4. I Hadn’t Even Seen Him Naked #2
“Oh no. Actually, Ivy guilted me into texting you an invite this evening. I was going to leave you on read and go home to paint.” I shrugged, as if it were no big deal whatsoever.
I don’t know why, but I had the extreme urge to bring him down a few notches.
He had no reason to be so cocky with me.
I wasn’t interested. I’d said that. He pushed this, not me.
Was he gorgeous? Yes. Was he every girl who reads a cowboy romance’s wet dream? Clearly. But did I care? No. I didn’t need a cowboy. I just needed to be left alone to live my life. Quietly. Without complications.
He was most definitely a complication . Ivy said he didn’t do “commitment,” and that was great for him.
But I was a hopeless romantic with trust issues and a broken…
Well, I was just broken all around. I wasn’t sure I could do the whole one-night stand thing and not immediately get attached.
I wasn’t sure I was up to trying either.
I looked over at him then to find him just staring at me with those intense blue eyes of his. I hadn’t noticed just how blue they were last night. They were stunning, like dark sapphires, only with more heat and intensity than should be allowed in one person’s gaze.
I shook my head and waved the bartender down again.
I needed another shot and some food to soak it all up.
I wasn’t trying to come off as an alcoholic, but this man made me nervous as hell, and I wasn’t sure exactly what was going to come out of my mouth next.
More than likely nothing good, that was for sure.
I looked back, and he was still staring but not saying a single word. “What exactly is it that you want from me, Rowan?” I was breathless and on edge already, and he’d only just arrived. We’d spoken about five words to each other, none of which could be considered flirting.
“What do I want, Aspen?” His voice had a sudden, gravely quality to it as it dropped half an octave.
“I want you. All of you. I want your hopes, your dreams, your worries, and fears. I want to hear what you think about in the middle of the night and what you dream about in the middle of the day. I want to know what you sound like when you laugh fully and when your body is screaming in ecstasy. I want to see what you look like first thing in the morning and when you’re on your knees begging for me.
I want all of you, and I won’t settle for anything less. ”
I sat there, mouth agape, staring at him. Completely bewildered. Where did this man come from? Why were my insides suddenly even more hot and tingly than they were before? What in the world was I supposed to respond with?
Ivy specifically said this man didn’t commit. Ever. What was happening? That sounded like commitment. “Your hopes, your dreams, your worries, and fears .” Sounded a lot like getting to know someone and then, ya know, committing?
Rowan smiled at my clear level of speechlessness.
“It’s okay, little angel. I do understand this is quite a bit to take in.
I also get that this may be a little…intense.
But you asked. For now, I’ll settle for getting to know you.
Something about you has me…intrigued. Clearly, Tequila is your go-to shot choice.
” He pointed down to the shot the bartender had brought over.
I hadn’t even noticed him get here and leave again.
What was this man doing to me? And why did I like it so much?
I swallowed and looked back up at him slowly. “Fine. We can talk. But that’s it. You’re not coming home with me or anything. So don’t get any ideas.” Attempting to sound unaffected by him was obviously not going to be high on my list of talents this evening—possibly ever.
But we could talk. I could have more friends than just Ivy, right? That was allowed—now it was anyway.
“Okay.” He shrugged casually. “First question—where are you from? We’ll start with the basic boring shit, then the fun stuff.”
“I was born and raised in Las Vegas until I moved here a few months ago. What about you?”
“I was born and raised right here in Raven Creek. But I’ve been all over Colorado for my work.
I help at my family’s ranch, raising cattle and breeding and training bulls for bull rides.
So, I get to take many of them to the rodeos for events.
I also pick up some extra work here and there, training some of the horses for barrel racing.
” The pride radiated off of him in waves as he spoke, and I couldn’t help but admire him.
“Oh. How big is your family?”
“There are five of us kids in total, and my mom. Oliver is the oldest, and he has a son who just turned nine, Hudson. Then, my twin brother, Wyatt and I. After that is Theo and our youngest sister, Payton. Wyatt and Theo, you met last night.”
