Page 27 of Apple of My Eye

Beatrix stepped back, her eyes dancing with amusement. “So, what are we calling this?” she asked.

“Uh. This?”

“You and my brother. Friends? Lovers? Something in between?”

“Christ, Bea,” Knox warned.

“What?” she said innocently. “I’m just asking.”

“Ignore her,” he muttered.

“I absolutely am not ignoring her.” I grinned, finding my footing again now that my heart had stopped trying to climb out of my chest. “I’d also like to know what we’re calling this. But friends will do, for now.”

Beatrix clapped once, delighted. “Oh, I like her.”

Knox dragged a hand down his face. “I’m going to regret telling you we’d be here tonight.”

“Too late,” she said cheerfully. “I’ve already made it worth it. And I have a feeling we’re going to be good friends, too.”

“My sisters would adore you. I think you and Poppy are about the same age in college,” I mentioned.

“We’ll all have to plan a big outing. Maybe this summer, Maddox and I can drive up for a visit.”

“There’s been an open invitation for a while now,” Knox added.

We talked a minute more, but with the game going on, we were clearly distracting people in the aisle. She eventually headed back to her own section with her friends, throwing us one last knowing look and a wave.

I slid into my seat, still a little warm from embarrassment.

“She’s very sweet,” I said.

“She is,” Knox agreed.

“I didn’t see the family resemblance at first.”

“Yeah?” His mouth quirked. “I noticed your glare. Glad you didn’t have a beer in your hand to throw at me.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’ve already apologized a couple of times for that little incident.”

“Maybe. But I’m noticing a pattern of jealousy here.”

“There is no pattern.”

He nuzzled into my ear, voice dripping and sensual. “Lucky for me, I like a spirited woman.”

“My sisters call that being grumpy and moody all the time.”

“I can think of a few remedies for that.”

Laughter burst from my chest, something only he had the ability to draw out. The game continued. Somewhere along the way, I stopped sitting so rigidly. Stopped holding myself so tightly together. Leaned into him and his warmth and his after shave, embracing the possibilities of what this could be someday between us.

For once, there was no one watching. No expectations. No weight of responsibility pressing in from all sides. Simply me and him, enjoying a night out together. Fine, it was a date, a friendly one. And I hated how easy it was to like it.

By the end of the game, the Frostbite had won, Maddox had a couple of goals, and the crowd buzzed as people filed out into the concourse.

Knox guided me to exit through the crowd, often with his hand at the small of my back. At one point we cut away, though, toward a section of the arena that appeared a little more exclusive than the rest. He ushered me right into The Frostbite Club, part sports bar and part club with blue and orange neon lights.

We ordered beers and talked. At one point, he sat forward, elbows on the table. “Tell me, I’m curious. What does the year ahead look like for caring for the orchard?”