Page 22 of Mountain Protector

He said we were friends. It couldn’t have been clearer that he’s not interested in anything more.

And didn’t I just tell Kate the same thing? That Knox and I are just friends? That it’s better that way?

After all, I’ve sworn off relationships. They only end up with me feeling hurt and rejected.

Keeping things platonic with Knox makes more sense. Especially now, considering the absolute mess my life has turned into.

I mean, seriously. I wasshot. There’s a man out there somewhere who’s very likely looking for me. And now he’s not only after me for whatever reason he came to start with, but I’ve probably pissed him off royally by shooting him.

My house is a crime scene. I don’t know how much of a mess it is, but there has to be blood, the dust they use for fingerprints, and I know I heard the laundry door breaking as I ran for the woods. So at the very least, I’m not going back there before a deep-cleaning, new door, and a top-of-the-line security system.

That’s if I can bring myself to go back there at all.

So, really, I shouldn’t be thinking about my conflicted feelings about Knox.

“Lark, sweetheart.” Knox rubs my foot gently. His voice is all low and rumbly, setting off a tiny flutter in my belly. “Can you wake up for me for a second?”

I open my eyes to find Knox staring at me, his eyes filled with apology. “I’m sorry, Lark. I hate to wake you up, but I need to meet with the team soon. And I didn’t want to just leave without talking to you.”

“Oh.” I shake my head to clear the lingering fog from my nap. As I start to push myself up, Knox moves quickly, sliding his arm behind me to help. Once I’m sitting, I ask, “How long was I asleep?”

“A couple of hours.” He smiles. “You passed out about five minutes into the movie.”

“Have you been here the entire time?”

“Of course. I wasn’t going to just leave.” His tone is lightly scolding. “I told you I was staying. I don’t break my promises. And I definitely wouldn’t have left without talking to you first.”

My cheeks heat. “Right. I’m sorry. I just… I feel bad that you’ve just been sitting here.” An alarming thought hits me. “I didn’t snore, did I?”

“Well…” Knox drags out the word.

“I did?”

The embarrassment. I never thought I was a snorer until my last ex accused me of it, claiming that’s why he never spent the night.

Although it turned out he was cheating on me, so it clearly wasn’t my snoring that kept him away.

“No, Lark.” He smiles. “I was just kidding.” Gaze softening, he adds, “But you did make some pretty cute noises while you slept.”

Eeesh. That doesn’t sound much better. “Noises?”

His lips twitch. “Yeah. Kind of… snuffly. Like a puppy.”

I jolt straight up, ignoring the flare of pain in my arm at the movement. My voice pitches up. “I sound like apuppywhen I’m sleeping?”

“Not exactly.” Knox brushes a finger across my cheek, cool against my heated skin. “I didn’t explain myself well. It was just… cute. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Augh. Wait ‘til I tell Kate about this. The sexiest man I’ve ever met compared the sounds I make when I sleep to a puppy. She’ll pee herself laughing.

“Lark. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Concern darkens his gaze. “I would never intentionally hurt you. I swear.”

Crap. NowIfeel bad. The poor guy sat with me for hours, while I snuffled like a puppy, no less, made me food, brought me to this amazing cabin, stayed with me in the hospital,andprotected me last night when I was in danger. A little embarrassment over an innocent comment is nothing compared to that.

“I’m fine,” I assure him. With a little smile, I ask, “But the important question is—whatkindof puppy? A cuteone like a Golden Retriever? Or one of those slobbery ones that drool all over?”

After a second or two of silence, Knox chuckles. “Definitely a cute Golden Retriever. And I didn’t see a hint of drool anywhere.”

“Okay. I do love Goldens. So I guess that’s alright.”

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