“Does everyone work on the ranch with you?” Surprisingly, I was genuinely curious. He sounded so proud to be part of his family, it was honestly one of the sweetest things I’d seen in a long time—possibly ever. Which just made me realize I truly needed to get out more.
“Nah, just Oliver and I. Wyatt does computer security for a few different companies, freelance type of stuff. Theo is in the army, but he’s on leave right now.
He’s home contemplating whether he wants to renew his contract or not, but I doubt he’ll stay home much longer.
Then Payton just finished nursing school. She works at the local hospital.”
I wanted to ask about his dad, but at the same time, I didn’t. Happy looked good on him, and I had the feeling bringing up his dad would diminish that somehow. So I pushed the question down.
“You sound like the proudest brother ever,” I said instead.
The smile that lit up his face made my heart constrict slightly. “Oh, I am. My family is everything to me. I love them more than anything.” He shrugged, as if he were trying to make it seem like no big deal, but I knew just how big of a deal it was. “What about you, little angel?”
“Oh…uhm, well. Mom left when I was little, Dad died a couple of years ago from a heart attack, and I have no siblings that I’m aware of.” I shrugged and took a sip of my drink, trying to act as if it wasn’t a big deal.
He reached over and took my hand gently into his.
The difference between us was staggering.
This masculine man with his tanned skin, calloused hands, and his hard-working attitude was surrounded by his family, whom he worshipped.
Me? I was surrounded by one friend whom I’d just made and a broken spirit floating into the world with nothing to offer.
“My dad passed away when I was twelve.”
I took a deep breath and looked over at him.
He didn’t look sad or pitying. He just looked like he understood, and that wasn’t something I was used to at all.
I knew by the type of man he’d already shown me he was that our fathers were nothing alike, yet it was something that connected us.
Some deeper understanding that he related to me.
I swallowed roughly, trying to choke back the emotions that I normally buried deep.
“Okay, moving on from the heavy stuff.” I tried to force a laugh. “Favorite hangover food should clearly be the next topic of conversation.”
He let out a soft chuckle. “Absolutely, it should be.”
I had somehow spent the last hour sitting at the bar getting to know Rowan, and I was sort of sorry to say I actually enjoyed his company, which was not where I saw this night going.
Rowan was funny, but in a more serious sort of way.
His dry humor and quick wit went along with the intense aura he gave off.
His eyes didn’t miss anything, and his questions were actually thought out.
He didn’t just ask me boring stuff like my favorite color.
He asked about how I ended up here—which I edited a bit because an abusive ex wasn’t in a first date conversation—what movie I loved to rewatch during Christmas time, my favorite concert I’d ever been to, and who I thought the most overrated celebrity was.
Questions that kept me laughing and entertained.
I looked over, meeting his intense blue gaze. “Thank you for this, Rowan. I think this is the most fun I’ve ever had with someone who isn’t Ivy.” I felt the light blush spread across my cheeks.
“I’m not going to lie, Aspen, we’re going to need to get you out some more.” The tone of his voice sounded like he was making a joke, but the look in his eyes told me he was being serious.
Ivy hopped up on the stool on my other side, forcing a small, surprised squeak from my lips. She was covered in sweat and smiling. “Oh, hello, you two love birds! I need a shot, and then you two need to join us out there! The energy is absolutely amazing tonight.”
I laughed and slid the shot of tequila that had been sitting in front of me this entire time over to her. “I’m not trying to drag Rowan out there, Ivy.”
“Oh, I don’t mind. I haven’t been dancing in years.
Could be fun.” He shrugged with a smile, as if he knew I was trying to shrug off the invite for myself, and not to save him from the floor in the middle of the bar.
“Don’t worry, little angel, I’ll show you what to do.
” He leaned over and set his hat on my head, still wearing the grin of a true troublemaker.
“See?! Let’s go, Aspen. Let’s get sweaty.
” She winked at me, leaning in close as she whispered in my ear, “Plus, you know what it means when a man puts his hat on your head, right?” She smirked as I felt my cheeks heat up again.
I was going to smack her later for this, but I found myself unintentionally smiling anyway.
Apparently, I was dancing now. In Rowan’s hat. An act I was going to try very hard not to look into or let make me feel any sort of way.