Gah! He’s so bossy.
I have half a mind to fuck with him, tell him I prefer playing the field, but the fire in his eyes has me not only rethinking that option, but my panties getting wet. Now all I can think about is how he kissed me last night and how much I want him to do it again.
“Lizzy.”
His gruff voice jerks me out of my sexual haze.
“No. No, I’m not seeing anyone.”
Triumph flashes in his eyes before he relaxes back against his chair and smirks. “Good.”
There he is. Actor and playboy extraordinaire. And damned if that look doesn’t make my clit pulse.
I take another sip of my beer trying to trample the heat suddenly coursing through my veins. “Still doesn’t mean I want to put my life on hold for that long.”
“It’s not like you’d be locked away in a tower,” Rowan says, shaking his head. “You’d still have your work, your friends. You’d be living your normal life.”
“Living a lie, you mean.”
His eyes darken as he bites out, “Is it really a lie if there’s still something real backing it up?”
My heart stutters in my chest. Damn him. Even after all these years, he knows exactly what to say to get under my skin.
“And what happens if I meet someone I actually like?” I bite back.
A muscle in his jaw twitches. “Then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
I stab a French fry into the mound of ketchup on my plate. “You’ve got this all figured out, don’t you?”
“Not even close,” he admits with a sigh. “Look, I get it. It’s asking a lot. But it’s not like we’re complete strangers. We have history.”
“Ancient history.”
“Not that ancient.” His voice drops to that low rumble that makes my toes curl. “Some things you don’t forget, no matter how much time has passed.”
Images flash through my mind—his hands on my body, his lips on mine, his voice whispering my name. I force myself to push the memories away.
“So what happens if I say no?” I ask, meeting his gaze dead-on.
“Then I’ll respect your decision and find someone else.” He shrugs, but I can see the tension in his shoulders. “Though my agent will probably have a heart attack.”
I study him for a moment, taking in the slight shadowsunder his eyes and the hopeful look on his face. Despite everything he’s put me through, I find myself wavering again.
“One condition,” I say, making my decision. “If I do this—and that’s still a big if—we need to set clear boundaries.”
His face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning. “I’m listening.”
“First, I need to be able to tell Sasha and the girls the whole truth. They’ll know something’s up anyway.” I hold up a hand when he starts to protest. “They can sign NDAs too if it makes your agent feel better.”
Rowan nods slowly. “Okay. That’s fair.”
“Second, we need a safe word.”
His eyebrows shoot up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Did you go and turn kinky on me while I was away, Sunshine?”
“Not like that, you idiot.” I roll my eyes, fighting a smile. “I mean a word that either of us can say if things get too intense or uncomfortable. Like... if I’m feeling overwhelmed or whatever.”
“Sounds good. What did you have in mind?”
