Agree to totally dismantle the MMA program.

Hire a training coach whose first-year salary was more than the value of Knox’s house.

Fuck Ronin’s sister.

Maybe Ronin would fire his ass. Then what would he do? Not only would he lose his job, but he’d lose his friends. His identity.

Knox wasn’t one of those guys who wanted to own his own business. He’d always been content being second-in-command. Being told what to do and getting it done.

And yet you’re so surprised you’re submissive?

He tried to shut up his brain with another beer.

After a while he did lose track of time. He decided he’d take a real vacation this summer. Pack his fishing gear, find a stream and . . . Then again, vacationing alone seemed pathetic.

Man, he was riding high on a pity-parade float today.

His cell buzzed in his pocket and he ignored it. About a minute after it stopped buzzing, it started in again. He pulled it out and checked the screen.

Shiori.

She’d called twice. As he sat there with his phone in his hand she called again. So he answered. “Hello.”

“Knox? Are you at home?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I’ve been knocking on your door for five minutes.”

She was here? “Come around the side of the house and through the gate. I’m on the back deck.”

“Oh. Okay.”

The hinge creaked, and he watched for her to appear out of the darkness. The second she did, his mood shifted. “What are you doing here?”

“I was just in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop in.”

“You were out cruising the Denver suburbs?”

“Looking for a good time. So I hope I came to the right place.”

Knox tugged her against him and wrapped her in his arms. He didn’t say anything, just held on to her. They’d been wary around each other all day after the way things ended on Saturday night.

Shiori tickled his armpits to force him to release her.

“What was that for?”

“Because I want a kiss.” She tipped her head back, closed her eyes, and puckered her lips.

Their bodies were still close—but not close enough—so he pressed his left arm into the small of her back. “Is that right?”

She cracked open one eye. “Yeah. And it’d better be a good kiss, too.”

Knox pulled out all the stops as he leaned in to press his lips to hers. Teasing and controlling, mixing heat with sweetness, and then reconnecting with that consuming passion. When he broke the seal of their lips, Shiori actually chased his mouth for more.

“That kiss was good?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you’d better kiss me like that again so I can be doubly sure.”

“Greedy.”

“When it comes to you.”

This was what was killing him. Getting to know all sides of this complex woman and liking every single one. And wanting to spend as much time as possible with her. But she didn’t appear to feel the same way.

“So what were you doing out here in the dark?”

“Dinking around. Having a beer. You want one?”

“No. But I like the way it tastes on you.”

“I’ve had two. That’s my limit.” He brushed her hair off her shoulder. “Do you wanna go inside?”

She shook her head. “I’m good staying out here with you.”

Knox took her hand and led her up to his lounge chair. He plopped down and pulled her onto his lap, enfolding her in his arms with her head resting beside his neck.

Shiori shifted to gaze into his face. “Were you upset with me today?”

“I don’t know if upset is the right word.” He twisted a section of her hair around his finger.

“Then what?”

He kept twisting and releasing that hank of hair. “I got an Omigod! Omigod! Omigod! shrieking phone call from Vivie today. Seems she received a package from me, a package that contained the dress she tried on last weekend. Ring any bells?”

She blinked innocently. “Vaguely. Fill in the blanks for me.”

Knox pulled her hair. “Nice try. Explain yourself, She-Cat.”

“That dress looked perfect on her. So you, being the thoughtful big brother, bought it for her.”

“But I didn’t buy it for her.” He realized the instant they started talking about money, a mask dropped over her face.

“Yes, you did. You get to be her hero, Knox. I’ll bet she forgets who her date was for this event, but she’ll never forget the dress.”