Page 31 of Knot Beneath the Mistletoe

Knox materializes beside me, his presence warm and solid. "I'm walking you back." The protective gesture shouldn't make my heart flutter, but it does.

Outside, Whispering Grove is a Christmas wonderland more than usual. They seem to have added more decorations. Every lamppost now wears a garland crown, and every window sparkles with twinkling lights. The morning sun catches the fresh snow, making the whole street glitter.

"You okay?" Knox asks softly as we walk. "Really okay?"

I consider lying, but something in his voice makes me honest. "I'm getting there. Last night was... intense."

"Those bitches had no right!" His shoulder brushes mine as we dodge a group of tourists. "I still can't believe they—" He stops himself, jaw clenching.

"Hey," I nudge him gently. "I'm alive. Thanks to you."

He shakes his head. "You shouldn't have needed saving in the first place."

Holiday music drifts from hidden speakers,Santa Clause is Coming to Townmixing with the chatter of shoppers.

"This town loves Christmas a bit too much," he chuckles, falling back in step with me. "I've traveled everywhere—Nepal, Switzerland, even Alaska—but nowhere's quite like Whispering Grove."

"Really? I would love to travel the world one day." I try to ignore how his arm keeps brushing mine, how each touch sends little sparks through me.

We pass Mason's Bakery, and the scent of fresh pastries makes us both stop mid-sentence.

"God, their apple turnovers," I groan, inhaling deeply.

"You, too?" His eyes light up with genuine delight. "My favorite."

"Oh my God, same! My homemade snickerdoodles are to die for, though, too." I shake my head dramatically.

"Snickerdoodles, huh? Bold claim."

"I sense doubt?"

"Let's just say I've been disappointed before." His eyes twinkle with challenge. "I'll have to judge for myself sometime."

"Is that an official request for cookies, Mountain Man?"

"That depends. Is that an official offer, Cookie Queen?"

I chuckle just as we pass Flour & Fable Bakery, and I spot my best friend, Lily, inside, serving a customer. Her eyes go saucer-wide at the sight of me and Knox, and she starts immediately making exaggerated kissing faces in my direction. Horror floods through me as Knox begins to turn—I grab his hand and tug him away.

"Oh, I'm just over there!" I point across the street to my bar, probably too quickly to be casual.

He lets me pull him along, but I swear I see a knowing smirk play on his lips. We stop in front of my bar door, which has a new Christmas garland I can only assume was put there by Ash. Knox studies the building, then glances down at me with a captivating smile.

"So, this is your brewery, huh? I'm impressed. How long have you owned it?"

"It was my aunt's," I say softly.

Something in his expression shifts, becomes more intense. "Family legacy. That's rare these days."

"Yeah, well..." I swallow hard. "Want to come in for a drink? On the house? Least I can do after last night."

He sighs, looking genuinely regretful. "I wish I could, but I've got rescue paperwork to file and need to check on James." He takes my hand, his grip gentle but sure, thumb brushing over my knuckles. "But I promise to make it up to you. Deal?"

I soften under his intense stare. There's something almost predatory in the way he looks at me, but it doesn't frighten me. It thrills me. And with it comes my trepidation, my mom's warnings, and all the reasons why I am still unmated at age twenty-five.

"Tonight, then. I'll pick you up and we'll do something fun," he says with a grin, stepping closer, and that turns my insides to jelly.

The warmth of his grin collides with the ice in my veins as memories crash through me. Mom sprawled on our kitchen floor, blood streaming from her nose, mascara tracking down her cheeks. "They're all the same, Ruby. Every Alpha. No matter how sweet they seem at first..."

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