lesson, haven’t you?”
“What do you mean?” He took the stool Andrew had left as he pushed his girly drink aside.
“You held your temper even though you looked like you wanted to take his head off.”
He reached across the bar for her hand. “I’m that transparent, huh?”
“I appreciate that you didn’t go bat-shit crazy and make a scene when you saw me with him,” she said, resting her elbows on the bar as she leaned in. “That shows me you’re maturing.”
He laughed before stealing a quick kiss, just to test the waters. They seemed warm. “What a difference a week makes, right?” His smile faded when he thought about how miserable he’d been during that time. “It may sound stupid, but I missed you.”
“It doesn’t sound stupid,” she said, her gaze lingering on his lips. “I missed you too. I guess I didn’t realize how much until I saw you in our apartment this morning.”
He grinned, remembering their time together. “I’m glad I was able to remind you that life with me can be a hell of a lot more fun than life without me.”
“I’m getting that,” she said, looking down at their joined hands.
Customers were circling the bar, but the two other bartenders seemed to have things under control, so Rowan asked, “Can we hit the reset button, Ten? You know, start over. Pretend that stupid fight never happened?”
She sighed as her eyes drifted to the door. “I’d like to, but my life is kind of complicated right now. I should probably fill you in before you decide whether you want to risk getting caught up in my drama.”
He couldn’t imagine anything she might say that would deter him, but he asked, “How about getting together after work tonight? My brother’s back at his place now, so we could head back to my house. Just to talk.”
“I’m supposed to work until close.” She glanced at her brother, who was standing at the door and talking to the bouncer. “But let me see if Walker can let me book out a few hours early. I’ve been pulling a lot of overtime lately, so he owes me.”
“Cool.” Rowan gripped her chin. He knew he probably shouldn’t kiss her at work, but he couldn’t help himself. “Let me know.”
***
Tenley seemed nervous as they rolled up Rowan’s drive, but he took her hand and kissed it, hoping to put her at ease.
“You okay?” he asked, smiling at her.
“Yeah, it’s just…” She wiped her free hand on the leg of her jeans. “Your house is really nice.”
He didn’t know if his house was intimidating or the chat they were about to have was making her anxious, but he didn’t waste any time finding out. He cut the engine and rounded the truck to help her out.
She laughed as she took his hand. “I think you’re the first guy to ever open a car door for me.”
“Then you’ve been dating the wrong guys,” he said, slipping an arm around her waist as he led her up to the ornate wood doors. “Maybe you’ve finally found the right one.”
Tenley’s smile took his breath away when she whispered, “Maybe I have.”
He deactivated the alarm while she slipped out of her high heels. She sighed as she dug her toes into the Persian carpet in the foyer.
“Wow, this place is gorgeous,” she said, looking around wide-eyed as he hit a panel that flooded the main floor with light. “It doesn’t look like a bachelor pad. Are you sure you live here alone?”
He smiled as he took her hand and led her into the gourmet kitchen, which opened to the sunken family room. “Positive. But my ex was an interior designer, so I let her have her way with the place when I bought it.”
“Is this the ex who cheated on you?” she asked, jumping up onto one of the bar-height chairs at the center island.
“Yeah, but I try not to let that color my opinion of the house.” He shrugged. “She may have been a bitch, but she had good taste.”
“Was she a bitch?” Tenley asked, propping her chin in her palm. “Or are you just bitter because
“What do you mean?” He took the stool Andrew had left as he pushed his girly drink aside.
“You held your temper even though you looked like you wanted to take his head off.”
He reached across the bar for her hand. “I’m that transparent, huh?”
“I appreciate that you didn’t go bat-shit crazy and make a scene when you saw me with him,” she said, resting her elbows on the bar as she leaned in. “That shows me you’re maturing.”
He laughed before stealing a quick kiss, just to test the waters. They seemed warm. “What a difference a week makes, right?” His smile faded when he thought about how miserable he’d been during that time. “It may sound stupid, but I missed you.”
“It doesn’t sound stupid,” she said, her gaze lingering on his lips. “I missed you too. I guess I didn’t realize how much until I saw you in our apartment this morning.”
He grinned, remembering their time together. “I’m glad I was able to remind you that life with me can be a hell of a lot more fun than life without me.”
“I’m getting that,” she said, looking down at their joined hands.
Customers were circling the bar, but the two other bartenders seemed to have things under control, so Rowan asked, “Can we hit the reset button, Ten? You know, start over. Pretend that stupid fight never happened?”
She sighed as her eyes drifted to the door. “I’d like to, but my life is kind of complicated right now. I should probably fill you in before you decide whether you want to risk getting caught up in my drama.”
He couldn’t imagine anything she might say that would deter him, but he asked, “How about getting together after work tonight? My brother’s back at his place now, so we could head back to my house. Just to talk.”
“I’m supposed to work until close.” She glanced at her brother, who was standing at the door and talking to the bouncer. “But let me see if Walker can let me book out a few hours early. I’ve been pulling a lot of overtime lately, so he owes me.”
“Cool.” Rowan gripped her chin. He knew he probably shouldn’t kiss her at work, but he couldn’t help himself. “Let me know.”
***
Tenley seemed nervous as they rolled up Rowan’s drive, but he took her hand and kissed it, hoping to put her at ease.
“You okay?” he asked, smiling at her.
“Yeah, it’s just…” She wiped her free hand on the leg of her jeans. “Your house is really nice.”
He didn’t know if his house was intimidating or the chat they were about to have was making her anxious, but he didn’t waste any time finding out. He cut the engine and rounded the truck to help her out.
She laughed as she took his hand. “I think you’re the first guy to ever open a car door for me.”
“Then you’ve been dating the wrong guys,” he said, slipping an arm around her waist as he led her up to the ornate wood doors. “Maybe you’ve finally found the right one.”
Tenley’s smile took his breath away when she whispered, “Maybe I have.”
He deactivated the alarm while she slipped out of her high heels. She sighed as she dug her toes into the Persian carpet in the foyer.
“Wow, this place is gorgeous,” she said, looking around wide-eyed as he hit a panel that flooded the main floor with light. “It doesn’t look like a bachelor pad. Are you sure you live here alone?”
He smiled as he took her hand and led her into the gourmet kitchen, which opened to the sunken family room. “Positive. But my ex was an interior designer, so I let her have her way with the place when I bought it.”
“Is this the ex who cheated on you?” she asked, jumping up onto one of the bar-height chairs at the center island.
“Yeah, but I try not to let that color my opinion of the house.” He shrugged. “She may have been a bitch, but she had good taste.”
“Was she a bitch?” Tenley asked, propping her chin in her palm. “Or are you just bitter because
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