Chapter 64

As soon as I neared Knox, he pulled me into a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed him back, resting my cheek on his chest. I never thought that Knox Carter would actually comfort me.

“You were incredible, baby doll!” he whispered into my hair.

After the event was cleared, we made our way back to his Audi that was parked in a special space for the day. We got in and drove off alone.

It was late because I wanted to stick around and see the science conference, and so did Knox. He interrupted my thoughts on the day’s events. He parked as the lights had just turned red.

“I need you to put this on,” he said, handing me a sleep mask. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Seriously? Isn’t the kinky stuff for later?” I teased, trying to suppress another bout of laughter. His brows shot up and his eyes widened at my words. His mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, struggling to form words.

“W-What? No, I-I, are you messing with me?” he stammered, looking adorably flustered. I smiled at him and put the blindfold over my eyes. I leaned back in the leather seats and relaxed.

“I’m messing with you. I’m not the type you can get into bed at the end of the first date. I’m not that easy,” I said, feeling his hand being placed on top of mine. I jumped slightly, not expecting it.

“I know you’re not, baby doll. You were always a tough one. It was so hard to get your attention. I know you’re giving me a chance tonight and I couldn’t be happier that you have.

I’m not going to miss this opportunity, so if you like tonight, I would like to take you out again, because I know I will have an incredible time with you. Don’t answer now, wait until I woo you, then you can answer,” he joked.

Just hearing his voice made me excited about where he was taking me. I brought his hand up to my lips and kissed it.

“What was that for?” he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

“I didn’t want to lean over to try to kiss you on the cheek. I can’t see you, so it statistically wouldn’t have ended up there....”

His laughter rings out, filling the car and making me smile. I bite down on my lower lip, reveling in the sound of his joy.

“You can do it when we get there,” he tells me, his laughter finally subsiding.

“I brought a jacket and your camera with me. You’ll need them, trust me. I’m not telling you anything about where we’re going, so don’t even try asking me, baby doll. I covered your eyes for two reasons.”

Now it’s my turn to laugh, the sound echoing in the car until I feel us come to a stop. The click of his seatbelt releasing and the sound of the material retracting into the side of the car fill the silence.

“Stay there, I’ll come around and help you out.” I nod, hearing the door open and close behind him. The door opens again, and I hear him gather what I assume are jackets and cameras.

Then, my door opens. His hand takes mine, gently pulling me out of the car. I stand up, adjusting my skirt, and feel him guide me out of the way so he can close the door behind me.

He takes my shoulders from behind and guides me forward, then stops. We start moving again until we come to another stop. I hear the ding of an elevator and we step inside. He pushes a button and I hear the doors close.

“You’re not taking me to be sold to the mafia, are you? This sounds like a pretty upscale place....” I joke, hearing a chuckle from behind me.

He kisses my bare shoulder. “I wouldn’t dream of selling you to anyone, baby doll..... I don’t know if anyone would put up with you....” His joke makes me laugh even more.

“Hey! I’d be a perfect trophy wife—” The ding of the elevator cuts me off. The doors open and I feel the chill of the air conditioning on my skin.

Goosebumps rise on my skin and he notices, so he helps me into my jacket.

“I’m going to lift you up now, alright? There are a lot of stairs here and I can’t risk you hurting yourself, baby doll.” He scoops me up bridal style and I yelp in surprise.

“Well, if I said no, you would’ve done it anyway,” I retort, making him chuckle. His breath is warm on my face. He’s close, but I can’t see how close he is.

I hear him knock on a door and feel a gust of wind as it opens. He sets me down and once again takes my shoulders in his hands, guiding me forward.

My hair is swept around by the wind and he stops me. I stand there for a few seconds, waiting for him to tell me I can take my blindfold off. I feel a blanket being draped over my shoulders and he stands behind me.

His arms wrap around my waist and he rests his chin on my shoulder. “You can take it off now, baby doll,” he whispers, and I do.

