Page 90 of Knox

“It’s just…there’s…so many people.” And it was just an excuse, she knew it, but…

“This isn’t a crowd, Kelsey. This is a family.”

She took a deep breath. Yeah. That’s what she was suddenly, oddly, afraid of. So many people toknowher.

But wasn’t that part of freedom too? Being known…and still being loved?

She glanced up at Knox and found his gaze on her. Warm, the kind of smile simmering at his lips that made her insides turn to flame.

This is a family.

She wove her hand into his and nodded, the words bubbling up.I want to stay.

Maybe he saw her intent, because his mouth edged up in a smile. For a second, his gaze dropped to her lips, and she had the sense that if his family weren’t here, he’d be wrapping his big hand around her neck and pulling her close for one of his smoldering kisses.

Later. Maybe tonight under the beautiful cascade of Montana stars.

After she told him that she’d stay.

She turned to meet the rest of his family when Glo came through the back door, off the porch. She caught Kelsey’s arm, glancing up at the crowd. “I need to talk to you for a second.”

Tate had come inside, and Kelsey saw his gaze falling on Glo, then off, as if it stung him.

She turned to Glo. “What?”

Glo sighed, glancing up over her shoulder at Knox, then back to Kelsey. “I got a text from Carter. We…we did it, Kelsey!”

Kelsey frowned, shook her head—Did what?

“We landed the NBR-X tour. Our first gig is next weekend.”

Oh. Kelsey drew in a breath, turned and looked at the crowd—no, family—gathering at the front door. At Knox. Then back to Glo.

“So, what do I tell him?”

It should be a magical night. With the stars strewn across the sky like fairy dust, the mountains cordoning off their pocket of paradise. The entire family, save Ford and of course Coco, had made it home for the weekend bash, and Knox was still holding out hope that his brother might show up. At least on Skype.

He’d done it—brought them all home.

And all he could think about were Glo’s words to Kelsey about NBR-X…and Kelsey's response to Glo’s question—So, what do I tell him?

So, he’d eavesdropped a little. A lot. The entire thing, really, his gut in a knot as he pretended to listen to his family’s chatter.

Kelsey was going to break his heart. Knox knew it in his soul as the night deepened. Every time she looked over at him, offered a tiny smile, so much pain in her eyes, his chest tightened, claws digging in, tearing him apart.

He bit back the crazy, dark edge of tears as he stared at the flickering flames of the campfire.

He didn’t blame her. This was her big break.

And what was he going to do? Run after her? Be a groupie? He couldn’t leave the ranch.

But the old stirring had only deepened with the thought of watching her sing every night, being in the wings to catch her up when she ran offstage, triumph in her eyes.

She was the adventure he’d longed for. And he might be boring, and nice, but she made him feel like the safe, dependable guy was the hero after all.

It was all Knox could do to smile and not let the howl inside escape.

Reuben sat on the ground, leaning back on his hands, Gilly pocketed between his legs as she extended two marshmallow sticks into the coals around the edge. The fire turned his face hard-edged and gritty, but he wore a sappy grin as he watched his fiancée.