One More Taste (One and Only Texas #2)(84)

Every day? Another surprise.

That now familiar longing for connection with him reached out from every cell of her being. As drained and raw as she was from her trip to Chicago, nothing sounded better than taking Knox in her arms and clinging to him tightly enough to block the world out, along with the pain, the heartache, and the impossible choices. But she was determined to make a clear-headed decision about her future, not return from discovering that her parents were dead only to fall right back into her old pattern of letting passion and desire rule her choices.

When Knox noticed Emily, he turned and took a step in her direction. His eyes swept over her from head to toe, but his inspection didn’t last long. Taking advantage of his distraction, Big Tommy clocked his chin with a right hook. Knox staggered into the ropes. He shook his head as if trying to dislodge a stubborn mosquito, though he was probably trying to clear the stars from his vision.

“Get your head back in the match,” Big Tommy bellowed, knocking his fists together. “You’re better than this. I don’t care who just walked in. You’ve got to see your commitment through. And right now, that’s in the ring with me. Let’s go.”

Knox’s focus swung back to the sparring match. He and Tommy squared up again. In a flurry of movement, they punched and blocked and kicked. Tommy attacked with a left jab that Knox evaded by spinning into a round kick that connected with Tommy’s gut. This time, Tommy was the one staggering back.

Knox seized on the opportunity to pounce. He swept his leg under Tommy’s feet and knocked him to the ground. Tommy didn’t stay neutralized long. With a scissor kick, he brought Knox down to the floor with him. And in a few short moves, he had Knox pinned in a chokehold.

When Knox tapped out, Murph snorted. “Not bad, but the guy still has a lot to learn. We’ve got to work on his floor game. Lucky for him, he sprang for a lifetime membership.”

Emily flinched at that. “Lifetime membership?”

“I guess he really is sweet on you. I only sold it to him with the understanding that I’d revoke it if you had a problem with that.”

It was yet another decision she needed to postpone until her head was clear. “I’m not sure yet.”

“You keep me posted, sweetheart.” Murph nodded toward the ring. “Heads up. He’s headed over. I’m going to go stand by the phone and pretend that I’m not listening to your conversation.”

Emily watched Knox push the ring’s ropes down and vault over them to the floor, then tore her attention away to smile at Murph. “You’re a doll, Murph.”

He winked at her. “Don’t I know it.”

Knox stopped in front of her, breathing hard, a towel slung around his neck. Sweat dripped off his nose and beaded on his chest. “Hey. Hi.” He opened and closed his mouth, and she could see the wheels turning in his head, as though he couldn’t decide on the next thing to say.

“You looked good up there,” she said by way of breaking the ice.

“Yeah? Felt like I got my ass kicked.” He glanced at her suitcase. “I’m glad you’re back. I’m glad you’re safe. I was worried.”

Before she realized what she was doing, she hugged herself. She’d wanted to present herself as strong and self-composed to him, to prove to herself how she was evolving, but the way he looked at her, it was as though he could already see past her bravado. “Safe, yes. But tired. And confused. And scared.”

He mopped his face with the towel. “What are you afraid of?”

“You. Well, you and me.” She’d already made herself vulnerable to him, so there was no sense in holding back now.

He released a heavy sigh, his eyes on hers. “That works both ways. But there’s something you should know.”

“What?”

“I miss you. And the food around here sucks.”

She let out a breathy laugh. “Yeah, it does.”

He nodded toward the stairs. “Will you invite me up to your apartment?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea tonight, what with all that tiredness and confusion and fear.”

“May I at least carry your suitcase upstairs?”

“I’m pretty sure I can manage.” She drew a fortifying breath, then asked him the question still plaguing her. “What are you doing here, Knox? Here, at the gym, with a lifetime membership?”

His expression turned intense and tender all at the same time. “I go after what I want.”

Wrong answer. “I’m not a business you can acquire.”

“I’m aware.” He brushed past her and took her suitcase handle, then started up the stairs with it. Rather than fight him on that, she followed. “Isn’t it ironic, though, that that’s exactly how this whole mess started? You came to my office demanding a chance to prove how valuable a business investment you would be. And you were right.”

He set her suitcase as far into the hall as he could reach, but he remained rooted on the top stair, as though to let her know he didn’t plan on pushing any farther into her personal space.

Angling around him, she crested the stairs and faced him, no longer fearing the intensity or heat of his gaze. He was such a strong man, so proud and unequivocally male. She brushed her thumb over a bead of sweat at his temple. “I can’t work for you.”