Rhett nods,“I’ll bring Safe, promise.”
Rowan kisses the top of my head, “I have to go baby. But I’ll see you for our date later. I’ll lock up behind myself, okay?”
I smile up at him but it’s forced, “Okay, have a good day.” He runs his fingers through Rhett’s wild curls one more time before leaving. Leaving Rhett happy and warmed up to him. Leaving me worried about how far he’s climbed my walls, and if it’s a mistake to do this.
* * *
“Okay, check off your list one more time.” Britt calls through the phone.
“Rhett’s dropped off, my hair is curled and my makeup is done, my whole body has been shaved and lotioned, and my dress and shoes are on my bed.”
Her voice calms me as she soothes, “Good, make sure to grab your purse and keys on the way out. You’re all prepared.”
My hands shake with nerves and I try and fail to steady my voice, “I don’t know Britt, maybe I should cancel. I can get in my PJ’s and we can face time and catch up on the latest Challenge episode. We’ve avoided spoilers for two days already.”
I can hear the exasperation in her voice, “Clara no! Absolutely not. Go out, have fun, and maybe let your kitty have a play date with his dog.”
My nose scrunches up, “Who are you, and where do you come up with this shit?”
She barks out a laugh, “I don’t know, things just come out of my mouth sometimes. But seriously, go have fun, and if we must block him and switch jobs to avoid him after we will. It’ll be fine.”
I’m slipping on my favorite dress while giving myself a second to admire it. It’s emerald, off shoulder, tighter on top and then flares out at my waist and stops right above my knees. I’d never wear it to work but it makes me feel pretty, and hides my belly that I’ve been insecure about for as long as Preston’s been telling me I’m fat and no one would want my postpartum body. I’ve added gold earrings and a gold necklace. Picking up my phone and switching the call to face time, Britt’s face fills the screen as I flip the camera to show her my whole look. She lets out a low whistle followed by an “oww oww.” “Okay if he doesn’t immediately drop to his knees and beg you to marry him, he’s an idiot. Clara, seriously you look stunning.”
I roll my eyes but there’s no malice, it’s more of a nervous action, “Thank you. I don’t know, really maybe I should cancel? What if he’s just playing a game? I mean Rhett talks to him. He likes him, what if we aren’t enough? I don’t think I can go through another Preston, Brittany.” I see the rage settle in hereyes, not at me but at my self deprecating thoughts.
“I think you’re catastrophizing here. He’s been to your apartment. He was just there last night for no other reason than to spend time with you two. He helped Rhett make you breakfast. Nothing about this guy so far says ‘I’m here to play with your emotions for fun’” I go to respond but there’s a knock at my front door.
We look at each other eyes wide, “I think it’s him.” I whisper.
She chuckles, “Of course it’s him. Go, tell me all about it tomorrow. Oh and make sure you wear the black heels, the ones that make your ass look amazing. I love you, text me if you need me.” She gives me a finger wave and hangs up smiling. That whore, she LEFT me. I do as she said though and get my black heels that make me just an inch shy of six feet and slip them on, buckling the strap at my ankle I head to the front door grabbing my keys and clutch as I pass the kitchen table. Taking a deep breath and checking the peephole to make sure it’s him.
The door opens and his eyes widen and slowly take me in from the top of my head to my toes and back up. While he’s taking his sweet time checking me out I do the same to him. Rowan looks like he just stepped off the runway in black slacks that hug his legs and strong thighs, a black belt is wrapped around his trim waist and a dark gray button up with the top two buttons undone wraps around his strong arms and his sleeves are rolled up. He-llo arm porn. Black tattoos start at his wrists and wrap around his forearms continuing up into his sleeves.I can also see the back ink snaking up his neck and stopping right before his collar hits from the way his shirt sits. I bring my eyes back to his face and take in his hair which I realized last night has some slight curl to the top. It lookslike he’s been running his fingers through it so it sits in that perfectly imperfect way.
Then I trail down to his sharp jaw, his scruff that I felt on my skin this morning looks perfectly lined up and as I get to his plump lips I see the edges ticked up. My eyes snap to his and realize I’ve been busted. Rowan’s hand comes up slowly and cups the side of my face in it. I can’t help myself, I lean in slightly. His voice is gravely as he finally speaks, “I have no words, I don’t think I’ve ever been speechless before now. You look, you look stunning, Pretty Girl.” I go to open my mouth to reply but before I can, Rowan’s lips crash onto mine.
