“Does everyone work on the ranch with you?” Surprisingly, I was genuinely curious. He sounded so proud to be part of his family, it was honestly one of the sweetest things I’d seen in a long time—possibly ever. Which just made me realize I truly needed to get out more.
“Nah, just Oliver and I. Wyatt does computer security for a few different companies, freelance type of stuff. Theo is in the army, but he’s on leave right now. He’s home contemplating whether he wants to renew his contract or not, but I doubt he’ll stay home much longer. Then Payton just finished nursing school. She works at the local hospital.”
I wanted to ask about his dad, but at the same time, I didn’t. Happy looked good on him, and I had the feeling bringing up his dad would diminish that somehow. So I pushed the question down.
“You sound like the proudest brother ever,” I said instead.
The smile that lit up his face made my heart constrict slightly. “Oh, I am. My family is everything to me. I love them more than anything.” He shrugged, as if he were trying to make it seem like no big deal, but I knew just how big of a deal it was. “What about you, little angel?”
“Oh…uhm, well. Mom left when I was little, Dad died a couple of years ago from a heart attack, and I have no siblings that I’m aware of.” I shrugged and took a sip of my drink, trying to act as if it wasn’t a big deal.
He reached over and took my hand gently into his. The difference between us was staggering. This masculine man with his tanned skin, calloused hands, and his hard-working attitude was surrounded by his family, whom he worshipped. Me? I was surrounded by one friend whom I’d just made and a broken spirit floating into the world with nothing to offer.
“My dad passed away when I was twelve.”
I took a deep breath and looked over at him. He didn’t look sad or pitying. He just looked like he understood, and that wasn’t something I was used to at all. I knew by the type of man he’d already shown me he was that our fathers were nothing alike, yet it was something that connected us. Some deeper understanding that he related to me. I swallowed roughly, trying to choke back the emotions that I normally buried deep.
“Okay, moving on from the heavy stuff.” I tried to force a laugh. “Favorite hangover food should clearly be the next topic of conversation.”
He let out a soft chuckle. “Absolutely, it should be.”
I had somehow spentthe last hour sitting at the bar getting to know Rowan, and I was sort of sorry to say I actually enjoyed his company, which was not where I saw this night going.
Rowan was funny, but in a more serious sort of way. His dry humor and quick wit went along with the intense aura he gave off. His eyes didn’t miss anything, and his questions were actually thought out. He didn’t just ask me boring stufflike my favorite color. He asked about how I ended up here—which I edited a bit because an abusive ex wasn’t in a first date conversation—what movie I loved to rewatch during Christmas time, my favorite concert I’d ever been to, and who I thought the most overrated celebrity was.
Questions that kept me laughing and entertained.
I looked over, meeting his intense blue gaze. “Thank you for this, Rowan. I think this is the most fun I’ve ever had with someone who isn’t Ivy.” I felt the light blush spread across my cheeks.
“I’m not going to lie, Aspen, we’re going to need to get you out some more.” The tone of his voice sounded like he was making a joke, but the look in his eyes told me he was being serious.
Ivy hopped up on the stool on my other side, forcing a small, surprised squeak from my lips. She was covered in sweat and smiling. “Oh, hello, you two love birds! I need a shot, and then you two need to join us out there! The energy is absolutely amazing tonight.”
I laughed and slid the shot of tequila that had been sitting in front of me this entire time over to her. “I’m not trying to drag Rowan out there, Ivy.”
“Oh, I don’t mind. I haven’t been dancing in years. Could be fun.” He shrugged with a smile, as if he knew I was trying to shrug off the invite for myself, and not to save him from the floor in the middle of the bar. “Don’t worry, little angel, I’ll show you what to do.” He leaned over and set his hat on my head, still wearing the grin of a true troublemaker.
“See?! Let’s go, Aspen. Let’s get sweaty.” She winked at me, leaning in close as she whispered in my ear, “Plus, you know what it means when a man puts his hat on your head, right?” She smirked as I felt my cheeks heat up again. I was going to smackher later for this, but I found myself unintentionally smiling anyway.
Apparently, I was dancing now. In Rowan’s hat. An act I was going to try very hard not to look into or let make me feel any sort of way.
It didn’t take me long, tied up with this man on the dance floor, to realize that Rowan coulddance. Not that we were on the floor trying to tango or ballroom dance or anything of the sort. But the man had rhythm. Three songs in, and I was ready to strip my clothes off and drop for him. Ivy’s suggestion from the night before slid into my brain and just would not leave—the thoughts of his hands in my hair, and me wearing nothing but this damn hat.
What was it about dancing with this man that was so erotic? We were just doing partner line dancing. Was it supposed to be so sexual? Maybe it was the fact that every time he spun me, his hand grazed my lower back against my bare skin—always just above where my jeans and fishnets stopped. Or when we went for a dip, or he caught me from a spin, we immediately locked eyes. As if my brain couldn’t look anywhere but there, into the eyes that were equally undressing me as I undressed him right back.
That deep sapphire gaze of his was doing things to my subconscious.
The next song was a slow one. Which I should’ve been excited about, because oh my cardio—until I realized that meant we’d be slow dancing. Together. For about three and a half minutes. Which felt like an eternity, especially where my self-control was concerned. I wasn’t even sure why Iwascontrolling myself at this point. If the heat behind those deep blue eyes of his was any indication, I wasn’t alone in those feelings.
He clearly wanted me just as much as I wanted him, so what was my problem again? Deep down, I knew what my problem was, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to face that just yet.
Rowan took my left hand into his right and pulled me closer. His opposite hand was sitting against my lower back; our bare skin pressed against each other. Again. As we swayed slightly to the music, I could feel my entire body heating up to the point of explosion. Had I ever felt like this before? Even just looking at this man felt different. It felt more…real.
“You’re not so bad at this, ya know.” He had a pleased smile on his face as if he was truly proud of me and not just complimenting me to flirt.
I felt a blush creep up my neck and cheeks. Hopefully, he couldn’t tell with the lighting of the dance floor. With my pale skin, it was normally easy to see, even in the dark.
“Oh, well, you know. Ivy taught me last night, and you’re a great lead. So yeah. Nothing too hard,” I mumbled with a shrug. As if the shrug would just bump away the clear embarrassment on my part at his compliments, he seemed determined to shower me in.
