Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
She hesitates, then nods. “I’d love to see them before they leave.”
“Just to be clear, I’m not asking you to come because of my sisters. I want to spend time with you. If I had my way, it would be completely alone.”
Her eyes light and she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. “Really?”
“Yeah, babe. In case you haven’t picked up, I’m into you.”
“I’m not dense, just uncertain.”
“Get certain, because this is happening. Patience isn’t my strongest suit, but we take this at your pace. I’m coming on too strong, let me know, and I’ll try to reel it back. No promises.”
“It’s not too strong.”
“You’ll come to the house?”
“Pepper and I are a package deal for at least a week.”
“She’s welcome.”
“What can I bring?”
“I’ll take care of everything, but heads up, if you make those potatoes again, I get the first taste this time.”
She bursts into giggles, dropping her forehead to my chest. “Noted.”
After a few seconds, she twists her head, wrapping her hands around my waist. “Pepper, get ready. Looks like we get another night at the club.”
7
ROWAN
A glass of wine appears in front of my face right as Ford’s hand sweeps my hair over my shoulder. “You’re gonna need this.”
“Why?”
“Those women are ready to pounce.”
My nerves coil in a tight knot when I peer over his shoulder. Harley, Jewls, Carson, and Addie are all in the living room staring our way. Jewls jerks her head to me, whipping her finger in a ‘hurry’ motion.
“Maybe I should take Pepper and run.”
“You running means I’m chasing, so come up with a new plan.”
“Seriously, you can distract them until I get away.”
“You getting away from them means getting away from me. I’m not cool with that. I want you here tonight.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and focus back on him. “You want me here?”
“Yes, baby, I want you here. With me.”
The knot of nerves takes a new purpose, sending a rush of prickly currents through my bloodstream.
“I have to go home. I mean back to Cruz’s. They want Pepper to have a sense of normalcy.”
“She’ll be fine here.”
“But her routine. I can’t mess it up.”
“She’s a dog, Rowan.”
“But she’s their dog and they adore her. I don’t want to screw up her adaption period.”
“That’s why you’re driving Alex’s SUV?”
“Yes, and living there until they get back.”
He blows out a breath, dropping his chin to my shoulder. “You have five minutes to settle these women. Make them count.”
“I still think I should sneak out.”
“Know little about the rule book of girlfriends, but I think you’d better face the fire head-on.”
“What should I say?”
“Whatever you want.”
“I don’t know how to do this.”
His hand on my shoulder gently twists me to him, his eyes roaming over my face and filling with concern. “This?”
“The whole grilling girlfriend gossip.”
“You’ve been a part of this crew a while. Thought you’d be a natural.”
“I’m an imposter. Harley, Jewls, and Shayla are the professionals. Plus, nothing about me has ever been interesting.”
Concern sparks into irritation and the muscle in his jaw ticks. “You are always interesting.”
“No, I mean, Craig was nothing to talk about, so it was easy to circumvent the conversations. These are your friends. They clearly know something between us shifted. We had our first date with six other people.”
His lip curves into a one-sided grin. “I’m glad you’re on track with this being a date because it shows you’re clueing in quick. But this was nowhere near a proper date. This was improvising. My sisters are a pain in the ass, but I still love them, and it would be a dick thing to leave them alone on their last night here. Especially considering they executed getting Tera to sign a lease today. We get our first actual date, you’ll know it.”
I get lost in the beauty and tenderness in his statement and the way the outer rims of his pupils transform into a deep blue.
“Baby, the way you’re looking at me makes me consider taking on the wrath of Jewls and hauling you back to my room.”
“You love your sisters, you’re an incredible cook, you’re the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, and you’re sweet. Is there anything about you that’s not amazing?”
His hand clutches my neck, the words meaning something to him. “You’re pretty amazing, too, Rowan.”
“Seriously, there are children in the room! Can you let her go before we all internally combust from the sexual tension?” Jewls hollers.
“You mention sexual tension again, I’ll vomit,” Addie hisses.
“Ditto,” Carson agrees.
Ford blows out a breath, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “You feel uncomfortable, send me a sign. Major and I will shut it down.”
“No, you won’t. Get out of here!” Jewls snipes.
“The woman has supersonic hearing, but I’ll handle her if need be.” Major walks by, flashing me a smile.
“Major Powers! Don’t get on my bad side!” she responds.