Ema was so stirred up and stressed out about her date that night and going to Knox’s ranch on Monday, she got nothing out of the church service she found a block away from her hotel. She’d been in dozens of celebrities’ homes and after the first six months she stopped getting the jitters beforehand, but Knox was different.

She wondered if Knox was a churchgoer. Probably not. He hated people and would get too much attention going to church. She wondered what they were going to do on their date. She wondered what in the world she was thinking, going on a date with the Hulk. She wondered so much she had no clue what the preacher’s subject even was.

Knox had texted that he’d meet her in the lobby of her hotel at seven. That was it. No indication of where they were going, what to wear, or how long they’d be out. Ugh, men! Didn’t they understand a lady needed to dress differently depending on the situation?

She put on a white sundress with pink-and-white-striped canvas shoes. Maybe it was too casual. Maybe it was too dressy. Who knew?

She walked out of her hotel room and bumped into Mike in the hallway.

“Hey, pretty lady.” He grinned. “Joining me for dinner?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’m going out with Knox, remember?”

He frowned. “How could I forget? The private date with no cameras.”

Ema didn’t remind him that he’d acted like he had forgotten ten seconds ago.

Mike took a step closer, and Ema tilted her head up to look at her film guy. He was a nice guy, but was she really going to have to draw boundaries again? She’d stopped counting how many times she’d done that over the past two years. Maybe she needed a sign on her forehead: I’m not playing hard to get. I am actually not interested. That would be a long sign, but if it worked, it would be worth it.

“Are you sure you want to go with him?” Mike asked. “He doesn’t seem like a very nice guy.”

Ema held her ground and tightened her grip on her small purse. “I’m going so I can get us into his ranch tomorrow.”

Mike’s eyebrows dipped. “So you’re selling yourself for an exclusive with a cocky, buff jerk?”

Ema almost slapped him. She clenched her fingers and tilted her chin up. “I’m not selling myself, and he isn’t cocky. He’s protecting his daughter.” Knox had lots of secrets and she wanted very much to get to the bottom of them—for reasons that had nothing to do with her show. She walked around Mike. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning at eight-thirty in the lobby.”

She made it to the elevator with his gaze heavy on her back. Punching the down arrow, she refused to look back. Just because he wasn’t being professional didn’t mean she couldn’t be. Selling herself? It hadn’t been like that at all. Knox wanted to spend some time with her without the cameras. Ema didn’t know what that meant, but it didn’t make her a sell-out.

The elevator finally came. She escaped inside and waited impatiently for the descent, giving herself a pep talk that everything was working out. When she reached the lobby, she was confident and ready for what the night could bring, but then she spotted Knox. The breath whooshed out of her and her steps faltered. He was in an untucked white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled and a few buttons undone at the top. Between that and the dark jeans that encased his strong legs, she had to remember that oxygen was necessary for survival and pulled in another breath. He glanced her way and his face lit up with a smile. That didn’t help matters at all.

The elevator doors shut on her as she stood immobilized, halfway in, halfway out. The doors hit her arms and bounced back open. It didn’t hurt anything but her pride. She’d just stopped in the opening of an elevator and gawked at a full-grown man like a teenager. Heat crawled up her neck and into her cheeks. Barely able to hold Knox’s gaze, she saw his grin deepen before he burst out laughing. He crossed the lobby toward her. She stepped out of the elevator before it nabbed her again, and tried to walk casually toward him.

“Are you all right?” he asked as he reached her. Even though he tried to hide his laughter, it was still in his eyes and on his lips.

“Stupid elevator just reached out and grabbed me.”

That did it. He started laughing again, a deep, beautiful laugh, and she couldn’t help but join him. People stopped and stared at them and she heard a few murmurs of, “That’s Knox Sherman.” Then she heard a lone voice say, “That’s Ema Kahue from Live Like a Celeb.” She ignored them and focused on Knox’s laughter and the rare connection she felt to this enigma. He was drawing her in, and it had nothing to do with his handsome face and perfect body.

His laughter finally calmed and he smiled down at her. “You look beautiful, Ema.”

“As do you.” She bowed slightly to him, and he chuckled again.

Offering his elbow, he said, “You ready?”

“Yes, sir.” She started toward the front entry, but Knox gently pulled her back.

