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So far, we only get moments together at closing time when I stay behind and help her. Once her duties are complete, we make out in the office until she tells me to go home. I’ve been fucking exhausted for four days, but it’s been so goddamn worth it. However, I crashed right after work tonight so I didn’t get to the bar until ten. Staying up until three a.m., then having to be up at six to work a nine-hour day is quickly catching up to me. Rowan’s told me I don’t have to come in and visit every night, but it’s the only time we get between our work schedules. I have off on Saturdays, so I’m hoping she’ll have some time to spare for us to really hang out privately.
My place is still being fixed up, but we can still hang out in my living room. Of course she’s hesitant because Riley or any of the other ranch hands could come over and bust us being together. Keeping our relationship to ourselves isn’t an ideal situation, but it’s what we have to do right now until we figure out this new territory together.
Diesel
You should meet me in the equipment barn tomorrow during my lunch break.
Rowan
What time? I have a couple of errands to run for my dad in the morning.
Diesel
I’d make any time work for you.
Rowan
I should be done by noon.
Diesel
It’s a date, baby. Wear your hair in those braids I like.
Rowan
Get your mind out of the gutter! No getting handsy.
Diesel
Absolutely no promises…In fact, wear a skirt too.
She knows I’m joking, but just to be sure, I send her a winking emoji. We’re taking things slow, something I’m constantly having to remind myself, but it’s for the best. As much as I want to explore every inch of Rowan, I want to give this a real shot. No hopping into bed and screwing shit up. Though I know a lot about her, she’s slowly been opening up, and I’ve seen another side of her. Rowan confessed last night that she’s hesitant about jumping into a relationship after the way her last one ended. I assured her we’d go at her pace, and I’m not pressuring her to do anything she doesn’t want to. I’ll be one hundred percent patient for her. I’ve waited this long, and I’ll wait as long as needed until she’s ready to take a leap.
Rowan
SMH. You’re relentless.
Diesel
I can lift it again like I did at the church picnic when everyone saw your Barbie underwear.
Rowan
Another reason I hated you growing up.
Diesel
Lies. You adored me.
Rowan
That really was a cruel prank. I should get you back for that.
Diesel
What’d you have in mind? Handcuffs? Blindfolds? Maybe a whip?
Rowan
That’s a GREAT idea! Once you’re all tied up, I’ll take a picture and send it to all your exes, and they’ll realize they dodged a bullet.
Diesel
Man. You’re evil. Pure evil.
Rowan
You started it!
Diesel
I was eight!
I hear her cackling in the office and know she’s laughing at our conversation. She pretends to be annoyed by me, but by the way her mouth attacks mine, it’s more than obvious she’s putting up a front. Whether she’s holding back because she’s worried how everyone will react once we announce it or that she’ll get hurt, my goal will always be to make her laugh. I’ll prove to her I’m nothing like any man she’s ever dated, especially her douchebag ex-boyfriends. I’d take a gunshot to the heart before I hurt Rowan.
She returns to the bar moments later and tells Claire, one of the other bartenders, to start on some of their closing duties. There’s two hours left, but it’s been slow, which means she might actually be finished earlier than usual.
“I can start grabbing cases and restocking for you,” I tell her before finishing off my beer.
She rests her arms on the bar and leans close to me. “You should go home and sleep. Those bags under your eyes make you look old.”
“I hear chicks dig older guys.” I shrug.
“Really? What chicks are you referring to?” She makes a show of looking around at the near empty room. George is on the far end of the bar, and another couple are on the other side.
“The only chick I care about is right in front of me.” I smirk, knowing that’ll get me an eye roll because if I mention Trace, I might get slapped upside the head.
“Are you always a smooth talker, or do you just turn it on when it suits you?” she taunts.
“Oh, always. You were just too busy being a brat to notice.”
“A brat?” She scoffs, pulling back. “You constantly picked on me!”
My face splits into a knowing grin. “Because I liked your attention.”
I see the way her cheeks tint, and I crave more of it. Before I can open my mouth again, the door opens, and we both look.
