Page 81 of Twisted Knight

And it feels like just as soon as it starts, it ends with Rowan pushing back against my chest and patting it. “There. You happy? You win. Now get me out of here.” She walks to the passenger side of my SUV and climbs in without me saying a single word.

Alrighty then.

I look back toward the door of the bar, climb into my car, and then head out of the parking lot.

I glance over to her and her pout has me grinning.

She holds a finger up. “Don’t fucking gloat, Knight. Not once.”

“Or else?”

“Or else I’ll jump out of this moving vehicle and the world will blame my death on you. Can’t take over my company if you’re in jail for murder.”

“You can’t run said company that I won’t be taking over if you’re dead.”

“Then don’t doom the both of us.”

I chuckle. If this is how the woman is after she gets kissed, god help me for still wanting to sleep with her.

But I do gloat. Silently. Hell, I could drive her home right now and walk away knowing I won this battle. That I bent her to my will. That she fucking caved. But the feel of her lips and my desire to taste them again has me going anywhere but there.

We drive in silence for a bit, the interior of my SUV feeling small suddenly with the scent of her perfume. Her phone is in her hand, but she never looks at it despite it lighting up every few seconds from incoming texts or notifications.

“Do you want to—”

“No,” she says sternly.

I laugh. “Okay then. I’ll just keep driving.”

“Good idea.”

I drive. Through Westmore. Past its outskirts. Into the neighboring city of Hampton West.

I’d like to think I’m driving aimlessly as I do on most nights when I can’t sleep, but I know exactly where I’m going.

The question is why, Holden? Why are you bringing her there?

To test her?

To prove she isn’t the same person she was back then?

“You’re new in town and yet you know this place?” She snorts as I put the SUV in park. “It doesn’t fit.”

“I wasn’t aware I had to fit in anywhere.”

“You’ve been seen everywhere one goes to be seen. Westmore Country Club. The Vine…” she says and names off a few more restaurants and social spots. Places I’ve been to play the game that needs to be played while hating every moment of it. “This place doesn’t fit that version of the you you’re selling.”

“Maybe because this person isn’t who I want them to see,” I say, surprised by my honesty.

She’s fucking right, isn’t she?

I let one goddamn kiss, one fucking touch of her pussy throw me off so much I came here.

This is not good, Holden.

Fucking Rowan is one thing you’ve accepted is going to happen. Letting down your guard with her isn’t an option.

And you just let it down by coming here.