Drake let out a burp so loud it filled the room. I blurted out a laugh, so did Knox, and then Drake cooed a sleepy yawn before passing out.
“So what was your fifth-best day?”
“I just told you. The townhouse day.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “So today was your second-best day?”
“Yeah.”
“You said top five. But it was number two?”
Without question.
He’d brought me my favorite coffee. He’d visited me all morning for kiss after kiss. Knox had made me feel special. Wanted. After he’d talked to Lester, he’d come to tell me first. And then tonight . . . Maybe I was giving away too much. Old Memphis would have played it differently. But I wasn’t playing. Not anymore.
“It was a really good day,” I said.
So why wasn’t he smiling?
Silence stretched through the room like the darkness and the night beyond the windows. A chill crept along my skin as Knox stared straight ahead, sitting motionless and giving nothing away.
Had he not liked today? He’d probably had countless best days. This one probably paled in comparison to the memorable days in his life. Maybe he thought my ranking good and bad times was silly.
Not for me.
When you lived with sharks, you marked the days when a life raft came floating your way.
“What did I say wrong?”
“Nothing.” Knox stood and carried Drake to the guest room.
I followed, hovering by the door as he laid the baby in his crib. My stomach knotted as Knox turned and acted as though he’d walk straight past me. But as his chest brushed my shoulder, he snagged my hand and towed me through the house.
He dropped my hand when we stepped into his bedroom and rubbed his palm over his jaw. “Today was your second-best day.”
“Well . . . yeah. What’s wrong with that?”
He shook his head. “It was just a normal day, honey.”
“Maybe for you.” I lifted a shoulder. “My normal days aren’t like this.”
“That’s . . .” Knox paced at the foot of the bed, stepping over the shirt he hadn’t put on. “That’s not right. And fuck, it hurts. It hurts me for you.”
“Why? What is wrong with today being a best day?”
“Because today was normal.” He threw up a hand. “Just a normal, good day. You worked. I worked. We came home. That’s it.”
“But it was a best because of you.”
“Memphis.” He pressed a hand to his heart. “You honor me.”
“It’s just the truth.”
He strode toward me, taking my face in his hands. “Then here’s another truth. I’m going to take them. I’m going to take all of your bests. Every damn one until you can’t keep track of the top five anymore because there are so many bests that you’ll need a hundred to capture them all.”
“Promise?” I whispered.
“I swear it.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
KNOX
I was three steps down the hallway when the sight in my favorite chair stopped me midstride.
Memphis had Drake on her knee, holding him up by the armpits. She leaned in and blew a kiss on his neck, making him giggle. When he laughed, she laughed. When her eyes twinkled, his did the same. He had her eyes, chocolate brown flecked with gold.
The pair of them were in their own little world in that chair.
Memphis had rolled out of bed when he’d started making noises this morning. I’d rushed through a shower but now I saw the error of my ways. I should have been right here, watching from the sidelines because goddamn it, that was a view.
Nothing beyond my windows would ever compare.
Memphis pulled in an exaggerated breath, then kissed him again, earning another laugh. A big laugh for such a small person.
Drake would have a happy life. She’d make sure of it.
And after last night, I would too.
There was no going backward now. Not after last night.
She’d given me her best days. I’d give her mine.
Both of them.
I unglued my feet and padded into the living room, going to the back of the chair.
“Hi.” Memphis smiled as she looked up at me.
“Hi.” I pulled her blond hair out of her face and leaned forward, bending at the waist to kiss her. Then I stole Drake from her lap. “Morning, boss.”
He drooled and shoved a chubby fist in his mouth.
I kissed his cheek. “You’re getting big.”
Drake answered by popping that fist free and letting out a squeal that filled the house. The noise startled him, his eyes wide, and then he did it again, stretching it out louder and louder.
Memphis laughed. “This is his new party trick.”
“I like it.” I settled him against my ribs and carried him to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator door.
Memphis followed, taking a seat on a stool at the island.
“When does he start getting solid foods?” I pulled out a carton of eggs.
“When he’s six months.”
“Couple more to go. Then I’ll hook you up, little man. We’re not doing boring baby food in this house.” I glanced over at Memphis. “Can babies have—what? What is that look for?”
She looked like she was about to cry. “You’re really not going anywhere, are you?”
“No.” I abandoned the fridge and walked around the island, crowding her space. “This is new. We’ll take a little time. Get used to each other. But I’m not the kind of man who gives up what’s good. And we’re good. We’re fucking good, honey.”
She nodded and smiled, wiping at her eyes. “We are good.”
I kissed her forehead, then handed her Drake. “What do you want for breakfast?”
“Whatever you’re making.”
“How hungry are you?”
She shrugged. “I’m not starving.”
“Think you can wait an hour? I can make a quiche.”
“I’ll wait.”
I winked. “Good choice.”
“Wait.” She held up a hand as I pulled out a mixing bowl. “What about work?”
“I’m not working today.”
“But . . . it’s a Saturday.”
And since the day she’d moved in, I’d worked every Saturday. “I texted Roxanne last night and asked if she could cover today.”
“You did? When?”
“After you fell asleep.” I wanted a day with them. A full day, no distractions. Just another normal day to show her how good normal could be. “Got any plans today?”
“Um . . . no. I was going to clean the loft. Do some laundry.”
“How about we hang here instead?”
The smile that stretched across her pretty mouth made the flack I’d catch from Roxanne later worth it.
Never in my life had I canceled on work to be with a woman. Roxanne had already been teasing me for ditching out on prep work to hunt Memphis down in the hotel. So last night when I’d told her I’d give her an extra vacation day over Christmas if she worked for me, she’d sent a string of heart and eye-roll emojis and a single thumbs-up.
I went to the pantry for flour and salt to make the pie crust.