“So you’ve said. But no, that’s not why I’m here.”
I look up at him expectantly.
His mouth gapes for a moment, his thoughts shifting course. “Have you eaten?” My chuckle is involuntary and incredulous. “So, that’s a no?”
“My sincerest apologies but, no, I haven’t eaten yet. It’s been crazy around here.”
He pulls a granola bar from his pocket and tosses it on the desk. “Eat.”
“Bossy.” I stare at him flatly, but take the snack. Iamhungry, but I won’t give him the satisfaction by admitting it. “Do you normally walk around with granola bars for distressed damsels in your pocket?”
His mouth hitches into a grin and a blush fans over my cheeks. We haven’t kissed since before everything that happened at the grocery store yesterday. He hasn’t tried, and I know it’s because he’s waiting for me to be ready. Last night, all I wanted was to close my eyes and forget. And this morning, as we flitted around the cabin getting ready, things were quiet—he didn’t want to push while I worked hard to ignore the hulking elephant in the room.
I take a bite and brush the crumbs off my hands, crossing my legs. Rowan watches the movement with a tight jaw before bouncing his dark eyes up to mine. No matter what, the attraction between us is always there. Simmering.
He wants to kiss me. And I think I really, really want to kiss him, too.
Like the luminous godsend she is (insert sarcasm here), Kristen pops her head in my office. I initiate the introductions between her and Rowan which are the kind of awkward only my best friend is capable of.
“Rowan, hi!” she preens. “We haven’t met, I’m Kristen.”
“Why are you talking like that?” I ask.
Her voice lilts even higher. “What do you mean?”
“Kristen,” Rowan interjects, shaking her hand. “Nice to see you.”
My eyes narrow, a tennis ball lobbed back and forth between them. “You’re both being weird.”
Kristen lets out a soap opera worthy scoff. Rowan’s shoulders bounce beneath a silent laugh. I’m waiting for someone to crack.
“I’ll tell you later, runaway,” Rowan says.
“I’m gonna go,” my friend announces, backing slowly toward the door. Finger guns aimed at Rowan and me, she adds, “Let you guys talk.”
“Close the door on your way out,” I say, throwing her a look—she knows the one.
I watch Kristen’s disappearing head as she pulls the door behind her. At the last second, she word vomits, “IonlydiditbecauseIloveyouokaybye.”Click.
Smirk lifting, I stand and come toe to toe with the man whose face gives nothing away, but his cobalt eyes tell a different story.
He watches me. I cock my head, lifting a brow.
“I met Kristen when I was here last week,” he admits.
Plausible. Not a big deal. Which is exactly why I know there’s more. “And?”
“And I may have gotten in touch with her husband and paid a visit to his office.” My smile falters. “More specifically, Daniel’s office.” I suck in a breath but hold his gaze. “And when I showed up at his office again this morning to find out he’d called in sick, John may have tracked down his home address for me.” A pause. “And I may have driven straight there. Maybe I knocked on his door.”
Jaw unhinged, I stare at him. Rowan’s iron-willed expression never wavers. It’s uncompromising as I process what he’s told me. The silence goes on for long seconds, but I can’t seem to form a coherent thought.
“If you’re wanting me to apologize, I won’t. I’m not sor?—”
My lips slam into his. For his kindness, his thoughtfulness. His selflessness. I kiss him for the man he is—pure steadfast devotion wrapped in battle scars and tattoos.
He sighs into the kiss and takes my face in his hands. Neither of us take it deeper, only press in tight as though breaking for only a millisecond would be too much time apart.
I pull his forehead to mine when we come up for air.