Page 4 of Knox's Fate

"I’m fine. Here, let me help," he said, bending down to assist her. His hands were large and capable, easily enveloping the can as though it weighed nothing at all. Standing back up, their proximity left little room for breath, and Ruby found herself momentarily lost in the intensity of the encounter.

"Thank you," she murmured, taking a step back to regain some semblance of composure. It wasn't just his height or thebreadth of him; there was an undercurrent of strength, a potency that seemed at odds with the peaceful town of Silver Falls.

"Anytime," he replied, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his mouth before he stepped aside, allowing her passage.

Ruby continued on her way, her heart pounding a rhythm that matched her quickened pace. Something about that brief interaction lingered, an electric charge in the air that she couldn't quite shake off. As she placed her items on the counter, she glanced back one last time, catching a glimpse of the mysterious man disappearing down an adjacent aisle.

She chatted with the store’s owner, Mr. Wicks, as she paid for her items. She heard the bell over the door chime again and turned just in time to see the hunk walking out. With her list and purchases clutched tightly, Ruby navigated the packed shelves of the store to follow him out.

“Excuse me,” she called as she exited the door and saw the man reaching for the door handle of a pick-up truck. “I’m sorry. My name is Ruby Edwards; I’m new here in town and I was hoping you might be able to help me.”

His presence was like a gravitational force, and despite herself, Ruby felt drawn into his orbit. There was an undeniable command in his stance, the way his eyes held hers with an intensity that quickened her pulse.

"Knox Wilder," he said, turning to introduce himself. “Nice to meet you, Ruby.” His voice resonated deeply and curled around her name as if claiming it for his own. "Are you settling in well?"

"Getting there," she replied, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. "My Aunt Lorraine left her place to me. I'm looking for some help with renovations."

"Mr. Wicks would have recommended Reynard Construction," Knox noted, one eyebrow raised slightly, as if he already knew what she was going to say next.

"Mr. Wicks has recommended a lot of things," Ruby countered with a half-smile, trying to match the confidence that seemed to emanate from Knox so effortlessly. Her heart thumped against her ribs—a wild drumbeat spurred by this enigma of a man.

"True. But if you’re looking to renovate your aunt’s place, Wicks might be right. It would be a big job for one person," Knox said, eyeing the items he’d seen in her basket that spoke of her plans.

"Maybe," she conceded, drawing in a breath that filled her lungs with the scent of sawdust and something she thought was probably distinctly Knox—earthy and raw. "I don’t like working with big companies, and I tend to follow my gut. I have a feeling about you. You seem capable, and your truck indicates you’re a handyman. I'm willing to bet you're more than that."

Knox's eyes bore into hers, searching, weighing, assessing. For a moment, Ruby thought she had overstepped, but then the corner of his mouth twitched, almost imperceptibly.

"Capable is one word for it," he murmured, and Ruby could swear there was a flash of amusement in those brown depths. "I'll consider your offer. When do you want to start?"

"Yesterday," she quipped, relief flooding through her at his response. The prospect of working side by side with Knox sent a shiver down her spine—one part anticipation, one part something else entirely. “I’m a cook by trade, and I can feed you while you’re working for me.”

"You a good cook?” he asked, smiling.

“Very.”

“Then I suppose we shouldn't waste any time." Knox's reply was smooth, and Ruby couldn't tell if it was her imagination or if there was a hint of warmth there, a silent acknowledgment of the current that charged the space between them.

"Suppose not," Ruby agreed, her smile genuine as she turned to head over to her Jeep, aware of Knox's gaze lingering on her. It was all she could do not to glance over her shoulder to see if he was watching her. The idea of him doing so was exhilarating. “I’ll see you in the morning, then?”

“Bright and early.”

Though he'd agreed to help, his reserved nature seemed like it might be a kind of fortress wall—solid and impenetrable. But Ruby wasn't deterred. She had an eye for the hidden depths in people, and Knox Wilder was no exception. If there was a wall there, she’d find a way to scale it.

As she watched him get inside his truck, she stared at his ass, which was as fine a specimen as she’d seen in a long time. Ruby turned over the engine in her Jeep and backed out into the street, reflecting on the brief conversation they'd shared. There was a strength there, but a softness as well, subtle and nearly missed, that spoke of kindness. His hands, though roughened by work, had moved with a careful grace when he'd picked up the fallen can, their brief touch sending an unexpected jolt through her.

In the timbre of his voice, she had heard a quiet strength, reassuring and steadfast—a solid foundation amidst the chaotic waves of Ruby's fresh start. And yet, something else had lingered in the air between them, a shadow that draped over his features, adding a layer of mystery that intrigued Ruby more than she cared to admit.

Ruby spent the rest of the day making sure she had enough groceries to feed them both for a few days, arranging for a drop box for demolished materials, squaring away her kitchen, unpacking the tools of her trade, corralling things she knew she didn’t want in the spacious living room, and just generally getting at least the first floor cleaned up.

That night, as she lay in bed, the silence seemed louder than any city cacophony she'd ever known. The moonlight filtered through the window, casting dancing shadows upon the walls, but it was Knox who filled her thoughts. His image loomed in her mind, larger than life—the way his gaze had locked onto hers, intense and searching, as if he could see right through her.

She remembered the warmth in his eyes, smoldering embers that promised fires yet unkindled. It was foolish, she knew, to think of him that way after only one encounter, but rationality had little place in the landscape of desire. The room felt charged with his presence, even though he had yet to be there, and Ruby tossed restlessly beneath her sheets. Sleep proved elusive, chased away by the tantalizing what-ifs that swirled around the enigmatic man who was to be her partner in bringing her vision for her bed and breakfast to life.

Ruby closed her eyes, attempting to summon slumber once more, but found herself instead imagining Knox's strong hands wielding tools with precision, repairing and rebuilding, just as she hoped to rebuild her own life. Her breath hitched at the thought of those same hands, capable of such tenderness and power, tracing the lines of her figure, exploring the terrain of her body as intimately as they would the woodwork of her home.

With a deep, steadying breath, Ruby tried to quiet the storm of emotions Knox had unwittingly stirred within her. She closed her eyes, and almost immediately began to fantasize about what an erotic encounter with Knox might be like:

The afternoon sun bathed Ruby's kitchen in a warm glow, the light streaming through the windows and creating a cozy atmosphere. She had been busy all morning, baking fresh cookies and testing recipes for the guests she planned to host at the bed and breakfast. With a satisfied smile, she took a step back, admiring her work. The new kitchen island with the pots and pans hanging from the overhead fixture was adorned withan array of mouth-watering treats, from freshly baked goods to local cheeses and fruits. As she reached for a plate to sample her creations, a sudden noise startled her.

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