitedly. After ten minutes of people watching I grab a
coffee to go and make my way back up to my dad, I usually ignore his
assistant so I walk into his office much to her annoyance.

“Coffee.”
I smile, putting it down in front of him while he talks on the phone.
I text Knox where I am, and he replies that the evil assistant won’t
let him in.

Standing
I open the door and wave him in.

“Thanks.”
We sit on the sofa. “So did you like it?”

He
nods. “Yeah it was great. Max is lucky.”

Leaning
over I kiss his cheek and my dad clears his throat. “Oh dad.”
I smile, walking back over to him wrapping my arms around his neck.

“It’s
okay, sweetheart.” He hugs me back then I sit on the edge of
his desk as he blows out a breath. Knox takes a seat in one of the
leather chairs in front of the desk waiting for my dad to speak, my
dad looks between us lifting my hand he inspects the ring.
“Congratulations.” He smiles.

“Thanks
dad.” I smile at him. “So what is going on?”

Shaking
his head, he groans. “Why did I have to have a daughter who
gets into fixes all the time?” He smirks at me and points to
the chair beside Knox so I move.

“Okay,
so did you tell anyone about your grandmother’s will? Or
anything that was said in it?”

Shaking
my head no I frown. “No dad, I don’t speak to anyone in
Grove. I barley talk to Roger anymore.” He nods while looking
through the drawer in his desk.

“Yeah
well somehow that low life found your grandmothers will and now he
wants a piece of your inheritance. Well most of it actually.”

Standing,
I pace around the room. “Fuck,” I mutter chewing on my
thumbnail.

My
dad sighs. “Yeah, fuck is right,” he says and I stop in
my tracks.

“Did
you just curse?” I laugh at him and he nods. “Okay, dad
start at the start and we can figure something out,” I say
sitting down again holding Knox’s hand.

“Okay,
so he somehow got a copy of the will and now he is suing on behalf of
his sister for damages due to emotional stress from you slapping
her.” I growl in frustration balling my hands into fists.

“It
was her dad, Emily. She is a hacker and a fucking bitch.” Knox
coughs and looks between us. “If you don’t mind me asking
why are they looking for so much money?” I look at him and sigh
my dad glances at us.

“See
I never told anyone; not even the guy I love, which makes me feel
like a liar,” I add sitting back in the chair.

“Bailey’s
grandmother left her a substantial amount of money in a trust fund so
when she turns twenty five it will available to her.” Knox nods
and sits back in the chair.

“So
what about uncle Ethan? Do I need a new attorney?”

My dad shakes his head. “No,
he never got a copy of the letter so he is checking it out and I told
him to speak to your grandmother’s attorney too to see if
someone came inquiring about you.”

Standing
I nod. “Okay, I am going now. I need some air. I signed all
those papers for you.” Walking around the desk, I kiss his
cheek.

“Okay,
you kids coming up for a barbeque on Saturday?” he asks and we
nod.

“Sure
we’ll be there. I’ll bring Max and Paige.” Leaving
the building we drive home in silence while I try to figure out if
Emily did somehow get a hold of that information because I wouldn’t
put it past her at all. Knox pulls into the campus parking lot and we
climb out.

“Wow
school already,” he sighs taking my hand as we walk towards the
offices. We grab our schedules from the mailboxes.

“Did
you get Max’s?” I ask as we leave.

“Yeah.”
Knox glances at me and I wrap my arm around his waist.

Back
in the apartment I change into shorts and a tank top, we sit in the
kitchen looking through our schedules, and I laugh “Yes two
half days babe how about you?”

He
grins at me. “Yeah me too.” Grabbing his schedule I give
him mine.

“Ah
babe, Friday we have the same hours. We can hang out in the
afternoon.”

Jumping
off the chair I do a happy dance waving the paper around Knox pulls
me down onto his lap “You’re nuts.” He smiles
kissing my lips lightly.

“About
you babe,” I reply, wrapping my arms around his neck.

“Can
we talk?” he asks changing the mood of the afternoon with three
words.

Nodding
I get off him and grab a soda for us. “Hit me,” I say
sitting down on the chair.

“No,
never.” he smirks while I roll my eyes.

“You
know what I mean.” Taking up the soda he relaxes back into the
chair making it groan in protest. “We need new chairs,” I
say chuckling.

“Yeah
we do, but you can tell me to mind my own business if you want but
how much did your grandmother leave you?”

I
knew this day would come eventually but I was hoping for another five
years at least. Then I would be able to buy a house and make some
investments even though I hate keeping secrets from Knox this is
something I don’t like talking about because money changes
people and their relationships. It makes people greedy not that I
think Knox will be anything like that but still money can drive a
wedge between the most loving couples. Sipping my soda I look at him.

“You
know I don’t like talking about money and I don’t like
people knowing what I have and haven’t got. I live on a trust
fund of sorts from my dad, which has already caused us some
problems.”

I
sigh looking down at the table. Knox takes up my hand rubbing his
thumb against the soft flesh of my wrist. “You don’t have
to tell me, darlin’. If you don’t want to, your money
hasn’t come between us, beautiful. I just want to spoil you
when I can and the stuff for this place is on me.” He smiles.

“Yeah
but I don’t want it to be that’s the point. If I want to
buy something for the apartment then I should be able to with you
telling me not to.”

I
watch his face break out into a mega watt smile. “Okay,
darlin’, I won’t stop you anymore. Now that you live here
full time you can buy what you like even if it’s all purple.”