“Doesn’t matter,” Rowan says. “I’m talking to Claire.”
A smile creeps across my face. “Then keep talking,” I tell Rowan, and Nick grunts in protest.
Rowan smirks back at me and drops his overnight bag, letting it hit the floor with a deliberate thud.
“Maybe I’m tired of talking,” he says as he strides across the room and stops in front of me. Then he cups his hand over my jaw and pauses to raise his brow, wordlessly asking for my consent.
My chest heaves as I nod, and he leans in to capture my lips with his. He hums when I yield to him and allow his tongue to slip inside, and I clutch at the collar of his shirt. Within seconds, I lose the ability to think about anything else but this, his firm chest beneath my hands, his fingers intertwining with my hair, the way he tastes like he’s been sipping a cool glass of sweet tea in lieu of a room-temperature beer, and how amazing it would feel if I could just get closer. Ineedhim closer, and preferably less clothed.
I’m still wondering how to get Rowan to lift me up and carry me to bed when he finally pulls away.
“Sorry, Nick,” he begins, his voice gravelly and shiver-inducing. “But I think …”
But his apology dies at the sound of the door slamming.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
claire
“Well,that worked even better than I hoped,” Rowan says, sounding smug.
We must have been kissing for a while, judging by the rumble of Nick’s truck as it leaves the driveway, although it wasn’t long enough for me. My fingers are still twisted into the fabric of Rowan’s shirt while my entire body continues humming with anticipation. But he doesn’t move to kiss me again.
“Are you all right?” he asks, taking a step back to regard me carefully.
Dazed and drunk with desire, I blink and attempt to shake the fog from my head.
“Was he really that bad?” Rowan continues when I don’t answer, his concern etched on his face.
That’s when I realize he didn’t come back to stake his claim. Rowan didn’t march across the room and kiss the living daylights out of me because he was overwrought with jealousy. And he certainly isn’t here to declare his attachment to me, since I’ve repeatedly told him that’ll never happen. He simply thinks he’s being a good wingman by rescuing me from a bad date. Meanwhile, I’m the dumbass getting all hot and bothered over what I mistakenly assumed was his possessive side.
“Um, no,” I rasp. “Not that bad. It just wasn’t there, you know?”
His expression softens, because he’s relieved to hear that my date hasn’t mistreated me. I don’t think he even cares that the competition is out.
“They can’t all be dedicated enough to risk anaphylactic shock for an excuse to hit on you, I guess,” he teases.
I laugh, but it feels hollow. “Can’t say I’ve found anyone else willing to go to the same lengths.”
His face breaks out into a wide grin. “I’d say I’m sorry it didn’t work out, but the truth is I’m grateful I don’t have to go back to Daisy and Landry’s tonight. I accidentally overheard her calling him the Big Bad Wolfagain, and I may never be able to erase that imagery from my brain. Especially after he growled at her.” He shivers in disgust.
“Hey, they’ve earned the right to let their freak flags fly,” I say, trying to hide my disappointment.
“They definitely have,” he concedes. “I’d just rather not be around while they’re hoisting them up the pole.”
I let out a more genuine laugh that time. “Fair enough.”
He continues smiling and staring at me, making my insides feel all warm and mushy. “Are you sure you’re okay? It seems like something’s bothering you.”
“I’m fine, really,” I lie.
“Claire, if I overstepped just now?—”
“No,” I interrupt him. “I appreciate what you did.”
I just wish you wouldn’t have stopped doing it, my subconscious finishes for me.
“You know you can always call me if you need, right? Even if I’m not in town, any time a guy makes you feel uncomfortable or you just want to get away, I’ll come to your rescue. I promise.”
