Page 20 of Second Chance for the Grump

“Then maybe…”

I kissed him as hard as possible.

He needed to stop talking, and I couldn’t think of another way to make him do it. At least that’s what I told myself in the moment. The truth was way worse.

The second our mouths met, the rest of the world melted away. I wasn’t going to let Rowan leave this town without taking me with him. I didn’t know how I’d explain it to my dad, but he’d have to figure it out.

Before I let myself envision a home and two dogs with Rowan, I had to make sure this thing between us was real.

Just as I pulled away, he kissed me back even harder.

Rowan wrapped an arm around my waist and pushed me up against my car. I glanced back as his free hand rested on my driver’s side window. When did we get to the parking lot?

I made a small sound against his mouth as he moved his shoulders away from me, breaking us apart.

“Maisey,” he muttered and then came back for one smaller kiss against my lips. “Let’s get out of here.”

The way he said my name made my knees weak. I gave him a quick nod and scooted out from under his arm.

“No, I’m driving,” he said, taking the keys from my outstretched hand. “We’ll get back faster. You drive like a grandma.”

“I do not,” I argued but got in the passenger side of the car.

We were pulling out of the parking area when he spoke again. “I know you’re scared.”

“I’m terrified.” About all of it. Getting Charlie back, keeping myself safe from Jonathan, what to do with the big hunky SEAL in my driver’s seat. All. Of. It.

Rowan’s gaze softened as he turned off Main Street. “So am I.”

“Really?” That surprised me. He always seemed so confident.

He snorted. “I’ve been scared as shit since I stepped off the plane here.”

“You didn’t seem scared.” He seemed self-aware, confident, and badass, but not scared.

He chucked again. “That’s because I’m grumpy. It hides it well.”

His joke earned him a genuine laugh. I didn’t think he was grumpy either.

“There she is,” he said, resting his right hand on my leg and squeezing my knee. It sent shockwaves up my body, right to my heart.

Something settled between us, like we had an unspoken agreement that we’d both just signed on the dotted line for.

The car stopped as he parked in the driveway attached to my garage. Something in me refused to move.

Rowan tipped my head toward his and kissed me again. Slower this time. Gentler. Like he was being delicate with me.

It was the kind of kiss that settled into my soul and promised that if I just let go, everything would be okay.

So I did.

I ran my fingers through his dark hair and dragged his head closer, making the kiss deeper. “Rowan.”

“Yeah?” he asked through barely parted lips.

“We should go inside.” My sentence had just finished before he pulled away from me, threw open his door and was at my side of the car before I’d gotten all the way out.

We kissed again outside my front door. He unlocked it without letting me go. His forehead rested against mine as I breathed in his cologne and the chilly October weather.