Page 23 of Knight's Desire

“Black,” he replied automatically. His eyes swept her office, noting how everything had its place and Hope’s stamp was on the space. Before he realized it, she was placing a mug of steaming coffee in his hand. “Thank you.”

She took her own mug and settled in her desk chair, motioning for him to sit across from her. He was almost relieved to have a desk separating them.

“What brings you over here this morning, Br…I’m sorry.” She chuckled. “I have to ask. Why does everyone call you Brick?”

A smile tugged at his lips. “It’s a nickname I got from my Army buddies, and it just stuck. They thought it was funny that I was built like a brick wall or something.”

“And no one ever calls you by your real name? What was it again? Or would you rather it stay a secret? A I-could-tell-you-but-then-I’d-have-to-kill-you kind of situation?”

This time he couldn’t hold back his chuckle. “Nope, but no one ever uses it but my mother. Mason Coffey.”

“Mason.” She seemed to savor the sound of his name on her lips, and his cock sat up and took notice. “I like it, but as much as I hate to admit it, Brick suits you. So what brings you to my Shoppe so early this morning?”

“I wanted to check in, make sure you had no problems coming into work.” The lie slid easily from his lips as he studied her intently. A shadow fell over her wide hazel eyes, and her black lashes skimmed her cheeks as she sighed.

“Thank you for checking on me. Gen did too. Both of you have been wonderful, probably the nicest anyone has been to me since I moved here. I’m fine. No problems. It’s like nothing happened, and I’m starting to feel foolish, like I’ve wasted everyone’s time.”

“You’re not foolish. The truck that chased you last night? We ran the plates, and it came back stolen. Deputies found it abandoned. They’re running prints, but I suspect it might be a dead end.”

She nodded as if digesting the information. “Thank you for checking into it. That’s more than the deputies have done. They think I’m crazy.”

“No one thinks you’re crazy.”

“That’s sweet of you to say, but it’s fine. I’m starting to think I’m crazy too. Did Gen tell you? That I had a hard time leaving my house this morning. I kept wondering if he would be there. The driver, I mean. Do you think it was a one and done, or do you think he’ll keep harassing me?”

“It’s hard to say, but if you’re afraid, we can assign someone to escort you to work and home for a few days, just to be safe.”

“Thank you, but no. That’s not necessary. I promise to be more vigilant. I have too much work to do to stress over something that may not happen again.”

Brick could see the uncertainty in her eyes, but he admired her spunk. She refused to let what happen leave her cowering in fear. She was beautiful and brave — a heady combination that he needed distance from or he was going to give into temptation. Namely, kissing her until there was no room for fear or anything else, other than the same burning need that pulsed through him right now.

Placing his mug on the edge of her desk, he stood, and she followed suit.

“I don’t want to keep you from your work. The offer stands whether you need it today or months down the road. Just call. You have Gen’s number, and I’ll send you mine and Jordan’s.”

“Thank you. Before you go, do you mind helping me with something? I could use an opinion.”

His brow furrowed as she crossed around her desk and sashayed over to a drafting table. Brick’s temperature raised watching the gentle sway of her hips. She lifted two sheets of sketch paper and brough them over to him. She held them out in front of her for him to see, but all he could focus on was the curve of her shoulder, her smooth, creamy skin, and how the top of her head met the middle of his chest. She was petite, lovely and perfect.

“I’m working on a custom design for a client. If this was for your fiancé, which silhouette do you think you’d prefer?”

Brick swallowed against the sudden lump in his throat. “I, um…I don’t…I mean, this…I don’t know anything about this shi—I mean, stuff.”

Her laugh tickled his ears and had his heart skittering in his chest. “I didn’t expect you would. That’s why your opinion would be helpful. It’s unbiased and untrained. That’s the kind of opinion I could use since I keep getting tangled up in my own head. The sketch on the left is sexier with cut-outs and clean lines. The other is more glamorous with beading and a classic silhouette. What do you think?”

The image of the first time he saw Hope through the window of her store popped up in his mind. “Sexy,” he choked out, his voice deeper than he intended.

“Yeah, I think the bride will like that one too. I’m just not sure it works for her venue.” Hope studied the papers, unaware of his losing struggle with his libido. “They’re having an outdoor ceremony at her parents’ home. I don’t think her dad will want to walk his daughter down the aisle looking like a sex kitten.”

Brick closed his eyes, thinking he’d rather be tortured by enemy combatants than endure more of Hope’s unassuming sex appeal. She had no idea she was driving him to distraction, but if he didn’t make his exit, she would find out. Real quick.

“I need to be going. Good luck. With the drawings or designs or whatever. Call if you need anything.”

He turned his back on her confused expression and made it into the salon before he stopped. Like the target in a carnival shooting gallery, he turned back, changed his mind, turned away, and repeated the steps another time.

“Dammit!” he muttered under his breath before finally turning back to walk as far as the open doorway to her office. She hadn’t moved from her spot, and he pierced her with his stare.

“Still the sexy, just tone it down. Not as low in the front and not a slit that high.”

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