“This way.” He gestured toward a side entrance. “The paparazzi somehow got wind of our date and they’re camped out in the front.” His forehead wrinkled and he glanced sharply down at her, all trace of levity evaporating. “You wouldn’t …?”

As the implication of his question sank in, Ema yanked her hand from his arm and planted her fists on her hips. “You think I would do something scummy like tip off the paparazzi?”

Knox’s eyebrows drew together. “Well, it would bring a lot of attention to your show.”

Ema tossed her long hair. “You want to end this date before it even begins?”

“Why would I want that? I went to all this effort.” He gestured toward her and pushed a hand through his hair. “I never make an effort with women. And people wonder why.”

Ema’s neck and cheeks flushed. “I’ve been telling myself that you act like jerk-bait because you want to protect your daughter, but maybe it just comes naturally to you.” She whirled on her heel and stomped toward the elevator.

Knox was at her side before she got two steps. He wrapped his arm around her waist and ushered her into an open elevator, away from all the watching eyes and wagging tongues. Ema noticed several phones pointed their direction, probably snapping pictures. Great.

The elevator door closed and she whirled on him as the elevator ascended without either of them pushing a button. “Escorting me back to my room? That’s very gracious of you.”

“Ema.” He stared down at her with an unreadable expression. “I’m sorry, okay?”

She arched an eyebrow at him. If he wanted to take her out tonight, he needed to do a lot better at groveling than that. Then she remembered that she wouldn’t get into his house to do her show if they didn’t go on the date. Dang it! Well, sacrifices must be made. She wasn’t going to go out with a jerk who thought she’d tipped off the press to get exposure for her show.

Knox was studying her, waiting for her response.

“You’re going to have to do a lot better than that, big guy.”

Knox glowered for a second, but then a smile played at the corner of his lips. “The Hulk again?”

She lifted a shoulder. “You want me to stop referring to him? Stop acting like him.”

The elevator door opened at the sixteenth floor and an elderly couple walked in. The lady smiled at the two of them. The man’s eyes went up and down Knox as the woman pressed the button to take them back down to the lobby. “You’re Knox Sherman.” He said it reverently, worshipfully.

Knox gave him a pained smile and stuck out his hand. “Yes, sir. Pleasure to meet you.”

Ema was impressed. Knox was obviously not happy with her right now, or with the reporters staking out the hotel, but he was respectful to an elderly fan. She didn’t have a clue how he treated his fans, but she really wished she had a camera picking this up.

“I served our country in Vietnam,” the old man proudly told him.

“Thank you for your service, sir,” Knox said. His smile turned genuine, boasting the power to knock the breath out of a woman.

“My, oh, my, you’re a handsome one without your helmet on,” the woman interjected. “We watch you every Sunday in the fall, young man, and we’re right proud that you love our country and are doing right by your daughter.”

“Thank you, ma’am. That means a lot to me,” Knox said.

The door opened at the lobby, and the elderly couple said their goodbyes and slowly made their way out. The doors closed with Knox and Ema still inside. He glanced at her and his shoulders rounded. “I’m really sorry that I asked if you tipped off the reporters. Paris would’ve pulled something like that for sure. I don’t know you well enough to say you wouldn’t do that, but I know you’re not like Paris, and I would like to get to know you better.” He pushed out a breath and waited.

Ema stared at him, then leaned forward toward the buttons, not sure which one she wanted to push. Paris. That woman had left scars on him deeper than any he’d gotten in the army. Did he care for her in some twisted way?

“It’s okay if you don’t want to go on the date,” Knox rushed out. “I’ll take you back up to your room.”

Ema made a rash decision and pushed the button to open the doors instead. She walked past him and out into the lobby. Some of the same people who’d been watching them before lifted their phones back up, obviously ready for more of a show.

Knox walked up close behind her and leaned down so only she could hear. “I’m guessing this means you’ll go?”

She nodded. “You went to all this effort.”

He smiled.

“But please don’t accuse me of something without having any facts. I’m not like Paris, at all. Ask me nicely if you have a question.”

“I’ll try to mind my manners.”

Ema laughed at that. Knox Sherman might—and it was a big might—have a heart in that big body, but he definitely could learn to mind his manners better.

He took her elbow and escorted her past the people staring and out a side door. There was nobody around in the alley. Knox cursed.

Ema whirled to him. “Now that is not minding your manners, big guy.”

“Sorry.” He blew out a breath. “There was supposed to be a car waiting for us right here.”

