Page 19 of Catching Feelings

I turn my attention to Rowan and her gaze snaps up to my face. Yeah, I caught her staring at my abs, and I have no problem with her objectifying me. Fuck, she can objectify me morning, noon, and night.

Because I’m a cocky ass, I wipe my hands down my torso, pretending to wipe away the water dripping onto my cock. Okay. Fine. Water isn’t dripping on my cock, but I can pretend that’s where her focus is.

Was. She’s staring at my face too hard. Like she’s trying not to follow the movement of my hand. She bites down on her lower lip then turns her attention to Emmitt in her arms.

It would be more awkward if I don’t greet her with a kiss to the cheek like I did to Riley and Kendall, so I lean over and brush my lips across her cheek. I may or may not accidentally slide my lips across the corner of her mouth.

Oops.

“I hear it’s your birthday.”

“Riley!” Rowan reprimands.

“You’re not supposed to know about that.” Riley scowls. “Did Walker tell you?” She looks at Rowan. “I swear, Kendall, Mindy, and I were going to give you presents and cake later on when all the guys are shit faced at the cornhole tournament and clueless to our existence.”

“Ladies.” I shake my head. “There’s not enough beer in Boston to make us clueless about your existence.”

“Please don’t make a big deal about it,” Rowan begs.

I rub my chin and nod. “Save me a piece of cake and I won’t say a word.”

“Deal.”

I want to ask about her date, but I’d rather have that conversation in private when I can lead in with my own pick-up lines.

The only problem is, the lines I know are cheesy or too sexual for someone like Rowan. I need some of Trenton’s finesse.

Since he’s still in Nashville, I’m on my own tonight. Not wanting to push too far so early in the night, I tap Emmitt’s nose then leave the ladies alone and head to the food line.

As tempted as I am to turn around to see if Rowan’s eyes are on my ass—because my ass has been compared to a hockey player’s on more than one occasion—I don’t look back.

It isn’t until later in the night when Paisley and Darius’s kids are inside watching a movie in the home theater and Kendall and Riley are snuggled up with their husbands around the fire that I find a moment alone with Rowan.

“Hey,” I come up behind her and whisper in her ear. She jerks back and I rest my hands on her shoulders. “You promised me a slice of cake.”

She tilts her chin up and looks over her shoulder at me. Her mouth is inches from mine and I zero in on her lips. Full. Pink. Glossy.

Fuck, she has an amazing mouth. Her lips promise to be fucking Heaven. Watching them wrap around my cock—

Nope. Can’t go there. Not now.

“It’s in the fridge.” She heads inside and I follow close behind.

“Why so secretive about your birthday?” I ask as she cuts me a slice and serves it on a paper plate.

“You know me.” She shrugs. “Being the center of attention is not my idea of a good time.”

“Whatisyour idea of a good time?” I shovel a forkful of chocolate raspberry cake into my mouth before I can regret the innuendo.

It’s not like she has to interpret my question sexually. Or she can. I have no qualms about that.

“I don’t know. Whatever. I’m easy to please.” She closes the bakery box and puts it back in the fridge. “Ice cream?”

I shake my head. “I’m good. Want a bite?” I hold out another forkful of cake, but she declines.

Probably a good thing. Watching her lips on the fork that had been in my mouth wouldn’t be good for the situation in my shorts. Surely my cock is about ready to make his presence known through the thin fabric.

I clear my throat and do my best to sound casual. “So, how was the date last week?”

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