Chapter Seven #2
I clapped my hands in delight. “You’re the baby of the family? Is it like everyone says—they all look after you and pave the way with their own antics for you to do what you want?”
“Actually, yeah. But I turned out the least chaotic of all of them. Maybe out of spite.” He chuckled, a fond expression on his face.
“Riley, second eldest of our bunch, plays basketball in the WNBA and is an all-around badass. She’s the only one of us almost as tall as me.
Loves dogs. Not fond of humans, although her new girlfriend might beg to differ. ”
“Ruben is the second youngest. He’s a fantastic piano player and, his words not mine, an out and proud slut.
There’s not a single person in the orchestra that he hadn’t fooled around with.
I’m not telling you secrets, by the way, he won’t deny any of this.
” Rowan said it as if I’d meet his siblings soon. Which of course, wouldn’t be happening.
“My eldest sister, Raina, is an artist. She loves to paint the most, but she’s talented in so many media it goes over my head.
Raina is the most free-spirited of us all, but is doing what none of us are even planning to do—getting married.
She will be walking down the aisle with my best friend, Troy, next week.
They’ve been together forever. Troy is stuck here at work, so she’s been running around and finalizing the wedding bits.
Several things have gone wrong, but she’s calling Troy to consult all the time.
I only know about the bride’s mates’ outfits and the rest sounds very complicated.
She’s handling it so well considering the whole thing is like a big-ass stressful operation.
” Rowan took a deep breath, then gave me a sheepish look. “They can be a lot, but I adore them.”
Hearing Rowan share so much with me warmed my heart. We’d never had a chance to talk, and I assumed he was a man of few words. Clearly he only needed someone to listen.
“I can see that. They sound amazing.”
“How about your family?”
I looked away. “I have Ethel, my great aunt. She lives nearby. That’s it.”
“Tell me about her.”
“She’s a total menace at the nursing home she’s at. She was married to my great-aunt Anabelle. They both raised me. Not like mothers, but like unhinged, witchy aunts. Never a dull day with those two.”
“And your parents?” He asked tentatively.
I swallowed hard. “Dead.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s been years since they passed.” I shook my head so as not to let the melancholy in. Now was not the time. I pulled on Rowan’s hand. “Look, the nighttime ice-cream is still open!”
The small wooden booth with a red and white striped canopy was snuggled between two firs.
“Good evening, Mr. Sonberg.” I grinned at the owner, a Jersey Devil, who visited my cafe at least once a week. He was in his fifties and had a big family that often helped him during the hot days in the summer to deliver as many cool snacks as possible.
“Hi Milo, mint chocolate chip for you?”
“Yes, please!”
“And for your date?” He flicked his fingers over his curved horn, sizing up Rowan as if he had to jump out of his booth to protect me. He was half the size of Rowan, so that was admirable.
Rowan had been right; even cryptids reacted to his size, and in this case it manifested in a protective reaction about the human present. Me. How odd. I saw the best in people, which I couldn’t deny, but Rowan invoked safety when I was with him.
I plastered myself to Rowan’s side and gazed at him lovingly. “What’s your favorite?”
He wrapped an arm around my waist, gentle but possessive. “Dulce de Leche, please. Three scoops.”
Mr. Sonberg nodded and prepared two cones.
Both Rowan and I reached for wallets, but Mr. Sonberg waved us off. “Your money is no good here, Milo. My niece said that you gave her a sandwich every time she forgot lunch at school.”
I shrugged. “Lana has a business class with me.”
Mr. Sonberg leveled a pointed look at me. “Exactly. You’re a friend of the family. Have a great evening.”
“You too. See you at the Wednesday chess club.” I twirled on my heel, losing my grip on the cone, then grabbed it with two hands and exhaled with relief.
“Thank you,” said Rowan with ice cream on his lips. “This is so good.”
“Told ya.”
We walked through the park, smacking softly, eating the delicious treat.
I directed us to go in a loop and return to where we had entered.
As much as I wanted to stroll with Rowan all night, I had to pick up deliveries in the morning, cover for lunch breaks at the cafe, then study for the next test.