I should probably pause, right? Take a second before I respond? Get my bearings or something? But I don’t, as soon as his lips land on mine I’m matching his intensity. My lips part and he slides inside. Our tongues and mouths find a rhythm, tasting, teasing, exploring, and learning each other. One of his hands slides into my hair and the other one wraps around and grabs my ass possessively. He lets his hand slide down until he has my thigh in his hand and hikes it up around his waist pressing into me. I can feel his hard and thick bulge through his pants pressing into my center, and I know from this morning he’s going to wreck me. I pull away and gasp. Rowan slowly tips his forehead to mine and stares into my eyes. His dancing with amusement and his lips are tipped up.
“That was supposed to wait until after dinner, I promise I was going to be the perfect gentleman. But damn Clara, you can’t open the door looking like that, give me those ‘fuck me’ eyes and expect me not to lose my mind.” My face flushes, but Rowan just laughs and presses one more kiss to my lips. “Come on, Baby. Lock your door or we’ll never leave here. I mean that’s fine with me. I’ll take my sweet time in yourbedroom with you for the next three hours, and maybe the wall, and the shower, the couch, the kitchen table. There’s so many possibilities really. Actually, change of plans.”
He pretends to push me into the apartment but I swat his hands away laughing, and I think it’s the first real laugh not caused by my four year old or best friend that I’ve had in years. “Oh no, Mr. Byrne, you promised me a night out, did you not?”
He looks up and playfully groans, “Fine, you’re right, but we’re addressing that ‘Mr.Byrne’ thing later.”
He smirks and watches me lock up the door then takes my hand and leads me out to a blacked out Escalade. Nolan is standing by the back door, he opens it as soon as he sees us approaching. He nods to Rowan, “Boss.” Rowan tips his chin to him and helps me into my seat, then waits for me to buckle my seat belt. Nolan shuts my door and as I wait for Rowan to slide into the other seat I look around the car. It’s bigger than any SUV I’ve ever been in. I notice a rear-facing car seat in the third row and my curiosity is peaked. Rowan slides in and buckles his seat belt then reaches for my hand. He laces our fingers then brings my hand to his lips where he gently kisses each knuckle before resting both our hands on his thigh.
I can’t NOT ask, “Do you have a baby? I’m sorry if that seems invasive, you just haven’t mentioned it, and there’s a rear facing car seat in the back row.” Rowan smiles as he watches me spiral. I stop talking and his smile grows wider.
He leans across the small middle seat and kisses me quickly before answering, “No, Pretty Girl, I definitely do NOT have a baby.” The way he phrased that seems odd but he changes the subject before I can press him on it. “How was Little Bear when you dropped him off?”
I smile thinking about my sweet boy, “He did better thanI did. He was so excited, and I barely held it together until I pulled away from his sitters house.” Concern and what looks an awful lot like mild panic swirls in Rowan’s green eyes.
“Are you okay? Should you check on him? Have you gotten any pictures? Maybe we should go pick him up and bring him with us?”
The walls around my heart crack just a little more, he’s so concerned about Rhett. His words from the other day filter through my brain again.“Let me be clear Clara, I want to know both of you.”I shake my head and give him a reassuring smile, “I’m okay, at least now I am. I don’t trust Rhett with hardly anybody but Olivia and her family love him and he loves them. I’ve gotten pictures and as of thirty minutes ago he was playing legos and dinosaurs. He’s never fallen asleep anywhere except with me or his Aunt Britt. So I’m sure he’ll be awake when I pick him up and I’ll have a world of trouble getting him to sleep tonight. But he’s happy, healthy, and safe. And I’m feeling a lot better than I was before you knocked on my door.”
The mention of our greeting at my front door has a heated look flashing through Rowan’s eyes and he gives me a filthy smirk that has electricity and anticipation heating me from the inside out.
“Glad I could be of service. We have some unfinished business to tend to later.” We pull up to ‘The Byrne’ which if what everyone says is true, it’s the most elusive restaurant in the city. I should have known it’s one of his when he mentioned owning restaurants.
