The Beastly Groom (Texas Titan Romances) Page 4

  He stood quickly, as if his mom had just told him to remember his manners, and offered his hand. “Miss Kahue. It’s great to see you again.”

  Great to see her again? Was this the same man who had threatened to bodily throw her off his property and put a restraining order on her if he ever saw her again?

  Ema swallowed and blurted, “I got the impression you never wanted to see me again.”

  Knox’s eyebrows went up and a disbelieving laugh surfaced. He glanced at Mike, who was recording everything, and then back at Ema. There was a bit of a challenge in his eyes as he said, “Oh, I had no problem with seeing you again.” His rich brown gaze swept over her and he grinned. “I just had a problem with you—” He tilted his head toward the camera. “—seeing me.”

  Ema shook her head. That made sense because he liked his privacy, but he acted like he actually wanted her around, just not the camera. Hmm. Interesting. She suddenly wished she could tell Mike to leave, but the producers were planning on footage of Knox Sherman for next week’s show and this might be all they had to work with. Their fans would not be thrilled. She had to turn on the charm and somehow talk him into at least letting her video parts of his home and ranch.

  Knox gestured toward her side of the booth. Ema sank into the vinyl seat; it was softer than it looked. Knox sat across from her and took a drink of his water. There was a basket of chips and a bowl of salsa on the table. Ema sucked a long swallow from her own glass of water. Knox didn’t say anything, just studied the menu. The air felt thick and stuffy. Ema resisted the urge to glance at Mike, but she was sure that even from ten feet away he could sense how awkward this date/interview was starting out. She wondered if she could get some footage from the auction last night. They hadn’t allowed Mike’s equipment inside, as only the Titans-approved cameras had been rolling, but maybe VH1 or Claire could pull some strings and get footage of her bidding on Knox. This date was feeling like a bust and it hadn’t even started.

  A pretty, dark-haired twenty-something waitress hustled over. “Something to drink besides water?” she asked.

  “No, thank you,” Ema said stiffly.

  Knox shook his head.

  “You need a minute?” the waitress asked.

  Knox looked pointedly at Ema. “No,” she said. “I’ll have the beef chimichangas.”

  “Good choice.” The girl smiled at her. “Black or refried beans?”

  “Black, please, and a side of guacamole.”

  “You got it. Knox?”

  It shouldn’t have surprised her that everyone here knew Knox. This was a football hangout, but he didn’t seem friendly to anyone, whereas Ace Sanchez’s family was known for their friendliness.

  “The tamales. Pork. Refried beans. Thanks.”

  The young woman gathered their menus and hurried to the next table.

  Ema drew in a slow breath, broke a chip in half, and dipped the smaller piece into the salsa. She savored the spice of the salsa and the warm saltiness of the chip.

  Knox followed her example but ate the entire chip and a huge scoop of salsa in one swoop. “They make them fresh,” he muttered.

  “Is that so?” Could this get any more awkward? She clenched the napkin in her lap and shifted her weight on the bench.

  Knox’s gaze darted everywhere but at her. When he finally gave her a glance, Ema forced a smile. Her face felt tight and hot. She desperately tried to remember what questions she’d prepared to ask him. Usually the people she interviewed were delightful to get to know, except for the extremely cocky ones. Knox didn’t hit her as cocky, but he was closed off and not very friendly.

  He glanced at the camera again, and Ema realized he didn’t like it at all. It was like a trigger to the Hulk that brought his anger to the surface.

  “It’s okay, big guy,” Ema heard herself saying. “Sun’s getting real low.”

  Knox whipped back to stare at her. He studied her for half a beat, and then he laughed. It was a great laugh, blasting over her with warmth and genuine humor. “The Hulk again?”

  “You do kind of remind me of him.”

  He smiled wryly and ate another chip dunked in salsa. “I guess it’s better than what Shelby’s mother says I am.”

  “What’s that?” Ema blinked, realizing she was getting somewhere. Wow, he was opening up in the first minutes after one silly comment. Maybe she could salvage this night.

