“I am a fan of the views, though,” I added, looking straight into her eyes. “Big fan of them.”
That blush that made her so uniquely her reappeared. “You’re so full of compliments today, Mr. McConaughey.”
“I live to make you swoon.”
My mind returned to last night when we’d kissed. Something had snapped in two the moment her mouth met mine. I wasn’t oblivious; it had been simmering between us for a long time but it had solidified on that rooftop.
We needed to talk about that. I had promised her honesty, and I didn’t want Rosie to think that it hadn’t meant anything to me, or that I was ignoring it. But I wanted to do this right—where Rosie was concerned, I needed to do right by her—and now it wasn’t the best moment to talk about it.
“I need to pick up Taco from Lina and Aaron’s.”
She nodded. “I should probably wake Olly and head to Dad’s,” she said, confirming that there were much more urgent things to deal with. “Long day ahead.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” I asked.
“I’d love to introduce you to my dad, but maybe under better circumstances.” She seemed to think of something. “How about we call Lina and ask if she can drop Taco off? You should stay in today, rest.”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “You’re probably right.”
“I’m always right. So… will you ask Lina to come?”
I rolled my eyes.
She laughed, and it was a magical sound. “Don’t make me fight you over this, Lucas Martín. I will win.”
It was my turn to smile. “Don’t threaten me with a good time, Rosalyn Graham.”
Her mouth opened but before she could say anything, a different voice spoke up in the room.
“Rosie?” Olly called from the couch, stifling whatever had been between us. “You up?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Lucas
Being alone in the apartment left me with more time to myself than I knew what to do with.
Rosie had gone with Olly soon after he woke up, and as restless as I felt for staying behind, I understood why she had told me it wasn’t a good idea to tag along.
This was time that Rosie, her brother, and dad needed for themselves. As a family. And very much necessary time I could use to cool myself off after what I’d been so close to doing to Rosie earlier in the morning.
Besides, I had been counting on Lina dropping Taco off soon after Rosie departed. Of course, Lina, being the dog-hogger she was, had rescheduled. And now the plan was that Lina would bring Taco here later today when she picked us up to move Rosie’s stuff back to her apartment. Because Rosie was leaving today. She was going back to her place.
And I was coming with her. Unfortunately, not in the way I wanted. I was only going to help, even though I wasn’t going to be of much help. But I… needed to see her back to her apartment. Make sure everything was mended and sorted. See for myself that she’d be safe. Okay.
Liar, a voice in my head claimed.What you want is an excuse to spend more time with her. An excuse to haul her back here, with you, if something in her apartment is marginally out of order.
Yes.Yes. Because after kissing her and having her sleeping beside me, it was hard to ignore this part of me, this beating, pulsing, emotion inside of me, that wanted Rosie. Wanted herbadly.
And now… now I was hard again. Just like I’d been the whole day, but worse, because now my head was busy with thoughts of her moving back to her place, of not seeing her anymore.
With a shaky sigh, I checked my watch and noticed I at least had some time before Rosie was back from Philly and Lina came over with Taco.
A shower. Cold. I needed to cool off before either of them showed up.
Slipping inside the bathroom in a rush, I undressed myself. I took a good look in the mirror, pointed a finger at my reflection.“Contrólate, Lucas,”I told my reflection, as if it would help. “You’re being a horny idiot, and this cannot stand.”
But the need in my expression didn’t get any duller and my dick didn’t get any less hard.