“A getaway car?” She winked.

“No, a limousine.” He cracked a smile as he registered what she’d said. “Maybe my friend Batman will show up with the Batmobile.”

“Wrong superhero series,” she said. “Batman isn’t part of the Avengers.”

“Oh, yeah.” He pulled out his phone. “Excuse me for a moment, please, and I’ll figure out where the car is.”

Ema nodded and watched as he walked a few feet away and dialed a number. Her own phone buzzed, and she pulled it out of her purse. She almost didn’t answer it when she saw Mike’s name on caller ID, but she decided she would be a professional even if he wasn’t. “Yes, Mike?”

“I just don’t feel good about you going with this guy.” No hello, just flinging that at her.

“Did you alert the paparazzi that Knox and I were leaving the hotel?”

“What? No. I wouldn’t do that.”

Ema thought his voice sounded guilty, but then she remembered how upset she’d been when Knox had accused her of the same thing a few moments ago. Maybe someone followed Knox, or it could’ve been Claire who alerted them. Ema walked farther away from where Knox stood; he was busy talking with someone and didn’t notice. “Okay. Hey, I’m going to be with Knox, so please don’t call me again tonight.”

“Ema.” Mike’s voice bordered on desperation. “Please. Don’t … kiss him or anything. I really like you, you know?”

“Don’t do this, Mike. Act like a professional, please.”

“I will if you will.”

Ema sighed. “I’m not going to kiss him. We’re going on a date, we’ll do the show tomorrow, then I’ll never see the guy again.” She glanced over her shoulder guiltily. Thankfully, Knox was far enough away he didn’t appear to have heard her. He’d walked to the front of the alley and it looked like he was searching for their car. Maybe their driver got lost. So far this date wasn’t going anything like he’d probably planned. Maybe he’d turn into a green monster in frustration. Ema smiled.

“Okay. See you in the morning.”

Ema hung up and said a quick prayer for patience. Maybe when ABC picked up their show and she had a full camera crew, Mike wouldn’t be so close to her and so invested in everything she did.

An arm snaked around her waist and as she cried out, a hand clamped over her mouth. Ema’s breath shortened and her stomach twisted with horror as a person who reeked of marijuana lifted her off her feet and pulled her back into the shadowy recesses of the alley. They pushed through a door and it clanged shut behind them. A dim light bulb lit the small landing.

Ema elbowed the guy and he grunted out, but didn’t release her. She thrashed to free herself.

“Listen careful, lady,” the guy panted out. “I’ve got a knife and I don’t mind slicing you up, got it?”

Ema stopped struggling, praying Knox had somehow seen where she disappeared to. She tried to nod that she would listen to the guy.

“Hand over your little purse and then I’ll let you go.”

Ema tried to nod again, not able to move her head much with how tightly he was clamping his hand over her mouth.

The door banged open behind them, slamming into the man’s back. He shouted and released Ema. She scurried away from him and up a couple of stairs, turning to see Knox filling the doorway. His eyes were darker than ever and his entire body was taut. He grabbed the guy around the neck and slammed him into the wall. The door banged closed behind him.

The guy tried to scream, but it came out as a gurgle. Knox released his neck, jammed his left fist into the guy’s abdomen, and then slammed his right fist into his jaw. The guy crumpled and cried out. “Don’t hit me, please. I just need cash for drugs.”

Knox lifted him up and shoved him against the wall again, giving him a firm shake but not hitting him again. He glanced over at Ema. “Are you okay?”

She nodded quickly.

“Call the police,” Knox instructed her.

Ema yanked her phone out. Her fingers would barely cooperate as she held her thumb over the home button, then pushed to make a call. She was shaking so bad she hit 911 wrong twice before finally getting the sequence correct. The operator came on and she started talking.

Meanwhile Knox said to her, “Can you open the door, please? It’ll be easier for the police to find us outside.”

Ema rested the phone in the crook of her neck and tried to answer the operator’s questions, reassured that the police would be there soon. She crept down the couple of stairs she’d retreated up and around the two men, yanking the door open. Knox flipped the guy around in one fluid motion and wrenched his arms behind his back, then shoved him out the door.

Ema followed on trembling legs, but as she watched Knox manhandle the druggie down the alley and she followed, muttering responses to the emergency operator, she realized she had nothing to be afraid of. She’d never seen someone take control of a terrifying situation so completely and efficiently. With Knox around, she didn’t need to be afraid.

