Page 27 of Not Over You (Prosperity Ranch 3)

Knox’s eyes seemed to darken, and Jana was pretty sure her heart was doing somersaults.

“Why do you want me to come?”

He didn’t seem surprised at her question, and he also didn’t hesitate. “Because I want my daughter to meet my friend.”

Jana felt a smile tug at the edges of her mouth. “So, we’re friends now?”

“You bet.” He winked, sufficiently distracting her from the fact that his other hand had slid around her waist. They couldn’t get much closer unless they were, in fact, kissing. Which probably shouldn’t happen.

Knox had been open and honest with her, and she’d held back pretty much everything… her own regrets, and her continued crush on him. It was probably way more than a crush, especially now that they’d cleared the air between them, but she couldn’t overlook the complications, either.

“Knox, what are we doing?”

She didn’t need to explain further, because he released her then. His brow furrowed, and she didn’t like it one bit.

Scrubbing a hand through his hair, he said, “I’m not gonna lie, I’m wishing right now that I didn’t have to leave tomorrow. You’re unexpected, Jana. I thought we’d have an argument about the past and I’d never see you again—unless by chance. But now… my mind is spinning with all sorts of questions and possibilities.”

She folded her arms because it stopped her from reaching for him. “Like what?” she asked in a soft voice.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and she didn’t miss the torment that flittered across his expression. When he opened his eyes again, they didn’t stray from her. “Like coming home to Prosper might be a possibility after all. That there might be a new beginning here for me.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “With Holt married to Macie, this town has seemed too small. But if I had my own… life…”

He didn’t finish, and he didn’t have to. Jana didn’t know if she could take much more, anyway. She was feeling overwhelmed enough. Placing her hand on her chest, even though it would do nothing to calm her racing heart, she said, “I’m glad you can see a future here, because I really like Prosper.”

Had she said too much? Confessed too much? Well, Knox didn’t seem to mind, because he stepped close again, and this time, his touch wasn’t tentative. His hands settled on her hips, and he drew her close.

“Jana…” he whispered before he leaned down and pressed his mouth against hers.

His lips were warm and soft, and she wasn’t sure she was still in reality. Knox was kissing her. Kissing her. The scrape of his whiskers against her chin only made her want to drag him closer. Her fingers curled into his shirt, and she marveled at all that had happened over the years, yet, here they were again.

“You taste like raspberries,” he murmured, his mouth moving to her jaw, then her neck, and she could feel his smile against her skin.

She smiled in return and whispered, “You do, too.”

He chuckled, and then his mouth was on hers again, his kissing deeper, more intense, as one hand tangled in her hair.

She didn’t mind Knox kissing her, not in the least. In fact, she’d probably been anticipating—or at least hoping for—this the moment she realized the cowboy she’d pulled over to help on the side of the road was Knox Prosper. Not that she assumed, but now that he was here, in her kitchen, kissing her like he meant something by it, she was going to let him know she’d be more than happy if he moved back to Prosper.

Jana slid her hands up his chest; the warmth and the rapid beating of his heart only stirred her up more. She memorized his taste, his smell, his touch, not knowing if this thing with Knox would turn into anything real, but right here, right now, it was very real.

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