Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)

He sat in a chair facing the front with a good view of the driveway and tilted his head back in thought. When was the last time a woman had him twisted up in knots? He could answer in one word. Never.

Rina had been his high school best friend. They’d had skiing in common and drifted into a relationship. He’d loved her for sure. Cheated on her never. Hell, she’d been his first and only, until awhile after her death. But theirs had been an easy relationship, no highs and lows, no crazy fights or minor bickering.

Which brought him to Emily. In a short span of time, she’d taken an immediate dislike to him, which had translated into hot sexual tension the likes of which he’d never experienced. She’d gotten under his skin. So he was sitting in her father’s chair, waiting for her to come home from a date, his fingers itching to spank her for daring to go out with another man.

Based on what her father had told him about her last relationship, that wouldn’t go over well at all. Still, he wasn’t going to roll over and be a doormat like Matt, letting her call all the shots when he knew their sparring made her hot.

Which left him waiting … and wondering how he should handle her when she returned.

* * *

Emily was hangry. Her steak had been tough and she hadn’t sent it back, always feeling badly for the chef when she did. It hadn’t helped that Matt seemed to love his sirloin, devouring it quickly. If she’d asked to have her order redone, by the time she got her food, he would have been finished with his meal.

And she’d have had to spend more time listening to him expound on his love of cars. He talked about engines. Carburetors. Things she’d never heard of, didn’t care about, and never wanted to learn. Of course she’d like to hear about his business, but this went beyond. Into the realm of boring and oblivious to the fact that her mind was elsewhere.

On another man and the kiss he’d given her that had rocked her world and scared her to death. The last thing she wanted to do was make another mistake, choosing a man who was all wrong for her, a lesson she’d learned all too well with Rex. Who did he think he was, telling her she couldn’t go out on a date? She didn’t need or want another controlling guy. But it was clear, sitting across from Matt, that passive wasn’t doing it for her.

What made matters even worse was the fact that he’d chosen a restaurant where the tables were close together and she hadn’t been able to have the private talk she’d wanted, which meant she’d have to do it when he pulled into her driveway.

The weather had changed while they were inside and it had started to rain. She wanted to talk quickly so she could run inside before the light drizzle became a downpour.

Finally, he made the turn into the inn’s drive and parked not nearly close enough to the house for her to get inside easily without getting drenched in the rain. She sighed.

“I had a great time tonight,” he said, turning to her, his arm reaching perilously close to her as he stretched it over the back of the seats.

“It was lovely, but Matt, I need to talk to you.”

He stiffened.

She rushed on. “I like you … as a friend. I hate to be cliché but it’s not you, it’s me. I’m not in a place for a relationship, and even if I were, I think we’re too different.” There, she’d said it, she thought, her empty stomach churning.

He hadn’t even asked her if she wanted dessert, just requested a check after he’d finished his dinner.

“I hate that line,” he muttered.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that sometimes it’s the hard truth. Thank you for dinner.” She actually debated offering to pay for her meal again.

“You’re welcome,” he said sullenly, and she felt bad. Rejection was never fun for anyone. And it certainly didn’t feel like the time to bring up Harper as a possibility for him.

Knowing the best thing to do was to leave, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’m sorry,” she said, then let herself out of the car and ran for the house, the rain having picked up while they talked.

“I had an umbrella for you!” he called through his open window.

As she made her way up the steps to the porch, she saw Parker in the big chair by the fireplace, watching the entire exchange, and her cheeks burned in embarrassment.

Still, she couldn’t stand outside all night, even if the porch did have an overhang to protect her from the rain, so she let herself inside.