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“You need to leave,” she says, and I can tell she’s not playing around.
“No can do. You’ll be here alone.” I just look at her, taking the final sip of my beer. “Are you gonna ignore me for the rest of my life?”
“That’s the plan,” she snaps.
“Row,” I whisper.
“Don’t call me that.”
I stand and walk around the bar until I’m mere inches from her. Resting my hands on her shoulders, I stare into her beautiful brown eyes. She tucks her bottom lip into her mouth, and I want nothing more than to pluck it from her teeth.
“I’ve missed you so fucking much,” I tell her, gently lifting her chin. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
She lets out a ragged breath, and it causes my heart to race. Without hesitation, I lean forward and gently slide my lips against hers. Instead of fighting it like I thought she would, or pulling away, she sinks into me. Our tongues twist as the kiss deepens, and I feel as if the world has tilted on its axis.
Rowan grabs the hem of my T-shirt, and we’re so goddamn ravenous for one another, by the time she pulls away, we’re breathless. She places her fingers on her swollen lips, and I swallow as I move loose strands of hair from her face. “I know you’re scared, and you think walkin’ away from me is the right thing to do, but it feels so fucking wrong.”
“Diesel…”
“I’m not letting you go without a fight, Row. Never.”
It’s been a few days since I kissed Rowan at the bar, but it was all the encouragement I needed to know that not all is lost. She kissed me back without a fight, which means I still have a chance with her.
After work, I send her a text, telling her I’m coming to the bar, and she sends me a thumbs-up emoji in response. Not quite the attention I was aiming for, but it’s better than her ignoring me completely.
She’s started responding and has been supportive for the most part, though she’s still guarded. I have hope that once she realizes Chelsea and I have nothing between us other than my son, we can move forward. At least that’s what I keep telling myself while taking it one day at a time.
I walk in, and she tries to hold back a smile. There’s hardly anyone at the bar tonight because it’s been raining all day. Honestly, I’d swim here if it meant getting to see Rowan. Kenzie’s no longer in town because she went back to college to finish her last year, but things typically slow down when school starts anyway. I’m actually happy she’s not around because it means I don’t have to be as careful. It’s obvious she knew something was going on, but Kenzie didn’t say a peep if she did for certain.
Rowan sets a beer down in front of me, then looks past me out the large front windows where the rain is pounding against the glass.
“It’s still raining?”
“Yep, not supposed to stop until the morning,” I tell her, taking a swig. I place my hand on top of hers and gently brush my thumb against the softness of her skin.
“I was thinking maybe we should tell everyone we’re together.” I’m being dead serious, and she knows it.
Rowan hesitates. “It’s a bad idea.”
“It’s the best idea,” I quickly say.
She nervously shifts on her feet because I’ve put her on the spot. “Diesel. I need more time. I’m sorry. I can’t just jump into bed with you again because you kissed me.”
“You mean, just because I took your breath away?” I smirk.
She rolls her eyes. “I can’t. Not right now. You need to get adjusted to everything that’s going on in your life. Learn to be a dad. Then if there’s still room in your heart for me, we can talk about it.”
I tilt my head, grab her hand, and press it against my chest. “My whole heart is yours, Rowan Bishop. It always has been and always will be. I want the whole fucking world to know you’re mine and only mine, regardless of everything else going on in my life.”
A blush hits her cheeks before she moves away from me. I am relentless and will always be when it comes to her. I stay the entire shift and help her clean up before we walk out. On the way out, I tell her about Chelsea and Dawson coming to visit, and she gives me a small smile. I want to kiss her goodbye, but I’m hesitant to cross that line again. I’d wait an eternity for her if that’s what she wanted.
That night, I go to sleep with a smile on my face, hoping she truly understands what she means to me.
The next morning, I get to work early. Riley calls me out on the way I’m acting, and he thinks it’s because I’m picking up Chelsea and Dawson from the airport this afternoon. Little does he know it’s because his sister makes me the happiest fucking man on the planet. But I am also very excited about showing off my son.