  There had been a lot of rumors about his friend Tyler’s ex-wife, Paris, and the transfer of most of Tyler’s wealth to Knox. Paris had received a generous amount, had found a new boyfriend, and started jet-setting, plastering herself all over social media. There were rumors that Paris had made a play for Knox’s attention and failed, coming back a few times to try to worm her way into his and Shelby’s lives. Ema found herself hoping the failure was true.

  “Like everyone else, she calls me the Beast,” Knox said. “Unfortunately, she wants to be Beauty, and that doesn’t fit at all. She’s more Wicked Witch of the West.”

  Ema had eaten the other half of her chip and she sort of laughed at his witch comment, but the chip went down the wrong pipe and she started choking on it.

  Knox moved so quickly, Ema hardly registered that he was across from her one second and next to her before she could even cough. He lifted one of her arms as she coughed the chip out. When her choking calmed, he released her arm and held the water glass to her lips. Ema took a sip of water because she had little choice, but she could barely swallow as she stared into his dark eyes—they were much too close for comfort. His crisp amber and bergamot scent washed over her. Dang, that Perry Ellis knew how to make a man irresistible. Knox’s scrumptious face didn’t hurt matters either.

  “Better?” Knox whispered in a husky voice that sent tremors through her body. Her stomach tightened and she swayed closer to him.

  “Yes.” Ema stared up at him.

  Knox lowered the glass and reached up, wiping a drop of water off the corner of her lips. Ema sucked in a breath, warmth spreading through her at his simple touch. Knox’s fingers lingered on her lips, and he slowly, softly trailed his finger across her lower lip. Tingles erupted everywhere his fingertip touched. She leaned closer.

  “It’s Knox Sherman!” someone said loudly from a few tables over.

  Knox drew back quickly and stood, moving to his side of the booth. He looked at the person who’d said his name and gave them a forced smile and a chin bob before focusing on the chips and salsa and eating a dozen in rapid succession.

  Ema stared at him. What had just happened? She’d wondered if this man could be gentle. Those sweet touches had proven he could be more than gentle; he could ignite a fire inside of her. She was suddenly very, very glad Mike was close by and videoing and they were in an open, unromantic restaurant. If they’d been alone and that person hadn’t interrupted, Ema would’ve shown him the passion bestowed upon her by her Polynesian and American-Italian ancestors.

  She wrapped her fingers around her neck, willing herself to calm down. She was a professional. She could do this. “So, Knox, I’d love to hear more about your background.”

  “Such as?”

  “You mentioned Shelby’s mother, Paris Schwanaveldt, correct?”

  His eyes narrowed and he stopped reaching for another chip. When he spoke, his voice was cold again. “I did make that mistake.”

  “Does she have any involvement in your daughter’s life?”

  “No,” he said shortly. “She deserted Shelby days after birth with fifty million dollars and my blessing. She’s tried to exploit Shelby three times now to up her social media exposure. If she dares show her face again, she knows what will happen to her.” He clamped his jaw as if frustrated he’d said as much as he had.

  Fifty million dollars, deserting her own child, and trying to exploit the little girl? Ema didn’t blame Knox for his vehemence of the diva who made the Barrington sisters look like the sweet girls next door.

  Ema leaned back into the cushioned booth. Paris was an awful
subject, and Knox had obviously said more than he wanted to and was clamming up again. How was she going to get him to open up? Then she remembered what she’d sensed at the auction. He didn’t want anyone to know about Shelby. It was commendable that he was so protective of his daughter, and she thought he was smart. With his money, there could very well be kidnapping attempts or people trying to get closer to him or Shelby.

  “When did you start playing football, Mr. Sherman?”

  “It’s Knox,” he said.

  Ema nodded, grateful he was at least relaxing a little bit.

  “Fourth grade,” he said shortly.

  “And were you always a defender?”

  He actually smiled. Ema wrapped a hand around her throat, as affected by that smile as she had been the other night. She hoped Mike was able to capture it for their viewers.

