Page 48 of Not Over You (Prosperity Ranch 3)

“And he’s probably asleep.”

They both looked at the dash clock. It was nearly midnight.

“I’ll call tomorrow morning,” Jana said, “and let you know what he says. I can tell you, he’s going to hear a piece of my mind.” She popped open the passenger-side door and slid out before Knox could reply.

“Hey, wait up.” He climbed out of the truck and reached her before she could open her SUV door.

“What?” she asked, turning.

“Did you forget something?” he said in a low voice.

Tilting her head, she said, “Like what?”

“Like… saying goodbye to me.” He leaned close, not touching her yet, just breathing in her scent of raspberries.

Jana lifted her chin, her pretty mouth curving upward. “Goodbye, Knox.”

He didn’t move, didn’t step back, but pointed to his cheek, indicating he was hoping for a kiss. But Jana one-upped that. She slid her hands about his neck, pressed against him, then kissed him on the mouth.

He hauled her closer and backed her against the SUV. She smiled against his mouth, and tugged his collar toward her. He used one hand to brace himself against the SUV while he continued to explore her mouth. He was pretty sure if there was something flammable nearby, it would have ignited. Kissing Jana was like holding heaven in his arms. But he was still holding back. This was a relationship he wanted to do right.

When their kissing slowed, Knox was even more reluctant to leave her.

She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his chest, putting some distance between them. “Is that a better goodbye?” she teased.

“Much better,” he whispered. Burying his face against the softness of her neck, he shut his eyes, holding her close, and wondering what in the world Jana Harris had done to his heart.

And eventually, he released her and climbed back into his truck. Only when she left the parking lot did he finally head back to his hotel.

The hotel room he’d checked into was too quiet, too lonely. Knox couldn’t remember a time when he’d felt this way—like he was missing a part of himself, an appendage or something. He didn’t like that there were so many unknowns between him and Jana. Something had shifted tonight, though. She’d instigated more affection, and she’d been comfortable with Evie. Those were two signs of progress.

Once he settled into bed, he sent Holt a quick text updating him on the conversation with Jana and how she was going to call her dad. Holt wouldn’t see the text until morning, but Knox knew his brother would read it early.

Knox shut his eyes, his mind going over the events of the night, and heck, the entire past week with Jana. He wasn’t sure if he was lucky, or what, but this chance to start over with Jana flooded him with gratitude. Knox almost wished that he did have a job like his brother, the kind that kept him in one place, the kind that made it easier to build a strong relationship with a woman.

The ringing of his phone woke him up way too early. But when he cracked his eyes open, the sun had already risen, and it turned out that it was later than he’d wanted to wake up. He snatched his cell to see it was Jana.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Knox rasped.

He heard a shuffling sound, then, “Knox? I’m so sorry.”

The trembling in her voice told him she was crying, or had been crying. He was fully alert now. “What’s wrong? Where are you?” He pushed off the blanket and sat on the edge of the bed.

“I’m still in San Antonio,” she said. “I just got done talking to my dad at his place.”

Knox stilled, not liking the emotion in her tone. Did that mean they’d argued? “What did he say?”

Jana sniffled. “It’s complicated, but basically, he’s recommended Prosper because…” Her voice hitched. “I shouldn’t even tell you this…”

“Jana,” Knox said in a soft tone. “Tell me, please. I need to know everything, even if it’s not pretty.”

She exhaled. “I guess our fathers had words a while back. When we were dating. And my dad apparently threatened your dad. And your dad, who was mayor back then, too, didn’t take to it kindly. He wouldn’t approve a second general store in Prosper, one that my dad wanted to open. I had no idea about any of this until this morning.” Her voice broke, and Knox hated that he wasn’t with her in person.

“Wow,” Knox said. “I had no idea, either.” His mind was reeling, and he rose and walked to the window in the hotel room and opened the drapes. Sunlight streamed in.

“I’m sorry, Knox,” she whispered.

“Hey, none of this is your fault,” he said. “I’m just trying to figure all of this out and get to the root of it. Maybe bridges can be mended. What did your dad threaten my dad about?”

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