Page 49 of Knot Beneath the Mistletoe

I fight the urge to fidget with my aunt’s necklace at his compliment. The red dress felt like a statement when I put it on or maybe a challenge. Long-sleeved but with a neckline that plunges deeper than anything I’d normally wear, the fabric clings to my body before falling to my ankles with a daring slit up one side. Lily had insisted I buy it months ago, declaring itmade for a hot date,but it had hung untouched in my closet until tonight. Something about Knox made me want to be brave. Or reckless. Probably both.

“A dress like that,” Knox says, voice dropping to a rumble that I feel in my bones. “Makes a man think dangerous thoughts.” His fingers catch a loose curl of my hair, twirling it slowly. “You have no idea what you do to me, do you?”

“Maybe I do.” I try for sass, hoping he can’t hear my heart thundering.

His grin is sharp enough to cut. “Careful, pretty girl. I might take that as a challenge.”

“Run,” my mother’s voice whispers, but for the first time in my life, I don’t want to.

Knox guides me toward the entrance, past a group of guests who look like they ordered their entire ski wardrobes from a magazine spread. One woman is tottering in stiletto heels that would be a death sentence outside, her white ski suit pristine and obviously never worn outdoors in the snow.

“What do you call a snowman with a six-pack?” Knox whispers in my ear, his breath warm against my skin.

I bite back a smile. “What?”

“An abdominal snowman.”

The laugh bursts out of me too quickly, gaining a few stares.

“That’s terrible! I can’t believe I’m actually laughing at that.”

“You love it,” he says with absolute certainty. “And I’m here to make you laugh.”

Instead of heading toward the main restaurant where most guests are gathering, Knox leads me past it, his hand never leaving my back. We move through hallways, where staff members nod at him and point us forward. I want to ask how often he comes here, what other women he’s brought to this clearly exclusive spot, but I bite my tongue.

We emerge onto a massive open balcony, and my breath catches at the sight before us—an enclosed cable car waiting just for us, its transparent walls promising an incredible view. It’s larger than I expected, more luxury transport than a typical ski lift, with comfortable benches facing each other and soft lighting.

“After you,” Knox says, steadying me as I step in, and it’s instantly warm inside. I’m grateful for the low heels I chose, especially when the cabin sways slightly. He follows and settles beside me, close enough that his thigh presses against mine, and the cabin begins its smooth ascent up the mountain.

The world opens up beneath us, a landscape of snow and lights. Ski slopes curve down the mountainside, their paths marked by twinkling lights. The main lodge grows smaller, and in the distance lies the explosion of lights from Whispering Grove. Above us, the sky is impossibly clear, stars beginning to peek through the deep blue.

“I used to hate Christmas lights,” I admit, pressing my hand against the glass. “Thought they were tacky. But from up here...” I trail off, watching my breath fog the transparent wall.

I’m acutely aware of how he’s shifted closer on the seat, one arm stretched along the back of the bench behind me.

“From up here, they’re kind of magical.” I wrinkle my nose. “God, that was cheesy. Please don’t tell anyone I said that. I have a reputation to maintain.”

His laugh rumbles through me. “Your secret’s safe with me.” His free hand finds my knee, his thumb tracing small circles that send heat spiraling through me. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since the mountain hike.”

I try to keep my breathing steady. “Because I could have died?” I joke, though it’s not really funny.

“Yes, and the way you got fought back up, how you never let it mess with your head.” His hand slides a fraction higher, and I bite my lip. “How I held you all night, keeping you warm. Sexy as hell.”

“I think the altitude’s affecting your judgment.”

“I think you don’t see yourself clearly.” Knox’s voice has dropped lower, edged with something that has me paying closer attention. “Do you know what I thought the first time I saw you?”

I twist in my seat to look at him and nearly drown in the intensity of his gaze. “What?”

“There she is. The one I’ve been waiting for.” His free hand comes up to cup my face, thumb brushing over my bottom lip.

“Knox...” My voice comes out embarrassingly breathy. “Just let me look at you for a minute.” There’s nothing gentle about the way he’s looking at me. “You’re so fucking beautiful it hurts.”

The cabin continues its slow ascent, and I’m caught between taking in the view and watching Knox staring at me. His gaze tracks every movement, every breath, as if he’s memorizing me. When I shift in my seat, his hand tightens on my knee.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he says… no, commands.

“I’m thinking this is insane,” I admit. “I’m thinking my mother would be horrified, but I hate that I just mentioned her. I’m thinking...” I take a shaky breath. “I’m thinking I don’t care about her judgment anymore.”

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