Juniper Hill (The Edens #2)(63)

I pushed through the swinging door to the kitchen, expecting chaos. Instead, I was greeted by more laughter as Roxanne, Skip and Knox stood around the gleaming prep table. The teenager who washed dishes was stacking clean plates.

“Am I in the right place?” I asked.

Knox chuckled and came over, lifting Drake from my arms. Then his mouth was on mine, his tongue sweeping across my lips.

I blinked, taken aback by the kiss, but then I lifted my hands to his face to hold on, laughing as he growled and let me go. “Whoa. Now there’s a hello.”

“Hello.” His smile was breathtaking.

Drake latched a hand onto his beard and pulled.

“Hey, boss.” Knox kissed his cheek, then pulled me into his side. “How was the morning?”

“Guessing not as hectic as yours.”

Because daycare was closed for Thanksgiving, I’d spent the morning with Drake. Eloise, best boss in the world, had changed the shifts so I could have today and tomorrow off. I’d be working all weekend, but Knox had volunteered to watch Drake.

I’d spent an hour playing with my son, working on tummy time and rolling over. Then during Drake’s morning nap, I’d cleaned Knox’s house. He’d left just after four to get to the restaurant and prep for the holiday meal.

Knuckles had a single menu today and had been reservation only. Locals who hadn’t wanted to cook and those visiting Quincy had blocked out the day months ago. Every seat had been taken.

“How did everything go?” I asked.

“Good. Easy.” He chuckled as Roxanne and Skip both scoffed.

“This is the first time I’ve breathed since five,” Roxanne said, stripping off an apron as she headed to the walk-in. She came out with three square silver bowls, each covered in clear plastic wrap. “I’m going home to eat myself into a food coma.”

“Thanks for today,” Knox said.

“You bet. See you guys tomorrow.”

Knox waved as she disappeared down the hallway to slip out of the side exit. Then he let me go, handing Drake over, to unbutton his white coat.

“You don’t need to stick around?” I asked, glancing to the door and all the people beyond.

“No, we’re all done. Every table has food. There will be a ton of dishes to wash, but Skip’s family dinner isn’t until tonight so he’s going to close up.” He balled up his coat, taking it to a laundry bin, then retrieved his keys and jacket from his office. “Call me if you need anything.”

Skip lifted a hand. “Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Same to you.” Knox stole Drake again, carrying him as we headed out of the kitchen. Not five steps into the dining room and a man stood from his table of eight, hand extended.

“This is quite the meal, Knox.”

“Thanks, Joe. Appreciate you all coming down.”

“We were just talking about how this will be our new tradition.” Joe glanced my way and Knox put his hand around my shoulders.

“Joe, this is my girlfriend, Memphis. And this little man is Drake.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Joe said, shaking my hand.

“Hi.” I nodded and smiled, hoping the shock didn’t register on my face.

Girlfriend. I’d been a girlfriend before. Never had that status sounded so . . . lasting.

It took twenty minutes to get across the room because every table we passed, someone would stop Knox and compliment him on the meal. Then he’d introduce me as his girlfriend. Over and over. Each time, a shiver raced down my spine.

Until finally we made it to the doors and escaped outside to the snow.

“Let’s just ride together. We’ll get my truck tomorrow.”

“Okay.” I followed his footsteps through the snow to the Volvo in the parking lot.

The storm last week had brought in over twelve inches. It showed no signs of melting. But this early winter was fine by me.

The snow made Quincy even more charming. And in a way, it was like a cocoon, isolating us from the outside world.

I still hadn’t heard from my parents, and as the days ticked by, my anxiety ebbed.

Waiting wasn’t easy, but I had plenty of distractions. A baby boy. And my Knox.

We piled into the car and Knox took the keys so he could drive. Then we set out for the Eden ranch.

My knees began to bounce as we pulled off the highway. I sat on my hands so they wouldn’t fidget.

Knox’s fingers drummed on the steering wheel, but unlike me, it wasn’t nerves. Energy radiated off his broad shoulders, and the grin on his face was intoxicating.

“You’re wired.”

“Yeah.” His blue eyes sparkled in the bright afternoon sun.

“It’s the restaurant. Today was crazy busy. I’m still riding that wave.”

“You really love it, don’t you?”

“I really do.”

A pang of envy hit. “I don’t love cleaning rooms.”

He took a hand from beneath my thigh, threading our fingers together. “What do you love?”

What did I love? “I have no idea. I was never really given the freedom to decide.”

“You’re nothing but free now, honey.”

“Other than I need money to pay for rent and food.

Speaking of which, you haven’t deposited my last rent check.”