Page 71 of Tempting Promises
“Serves you right,” she replies.
“We were here to get some food.” Rowan looks to me. “All I had today was a protein bar.”
The way he says it, the look in his eyes, has me going back to the last day in the cabin where I took it from him and then he punished me. I shift in my seat and he smirks.
Asshole.
“Well, I hate to be the plus one in this family luncheon. I’m going to grab my food from Magnolia and see if Donny will take payments in cheeseburgers,” I say as I stand.
Rowan stands too. “Is he working on your truck?”
“Yeah, it’s fine, though. I’m hoping to pick it up in a few days.”
“How did you get here?” he asks, looking out toward the parking lot.
“I didn’t walk, you know, since I can’t do that and all.”
Then I remember him scooping me up and carrying me.
His gaze returns to mine. “If you didn’t walk, how did you get here?”
“I rode the ATV. Now, I really need to go.” I turn to the rest of the Whitlocks. “It was great seeing you all. I hope you have a wonderful lunch.”
Brynn smiles. “Good luck with Donny. Maybe bring him a cupcake, he’s a sucker for sweets.”
“Thanks, I’ll add that to my order.” I wave to everyone and head over to pick up my food.
It takes all my self-control not to turn and look at Rowan as I leave. When I finally make it outside, I relax just a little.
Okay, I survived it.
I didn’t mentally undress him too much. Just the appropriate amount when trying to forget the best sex ever with the worst guy ever.
Maybe not the worst, but he comes close.
I inhale and smile, preparing to schmooze Donny into giving me a very, very discounted rate on repairing my engine with payment plans and groveling. I start to step in that direction when a hand grips my wrist from behind.
I gasp, turning suddenly to see blue eyes that haunt me in my sleep. “Rowan? What the hell are you doing?” I ask, pulling my wrist out of his grasp.
“How’s your ankle?”
“What?”
“Your ankle, how is it?” he asks again with exasperation in his voice.
“It’s fine.”
He glances behind him at his siblings who are clearly watching this. “I told them I needed to ask you about something I can’t find from the trip.”
“Ooookay.” I’m so damn confused. “Why are you really out here talking to me?”
“I...fuck, I don’t know. I just wanted to see you, ask if you’re okay and . . .” He laughs once, which is kind of a huff more than anything. “I was concerned because your truck is broken and you’re riding around on a damn ATV. I didn’t save you to have you injure yourself again.”
I roll my eyes and cross my arms, well, as much as I can with a bag of food dangling. “I’ve been riding around on it since I canremember. I’m pretty sure I’m fine since I’m not off-roading on it. Thanks for the concern. I’m good.”
I’m also not good because the fact that he came out here made my stomach clench. He’s concerned about me, and I don’t know why that makes me feel anything other than annoyance, but here I am, being a girl with butterflies.
Not that he’ll know that.