She shook her head. They were going on this one date, and then she was videoing his home tomorrow. She’d move on to the next project and realistically she’d never see him again. It wasn’t like he was going to protect her for life.

Knox stopped at the end of the alley and slammed the guy into the wall again. The guy was moaning pitifully, but Knox ignored his complaints. Ema stayed back a few feet, not wanting to be anywhere near her attacker.

Knox looked over at her. His eyes trailed over her body as if making sure she was telling the truth about being okay. “He didn’t hurt you?” he asked.

“No.” She pasted on a brave smile. “Thanks to you.”

Knox gave her his full smile, and the trembling she’d just been able to control resurfaced. Luckily, the 911 operator was talking again, and Ema could use that to distract herself from the force of that smile. If Knox didn’t stop smiling like that, she’d be in danger of never wanting to move on.

They made it through all the police questioning and to the Sloane Kent concert half an hour after it started. The timing worked out fine because their attendee told Knox, while Ema used a private restroom, that the opening act was just finishing up and Sloane’s crew were switching out equipment for Sloane’s backup musicians. Knox loved Sloane’s music, and it was pretty great that the country music star’s brother, Walker Kent, was the Titans’ center. Knox felt a kinship to Walker since they’d both served in the military and they both didn’t want anyone close to them.

The attendee led him and Ema through a private entrance and into the private suite Knox had booked for them. Knox thanked the young man and palmed him a hundred-dollar bill. “You’ll keep this quiet?”

“Yes, sir.” The young man grinned and shut the door.

Knox’s hands had stopped shaking from the rage of seeing that man grab Ema and pull her through the doorway, but his heart rate was still elevated. He wasn’t sure if that was from the anger over seeing her attacked or simply being around her. He glanced down at her and she looked up, rewarding him with a smile.

“Pretty posh, Mr. Sherman,” she said, looking around at the plush suite. It had a few chairs up front with quite a bit of open space to walk around, or maybe dance to the music, if someone liked to do that. There was a counter in the back loaded with food and a leather couch in the corner.

He smiled. “Are you hungry?”

She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m still a little jumpy from … earlier. You eat, though. I’m sure in a minute my stomach will settle.”

“I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

“Thanks.” She glanced out at the stage, which was quiet for the moment. “So, what fantastic event have you brought me to?”

Knox hoped they could put her attack behind them and enjoy their time together, but that might be difficult for someone innocent like Ema. He’d seen more horror and heartache in his years with the military than any human should have to. Yet her attack had shaken him up also. The same part of his psyche that was done with all the violence was also saying he needed to remain detached from this beauty. Her being attacked was one of the reasons he sheltered Shelby so completely and didn’t get close to many people. There were too many bad things that happened to the people he loved. He couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to Ema, and this was only the third time he’d been around her. While Ema had given her statement to the police back at the hotel, Knox had been able to talk to Brig, his head of security. All was quiet at the house and Shelby was fine, but he asked Brig to be extra vigilant. Ema’s attack had him jumpy, even though logically he couldn’t connect the druggie to any threats on his little girl.

He gestured out the open windows of the suite and toward the stage. The house lights had just gone dark and a feeling of anticipation raced through the massive stadium. Over twenty thousand people held their breath as Sloane’s music started playing low, then slowly increased in volume. There were a lot of special effects with lights and a huge screen showing a video of white lines zooming around Dallas’s famous landmarks before they converged on this very stadium, and then on the dramatic sight of Sloane suddenly appearing above the stage with every light focused on him.

“Sloane Kent!” Ema leaned forward, almost toppling out of their lofty perch. “I love him!”

Knox felt jealousy rip through his gut and chastised himself for it. Even if Ema truly meant she loved Sloane Kent, like, loved him, what bearing did that have on Knox? Yet he had to resist explaining to her that Sloane was happily married and Hope would not like someone as gorgeous as Ema loving her man. Knox rolled his eyes. Ema was probably simply saying she loved Sloane’s music and persona, and here he was, overreacting. He never overreacted, unless he was protecting his daughter. What was this woman doing to him?

