“I can’t believe you just said that!” I protest and shove him in the shoulder.
But that one-sided smirk makes another appearance. “I mean it. You’re one of my favorite people, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching you participate in the Mass.” He pauses to adjust his collar, and although the idea of him getting hot and bothered over something like this should be comical, it’s admittedly having a similar effect on me.
“It might be one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying a lot for you,” he murmurs.
My jaw lowers again. “Isn’t that sacrilegious?”
“Maybe if I were saying it to get into your pants, but that’s notthe case. I’m encouraging you to grow in holiness, because I care about your soul,” he states with a more confident air. “It’s not my fault that the incense and candlelight make everything seem more romantic.”
I force another eye roll, but I can’t help the way Self-Assured Rowan makes me squirm in my seat. “Sounds like you need to get laid more than I do.”
His expression falls, but he doesn’t say anything else once he redirects his attention onto the road.
“All right. Fine!” I blurt out after I can’t take any more of his silence. “Maybe I didn’t hate your precious Mass as much as I thought I would. And maybe I sort of get some of that redemptive suffering stuff you’ve been jabbering on about after hearing the part when Jesus offered up His body for all mankind or whatever.”
He glances over at me, his face looking pained, and I watch his throat work as he swallows hard. “Are youtryingto seduce me right now?” he asks after he seems to collect himself. “Because it’s definitely working. Should I pull over?”
I groan and cover my face with my hands. “I used to think you were so different, but you’re just as bad as all the other men, aren’t you?”
“I do have the same programming,” he replies with a laugh. “And the same hardware.”
“You’re like a MacBook. Your operating system is a little weird, you run a little cleaner, and you’re less susceptible to viruses, but you’re still just a slave to your hardwiring at the end of the day.”
He shrugs. “I have been told I’m a dangerous man.”
The look he gives me makes me shiver, and I reach out to mess with the AC vent, pretending to be cold when I’m actually burning up from the inside out.
“Yeah, well, you’d better watch yourself on that date. I’m not so easily bothered, but you’re gonna scare Little Miss Perfect away. Wait a few weeks, you know, for your wedding night, before you spring all that dirty talk on her.”
His shoulders droop, and guilt settles in my stomach again. Theguy just said he spends the majority of his time thinking of me and praying for me, and I repay him by teasing him about his most deeply held convictions. But I’m not doing him any favors by encouraging him to flirt with me or letting him think that he can turn me into the woman he’s been holding out for, either.
“Right,” he says on an exhale. “It’s probably bad luck to melt her panties on the first night.”
The rest of our drive is too quiet, and I clear my throat to apologize again when I can’t take the silent treatment any longer. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to miss out on meeting your soulmate, especially not on my account.”
“And once I find her, you won’t stand in my way?” he asks as he pulls into my driveway.
My jaw lowers, and my head rears back. “Of course not.”
He huffs out a sardonic laugh. “Do you promise?”
“I want you to be happy, Rowan,” I say, scoffing. “I can’t believe you think I’d do anything to keep you from …”
But I don’t bother finishing when I realize what he means,the sneaky son of a?—
“Good to know,” he drawls, interrupting my thoughts.
His laughter softens while I growl and struggle to unbuckle my seat belt, and he repays my scowl with a smile when he gets out to walk me to my door.
“Good night, Claire Bear. Thanks again for your services today.”
“I did it for Gertie and Giles,” I reply and unlock the front door, grunting after my dogs bypass me and run straight out to Rowan.
He ignores me and stoops down to pet them. “Pick you up early on Easter Sunday? Or should I just stay over that Saturday night so we can go to the vigil Mass together?”
“I can drive myself,” I retort.
“And what will my mama think?” he poses, grinning.
