Tempting Rowan Read online

  My mouth fell open as the cashier handed him the receipt.

  “I’m not your girlfriend.” I don’t know why those were the first words to leave my mouth.

  “Oh honey, you always say such hurtful things when you’re on your period. I should’ve gotten you a brownie,” he smirked, throwing a smile over his shoulder at the cashier. We sure were giving her an entertaining evening.

  Trent pushed me aside and rolled the cart out into the night. He headed straight to where my car was parked and I wasn’t surprised to see his shiny black car beside it.

  “Open the trunk,” he demanded, already grabbing up bags.

  “I don’t need your help.”

  He looked at me peculiarly. “I never said you did need my help, but I want to help you, and there’s a big difference. Besides, Row, accepting help doesn’t make you any less of an independent person. I know you’re all for girl power and doing things by yourself, but it’s okay to let someone else step in and take care of you.”

  I swallowed thickly, looking down at the ground so he couldn’t see the tears in my eyes. I opened the trunk and stepped back, hoping he didn’t see how upset I was.

  No one had ever taken care of me. I was raising Ivy, Tristan, and myself. Nobody cared about me, and if I let Trent in I’d get spoiled to having him, then he’d leave and I’d be even more shattered than I was now.

  He got all the groceries in the trunk and reached up to close it.

  My breath fogged the chilly air as I forced myself to thank him. “Thank you,” I finally squeaked after an awkward silence.

  He laughed—and oh my God how I loved his laugh, it was husky and masculine, and perfect like him. “It really killed you to say that, didn’t it?”

  I shrugged. “No one ever helps me, so I’m not used to thanking people.”

  “That’s really sad,” he frowned.

  “It’s the truth,” I pushed my hair out of my eyes, heading for the driver’s door. “I’ll see you…sometime.”

  “Row?”

  “Yeah?” I turned back around and he was right there.

  He reached out, caging me between his arms, his hands resting on the rusted hood of my car.

  “Goodnight,” he whispered huskily, and then he kissed me. It wasn’t really a kiss, more a brush of his lips, but it was enough to ignite a fire in my body. I found myself leaning in, wanting more, but he was already gone.

  I opened my eyes, which I hadn’t realized I closed, and saw him getting into his car wearing a proud smirk.

  He drove away and I still stood there in the cold. I was in a daze, shocked by his brazenness and how much I’d enjoyed the barely there touch of our lips. My heart raced against my ribcage and I reached up to place shaking fingers against my lips. I was so screwed.

  chapter three

  My car wouldn’t start. It was completely dead. No lights. No clicking. Zilch.

  I had stopped at the drugstore close to school before heading to class to pick up a few things and now I was stranded in the parking lot. If I had to I could walk to campus from here, but it was a particularly windy day and my backpack probably weighed fifty pounds. I tried to comfort myself with the fact that today was a review day, but I still hated to miss a class. I prided myself on perfect attendance and grades.

  I grabbed my phone, calling the insurance company so they could send for a tow truck. I was told to wait with my car and that a tow truck would arrive within thirty minutes to an hour. Great.

  It was too cold for me to stay in my car, so I grabbed my backpack and headed inside Walgreens. I spoke to the cashier, explaining the situation, and asked if she minded if I worked on some homework while I waited. It wasn’t an issue, so I picked a spot close to the door so I’d see the truck when it came, but far enough away that I wouldn’t freeze every time it opened.

  I had most of my homework done, only a review sheet left to fill out, so that took me no time at all. I pulled the book I was reading out of my bag and propped it on my knees. One of the perks of working at the library was the convenience of getting a new book to read. I couldn’t afford a new book all the time—and I read fast—so it was nice to be able to check one out whenever I wanted.

  Every time I read a page, I’d glance up in the hopes that the tow truck had arrived. But it wasn’t here yet, and I’d been sitting here for close to an hour. It would be my luck that it would take closer to two hours to arrive.

  Just when I was starting to get really pissed off, the truck pulled into the lot.

  I shoved my stuff in my backpack and slung it over my shoulders. I stopped just as the automatic doors swooshed open. You had to be kidding me.

  Wentworth Wheels, read the name on the side of the truck. It figured my insurance company would pick the one repair shop run by Trent’s older brother.

  I took a deep breath and forced myself to step outside and face this like a big girl.

  “I believe I know you,” Trace said as he climbed out of the truck. Trace was Trenton’s older brother. They both looked alike with their dark hair and build, and both always seemed to forget to shave. The big difference between the two was Trent had blue eyes and Trace had green. “I haven’t seen you in a long time. Rowan, right?”

  I nodded, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

  “Hey, Trent!” He called. “Come here! It’s Rowan!”

  My eyes threatened to bug out of my head as Trent rounded the front of the truck. Even when he wasn’t trying to find me he was there. I couldn’t escape him—and who was I kidding? I kind of liked seeing him.

  He smiled an easy grin, casually leaning against the side of the truck. He didn’t approach me like expected. Instead he hung back, like he was waiting for me to make the first move. I had news for him, he’d have to keep waiting.