I open my eyes, adjusting to the light, and see the sunset going down in the distance. I look down to see the city bustling about like ants.

“Oh my god... Knox... I-I.... you brought me to the Empire State Building to watch the sunset? Wow.... this is.... Wow.” I stand there, afraid to move in case it’s a dream and I’ll wake up from it.

Tears sting my eyes a little because of how amazing this all looks. I love anything that is natural, and seeing the sunset from one of the tallest buildings in New York is just so perfect it’s unimaginable.

“Wow—” I repeat, “This can’t be real.” I whisper to myself, unable to believe this is right in front of me.

“You like it?” I shake my head no and I feel him tense up behind me.

“I love it,” I tell him, and I feel him relax immediately. His arms tighten around my waist, securing me to him, his hands resting gently on my stomach.

We stand there together on top of the building, watching the sun setting on the horizon.

It’s so beautiful.

When the sun finally sets, he teaches me to use my camera. He tells me the night shots are amazing when you edit them, and he’ll teach me to edit them too. He’s kind of sexy when he’s so focused and passionate about something.

But when he’s teaching you, he’s even sexier.

I can’t peel my eyes away from him, the way his jaw tenses up when he’s looking at the screen of the photo he’s just taken. The way his eyes scan the screen.

The way his eye crinkles when he closes it, looking through the lens, and the way he positions himself for the perfect shot. He turns his head to look at me and I lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder.

His hand touches mine, and I feel myself melt into his touch. His hand is keeping me warm.

Pulling away from each other, we smile, but our faces are still close enough. He stands up and takes my hand. “I’ve one more surprise for you.”

I rise and walk around the other side with him to see a table with a candlelit dinner, a bottle of whiskey, peach schnapps, sprite, and sour mix. My favorite.

There is a man standing there with a towel wrapped around his arm, smiling at us. I break out in a laugh that he’s set this up for me. “No way! You did all of this for me?” He sets the camera down on a separate table.

He motions for me to walk to the table and I do. He holds the chair for me to sit down, sliding it underneath me, and makes his way around the table.

The dim lighting from the three candles in the center highlights his rugged face. Then it clicks.

“I get it now...” I say more to myself than anyone else. I didn’t realize he actually heard me until he asked, “Get what?”

“Why do the girls you’ve been with always seem to want more from you?” I ask, genuinely curious. This date is so incredible, it’s surreal that I’m actually here with him. I never imagined Knox Carter could be so romantic.

If he’d been this charming years ago, I would’ve fallen for him, no question. If you’d told me back then that I’d be on a date with Knox Carter, I would’ve laughed in your face. Loudly.

“I never really dated them, they were just flings. I was never serious about anyone. But I also never took them out on a date like this. I organized this one, but my agent organized the others. I just did it to keep myself... preoccupied until... you were single again.”

“And what if I hadn’t broken up with Drew?”

“I knew you would eventually. He used you and didn’t deserve you. And I’m glad you did.”

“Why are you glad? I’m not. I wasted nearly three years with him. Only to find out he cheated on me, and I know it wasn’t just the once.”

“I’m glad because now I get to take you out. I get a chance to show you the real me. He never deserved a girl like you, you’re too good for him.”

I smile at his flattering words while taking a sip of the green tea cocktail the waiter made me. It’s delicious and I’m going to get so drunk by the end of this meal if I don’t slow down.

We order from a menu that was left on the tables and sit there, taking in the breathtaking view.

“Who knew Knox Carter would be such a romantic,” I tease him while taking another sip from my favorite drink.

I sit back in the chair with the blanket wrapped around my legs and four outdoor heaters surrounding us. He knows I get cold easily.

“Only for the right girl... I’ll let you know when I meet her,” he winks with a cheeky smile on his face and I roll my eyes, smiling back at him.

“Good, maybe I can talk some sense into her when you do,” I stick out my tongue at him, feeling childish and carefree. I’m really enjoying this date, I actually don’t want to leave.