Walking up to The Roadhouse, she was walking out of the restaurant and smiled the moment she saw me. “Keeping it casual and unimpressive, I see.” A knowing smirk curved along her face, causing me to return a quick eye roll her way.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ivy. Where’s Todd?” I asked quickly to change the subject off the fact that I definitely wasn’t keeping it casual, and we both knew it. No need to draw more attention to how hard I was actually trying, though. The guy was hot as fuck—what was I supposed to do?
She snickered under her breath as if she could read my internal thoughts and knew the road they’d taken all on their own.
“He’s pulling up now.” She pointed over as Todd’s red Honda sedan pulled up to the curb. He unlocked the doors, and Ivy hopped in the front while I took the backseat.
“Ready to go dancing, ladies?” Todd seemed like he’d already had a few, but I rolled my eyes to myself. He really irked me, and thankfully, The Raven was only a few minutes’ drive. With my luck, it may not be just a few beers he’d already had.
Ivy smiled at him. “Ready to dance!!”
Todd put the car in drive and took off down the quiet streets—my anxiety doing its best to remind me that I was keeping it casual and not trying my hardest to impress the tall, dark, and handsome cowboy.
We thankfully arrivedat The Raven in one piece, but Rowan wasn’t there yet, so I snagged a seat at the bar and ordered somedrinks. Ivy and Todd were already warming up on the dance floor. Apparently, on Friday’s they had couples dancing contests. I shook my head at the thought—internally cringing. Ivy clearly left out that tidbit of information when telling me to come with them tonight.
With my luck, I’d get stood up and end up third wheeling it while they made lovey-dovey eyes on the dance floor. Honestly, the four-mile walk to my apartment may not be that bad.
However, before I could get too deep into my pity party and planning how I’d get back, I heard the stool next to me slide across the floor and felt someone sit down on it. I knew it was him without even looking. The man had an aura about him that screamed masculine intensity. You’d think after everything in my past, that would set me off and I’d feel anxious around him, but really, I just felt safe. Which, once again, made little sense to me logically.
I finally conjured up the nerve and looked over at him. He was dressed similarly to last night: dark jeans, black t-shirt, black cowboy boots, and light scruff. Only instead of the backward baseball cap, he had on a black cowboy hat tonight. A few silver rings adorned his fingers, and I noticed the tattoos down his arm actually continued to his hand. I could make out what looked like trees and mountains along his forearm, but that was it between his shirt and the dim lighting.
“So, little angel, couldn’t wait to see me, huh?” He was leaning in toward me, speaking quietly, as if the words were just for the two of us. Maybe they were. Was that romantic, or was it a play out of his book of “Don’t Do Commitment?”
“Oh no. Actually, Ivy guilted me into texting you an invite this evening. I was going to leave you on read and go home to paint.” I shrugged, as if it were no big deal whatsoever. I don’t know why, but I had the extreme urge to bring him down afew notches. He had no reason to be so cocky with me. I wasn’t interested. I’d said that. He pushed this, not me.
Was he gorgeous? Yes. Was he every girl who reads a cowboy romance’s wet dream? Clearly. But did I care? No. I didn’t need a cowboy. I just needed to be left alone to live my life. Quietly. Without complications.
He was most definitely acomplication. Ivy said he didn’t do “commitment,” and that was great for him. But I was a hopeless romantic with trust issues and a broken…Well, I was just broken all around. I wasn’t sure I could do the whole one-night stand thing and not immediately get attached. I wasn’t sure I was up to trying either.
I looked over at him then to find him just staring at me with those intense blue eyes of his. I hadn’t noticed just how blue they were last night. They were stunning, like dark sapphires, only with more heat and intensity than should be allowed in one person’s gaze.
I shook my head and waved the bartender down again. I needed another shot and some food to soak it all up. I wasn’t trying to come off as an alcoholic, but this man made me nervous as hell, and I wasn’t sure exactly what was going to come out of my mouth next. More than likely nothing good, that was for sure.
I looked back, and he was still staring but not saying a single word. “What exactly is it that you want from me, Rowan?” I was breathless and on edge already, and he’d only just arrived. We’d spoken about five words to each other, none of which could be considered flirting.
“What do I want, Aspen?” His voice had a sudden, gravely quality to it as it dropped half an octave. “I want you. All of you. I want your hopes, your dreams, your worries, and fears. I want to hear what you think about in the middle of the night and what you dream about in the middle of the day. I want to knowwhat you sound like when you laugh fully and when your body is screaming in ecstasy. I want to see what you look like first thing in the morning and when you’re on your knees begging for me. I want all of you, and I won’t settle for anything less.”
I sat there, mouth agape, staring at him. Completely bewildered. Where did this man come from? Why were my insides suddenly even more hot and tingly than they were before? What in the world was I supposed to respond with?
Ivy specifically said this man didn’t commit. Ever. What was happening? That sounded like commitment.“Your hopes, your dreams, your worries, and fears.” Sounded a lot like getting to know someone and then, ya know, committing?
Rowan smiled at my clear level of speechlessness. “It’s okay, little angel. I do understand this is quite a bit to take in. I also get that this may be a little…intense. But you asked. For now, I’ll settle for getting to know you. Something about you has me…intrigued. Clearly, Tequila is your go-to shot choice.” He pointed down to the shot the bartender had brought over. I hadn’t even noticed him get here and leave again.
What was this man doing to me? And why did I like it so much?
I swallowed and looked back up at him slowly. “Fine. We can talk. But that’s it. You’re not coming home with me or anything. So don’t get any ideas.” Attempting to sound unaffected by him was obviously not going to be high on my list of talents this evening—possibly ever.
But we could talk. I could have more friends than just Ivy, right? That was allowed—now it was anyway.
“Okay.” He shrugged casually. “First question—where are you from? We’ll start with the basic boring shit, then the fun stuff.”
“I was born and raised in Las Vegas until I moved here a few months ago. What about you?”
“I was born and raised right here in Raven Creek. But I’ve been all over Colorado for my work. I help at my family’s ranch, raising cattle and breeding and training bulls for bull rides. So, I get to take many of them to the rodeos for events. I also pick up some extra work here and there, training some of the horses for barrel racing.” The pride radiated off of him in waves as he spoke, and I couldn’t help but admire him.
“Oh. How big is your family?”
“There are five of us kids in total, and my mom. Oliver is the oldest, and he has a son who just turned nine, Hudson. Then, my twin brother, Wyatt and I. After that is Theo and our youngest sister, Payton. Wyatt and Theo, you met last night.”