Sloane thanked them all for coming and rambled on for a little bit, then started into his first song. Ema danced along with the song and Knox couldn’t rip his eyes away from her. The way she moved was beautiful, and that she was having so much fun dancing along to the beat was cute. Knox rubbed his hand over his short beard. Cute? He only thought of Shelby as cute. Ema was an entire different meaning of the word cute than Shelby. Brave, sexy, beautiful, funny—she was the total package. He jammed a hand through his hair. He needed to stop listing her desirable characteristics.

A new song started, and Ema continued to dance until she noticed him staring. “What?”

Knox looked guiltily out at the stage.

Ema moved in closer and wrapped her small hand around his. The move shocked him into facing her again. “Why are you staring at me like I’m deranged?” she demanded.

“I didn’t. You’re not deranged, you’re beaut—” Knox forced himself to stop. “It’s fun to see you enjoying yourself.”

She arched her eyebrows like she didn’t believe him and she knew exactly what he’d almost said. A woman like her would be no stranger to flattery, and he’d already told her when he met her in the hotel lobby that she was beautiful. He needed to curb the impulse to repeat it over and over again.

“Do you ever enjoy yourself, Knox?” she asked.

His pulse ratcheted up. Enjoy himself? Being around his daughter made him happy and playing football was fulfilling and for the most part enjoyable. Did all of that count? When he looked into her dark brown eyes, though, he knew she was talking about something else completely. Fun. Like he used to have with his friends, his family, and Army brothers before his mom and sister were killed, the horrors of military life became part of him, and the loss of Tyler and his other brothers sucked all vestiges of “fun” from his soul.

He gulped and muttered, “No, not really.”

“Come on, then.” She released his hand and started dancing right in his space, bee-bopping around him, lifting her hands, giving him a challenging look filled with mischief. “Dance with me, Knox.”

Knox’s eyes widened and he took a step back. “I don’t know how to dance.”

Ema was having none of it. “Ah, come on. It’s not rocket science.” She grabbed both of his hands and pulled them onto her waist, swaying her hips to the beat. “Just follow my lead. Move your feet, Hulk.”

Knox smiled at the Hulk reference; he felt hulking and awkward around her, especially as her trim hips moved underneath his hands and heat crept up his neck. This was humiliating and much too intriguing at the same time. He’d never danced. Not even in high school, when his mom had forced him to go to all the dances. Many a girl had been ticked at him for that, but none of them had dared push him like this. He supposed even before the military he’d been a little intimidating.

Ema kept dancing with his hands planted on her hips. He should’ve removed them, but touching her was too exhilarating. She lifted her hands up in the air and grinned broadly, like she knew exactly how she was affecting him. Her body was one with the rhythm and Knox wanted to be one with her.

No! Oh, man, he should back away. Instead, Knox just stood there with his hands on her waist, enjoying the way she moved under his palms, while the rest of him was mortified at the thought of dancing and shocked by his other errant thoughts that he couldn’t seem to rein in.

“You got this.” Ema grinned wider. Her smile was fabulous. He’d never watched her reality show, but he wanted to go home and binge-watch it, just to focus on her smile and her lovely face. He had the real deal in front of him and he wasn’t going to let go anytime soon.

She wrapped her hands around his as they hung awkwardly against her hips, and she pulled their now-clasped fingers up between them, pushing gently into his chest with each beat of the movement. Knox couldn’t help but sway a little bit to the beat. “That’s right,” she said. “Now get those hips and feet moving.”

Knox actually tried. He moved his hips back and forth and shuffled his feet and felt more awkward than he had in junior high, when some girl had marched up and planted a kiss on him in front of the entire school during lunch. A sheen of sweat broke out on his brow and he hoped Ema wouldn’t notice.

“There you go.” Ema’s voice was soothing, appealing. She kept bee-bopping to the beat. “Relax. This is supposed to be fun.”

Knox couldn’t do this. No matter how much he wanted to keep her close, he couldn’t have fun. “Sorry.” He pulled his hands free and stepped back. “I …” He ducked his head and muttered, “Can’t dance.”

“You were doing it,” Ema protested. “Come on, it’s fun.” She danced a circle around him as he stood still as a tree trunk. Moving her body in a far-too-alluring way, she slowly trailed one hand along his back, then down his arm.

Pleasure receptors shot through his body at her simple touch, and Knox wanted to melt into the floor. What was she doing to him?

She bumped her hip into his and giggled. “Have some fun, big guy. Nobody’s here but you and I.”

That was the wrong thing to say. They were alone and he needed to get in control of himself. Right now. Military control.

