3. Instigator to the Extreme
INSTIGATOR TO THE EXTREME
A spen
I was doing my absolute best not to look, glance, or even sneak a quick peek over at Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome, who had rescued me while also making me fear for my life all in the span of fifteen seconds.
The guy who had started dancing with me, Garrett, started getting handsy, and my anxiety spiked.
I hadn’t been with anyone, let alone allowed another man to touch me, since Sam.
Apparently, my subconscious wasn’t interested after all.
But before I could react even more—punch him in the face, stomp on his foot, knee him in the balls— he was there, his broad, muscular arm around Garrett’s throat like the speed of light, whispering threats that made Garrett bolt for the door with his friend in tow. My own personal Superman.
No, not Superman. Rowan.
He was even more perfect standing before me in all his glory.
He had to be around six feet three, and even with the clothes on?
You could tell he was perfectly sculpted under all that denim and cotton.
By the time I could form words again, all I could think to offer him—that wasn’t pornographic—was a beer.
There wasn’t a great deal of thought in this plan.
Well, there was thought, just maybe not with the logical portion of my brain.
Clearly, my subconscious could react to a male…just not one like Garrett. Rowan, however, was a different breed of man, that was clear.
Looking over at Ivy, she was smiling at me as if she already knew what I was about to ask, and before I could utter the question, she started running through the facts.
“So, that’s Rowan Carragan. I mean, if you’re going to pick one to take home to get back on the horse, he’s a great option.
He’s even a cowboy! So the horse reference fits.
The man isn’t known for commitment, and I know after…
well, you know who, you aren’t into the serious aspect just yet, and since he hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night, you know he’s interested. ”
After I’d moved here, Ivy and I had a girls’ night at her apartment.
After one too many margaritas and homemade tacos, I’d broken down and told Ivy exactly why I left Nevada and who I was running from.
I figured if Sam followed me again, someone should know who to go after. I trusted Ivy with that and much more.
“Ivy, this isn’t a laughing matter. I told that other guy he was my boyfriend and then just offered the man a beer for pretty much saving my life.
I feel like he needs a monument or some shit.
Who just chokes a guy out in the middle of the dance floor like it’s no big thing to save a woman he doesn’t even know? ”
I knew it wasn’t that serious. I’d probably never see this man again.
I needed to just let it go and have fun with Ivy.
Yet…everything in my heart was saying this was the beginning of something way more.
Which I knew was insane, but the way he looked down at me as he was walking over?
That was not normal. The man had heat in his eyes.
I thought that only happened in the books Ivy always read and gushed about while I painted.
“Oh yes. A beer isn’t enough. Should’ve offered to drop to your knees for him instead like a good little girlfriend would.
” I knew she was making a joke because I was being dramatic and she knew I was getting in my head, but I couldn’t stop the way my cheeks heated at the thought.
Especially since that was the first place my mind had gone when he was in front of me, and it most definitely did not sound like the worst offer in the world.
“Is he always that intense?” I asked her after a moment.
“Intense?” She glanced over toward his table, and then back at me.
“I mean, maybe a bit, yeah. But nothing alarming. He works on his family’s ranch.
So, normally, he’s just with his family and working.
I don’t see him here much, but Theo must have dragged him out tonight.
That’s his youngest brother. Although to be honest, he’s still staring at you, so maybe Theo won’t have to drag him around much longer.
” She nodded her head slightly toward his table.
I immediately whipped my head to the side to look over, and sure enough, he was still staring our way—his gaze still intense as hell, even from across the bar floor. I mentally smacked myself because this was not part of the plan at all.
“I don’t have time for this, let’s dance some more,” I muttered, grabbing Ivy’s arm and dragging her back toward the dance floor. She waved to Todd, letting him know to watch our drinks.
I didn’t want to come across as rude or bossy, but my brain literally couldn’t handle the intense vibes Rowan was throwing down. I’d just left intense. I’d escaped intense. I couldn’t go back. Not again. Not ever.