  “Yeah. My dad wanted me to be a running back because I was so big and quick. He thought I could plow through the defense with my size and speed. But I only wanted to be a defender. I just loved to hit people.”

  Ema couldn’t help but laugh. “Spoken like a true boy. What did your sisters think of that? They’re both older, correct?” She already knew that, but wanted their audience to have a clear picture.

  His grin grew, but then a wistful look washed over his face. She didn’t want to bring up the accident, and belatedly wondered if she should’ve brought up his sisters at all.

  “Yeah, they’re older,” he finally said. She was relieved when he seemed to shake off the sadness and continued sharing. “They loved it when I found football. We lived in rural Montana, and I had nobody else to wrestle with and tackle but my sisters. You should’ve heard how they’d shriek when they saw me coming.” He shook his head, a smile playing at his lips. “My poor Mom. All three of them would count the minutes until Dad came home so I could wrestle with and practice tackles on him instead of them.”

  “Men are strange creatures,” Ema said.

  Knox chuckled. “Pot, let me introduce you to kettle.”

  “What?” Ema couldn’t hold in a laugh at his strange analogy.

  “A woman saying men are strange creatures? That’s like the pot calling the kettle black. Women are insanely strange creatures. All men want is good food, a clean house, and somebody to wrestle with. You’d be lots of fun to wrestle with.” Knox jolted back as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just said.

  Ema tried to play it off and winked and forced a giggle. “I’m sure I could wrestle you to the ground.”

  He smiled too. “We’ll try that sometime.”

  Ema liked that promise. Their food arrived, and she was grateful for the distraction. Knox Sherman was more than a puzzle. He was a Rubik’s Cube, and she’d always stunk at figuring those out.

  Chapter Four

  Knox tried to focus on his food, but the spicy, cheesy delicacy couldn’t hold his attention when a woman as beautiful and intriguing as Ema Kahue was sitting across the table from him. Had he really said she’d be lots of fun to wrestle with? Sheesh. Keep eating, son, and shut your mouth. It was Tyler’s voice, and it usually helped calm him down. He couldn’t hold back a grin as he remembered Ema using Natasha’s lines from Avengers to calm him down. He reminded her of a green, ugly Hulk? Great.

  “What are you smiling at over there?” Ema’s voice interrupted his worries over what he’d said and what she thought of him.

  He glanced up. His mom had tried to instill social etiquette in him. Ask about the other person was always her go-to advice. He wished he hadn’t spouted off about Paris and how evil she was, and he was surprised he’d talked about his mom and sisters a little bit. Ema was good at getting people to open up.

  “Are you from the States?” he blurted out.

  Ema cut a bite of her chimichanga and shook her head. “I grew up in Kauai.”

  “Good for you.” He’d been right about the Polynesian heritage. “Why would you want to live here?”

  She laughed. “I don’t live here.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “I have an apartment in San Diego, but I travel the nation with my show, so I’m rarely there.” She raised her eyebrows. “I like Texas, though, don’t you?”

  He nodded. He loved the wide-open spaces and his ranch and home. The only things he missed about Montana were the mountains. Nothing else was left for him there. His only surviving sister and her family came to see him here. His dad was a shell of a person and Knox hadn’t seen him in years.

  “Yeah, I love it here,” he said. “But isn’t Kauai like paradise?”

  She smiled. “It is.”

  “Do you miss it?” He’d been to Oahu and Maui and enjoyed both islands.

  She nodded.

  “What do you miss most?”

  She chewed her bite and took a drink of water before saying, “I miss my family and I miss the mountains. I loved going on hiking adventures all over the island.”

  “I liked hiking in Montana too.” They had something in common, but his home was in Texas now and there were zero mountains to hike. She wouldn’t want to stay here with him. What on earth was he thinking? She was a scheming reporter or reality show host or whatever she was, and he was a single dad who didn’t need a woman messing up his life. Knox shoveled in a huge bite of food and promised himself not to get so caught up in her beautiful smile or lilting laughter. It was just because he never went on dates that this fake date was affecting him so much.

