Page 9 of Knox's Fate

Later that same day, Ruby found herself working alongside Knox within the skeleton of what would soon be her dream realized. His hands moved with a surety that spoke of years of experience, handling tools with the same ease as she imagined he navigated the forest trails. She watched him, taking noteof how his muscles flexed beneath his shirt, the way his brow creased in concentration, and the occasional dry comment that escaped his lips, catching her off guard and pulling a laugh from deep within her.

"Hand me that hammer, will you?" Knox asked without looking up, reaching out a hand that was both calloused and capable.

"Here," Ruby said, placing the tool into his palm, her skin tingling at the brief contact. The lodge around them was alive with the sounds of progress—wood being sawed, nails being hammered—but all she could hear was the thrumming of her own heart.

"Careful," Knox warned suddenly, catching her arm as a plank shifted precariously above her head. His grip was firm but gentle, the heat of his touch seeping through the fabric of her sleeve.

"Thanks," she murmured, her pulse quickening under his protective hold. She met his gaze, and for a fleeting second, she wondered if he felt the same inexplicable pull that she did—a connection as wild and untamed as the scenery around them.

"Anytime," he replied, releasing her arm but not before she noticed the faintest trace of reluctance in his eyes.

The day wore on, filled with shared tasks and unspoken questions. Ruby was drawn to the enigma that Knox presented, his quiet strength a beacon in the solitude of the wilderness. And as the sun began to dip behind the mountains, Ruby couldn't deny the smoldering attraction that threatened to ignite something far more dangerous than any dream she might dare to chase.

CHAPTER 6

RUBY

Ruby leaned back against the cool wall of the lodge, her gaze following Knox as he measured the space for the kitchen renovation. Silver Falls was supposed to be her fresh start, but the town felt wrapped in whispers and covert glances that seemed to echo with secrets she wasn't privy to. And Knox—with his silent, watchful ways—seemed to stand as the gatekeeper of whatever mystery this place held.

"Does everyone in Silver Falls have a knack for making people feel like outsiders, or is it just you?" Ruby's question sliced through the silence, her words holding a playful edge despite the genuine curiosity beneath them.

Knox didn’t look up from his work, but a muscle twitched in his jaw. "Silver Falls has its ways," he said, his voice low and as textured as the wooded landscape outside. "It's protective of its own."

"Am I not considered 'its own' yet?" She pushed off from the wall and approached him, her tone light but probing.

When he turned to face her, the intensity in his eyes sent an unexpected rush of heat through her body. There was something primal about Knox—something that made her heart race and her skin prickle with awareness.

"Give it time, Ruby. You’ve been here less than a month," he replied, his gaze lingering on her face before dropping away.

Ruby felt there was so much unspoken between them and fought the urge to step closer to unravel him further. Instead, she quirked an eyebrow, challenging him. "I guess you're full of helpful information, then?"

"Maybe," Knox conceded, a half-smile tugging at his lips. His hands, those large, capable hands, paused in their task as if he, too, felt the sudden shift between them—a current of arousal that seemed to permeate the air.

"Care to share, or do I need to earn my stripes first?" Her own smile was a mix of defiance and invitation, a dance of words between them that felt charged with more than just flirtation.

A flicker of something—arousal, perhaps—flared in Knox's expression before he abruptly turned back to his measurements. "Some things are better left unsaid. For now."

The way he moved, the controlled strength in each motion, captivated her, and she couldn't help but imagine those movements translated to a different setting—one without any barriers between them. She cleared her throat, trying to dispel the vivid image, but her body betrayed her, responding to his nearness with a hunger that was both thrilling and terrifying.

"Focus, Ruby," she muttered under her breath, though whether it was a reminder for herself or an attempt to cut through the thickening tension, she wasn't quite sure.

"Problem?" Knox asked, his voice a deep rumble that resonated within her.

"None at all," she lied, meeting his gaze squarely as her heart pounded a dangerous rhythm.

"Good," he said, the word heavy with unspoken intent, and Ruby knew that whatever secrets Silver Falls held, they were nothing compared to the enigma that was Knox Wilder.

Knox made his way down the hallway as Ruby shuffled along behind him, the swish of her jeans mingling with the sound of Knox's boots scuffing along the wooden floors. They were a duet of motion, working from the foyer back toward the kitchen, measuring tape and notepad in hand. Her mind was adrift in thoughts—the mysteries of Silver Falls and the enigmatic man before her—when Knox abruptly halted, spinning on his heel.

She collided with the solid wall of muscle, her hands instinctively pressing against the firmness of his chest. The impact sent her notepad skittering across the floor, but it was the shock of their sudden closeness that truly disoriented her. For a suspended moment, they stared at each other, their eyes locked in an electrifying exchange that seemed to crackle in the air around them.

Then, without warning, Knox's arms ensnared her, dragging her flush against him. His lips found hers with a hunger that ignited her senses, the rough texture of his bearded stubble contrasting sharply with the softness of his mouth. Ruby stood stunned, her mind a whirlwind of sensation and surprise.

But as quickly as she froze, instinct took over; she melted into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. She returned his passion with equal fervor, her own arousal flaring to life like a match to kindling. Ruby pressed closer, her curves aligning with the hard lines of his body, drowning in the intoxicating taste of him—wild and untamed.

In that singular, heated moment, Ruby Edwards forgot everything—the lodge restoration, the creation of her bed and breakfast business, unanswered questions about Silver Falls, even her own resolve. There was only Knox, his powerful embrace, and the undeniable connection that threatened to consume them both.

Ruby's breath tangled with Knox's, their kiss deepening into an explosion of need that seemed to burn away the very airaround them. His hands, large and warm, roamed her back, pressing her more firmly against him. She responded in kind, fingers tracing the corded muscles of his shoulders, feeling the raw power beneath his shirt.