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Her face grows thoughtful. “Have I ever told you about my grandmother?”
“Not much outside of her knack for creating products with you.”
“She was amazing. Loved my grandpa, dad, and uncle like crazy. Mom told me the first time they met, she was scared. Literally shaking in her boots. But they molded perfectly. When I came along, things changed.”
“They didn’t get along anymore?”
“Just the opposite. My grandmother says her heart grew bigger when I was born. In her words, I completed her life. She never let Mom forget how much that meant to her.”
“Know how she feels.”
Her hand curls around my neck, and she leans in for a quick kiss. “I spent a lot of time with Grandma Ellis. She knew early on I differed from other girls. My intelligence, my need to create things, my attention to detail—she said I was a brilliance the world wasn’t ready for.
“It was hard for me to connect with people because of my shyness. She taught me it was okay to be different. But she taught me something else more important.”
Her pause has my skin prickling. The contemplative gaze is far off, lost in thought. My instincts kick in, knowing she’s about to give me something big.
“What did she teach you, baby?”
“She told me to never settle for love. No money, status, or ambition should come in the way of my happiness. When I found someone, the relationship needed to be based on truth, respect, understanding, and unrequited love. She was right.”
My heart skips a beat, feeling her grandmother’s love shining in her.
“She missed one thing, though.” A sparkle flickers in her eyes. “She left out the part about a passion so deep, it lives inside me every minute. Thank you, Ford, for giving me what my grandmother left this earth wanting.”
“Rowan, you’re killing me.”
She snaps out of her trip down memory lane. “She would have adored you.”
The words wash through me, igniting the primal need to protect and cherish her from ever seeing darkness again.
I scoop her in my arms, carrying her to the oversized lounger under the cabana.
She picks up on my intentions, cupping my jaw and kissing me softly. No other words are spoken as I strip us both and lay her down, sliding inside of her.
Rowan has no idea, but tonight changed things between us.
She’ll be resistant.
I’m up for the challenge.
It’s time to build our life together.
22
ROWAN
Dad reaches for the plate and I swat him away, serving Ford with a smile. “You get the first piece.”
“What the hell is that? I’ve been waiting all day for dessert,” Dad complains.
“You can wait all night, too, barring there is any left after Jewls.”
She presses her lips together, her eyes going wide when I hand over her serving.
“Serves you right after the stunt you pulled.”
“What stunt?”