  By the time they finished their dinner, Knox had almost forgotten that the camera guy was there. The guy was good at being unobtrusive, setting up at a nearby table and not making a peep. Knox thought their conversation had gone pretty well, and he’d been civil, at least. He could practically see himself on that Wheaties box.

  Then he remembered that he’d promised Claire he’d invite Ema to his ranch for another video shoot. Excitement and dread pulsed through him. He’d never let any cameras into his private sanctuary, but the terrifying truth was that he didn’t want to be done with Ema yet. Even though a relationship with a woman could never go anywhere for him, he found himself wanting to spend more time with her.

  The waitress brought their check, and he dropped a hundred in the holder and took one last drink of his water. He’d only been to Los Tios once before, but Ace’s family was extremely friendly and all seemed to remember him.

  Ema started to stand, as if she was leaving. Knox caught her hand and she gasped. Warmth rushed through his body and pooled in his stomach. This woman was intoxicating, though it didn’t seem like she was trying to be. She was also gorgeous, original, and a little intimidating.

  “Please don’t leave yet,” he said quietly.

  She sat back down.

  “I have a … proposition for you.”

  Her eyes widened. “You do realize I’m filming this?”

  Knox laughed; he couldn’t help it. “Not that kind of a proposition.”

  She relaxed back into the seat. “I guess I deserved that. You’re getting back at me for saying I wanted to stay at your house when I first met you?”

  “No.” He laughed again and it felt great. “No, I wouldn’t do that.”

  She smiled and tilted her head to the side. Her shiny deep brown hair spilled over her firm shoulder.

  Knox’s mouth went dry. He took a quick drink and then rushed out the words, “Claire wants me to invite you to my ranch and let you film the house and property, maybe go on a horseback ride together. Should make good footage for your show.” He didn’t care about the public seeing him, but he did care about helping Ema with her show. Psychoanalyzing his own motivation wasn’t Knox’s style, but he knew his desire to help Ema was much different from why he took good care of the other woman in his life.

  “If I do let you guys in,” he rushed on, “you have to agree to go on a date with me tomorrow … no cameras.” He held his breath, wondering if she’d agree and wondering why on earth he was making this offer. He didn’t date, but the conviction he’d made after losing
half of his platoon to stay unattached and not be devastated again seemed a little over the top as he stared into her deep brown eyes. He was attached to Shelby and Genevieve, and he needed to protect himself from being around someone who yanked him in like Ema. Yet he didn’t want to protect himself right now.

  Ema studied him for long enough that he shifted slightly in his seat and had to force himself to hold her gaze. “Did your mama raise you to be a gentleman, Knox Sherman?”

  Knox grinned. He’d won; he could feel it. “Yes, she did, ma’am.”

  “I believe you.” She stood again, and he stood also. “Text me the details of this date and we’ll plan on filming at your home on Monday. Claire has my number.” She swept out of the restaurant and the camera guy followed her, still filming. Knox didn’t blame him; he’d film her too. She was breathtaking. He sank back into the seat, his heart pounding harder than if he’d just sprinted the forty.

  Ace’s cousin, who he could never remember the name of, came back and removed a few plates, slipping the bill holder into her pocket. “You need change?”

  Knox shook his head.

  “Pretty girl you were with. Fun date?”

  “Not really.”

  She patted his shoulder consolingly. “Ace and Rennen have both mentioned how great you are with your daughter. You’ll find an amazing woman to be her mama someday.”

  Knox’s head shot up and he moved away from her touch. “No, I won’t. I’m raising my daughter alone.”

  She drew back and spun away, muttering, “Stupid men. Always think they can do everything alone.”

  Knox stood and strode from the restaurant. He hadn’t needed the reminder that he was stupid. Daydreaming about a woman, and a reporter-type at that. He could never allow someone like Ema access to Shelby. Yet he couldn’t help being excited about their date tomorrow.