Chapter One

Knox Madison

With my hands stuffed in my pant pockets, I looked at the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on.

She was amazing.

Average height, though that was where ‘average’ ended with the mystical creature who seemed to have cast some kind of spell on me at first sight.

Her wild curls bounced like ribbons of chocolate as she laughed with the women who surrounded her. I wanted to touch them, fist them in my hand as I took her and made her mine. Calm the hell down, I reminded myself. Jesus, who was this woman?

I was dying to get closer. To figure out what color her eyes were. From where I stood, they simply glittered with humor and joy mixed with a little something else whenever she snuck a peek in my direction. Something naughty filled with desire and hunger on a primal level.

I wanted to make a move, but every time I got near, someone needed her or she was busy helping the bride with something. I wasn’t a patient man; any of my friends or family would tell you that off the bat. Hell, it would have been shocking to them, watching me stand on the sidelines of something I wanted, regardless of the fact it had only been a handful of hours.

The DJ started to play a soft, melodic tune, and I took that as my chance. I tried to slow my steps, so I wouldn’t scare the hell out of her like a predator stalking its prey. Her eyes caught mine, and even though she was surrounded by women her age, probably friends, she didn’t look away. Damn, it was sexy. It showed confidence and self-awareness.

Her eyes were locked on mine as I approached. Her face was unreadable. I stood right in front of her, close enough to feel the soft warmth her body radiated and see the true color of her eyes.

“Hazel,” I whispered, and she quirked a sassy brow at me.

“I think you got me confused with someone else,” her dulcet voice rang, making everything around her fade away. Only she and I existed in that moment.

“Your eyes,” I clarified, and her lips twitched.

“My eyes?”

“I figured it was a good idea to determine the color,” I enlightened her.

“Of my eyes?”

“Yeah.” I couldn’t help the wolfish smile on my face.

“And why is that?” she sassily wondered, flirting back with me sexily.

“So I can see what color my daughter’s eyes might be,” I shared, and her eyes widened. I had obviously taken her by surprise with my answer.

“Daughter, huh?”

“Or son. I’m okay with either. Or both. After we get married.” I shrugged confidently, and her eyes sparkled.

“You move fast.”

“Usually, just not when it counts,” I flirted with a wink, and she laughed.

Right fucking in front of me, I knew what heaven on earth looked like. Like the eighth wonder of the world. She was fucking spectacular serious, heartbreakingly sweet when she smiled, but when she laughed, damn.

The woman knew how to slay a man.

“Hmm, that’s always a good thing to know, I guess.”

“Dance with me?” I extended my hand toward her. I wasn’t asking, but by the way she was looking at me, she thought I had. She was cute. She would get used to me soon enough.

“Why?” she asked.

“We should practice.”

“Practice?” Her lips quirked upward as she took my hand, and I walked us toward the dance floor.

Pulling her into my arms, I tried to calm my dick down. He was standing at attention wanting one-on-one time with the woman of my fucking dreams, and there was no hiding it.

She cleared her throat and looked up at me. “So, what are we practicing for?”

“Our own wedding. First dances are crucial statements of how the marriage will go.”

“What?” She shook her head as she laughed. “How many times have you been married to come up with this theory?”

“Never.” I could see she didn’t believe me, and even though I was coming on strong, I couldn’t help myself from laying it on thick. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“You’re kinda crazy…” Her voice tapered off, and I immediately helped her out.

“Knox. And you are?” I was dying to know her name.

“Intrigued,” she answered looking up at me as we slowly swayed back and forth before I leaned my face down lower, my lips at her temple.

“I can work with that,” I rasped and felt her body tremble. Fuck, I had to find a way to keep my body in control and not swing her over my shoulder like some kind of caveman and haul our asses over to the nearest wall.

“Are you here for the groom or the bride?” Her voice was low and breathy. She felt what was going on between us.

“Groom,” I said and ran my nose along her temple, “We have been friends for a while. I flew in for Chase’s wedding.”

“Oh,” she whispered against my neck. The warmth of her breath made my dick strain in my pants, and I knew she could feel the bulge between us. “So, you’re not from here?” she asked. Her lips skimmed my cheek, and I wished I had taken the time to shave off the scruff on my face to feel more of her.

“Na.” I swallowed hard, almost positive she shifted her hips into me, pressing closer. “I’m in Miami and New York. Though I spend most my time traveling around for work.”

“Oh.” She purposely pressed her body closer to mine. My hands on her hips moved to wrap around and press into her lower back.

“Have you ever been?”

“What?” she asked as if shaking off a haze, and I smirked. Yeah, she was interested.

“Florida?”

“No.”

“New York?”

“Once,” she shared, and I nodded, letting one of my hands roam up from her lower back along the line of her spine and into her hair to cup the back of her head.

“Did you like it?”

“It was—“

“Lee!” someone called out, and we turned, the bubble we had been in bursting.

“If I were married to her, I’d be pissed.”

“Why is that?”

“Shouting another guy’s name other than mine? On our wedding day?” I teased, and she rolled her eyes, surprising me when she pulled away. I instantly missed her from being in my arms.

“There you are! I have been looking all over for you.” Chase’s new bride huffed.

“What?” I asked, wondering if she had me confused with someone else.

“I need you! Bad!” the bride said with wide eyes, and I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, my girl spoke.

“Don’t fret. I’m here.”

“Lee?” I repeated and wondered what it was a nickname for.

“In the flesh.” She smiled. “Maid of honor duty call.”

“I’m really sorry to interrupt.” The bride sounded sincere enough.

“That’s what I’m here for. It was nice meeting you, Knox.” Lee walked away, leaving me stunned silent as I watched her and Chase’s new wife, Kenzie, disappear in the crowd.

“She’s something,” a deep voice rumbled behind me before patting my back. Looking to the side, I smiled.

“Tucker,” I nodded before looking back at where I had last seen my woman. “Congratulations, man.”

“Thanks,” he said with a smile in his voice before clearing his throat and his tone turning dark. “Hurt her, and I will have to kill you.”

“What?” I asked, turning to look at my longtime friend, but he was gone, and I was left wondering who the hell Lee was and how the hell I could get her back in my arms.