Tomorrow, the cameras would be rolling when they were together, and if he looked at her like a lovesick puppy, it would be humiliating. The day after that, she’d be gone and he’d never see her again. He couldn’t let himself get all interested in her just to be deserted. This is why he didn’t date. It wasn’t just him that would get invested; it was Shelby, and he could never allow his daughter’s heart to be broken. He dreaded the day he’d have to tell her about her real father giving his life for their country, and about her real mother deserting her at birth and only trying to see her daughter when she wanted to flirt with Knox or get media exposure. Shelby had enough heartache in her future without him bringing someone beautiful and fun like Ema around, then having them both get ditched.

She came around in front of him again and flashed her teasing smile. It ticked him off. Knox wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her flush to his body, determined to stop her from dancing, teasing him about not dancing, and trying to get him to have fun. He shuddered.

He was much stronger than her, but she kept moving her lithe body close to his and grinning at him. “Ah, I gotcha. That’s the way you like to dance.”

Knox loved feeling her move in his arms. She smelled like a tropical island and happiness. He couldn’t help it; the frustration, fear, and need to protect himself all drained away, and he started laughing. “You don’t know how to give up, do you?”

“No, sir. We’re at Sloane Kent! You have to have a great time here.”

He smiled, and as she continued swaying to the music, he found himself matching her movements, sort of. He was still awkward and wishing he knew how to move better and feeling traces of guilt for having fun, but she was impossible to resist. His mom had pounded the story of Delilah and Samson into his head as a youth, telling him over and over again how he had to protect himself from wily females who would try to take his strength and his faith if he gave in to unrighteous desires. He wouldn’t say Ema created unrighteous desires, but she definitely created desire. Was she here to test his strength, or was she an angel sent by Tyler to help him learn something? Tyler had been the fun one, the one who savored life. Why had Knox been the one who survived? Sometimes he imagined how happy Shelby would be with her real father, and it cut him up inside.

The guilty feelings hung heavy around him and he almost let Ema go. A slow song came through the open suite window, and Ema gently placed her hands on his chest. She stared up at him and whispered, “I love this song.”

Knox pushed thoughts of guilt and Tyler far away and listened to the lyrics for a second. It was Sloane’s number one hit, “It’s More Than the Rest.” Unable to resist this beautiful woman or the alluring sound of the music, he pulled her in even closer, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and laid her head in the crook of his neck. Knox’s throat went dry and his heart pounded quicker and quicker. This beautiful woman had been assaulted by a scumbag earlier tonight, yet now she seemed so confident and unaffected by the attack. The only indication it bugged her was her inability to eat. Ema was amazing and beautiful and his body naturally curved into hers as they swayed together and listened to the chorus:

Love and sunshine go hand in hand, both from God. All the simple things come to us free, and we discard them so easily, our world, our bodies, our families and love. The beauty, the pain, the fun, the gain. The loss, the test, it’s more than the rest. It’s more than the rest.

Knox was swept away by the words and the feel of this well-built beauty in his embrace. As they moved together, the world disappeared. Desire, protection, and contentment rushed through him. Having an angelic beauty in his arms had never felt so right.

The chorus started again and he focused on the words. The loss, the test? He’d lost so much and it felt like his entire life was one test after another. His mom would’ve told him to have faith, but he’d lost her and his sister also, a drunk driver swerving into their lane while he was deployed. He never got to say goodbye. The words and this tender moment with Ema reached deep and touched his heart. Knox swallowed hard but couldn’t clear his throat.

Ema glanced up at him with a sweet smile on her face. “You okay?”

He shook his head and stepped away, pulling his arms clear. Ema’s arms dropped to her sides and she looked stunned, like she’d just been thrown from the darkness into a brightly lit room and didn’t quite know how to react.

“You hungry?” he said gruffly, gesturing toward the buffet spread along the back wall.

She looked him over for a few excruciating seconds, then nodded and walked past him. They both loaded up their plates with potato salad, ribs, chicken, coleslaw, beans, and corn bread. It was good old Texas food. They sat and Knox ate rapidly, barely tasting the food and focusing on Sloane and his band members kicking up a storm down on the stage. He felt Ema’s gaze on him several times, but he ignored it.

When his plate was empty, he glanced at hers and noticed she’d barely made a dent. “You’re not hungry?” he asked, feeling guilty that he’d devoured his food and would’ve gone back for seconds if his mom’s voice wasn’t in his head telling him to mind his manners.

