I nod. “She was really nice.”
His dimples pop, eyes glistening. “She taught you Cochrane Gambit, didn’t she?”
My expression falls flat. “How do you know that?”
“The first night you played Pops, you opened with it.” His voice drops, a dark humor lacing his words as he whispers, “That had Nana written all over it.”
Jaw gaping, I shove him in the chest. “That sneaky bastard. Is that why I could never beat him when I played Cochrane?”
He chuckles, pulling me close again. “Sorry, sunshine. He learned from the best.” Another soft kiss. “Let’s go to the lake house tonight. I don’t care if all we do is sleep, I just wanna be alone with you.”
The wordsI leave tomorroware absent, but they scream the loudest.
I haul his lips back down to mine, this time allowing my tongue to slide between the seam of them. A tiny taste, but he groans at the sensation, linking his arms around my back.
“Two more hours,” I say between kisses. “Then I’m yours for the whole night.” Head tipped back to meet his gaze, I hold it for several beats. “All of me.”
His eye twitches, but he doesn’t respond. I don’t say anything either. Instead I take his face between my hands so heseeswhat I’m saying.
I’m not thinking about how much it will hurt to say goodbye in the morning. I’m not thinking about Daniel. Assholes who don’tunderstand the wordnodon’t get to take something this good and perfect away from me.
I want Rowan. Always have. The man who’s never not worshipped me, adored me. Protected me. Endlessly patient and eternally kind. Compassionate and strong. The man I love. And if I only get to have him like this for one night, I’ll take whatever else life throws at me in exchange for it.
He sets his jaw. “Hannah, you know I’m not expecting anything. That’s not why I asked.”
“I know. ButIwant to.” His lips part. “And you don’t have to ask me if I’m sure because I am. Rowan, I…” I blink up at him, words lost.
“Baby, what is it?”
My eyes drift shut, lips curling on a soft exhale. “I love when you call me that.” I wish he could call mebabyeveryday for the rest of my life.
When our mouths come back together, he hums the word again, sending vibrations of want zinging through me like a roman candle.
“I want you,” I murmur between the give and take of our kiss.
His hand skates down over the curve of my ass, squeezing once. My breath hitches and he catches my whimper with his tongue.
Everywhere. I want his hands, his mouth—all of him—everywhere.
He pulls away dramatically, giving me a comical shove to create distance as he wipes a hand over his mouth. “Get inside, runaway. You’ve got one hour and fifty-eight minutes.”
I arch a brow. “Plus the one hour drive.”
Rowan curses, twines his fingers with mine, and leads us back to the ballroom.
The gala bustles as the band plays their post-dinner playlist. Lights are low. People dance, drink, and flood the auction tables.
My big soldier man is pulling me to the dance floor when Mom intercepts him. The two exchange a look as she places her palm on his cheek. A faint smile lifts his eyes.
“She showed me your picture,” she says. He grabs her wrist, holding her hand in place. “I hope you know how proud she was of you.” His Adam’s apple bobs. “Norm, too.”
Mom inclines her head once, Rowan nods. I hold my breath. She pats his cheek one last time, holding his gaze for an extra second beforeturning to me. My mom pulls me into a hug and I finally exhale. Her praise is whispered into my ear—she’s proud of me, I look beautiful,andshe’s so glad she got to meet him.
Something thick lodges in my throat, and I can’t bring myself to reply without crying, so I don’t.
“Richard and I are calling it a night,” she offers, easing back.
“What? It’s still early.”