Page 9 of One Lustful Summer
We walk silently across the rows leading to the back. The quietness is comfortable, there’s no need to fill the void with conversation.
“This is me,” I tell Rowan as we approach my car. Stopping at the back of the hatch, I turn towards him. “Thank you for walking me out.”
“It’s no problem,” Rowan states. He looks around and mumbles, “they really need to get better lighting out here.”
I do another sweep of the parking lot. It’s not pitch black where we’re at. There is some light from the building and street lights that illuminate the parking lot. But it’s not as bright as it was closer to the building.
Not really sure what to say, I dig through my handbag and dig out my keys. I want to be confident, butI’m also nervous. The man is hot, like H–O–T, hot.
I take a step forward and leave his warmth behind. The chill instant, the same as it was moments ago when he got the door to lead us outside. I press down on the key fob and unlock my door as I walk towards the driver’s side door. After opening the door, I turn back to him and hold my head up high. “It was great to meet you, Rowan.”
“Same,” he replies.
With one last smile, I climb into the driver’s seat and get situated. I’m trying to buy time. I don’t want to leave his presence. But does he feel the same or is he just a southern gentleman?
With a small shake of my head, I start the engine and reach out to pull the door shut, but stop when I see a pair of jean-clad legs. If I hadn’t caught myself, I would or grabbed something that I don’t think either of us is ready for.
Rowan crouches down so that he’s at my eye level in the seat. “You good to drive home?” He asks with concern. His eyes searching for any hint of doubt.
“Yeah, I only have a glass of wine at dinner. I’m good,” I answer. Grateful for his concern.
“Okay,” he replies. He’s silent for a moment, his eyes boring into mine as he closes the space between us.
He’s close, so close, as his hand reaches up towards my face. His calloused finger brushes against my cheek as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. My eyes flutter shut at his touch. “Be careful,” he whispers.
When I open my eyes, he stands and takes a few steps back. With my stomach in knots, I back out of my spot and give him a quick wave as I drive away. My mind focused on Rowan the entire drive home.
Chapter 7
Rowan
One would think that on Fridays, my mornings would be a little easier because mom has had Jodi overnight and gets her ready and off to school. And while most Fridays are easier for me, I get to sleep in a little longer, catch up on some house duties that may need to be done.
This morning is the complete opposite. I tossed and turned all night. Thoughts of Maggie kept me up. Dreams of Maggie woke me up. I’ve never been this infatuated with someone that I barely even know.
When I walked her to her car last night, I’ve never wanted to kiss someone so bad. Her full lips were begging to be touched and teased. Her coconut and sunshine scent, an enticing fragrance that reminded me of beach filled days. Everything about her drew me in.
It was great to get to spend trivia with her, to see her loosen up. I got to see some sides of her that were exciting, fun, interesting.
And I know I should have given her a heads up that I’m going to be the person at her for the construction consultation. But I’m kind of excited to see the surprise on her face when she realizes it’s me. Hopefully, she will be as thrilled to see me as I am to see her.
When I took on the consultation earlier in the week and put it on my calendar, I wasn’t aware that it wasMaggie. I just knew that it was my grandmother’s home.
The home where my mom and her siblings grew up. The home where her father grew up with his siblings. The home that’s been in our family for generation after generation after generation until recently.
When I agreed to the consultation, dad questioned if I would be okay talking with the new owner. He seemed surprised when I said yes. I understood his concern, but in the end I wanted to see the house completed, and it didn’t hurt if I got to be the one to do it.
I had a lot of history already in the house. My grandmother and I work out the details of what she wanted to change and update. It’s why we added the addition to the house. She wanted to stay on the property while we worked on the house. Her new living quarters allowed her to do that and stay somewhere safe at the same time.
Unfortunately, her illness struck, and time wasn’t on our side.
I check the time on the stove clock and realize that I need to get the day started. Grabbing the original plans I draft for my grandmother, I place them in my laptop bag that already has my electronics stowed away inside.
I am interested in learning what direction Maggie wants to go with the house. Will she want a more modern design, a complete architecture change, or is she interested in restoring it back to a farmhouse? While there is a sadness that the house will no longer be in the family. There may be ways I can take the items Maggie isn’t interested in from the house and give them a new life. Restore them into something new for the family, so we always have a little piece with us.
Once on the road, I make a quick detour at Mom and Dad’s. I have a few minutes before mom leaves to get Jodi to school. I park my truck next to dad’s and hopout, leaving the engine running and the air conditioning on full blast. It’s already hot this morning.
I enter through the side door that leads directly into the kitchen. Mom turns from the counter when I enter. “Just in time. I just wrapped this up for you,” she tells me and hands me a breakfast burrito wrapped in tinfoil. Feeding everyone is something Mia DuPont will be forever remembered for. No one goes hungry when she’s around.
