“Cadence, this is Star--the artist who’s been working on the mural for the east side of the foundation. She’ll help you get started on the west side.” Star comes up to me and takes my hand in her cool, slim fingers, and she pulls me into a quick embrace like we’re old friends.
“Welcome to the Foundation, Cadence. I know Rowan’s told you everything about it, but you’ll find we can’t stop talking about it when it comes to how much we all love it here. He’s got something really special.” Another pang of jealousy rises up in my body, but I push it down and nod at Star dumbly. No words will come out, and I have the passing thought that she might wonder whether or not I’m mute.
“She’s one of my oldest friends in New Mexico.” When Rowan says the word “friends,” he looks at me pointedly like he he’s reading my mind. “She and her husband welcomed me here when I first moved out and got set up on the ranch. And they haven’t let me down a day since then.”
My heart starts beating fast again--this man has an insane effect on my pulse. And I gulp back my guilt at misunderstanding the situation. My eyes flicker between the two of them, and I realize what I’m seeing is an old, comfortable friendship. Not anything else.
*But why, why is he alone? If not Star, then why not someone else? Maybe he’s a playboy? Maybe gay? No, no. The good Lord would be playing tricks on me if he made this man gay. He can’t look that good and own so much flannel if he’s batting for the other team... especially not if he’s a billionaire.
I realize I still haven’t spoken a word to Star since I met her, and she’s still holding onto my arm while she chats with Rowan about the designs she has for the front mural. “It’s nice to meet you,” I chirp. My voice doesn’t quite sound natural, but at least I managed to get out a few words, even the face of my complete ridiculousness.
*Please don’t let him see anything. Please don’t let him notice. Damn, I need to get back out to that guest house as soon as humanly possible. God, let the damn electrician and plumber come today. Oh God, please. Don’t let me hang on this man’s words, the curve of his full lips, the length of his jawline, or the way he keeps the top two buttons of that shirt undone, just hinting at the strength of the muscles beneath.
I take a breath and pretend to listen to Star and Rowan as they talk about the architectural plans for the expansion of the foundation. But instead, I’m slipping deeper into thinking about Rowan and his body, his naked skin beneath the sheets of his bed, just down the hall from where I’m sleeping. And what would happen if he got up in the night and came knocking on my door, dressed only in his boxers, or maybe... nothing? I’m not a small woman by any stretch of the imagination, but Rowan might make me feel delicate, like a sexy woman he can throw around and use as he wishes--
I see Rowan’s full, strong lips moving, and he nods in my direction. But my eyes are locked on his jawline, and my brain is wondering about the length of his tongue. And I have no earthly clue what the hell he’s saying, and whether or not I should respond.
*If I were in college and he were a frat brother at NYU, I’d be grabbing his hand and pulling him back to his bedroom. Maybe bringing him a drink or two to loosen him up.
*Oh shit, he’s talking to me. He’s talking to me, and I’m thinking about taking advantage of him in a frat house. Ten, no, hell--fifteen years ago. Before all this shit happened. Before I became lifeless and cold, and oh God, he’s still looking at me.
My eyes dart back and forth, and I open my mouth, frantically trying to search for something to say.
“I--I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you. I was thinking about... I was thinking about the mural.”
“Always got business on her mind, this one,” he says and winks at me. There’s something naughty about the way he looks at me right after that, but his expression changes after a moment, and my heartbeat slows as he turns to Star. “She’ll even give you a run for your money, Star. No question about it. I’ve seen her murals and they’re amazing.”
“Oh, I think we’ll have plenty to talk about,” Star says. “But right now, I’m going to take her on a tour of the studios where she and I will be sketching out her ideas. I promise I’ll give her back to you in one piece.” Star turns toward the back of the building again and pulls me along beside her. Rowan makes a gesture at us like he’s tipping his hat, and I swear his eyes flicker back over my body for a moment. My breath hitches in my throat, just like it did when I first met Eli. But there’s something dirtier, something raunchier, about the way Rowan is looking at me.