“It tastes great. Thank you, Knox.” She didn’t seem nearly as happy or at ease as she’d been earlier. He’d offended her by ending their dance so abruptly, but self-preservation had demanded quick action. “Why don’t you get some more?” she encouraged.

“You don’t mind?”

“Not at all. Maybe slow down and enjoy the next plate.” She gave him a saucy wink.

Knox couldn’t help but laugh. Aunt Genny and Nellie were always encouraging him to stop inhaling his food, but growing up, he’d matured so quickly he’d always felt hungry, and then being in the military had taught him to eat when he could and eat fast. He took his plate back and refilled it, adding a slice of peach pie on a smaller plate. Sitting next to Ema, eating the food a little more slowly, and listening to the music was … pleasant might be the right word if he wasn’t so cued into her and attracted to everything about her, everything but her career. He could see himself liking this girl, if she wasn’t a reporter of sorts intent on exposing his personal life.

As if she’d guessed his thoughts, she set her plate aside, took a sip of her lemonade, and said, “Tell me more about yourself, Knox.”

His brow furrowed. He hated talking about himself. “Why?” he asked shortly, shoving a large bite of barbecue chicken in his mouth. Some of the sauce dribbled down his chin and he reached for a napkin but came up short. Had he even grabbed a napkin? His mom would be so disappointed.

Ema pressed her lips together like she was hiding a smile. She lifted her napkin up and gently wiped away the sauce. Knox’s face heated up as embarrassment flooded through him, along with a stupid desire to grab her hand and tug her close again.

“Thanks,” he muttered.

“Sure thing, big guy.” She tilted her head to the side. “I can’t decide if you’re more the Hulk or the Beast.”

Knox took a bite of corn bread, shrugging his shoulders. “Most people call me the Beast. Go with that one.” He loved thinking of himself as a beast out on the football field, but he didn’t particularly enjoy this intriguing woman thinking of him as the Hulk or the Beast. Neither were too flattering if you wanted someone to like you. Knox shook his head. He didn’t want her to like him. He’d been stupid enough to invite her on this date, and he’d get through tomorrow at the ranch and then he could forget her. Maybe.

He took a large bite of potato salad. It was almost as good as his mama’s had been.

“You want people to think of you as a beast?” she asked.

“Don’t really care what people think of me.”

“Truly?” She angled her body toward his, forgetting about Sloane Kent, who she’d claimed to love. What did that really mean?

Knox shook his head; he wasn’t going to worry if she liked him more than Sloane Kent. “Truly. What does it matter to me what anyone thinks of me?” He played football and he took care of his little girl. What else in life mattered? He might not be in good standing with the Lord because he refused to enter His house, but he prayed a lot and loved Jesus. The rest of the world could hang for all he cared.

She pursed her lips. “Most people care.”

He shrugged and drank down some lemonade. It was on the sweet side. He took another swallow.

“Why did you agree to go out with me, twice, and let me come film your life if you don’t care what people think?”

He wasn’t going to tell her that she was a huge part of the reason. She was more intriguing and beautiful than any woman he’d ever met, and though he knew it couldn’t continue, he was decidedly weak at saying no to her. “Claire,” he managed to admit.

“Your agent?”

“Yeah. She wants me to do your show, and she’s been good to me. I don’t like telling her no.”

She nodded and folded her arms across her chest. She probably thought he had a relationship with Claire. That was fine. Let her think it. Maybe it would keep her from trying to dance with him again. His stomach smoldered with heat. That slow dance had been perfect. It couldn’t happen again.

“So,” she said, “you going to tell me more about yourself, or do you want me to wait in suspense until tomorrow?”

Knox had a forkful of coleslaw on his way to his mouth, but he froze. There was something in her voice as she asked that question. She didn’t think of him as a date. He was just another celebrity she could exploit on her way to stardom. She wasn’t any different from Paris.

His blood ran cold. He was such a fool. Ema claimed she hadn’t tipped the media off to when they would be exiting her hotel, but he had no proof of that. Why wouldn’t she pull a move like that? She was only here to exploit him and his life. Could it be possible that she also hired that guy to fake attack her? He thought back on how wimpy the dude was and the lame resistance he gave Knox. Maybe she had. He eyed her in a whole new light. Maybe she was a Delilah. Why, oh why hadn’t he remembered his mom’s advice earlier? You’d think he’d learned from having to deal with Paris. He’d planned this date wanting to impress Ema, and she was probably laughing at him, and for all he knew had a hidden camera recording every stupid thing he said or did.

