Page 4

"Betty's your aunt?" I grab another bag and quickly fill it up, securing it with the twist tie and reaching for another as I try to distract myself from drooling over him in real time. "I only met her today, but she seems like quite the character."

I tuck my hair behind my ear, grateful to have found my voice, although my core is throbbing simply having him near me.

"You don't know the half of it," Knox grumbles good-naturedly. He clearly has a soft spot for the woman who both my friends say runs this town.

"Do you live in Duhring Park?" Knox asks and I turn toward him quickly, grateful to have him asking me questions as well.

"No, um, Violet, Naomi, and I went to school together." I reach for the three required pieces of candy at the same time he does and the little electrical jolt from our hands touching has me pulling away quickly. I'd be absolutely mortified if my friends had to defend rumors that I was flirting shamelessly with the town hottie.

"Did you grow up here?" I ask, reaching for the prizes to stuff inside the bag instead.

Knox shakes his head. "Nope. Moved here a few months ago. I work for Naomi's husband, Jameson."

"Oh, you work in construction?" I ask and he nods.

"How about you?" he asks. "Is your job one you could do from Duhring Park?"

I grin, wondering if I'm imagining the hopeful tone he has when he asks that question. Is it possible this attraction isn't completely one-sided?

"No." I bite my lip and smile. "I'm a flight attendant, but my company is closing my home base in about a month. I have to decide if I'm going to move where they need me or look for another job."

"Wow, that's a cool job," Knox says, his eyes fixed on me in a way that has my entire body flushed with need. "I traveled a lot with my brother back in the day. He's my twin. The second we graduated, we took off on adventures for a year. We'd work odd jobs for cash to make enough to land in the next location." He clears his throat and turns his chair toward me. "Do you picture yourself settling somewhere at some point?"

We lock eyes and my gaze drops to his mouth. I quickly look away, reaching for another bag before answering.

"I do," I finally say, and for the first time in a long time I mean it.

Knox and I talk for hours as we finish up all the goodie bags and move on to the next task on the list, which is VIP kits.

When we get enough done of those that they take over the table, I walk over to the wall and grab one of the plastic bins to gather all the bags in one spot. Knox practically knocks over his chair as he rushes to take it from my hands.

"It's not heavy," I assure him. Our fingers brush against one another as we hold the sides, neither of us letting go as we stare into each other's eyes.

"I know you're capable of getting the bin, but why do it when I can?" he asks and I bite back a moan.

He's my fantasy man come true. A part of me wonders if I've conjured him up like some kind of Halloween love spell.

Good with his hands? Check.

Close with his family? Double check.

Sexy as hell? Quadruple check with a cherry on top.

I nod, lost in his eyes, and he whispers the phrase that has me ready to climb him like a tree.

"I want to take care of you."

It's a simple concept, but I've never had boyfriends that cared enough to do it. I let go of the bin, and he reaches back to set it on the table without moving away from me.

Knox takes a step closer, his eyes on my mouth, and he slips his hand onto my waist. His touch is warm and little licks of pleasure light up my body through the fabric of my shirt. My core throbs with need for more. For once in my life, I don't suck in or worry about my stomach. This man wants me, exactly as I am, and it's clear as a bell.

I lick my lips and hold my breath, waiting to see what he plans to do next and he doesn't disappoint.

Just as I'm about to babble like an idiot to ease my anxiety about not talking, Knox slams his mouth to mine, and I whimper as his tongue presses into my willing mouth. He cups the back of my neck, deepening the kiss and somehow my curvy ass is in his arms before I even realize he's lifted me.

"Wait, you'll hurt your back!" I cry out as he walks me back against a wall, and the man grips my ass in both of his large hands and squeezes hard without dropping me, as if to prove a point.

He kisses me until I'm panting and dizzy, nipping at my lips and neck, and burying his face in my cleavage before he comes back to my mouth for more. I'm a mess, moaning loudly each time he slides his tongue into my mouth, and I am ready to bend over and let him have his way with me right here and now.