She chuckles, then nods. “Okay.”
“Rowan Bishop, are you blushing?” I tease, pulling on one of her braids.
“Oh my God, I hate you!” She punches my arm, laughing.
“See? People will be none the wiser that we’re dancing between the sheets behind closed doors.” I waggle my brows, and she pushes me back, jumping off the stool.
“I’m already regretting this decision,” she states, walking away, but I quickly grab her arm and pull her back into my chest.
“I’ve always adored that smart mouth of yours,” I tell her, bringing my lips to hers. “I can’t wait to see what else you can do with it.”
Diesel: You’re lookin’ pretty sexy in those jean shorts. Especially when you bend over.
Rowan: Stop staring at my ass.
Diesel: Never. I’ve been staring at it since I was ten.
Rowan: OMG! You were a little perv.
Diesel: Says the girl who wore bikinis around all summer. Would you rather I stared at your chest?
Rowan: I’m almost certain I did catch you looking a few times…
Diesel: Well, I only had so much willpower. Teenage hormones won nine times out of ten.
Rowan: Go away.
Diesel: Come home with me tonight.
Rowan: I can’t. I’m trying to work, and you’re distracting me.
I chuckle, unable to hide how happy bantering with Rowan makes me. She’s working till close, and I’ve been here for two hours, purposely ordering expensive beer that she has to get from the bottom of the cooler. Though she’s trying to act unaffected by me, she’s doing a shit job with her hidden glances and flushed cheeks. We’re supposed to be acting normal so no one notices, but considering Riley and Grayson both asked why I’ve been smiling all day, I know I’m not doing a great job at it either.
So far, we only get moments together at closing time when I stay behind and help her. Once her duties are complete, we make out in the office until she tells me to go home. I’ve been fucking exhausted for four days, but it’s been so goddamn worth it. However, I crashed right after work tonight so I didn’t get to the bar until ten. Staying up until three a.m., then having to be up at six to work a nine-hour day is quickly catching up to me. Rowan’s told me I don’t have to come in and visit every night, but it’s the only time we get between our work schedules. I have off on Saturdays, so I’m hoping she’ll have some time to spare for us to really hang out privately.
My place is still being fixed up, but we can still hang out in my living room. Of course she’s hesitant because Riley or any of the other ranch hands could come over and bust us being together. Keeping our relationship to ourselves isn’t an ideal situation, but it’s what we have to do right now until we figure out this new territory together.
Diesel: You should meet me in the equipment barn tomorrow during my lunch break.
Rowan: What time? I have a couple of errands to run for my dad in the morning.
Diesel: I’d make any time work for you.
Rowan: I should be done by noon.
Diesel: It’s a date, baby. Wear your hair in those braids I like.
Rowan: Get your mind out of the gutter! No getting handsy.
Diesel: Absolutely no promises…In fact, wear a skirt too.
She knows I’m joking, but just to be sure, I send her a winking emoji. We’re taking things slow, something I’m constantly having to remind myself, but it’s for the best. As much as I want to explore every inch of Rowan, I want to give this a real shot. No hopping into bed and screwing shit up. Though I know a lot about her, she’s slowly been opening up, and I’ve seen another side of her. Rowan confessed last night that she’s hesitant about jumping into a relationship after the way her last one ended. I assured her we’d go at her pace, and I’m not pressuring her to do anything she doesn’t want to. I’ll be one hundred percent patient for her. I’ve waited this long, and I’ll wait as long as needed until she’s ready to take a leap.
Rowan: SMH. You’re relentless.
Diesel: I can lift it again like I did at the church picnic when everyone saw your Barbie underwear.
Rowan: Another reason I hated you growing up.
Diesel: Lies. You adored me.
Rowan: That really was a cruel prank. I should get you back for that.
Diesel: What’d you have in mind? Handcuffs? Blindfolds? Maybe a whip?
Rowan: That’s a GREAT idea! Once you’re all tied up, I’ll take a picture and send it to all your exes, and they’ll realize they dodged a bullet.
Diesel: Man. You’re evil. Pure evil.
Rowan: You started it!
Diesel: I was eight!
I hear her cackling in the office and know she’s laughing at our conversation. She pretends to be annoyed by me, but by the way her mouth attacks mine, it’s more than obvious she’s putting up a front. Whether she’s holding back because she’s worried how everyone will react once we announce it or that she’ll get hurt, my goal will always be to make her laugh. I’ll prove to her I’m nothing like any man she’s ever dated, especially her douchebag ex-boyfriends. I’d take a gunshot to the heart before I hurt Rowan.