Chapter Thirteen ROWAN
Chapter Thirteen
ROWAN
Wildlands was clearly a favorite hangout in town, and not just for the hotshot crews. “This place stays busy all the time,” I commented as I glanced around the full restaurant and the crowded bar.
“Always,” Graham agreed.
Phoebe lifted her beer and took a swallow.
After setting it down, she let her gaze arc around the space before it came to me.
“I remember when I was a kid. I couldn't wait to be old enough to come here when it was a bar. And now it’s old news, and I'm not even thirty yet.” She twisted her mouth to the side and let out a sigh.
Paisley slipped into a chair beside Phoebe at that moment, catching the tail end of her comment. “Thirty is not that old.”
Phoebe’s eyes slid to her, and she shrugged. “Maybe not, but I feel old right now.”
Graham's brows hitched up. “Well, at least you don't have a fourteen-year-old daughter. She manages to make me feel fucking ancient sometimes.”
I chuckled. “Makes sense. I have a sixteen-year-old sister, and she makes me feel ancient.”
“Oh, you have a sister?” Phoebe commented.
“Oh, yeah. She was my parents’ surprise baby, and apparently, now she's dating some asshole.” I sighed and shook my head.
Graham's eyes widened. “I can’t deal. I'll lose my shit if that happens with Allie.”
“I’m hoping it’s a short relationship.”
A few others joined us, and it was nice to relax and hang out with friends from work.
I knew the very second Mae walked in because I felt the hair rise on my forearms and a prickle of awareness run down my spine.
I glanced over my shoulder. She was by herself and paused, glancing around as if she were looking for someone.
As soon as her eyes landed on mine, I waved and stood.
I heard Graham's snort, but I ignored it as I walked toward her.
“Looking for someone?” I asked when I stopped in front of her.
Her pretty ginger eyes met mine. “Holly’s meeting me here.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and then sighed. “Oh, she canceled because she’s staying late at work. Shit.”
“Come sit with me.”
“You sure?” A little crease formed between her eyes, and I wanted to smooth it away.
“Of course, I'm sure. I'm just hanging out with the crew, all of whom you probably know better than I do. Come on.” I reached for her hand without thinking. The second I touched her, I thought she’d pull away, but she didn’t, and the feel of her fingers lacing into mine felt just right.
When we reached the table, Phoebe had already scooted over and patted the chair beside her. “Hey, Mae!” They side-hugged quickly, and Phoebe's curious eyes landed on mine. “You know Rowan then?”
A pink tinge bloomed on Mae’s cheeks when she nodded. “I do.” I was about to explain when Mae added, “We knew each other in college.”
A server stopped by the table. After that, conversation flowed easily, and I watched while Mae caught up with the friends she’d grown up with.
It was kind of strange because, to me, she took up so much space in my memory that it felt as if I’d known her forever.
Yet she’d known many of these people much longer than me.
I was glad to see Mae, really glad. But there was one small problem—I couldn't be near her without being hyperaware of everything. Her knee brushed mine at one point. Just that subtle touch was so hot, it was as if I’d been singed by a flame.
I had to adjust the way I was sitting because my arousal was tight in the confines of my jeans.
Fuck me. Mae was a straight shot into the vein of my desire. She was hungry and ordered food, but eschewed a glass of wine because she was driving. An hour or more later, I realized I could hardly focus on the conversation around me.
While Mae was chatting with Phoebe about something, Graham nudged me with his elbow. “Dude, you're pathetic.”
“What do you mean?” I glanced at him.
“You’ve got it bad.”
I didn’t even try to deny it. “I know.”
Eventually, the group filtered apart, and I walked out with Mae, reaching for her hand while we walked down the narrow hallway in the back.
I held her hand all the way out to her car.
She tapped the key fob to start it before looking up at me.
“You can go, you know. I can drive myself home,” she said lightly.
“I know you can. Just one thing.”
“What’s that?” Her breath puffed in the cold air.
I rested my hands on her car, caging her between my arms. She smiled up at me, her eyes searching mine.
I wanted to take her home so bad and have her all to myself. But I knew I needed to take it slow, so I told myself a kiss would be okay. Actually, a kiss would be fucking amazing. I knew what it was like to kiss Mae.
She had on this cute little knit cap with her hair tucked underneath. “I like this,” I said, running my fingertips along the edge of the stitching.
“I knitted it myself.”
“Did you now?”
She nodded. “I like to knit.”
“What would I have to do to get you to knit me one of these?”
Her lips twitched, and a giggle slipped out. “I don't know. I’ll have to think about it.”
“How about a kiss?” I murmured when my lips were but a whisper away from hers.
“How about this?”
She leaned up, brushing her lips across mine. The second her tongue darted out, I let out something between a growl and a groan. Once again, we tumbled into kiss after kiss, and I took deep sips from her mouth.
Before I knew it, I had her plastered against me. I even forgot where we were until the sound of a door slamming and a horn honking snapped me into awareness. I lifted my head, taking in a gulp of the icy cold air.
Her forehead dropped to my chest. “We can't seem to just kiss, huh?”
A laugh rustled in my throat. “Right now, that's all that's happening. You're going to get in that car, and you're going to go home. I'm going to see you for dinner next.”
She lifted her head and peered up at me. “I need to tell you something.” She was suddenly serious, but she also looked nervous.
“Okay, you can tell me anything.”