She’s cute. I suppose I should have known this date was just…a fluke. I know how hard Natalia is on herself. I know she thinks she doesn’t deserve this, but she deserves more than she will ever know. And I plan to give her the entire fucking world. I plan to love her mercilessly and tragically and murderously even. The love I have for her scares me sometimes because I know I’d tear down the sky for her.
Even though I’m angry with her and this ridiculous date thing she made me go on, I’d burn the world for her. But I’m mad. Damn it, I’m so mad. Shannon was nice and pretty, sure, but no one will ever be Natalia.
If Natalia says she can’t be with me or doesn’t want to be with me, then I’ll just wait for my next life while I grieve her in this one.
With a deep breath to soothe the minuscule rage, I shift gears into drive and pull out of the spot.
I should have said no to the date. I shouldn’t have been a dick and agreed and led anyone on. I should have just done it to prove a point—which is being proven correctly, might I add, seeing that Natalia is following me to my house right now.
I laugh to myself when I see her headlights still in my rearview. She’s trying to be subtle, leaving several feet between our bumpers, and she idles at each stop sign behind me, probably thinking she’ll throw me off, but she doesn’t.
Natalia takes the same turn as me, but lingers at the corner as I pull into my driveway, purposely parking right in its center. I turn off my car and wait for a minute, just to see if she’ll pull up right behind me.
Knowing that she will be here any minute now, I get out of my SUV and pull my keys from my pocket. I can’t help the smug grin that encompasses my face as I let myself in through my front door.
Inside, still grinning to myself, I hang my coat, remove my shoes, and wait. I look through the thin, long window beside my door, pulling aside the curtain just enough to see her stomping up my driveway, her fists at her side.
She is so beautiful when she’s furious.
Even though I know it’s coming, the pounding on my frontdoor makes my heart skip a beat and I stand up straight. I try to gather myself, to calm the grinning and soothe the burning in my cheeks.
It’s no use.
Fuck it.
I wait a few seconds and hear her grumbling at me through the door in both English and Korean. I have to start learning Korean soon.
“Damn it, Rowan!” Her fist, or both, bangs on the door. “I know you’re in there, open the damn door!”
I laugh as I wrap my hand around the door’s handle and slowly push the button above the handle.
I open the door to a furious, passionate, gorgeous woman with spiraling curls, big hazel-green eyes, flared nostrils, and a pout I can’t wait to kiss off her face. I lean against the threshold with my shoulder, cross my arms over my chest, and smirk.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
CHAPTER 30
Natalia
“Hello, sweetheart.”
I cross my arms and imagine punching him in the throat. “Don’t do that!”
“Do what, babe?”
My arms drop and I point my finger in his face. “That.”
Rowan smirks with his full, pink lips—lips that might still have the taste of the woman I set him up with. God, I hate myself.
“What’s wrong, Natalia?” He sighs and leans against the threshold, folding his arms over his chest. “Something bothering you?”
“No!” I snap. “Everything isfuckingperfect.”
He arches a dark blond brow. “Is it?”
I squint as I snarl, “Fuck you.”
“Come inside and you can.” He winks, anddamn him!I’m a sucker for that wink and sparkle in his blue eyes.
