Page 48 of Knot Beneath the Mistletoe

The phone pings again, and I stare down at an unfamiliar number.

Hey, pretty girl. It’s Dominic. Got your number from the business booking. Realized I never gave you the studio address last night. Haven’t been able to think about anything else but you. The way you smiled, the way you smelled… Hope you’ll let me show you some self-defense moves.

My legs soften, and I have to lean against the wall, my pulse racing in my throat. The memory of standing so close to him has my body radiating with fire, the intensity of his gaze, how small I felt despite him being the one seated.

Three Alphas, all wanting my attention.

This is new for me.

God help me, I want to give it to them all. How do people handle multiple partners, anyway? The thought alone makes me worry I won’t be good enough.

Before I know it, I’m sending Dominic back a devil emoji followed by a winking kiss.

Careful what you wish for...

Subtle, Ruby. Real subtle.

Heading downstairs, each step feels heavy with indecision. The bar’s quiet this early, everything still and peaceful. Morning light catches the bottles behind the bar, sending prisms dancing across the floor. Eve used to say this was her favorite time of day here—the calm before the storm when anything felt possible.

A slow smile tugs at my lips at my upcoming date tonight.

15

RUBY

The purr of Knox’s Range Rover fades as we pull into the parking lot. I can’t help but think this place looks like something out of those Hallmark movies I refuse to watch. Three stories of rustic wooden grandeur stretch before us, all perfect logs and gleaming windows, practically dripping with old money. What amIdoing here?

“An Alpha will only hurt you, Ruby. They’re all the same in the end.”My mother’s words echo in my head, the same warning she’d whisper every time she covered another bruise with makeup. I push the thought away, focusing instead on how the snow catches the light from the wrought-iron lanterns lining the circular drive.

When Knox kills the engine, I watch, mesmerized, as he climbs out from the driver’s seat. The black suit transforms him from rugged mountain man to something far more dangerous—a predator in civilized clothing. The fabric stretches across his shoulders as he moves, and I catch myself wondering how someone can look even more untamed in formal wear than they did in climbing gear.

He didn’t bother with a tie, and the open collar of his white shirt reveals just enough skin to be distracting. A primal part of me wants to trace the strong column of his throat with my tongue.

Jesus,Ruby, get it together.

The cold mountain air hits my face as Knox opens my door, and I’m grateful for the shock of it against my heated skin. He offers his hand with an exaggerated flourish that should look ridiculous but somehow doesn’t.

“I never pictured you like this,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady as I step out. “All polished and going to fancy places. What happened to the guy who could start a fire with two sticks and his sheer stubbornness?”

His laugh is low and rich, sending shivers down my spine that have nothing to do with the temperature. “Oh, I haven’t even shown you my fire skills, but he’s still here. I just clean up well when properly motivated.”

The way his gaze rakes over me makes it clear exactly what that motivation is, and my inner self preens despite my best efforts to stay cool and detached.

“Don’t fall for it,” my mother’s voice warns. “Once they know they affect you, it’s over.”

“My lady,” he continues sarcastically, and there’s also that growl underneath his playful tone that makes me weak. “I grew up in places like this with my parents. Couldn’t wait to escape them then, but they have their uses now.” His hand finds the small of my back, warm and steady. “I hope it’s okay? I wanted somewhere special.”

“It’s perfect.”

Around us, the mountain lodge is a winter wonderland dream. Massive pine trees drip with thousands of white lights, their branches heavy with fresh snow. Wooden sculptures flank the front steps, wolves mid-hunt, bears rearing up, eagles in flight. A long line of luxury cars are parked nearby, all spotless despite the snow-covered roads.

“I have no idea where we’re going,” I admit. “But I already love it...” The words catch in my throat as Knox’s hand slides lower on my back, pulling me against him with casual possession. Heat radiates from him, and his scent—chocolate, fresh snow, and thunderstorms—wraps around me like a physical touch.

“The only beautiful thing I see is you,” he says.

I want to roll my eyes at the line, but the raw honesty in his voice stops me. His fingers trace idle patterns on my back through the thin fabric of my dress, each touch sending sparks through my nervous system.

“You weren’t lying in your email about wearing something that will make me lose my breath.”

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