He carefully set his plate aside and leveled her with a look. “I’m sure you’ll get plenty to film tomorrow. We don’t need to get personal tonight.”

“Don’t need to get personal?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “That dance wasn’t ‘personal’ to you?”

Knox studied her as she glared at him. Definitely a Delilah. She’d tried to put him under her spell with her beauty, her tropical smell, and that alluring dance. Now she wanted to get the gritty details of his life. She’d pulled him in for a few minutes, but he wasn’t dumb and he was through with personal. Ema could come to his ranch tomorrow and get all the pictures she wanted of his home and property, but she wouldn’t get anything “personal” from him.

His hand darted out and he patted down her chest quickly.

“What are you doing?” she screamed, jumping to her feet and backing away from him.

“Do you have a hidden camera on?” he demanded, advancing on her.

She kept backing away until she hit the wall, her dark eyes filled with uncertainty. “No! Why would I do that?”

“Why do you people do anything?” he demanded. “You tipped off the media when we’d be exiting the hotel, you probably hired that guy to fake assault you, you danced with me like you actually want me when it’s probably all a ploy to get me to spill my guts about my sad life and my daughter and who knows what else.”

Ema’s eyes may have been full of apprehension, but she had a backbone. She stood straight and slammed her fist into his gut. Knox grunted in surprise. It was a decent hit. If he wouldn’t have been so ticked at the way she manipulated him, he’d be impressed by that jab.

“I came to spend time with you!” she yelled. “Without the cameras, because I was intrigued by you. I even went so far as to imagine there might be a nice guy under that beastly exterior you portray to the world. Obviously I was wrong.” She pushed past him and stomped out of the suite.

Knox sat there for half a second, stunned. Could he have misjudged her? He took up pursuit, sprinting out of the suite after her. She was running toward an exterior door. He chased after her, ignoring the few people on the steps who recognized him, called out his name, and then pulled their phones out and flashed pictures of him as he ran.

Ema made it to the curb and raised her hand, yelling, “Taxi!”

Knox drew closer, and he noticed her shoulders were trembling. “Ema,” he said as softly as he could.

She didn’t look at him. A tear streaked down her cheek and Knox felt a gut punch twenty times worse than the impact of Ema’s fist moments ago. Could she fake something like that? Were all his suspicions wrong? He didn’t know, and he hated how stirred up and confused he was. If he was wrong, he’d just offended one of the most amazing women he’d ever met. If he was right, he was in for a heap of hurt, because she was wrenching his heart out with a single tear.

“Ema, I’m sorry,” he forced out.

She whirled on him. “Sorry? Wow. Has the great Knox Sherman ever uttered that word in his life?”

Knox couldn’t help but smile. He loved her feistiness.

Unfortunately, him smiling made her more ticked than ever. “I don’t need your apologies, you beast! Think the worst of me like you do of everyone else. I know exactly how you tick, Knox Sherman. You keep everyone at a distance and can’t stand the thought of caring about anyone because then you might lose them.”

His eyes widened and he took a step back. How did she know that about him? His primary motivation was always to protect Shelby, but second to it was to protect his heart from more pain.

“I’ve done my research. I know about you losing all those men in your platoon, and your best friend, Tyler. I know about your mom and one of your sisters being killed by a drunk driver. I know about your dad turning to alcohol and prescription drugs to alleviate the pain and wasting away in a care center. I know it all, Knox.”

He shrank farther away from her.

“And I wasn’t going to exploit you with any of it.” Her voice softened and she looked him over sadly. “I was going to paint you in a good light and let the public see the good in you.” She swallowed and whispered, “But after tonight, I’m not sure there is any good.”

A taxi pulled up, and she almost ripped the door off and leapt inside, slamming it behind her. Knox watched the car pull away, catching her dark gaze focused on him before it motored down the street. He stuttered away from the curb and sank onto a bench, burying his head in his hands. Ema had researched him and claimed she wasn’t going to exploit him, that she wanted to show the good. His head pounded and he closed his eyes. She was right, though. The only good in him was saved for Shelby. Better Miss Kahue learned that now in order to keep herself far away from him.