“Everyone knows you around here,” Rowan said as if he’d been thinking about it the whole time.
“If they visit my cafe, yeah. When you live in Wendigo Hills, the town becomes a part of you, so you get to know people. Mr. Sonberg’s mom ran the ice cream shop when I was little, and her dad owned it before that.
So it’s been a staple of the park for decades now.
Oh, and they have ice cream for dogs too. ”
“That’s so sweet.” Rowan glanced at his watch, a silver, fancy-looking one, but the old-school type with a clock face, not digital. “Are you working tomorrow?” He licked his dripping ice cream around, and the mere sight of his tongue was obscene to me.
I was ready to drag him to my house and find out what else he could do with it.
“Yup.”
“I can walk you home.”
I faux gasped. “Getting rid of me so quickly?”
“What? Absolutely not. We can go back to my hotel if you’re okay without a change of clothes for work.” Rowan licked his ice cream, scooping an illegal amount into his mouth.
I groaned. “I’m kidding. You’re right, I gotta get some sleep. I live just around the corner from the park.” I pointed to the row of houses gently lit by lamps and an odd light in the window. “I walk this path often; it’s so peaceful at night.”
Rowan stiffened next to me. “Isn’t it dangerous when it’s dark?”
“This town is pretty safe, and I can run fast.” I patted his arm and let my hand linger.
He huffed. “Way to make me feel useless.”
“Oh wow. Are you my fierce protector now?” I rolled my eyes.
“No.” Rowan was not a good liar.
I jumped up to kiss his cheek. “You’re very useful. And I’ve always been fine on my own.” I yawned, and a sleepy shiver ran through me.
He grumbled, but a smile graced his face.
We finished our ice cream in comfortable silence, walking side by side.
It had been a date with sex first and food afterward, but the last part was not the only thing that differentiated the evening from my previous hookups.
I wanted him to stay, even after a great roll in the sheets and a romantic walk in the park; his company was like a balm on my chaotic existence.
Throughout my year-long relationship with Andrew, he’d rarely stayed over, and I’d never seen his place.
In hindsight, I should have realised he’d been playing me from the start.
Maybe Rowan was showing me that a different type of man existed, but I hadn’t been looking hard enough.
“This is me.” I indicated the entrance to my house with a theatrical wave, then jumped all three steps to the front door. Rowan remained on the sidewalk, putting us at eye-level for the first time. “Do you want to come upstairs?”
“Very much.” He traced a finger along my midriff and sucked in a breath. “But I’m afraid I wouldn’t let you sleep.”
I pouted. “Another orgasm would make me fall asleep quicker.” Then again, I may have nightmares and make a scene in the middle of the night I’d rather him not see.
Rowan chuckled, the deep and sexy sound flowing in the evening breeze toward me. If I could catch it, I would store it in a jar to open whenever I needed a pick-me-up.
“I should go.” Rowan placed a hand on my cheek, nah, the entire side of my face with how big his paw was, and kissed me briefly. Once. Then again.
I chased his lips for more, but he pulled away.
“Are you busy tomorrow evening?” I asked.
“No. Unless you want to make me busy.”
I chewed on my lower lip. “I do.” You’re too clingy.
Get a grip. We can’t see each other all the time; you have other things to do.
Andrew’s words rang in my head. “But we don’t have to meet every day.
Only when we want to. So like, no pressure.
You’re in town only for a few weeks and I need to let off some steam. It’s just that,” I added hastily.
Rowan frowned, then nodded once. “Of course. That works for me. But…” He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Can I have your number?”
I let out a relieved giggle. “Yup. Are you ready?”
Rowan fished out his phone in a nanosecond. “Go ahead.” He typed in the digits I dictated and sent a text:
See you tomorrow morning.
Author’s notes:
They exchanged numbers!! As I promised :P It only took them seven chapters LOL
P.S. I’m also pausing updates to my “Seduced by the Gorgon” fic for now. I HAVE TO write this first! Sorry (not really tho).
This one-shot turned out to be a bit longer, oops!