Page 134 of Tempting Promises
With measured steps, he moves closer. “No, because if you’re in trouble, the money isn’t enough, or you can’t manage, you’re going to tell me before it gets bad. You’re going to trust me to be your partner in this. You’re not going to shoulder all the goddamn burdens on your own anymore, Charlotte.”
He stops before me, and I tilt my head back to look up. “I’m not?”
“No.”
“Because you’ll be here?” I ask, knowing that he’s already shown me the truth.
“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”
My stomach does a little flip. “Why do you have new cows?” I ask because he sidestepped the question before.
“I’m expanding.”
“Okay,wheredid you get the new cows from?”
“You.”
I close my eyes, my heart pounding with both love and hate for him. “I should’ve known.”
When I look back up at him, he doesn’t seem all that concerned with my take on that. Each cow sold so quickly, it had to be someone local. I didn’t ask many questions about who bought them, mostly because at that point, I didn’t care, but Sawyer explained to my ranch-helper that the buyer is on a great farm, and he felt it was a good sell.
I just assumed it was someone he was working for.
Stupid me.
“I’m not going to apologize,” Rowan says as he brushes his knuckles down my cheek.
“I didn’t think you would.”
“Do you know why?” he asks.
“Because men don’t know how?”
He laughs once. “Funny. No, I won’t because you needed me, and I could do it. That’s what a relationship is. It’s giving and taking. It’s being strong when the other person is weak. It’s putting the other person’s needs above your own, which is why I said I would’ve walked away from Carson’s contract.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t want that.”
“I know, but God, baby, I wanted to give it to you. I wanted to see you smile and be happy.”
He makes me happy. My fingers tangle with his. “You did that. Every day you showed up.”
“I’ll always show up for you, Charlotte.” He leans down, pressing his lips ever-so-slightly to mine. “Now, do we have a deal?”
I sigh heavily, still feeling weighted down by all of this. He’s giving me so much, and I will forever be grateful. I also can’t be stupid and walk away from this.
“We have a deal.”
Rowan grins. “Seal it with a kiss?”
Only him. I fight back a smile and lift up on my toes, wrapping my arms around his neck, running my fingers through his thick, brownhair. “I love you.”
“I love you. Now kiss me so I can take you to bed and make this deal official.”
Our mouths touch, and he clutches me against him. The kiss is sweet, slow, and full of promises and love. His lips part, and I slide my tongue into his mouth, loving the taste of that perfect cup of coffee, only made better mixed with him.
Rowan breaks the kiss, squats down, and lifts me, forcing my legs to wrap around him. “Rowan!”
“Shut up and kiss me again.”