Plus, with a man that looked like him? Not even close to in my league. It would just be a quick hot and heavy night together, and he’d never look my way again. A surefire way to get my heart broken in the mix of things.
“He’s still watching you, Aspen,” Ivy whispered against my ear as she started to dance against me.
She knew me well enough to know that I was done with men for the evening, so her taking the spot behind me was deliberate and a very Ivy move.
I was still choosing to ignore her comment and just let go of all the drama—choosing to dance with my best friend and listen to the music.
Another thirty minutes or so of dancing flew by before I remembered I had a favor to repay.
Seeing as I wasn’t going to offer to drop to my knees, even though my inner slutty girl I wasn’t even aware I had until tonight wanted to, I ignored her and headed over to the bar.
Flagging Damien down for a beer, I took a deep breath and prepared myself to be in the same vicinity as him again.
Grabbing his beer, I headed over to Rowan’s table.
He was sitting with two other guys, both of whom were clearly his brothers. They all shared the same dark hair and deep blue eyes, but one of them was identical to Rowan, only with shorter hair, and the other was clean-shaven with a buzz cut.
Rowan glanced up at me and smirked. “Well, look at that, boys, my girlfriend has finally arrived.”
I let out a small nervous laugh and handed him the beer. “A kind offering for saving my ass against jerks who can’t take a hint.”
“I appreciate the repayment, but it wasn’t needed.
My mother raised me better than to turn a blind eye when a lady needs my help.
” I could feel the heat climbing up my cheeks again.
Good lord, this man was something else. “Anyway, these are my brothers, Theo and Wyatt. My girlfriend should probably know my family after all.” He dipped his head at them as he named them off and then saved the smile until he was facing me again.
“Well, it’s great to meet you guys. I just wanted to drop that off before Ivy and I headed off.
So, thank you again. Oh, and I’m sorry about the girlfriend comment.
Obviously, you don’t even know me, and it was just the first thing that popped into my mind when he started trying to fight back…
I didn’t want him to start a huge scene and, yeah.
” I needed to get myself away from this man before I listened to Ivy and threw her idea onto the table in front of his brothers like a psycho.
I was rambling, which only happened when I was nervous.
“Anytime, little angel. Anytime.” The smile never left his face, but it didn’t seem like a normal, happy smile. It gave off the impression that he knew more than he should.
I also had no idea what the little angel nickname thing meant, but the way he said it made it sound dirty. Almost as if it were some sort of praise to use.
Send help—because good Lord.
I woke up to the sound of my phone alarm buzzing beside my head. Well, at least I’d remembered to plug that into its charger. One massive point for Aspen.
My head was pounding, and I was pretty sure it was a miracle we’d even made it back to Ivy’s place last night after all the tequila we’d had. I reached over, turning off my alarm, and then stretched out in Ivy’s queen-sized bed. Looking over, I realized she was still sleeping next to me.
Growing up, I’d never had any girlfriends.
I’d always wanted some, hell, even one would’ve been cool, but most of the girls around our neighborhood had “normal” families who knew all about my parents.
So, they didn’t want their kids over. You would’ve thought growing up in Las Vegas, no one would know anyone.
Yet somehow, they’d always known about my home life in our little corner of town.
As if there were some neighborhood gossip magazine, and we were the only ones not subscribed to it.
I’d had a couple of girls I’d gotten close to in some of the foster homes, but the last thing you were able to easily do was keep up with them when you’re all pre-teens, bouncing from home to home all the time with no phones or permanent addresses.
I dragged myself out of bed and headed into the bathroom to attempt to make myself feel more alive.
Coffee was desperately going to be needed via injection today.
Thankfully, I was off of work today. A small glimmer of positivity to accompany this foul hangover.
I couldn’t say the same for my bestie though.
I went into Ivy’s kitchen, started a fresh pot of coffee for us, and then grabbed a bottle of water with some pain medicine for us both. Walking back into her room, I bounced back on the bed next to her.