Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
ROWAN
I groan as the sharp buzz of my phone rattles me out of a deep sleep.
I fumble for it blindly across the nightstand. My hand knocks over an empty water glass before I finally catch hold of the phone and squint at the screen. Jax. I have to take it.
My voice is thick with sleep when I answer. “Yeah?”
“Morning, Rowan,” Jax says, sounding like a man who’s already halfway through his second cup of coffee.
I rub a hand over my face, trying to blink the sleep away—and then I shift.
Fuck.
My cock is rock-hard, straining against my boxers, so thick and full it feels like it might punch a hole through the damn mattress. I sit up slowly, trying to angle myself in a way that doesn’t make me want to grind my teeth in frustration.
“You alive?” Jax asks after a beat.
“Yeah,” I mutter, barely managing to sound normal. “Just...waking up.” Fighting yet another raging case of morning wood, more like it.
“Wanted to check on the porch. How’s Ophelia’s place looking?”
I clench my jaw and stare at the far wall, willing my body to behave. Even the mere mention of her name makes my boner worse. The way her dress clung to her soft curves was enough to have me needing a glacially cold shower. “The boards were in rougher shape than I expected. I’ll need more stain and some extra lumber to finish.”
There’s a pause on the line, then Jax continues. “You good with it? Need help?”
“I’ve got it,” I say quickly, shifting again. I’ve been fantasizing about seeing her away from the diner, and now that I have the chance, I’m not going to share that time with anyone. “I’ll be heading back over this afternoon.”
Every movement sends another jolt of pressure to my cock. The image of Ophelia, barefoot on her porch with the morning light catching in her honey-blonde hair, hits me like a punch to the chest. I can still hear the shy tremble in her voice when she offered me sweet tea and remember the way she tried to pretend like she wasn’t staring at me. I didn’t care, though, because she can damn well stare at me as much as she wants. I crave watching her lips part, her eyes sparkle, and that tiny gasp that escapes her plump lips when her eyes meet mine. I’ll take all of it, every day of my life.
I’m fucking dying over here. I shouldn’t be having these thoughts while talking to Jax.
“She doing alright?” Jax asks.
“Sure. She’s sweet,” I say, smiling at the memory of her.
Jax pauses and I hear someone talking to him in the background. “Right. I ran into Jake, from Ghost Security recently. We’ve got another build coming up at Silver Pine Ridge, if you’re interested in the work. I’ll send you the specs, but finish the porch first.”
“Yeah, I’ll take that project. Season’s nearly done here, and I’ll have more time on my hands,” I say. I don’t ever say no to earning more money.
When he hangs up, I’m left sitting there, cock painfully hard, my chest tight with more than just lust. Every time I look at Ophelia, my mind spins to imagining a lifetime with her by my side. What if I go for it and ruin everything?
What if I don’t, and I let her slip away?
I head straight for the back aisle of the Heartland General Store, where I know I can find everything I need.
Boards. Stain. Nails. And some extra wood for another project.
My thoughts keep returning to the memory of the curve of Ophelia’s smile, the sway of her wide hips, the blush on her cheeks when she caught me watching her, the way sunlight lights up her hair like she’s a perfect angel. She’d looked away like she didn’t believe the desire she saw in my eyes—like she didn’t think a man like me could want a woman like her.
She’s wrong.
Jax’s sister Andrea is behind the register when I bring everything up front. She’s sorting screws into little bins like she’s bored out of her mind. When she sees me, her face lights up.
“Well, well. You’re back already?” She grins. “Let me guess—Ophelia’s porch needs more than a quick fix?”
“Yeah,” I say. “Didn’t grab enough yesterday.”
She starts scanning the items, but her eyes flick up to mine and I know she’s going to pester me. “You and Ophelia, huh?”
I keep my expression neutral. “What about us?”
Andrea shrugs, leaning her elbows on the counter. “Leesa’s told me she’s trying to set you two up. I’ve also seen you in that diner enough to know you look at her like there’s never been another woman in the history of the world.”
“I didn’t realize it was that obvious,” I admit, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Not to her,” Andrea says. “But to everyone else? Yeah. Kinda is.”
My heart thuds hard. “You think she really…?” Could Andrea be right? She’s saying about the same thing that Leesa did. Surely, they’re not both pranking me.
“Likes you?” Andrea finishes for me. “God, yes. She blushes every time anyone even says your name. She’s into you, Rowan. Big time.”
I exhale slowly, willing my heart to stop racing. I want to believe it. I do. But I also know how many times people get it wrong. People who think a polite smile means desire.
“I’ll take that under consideration,” I say, trying to be as neutral as possible. Maybe there’s hope for me after all.
And maybe I can get the bombshell of my dreams, and do something about the hardwood situation in my pants.
My truck turns toward the diner before I’ve even consciously made the decision. I park at the edge of the lot and take a second, gripping the wheel, breath tight.
I don’t know what I’m going to say. All I know is I have an overwhelming need to see her. Doesn’t matter that I’ll see her in a few hours—I need to see her now.
The bell jingles overhead when I step inside the diner. She’s behind the counter working the lunch rush and laughing softly at something her coworker says, her face light and happy. Her blonde hair is pulled up in a loose bun, a few strands falling around her face. She looks beautiful.
She spots me, and her whole expression changes. A blush spreads from her cheeks down to her chest, and… Fuck. There goes my cock again.
“Hi,” she says, breathless.
“Hey,” I reply, barely able to keep my voice steady. I don’t know what I was thinking, except that I had to see her.
There’s a beat of silence. Tension so thick I can feel it humming through my chest.
“Did you come in for some pie? We’ve had a run on the cherry pie today,” she says, trying to smile. “Sorry if you wanted a slice.”
I don’t say anything for a second. My mind spins in directions that it shouldn’t in public. All I can think of is her saying cherry pie, and my cock twitches with interest like it knows exactly what kind of craving that sparks.
Her cherry pie. I could kneel between her sweet, creamy thighs and eat her for every meal for the rest of my life.
My voice is tight. “No… no problem.”
Our eyes hold. I fight back a groan when I see her tongue flick out and wet her lips.
I want her. Right now. Right here. And I don’t know how much longer I can hold back.
“Are we still on for this afternoon, Rowan?” Ophelia asks, tension creasing her forehead.
“Actually, something came up. Is it okay if I stop by tomorrow instead?” I ask, fumbling over my words like an inexperienced teenager. “I was going to have some pie, but if you’re out…then another time.” I realize I sound like a fool, but that’s what she does to me. I look at her, and all my sense just leaves me, and my inner caveman comes out.
“Good,” she says, exhaling and giving me a big smile. “I’ll see you then.”
And I’ll see you in my dreams, sweetheart.