  “Looks like you’re in need of some help, Row,” Trent nodded at my dead car.

  “Yeah,” I grumbled.

  “Luckily,” Trent took a few steps forward, “my brother here knows exactly what he’s doing, so you’re in good hands.” He clapped Trace on the shoulder.

  Trace reached up to push his hair from his eyes and a wedding ring glinted on his left hand. I wondered when that had happened. “Don’t worry. We’ll get you fixed up in no time. The Wentworth brothers know exactly what they’re doing.” Something about the way he said it made me think he wasn’t just talking about cars.

  “You work on cars too?” I asked Trent.

  He nodded, smiling crookedly. “Only when I’m home on breaks and during the summer.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  Trent stepped forward until we were so close that when the wind blew my hair brushed his chest. He grabbed a piece of my flying hair and rubbed it between his fingers, then reached up to tuck it behind my ear. “Remember, Rowan, there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

  “I know plenty,” I snapped, taking a step back to distance myself from him. The scent of his cologne was making me dizzy as memories of last night—his lips pressed so tenderly to mine—flickered through my thoughts. I wanted to deny enjoying the kiss, but I had. After I went home, it had been all I could think about.

  “Ah,” he reached out, running the back of his fingers along my cheek, “but a person does a lot of changing in five years.”

  “You might have changed, Trent,” I pulled my hair back so it wasn’t blowing in my face, “but so have I. I’m not the girl you remember from high school. She died a long time ago.”

  Trent frowned, a wrinkle marring his forehead. “I don’t care who you were or who you’ve become. You’re still you.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know who I am anymore, so how do you expect to ever know the real me?”

  “I’ll find her,” he said triumphantly, “I always did like a challenge.”

  “Don’t you see? I don’t want to be a challenge for you—something to conquer and brag about.” My eyes darted to the ground as I wrapped my arms around my body to protect from the searing wind.


  “I never said I wanted to conquer you,” he shook his head. “How do you always manage to misconstrue what I say?”

  I shrugged, kicking a pebble with the toe of my worn shoe. “It’s a talent.”

  He stepped forward again, grabbing my wrist so I couldn’t get away. “I don’t care what you say, I know you feel whatever this is that we have. Don’t think for a minute that I haven’t noticed the way your breath falters when I get too close or how your eyes flash with desire. I definitely can’t forget the way you responded to me last night,” his voice lowered to a husky whisper that had desire filling my belly. “You can’t deny that you liked it when I kissed you.”

  He was right. I couldn’t refute it. I had liked kissing him.

  “That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen again,” I countered.

  “Why do you insist on denying what we have? Are you really that stubborn?” He narrowed his eyes. “I know you feel it,” he whispered, stepping so close to me that my nose was pressed against his chest and his warmth enveloped me like a cozy blanket. His hand found mine, entwining our fingers together. “Don’t fight it.”

  I jerked back, wrenching my hand from his. Disgust coated my tongue like a sticky syrup. “I can’t do this, Trenton.”

  “What is it exactly that you think you can’t do?” He pressed forward. He wasn’t going to let me escape. I wished Trace would rescue me, but he was occupied in looking my car over.

  I swallowed thickly, my pulse jumping. “I don’t think you understand what I’ve been through,” my voice was hushed with shame. “I’m…incapable of loving. Not just you, but anyone. The only people I love is my little brother and sister. It’s like some fundamental piece of me is missing,” I spoke fiercely, getting heated. “I’m. Not. Whole.”

  He took my face between his two large hands, staring down at me with a determined glint in his blue eyes. I swallowed thickly, my pulse fluttering in my throat. I thought for sure he was going to kiss me, but he didn’t. “Then let me make you whole.”

  I was saved from answering by his brother calling us over. Thank goodness I hadn’t had to reply. I don’t know what I would’ve said, probably something not very nice.

  “Bad news, it’s not the battery,” Trace frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. “Your starter’s gone out. It’s going to be about two-hundred dollars to have it fixed.”

  Tears stung my eyes and I promptly closed my eyes so neither of the brothers could see how upset I was. I counted to ten, breathing deeply. When I had myself under control again I opened my eyes and said, “Tow it. It has to be fixed. I don’t have any other choice.”

  “Row—”

  “I’m fine,” I snapped, cutting Trent off. “It’s fine.”

  He appeared skeptical, but didn’t say anything.

  I went back inside the store while the brothers got my car hooked onto the back. I couldn’t help and I was freezing anyway.

  When they had it hooked up I was forced to get in the truck with them. I sat in the middle, caged in, and I began to feel extremely claustrophobic. “Can you drop me off at the university?” I asked.

  “Sure,” Trace shrugged. “Will you have a ride home?”

  “Yeah.” I knew I could get either Tatum or Jude to drive me to work and pick me up.

  “I’ll try to have this done tomorrow. I have everything I need to fix it, it’s just a matter of how much time I have,” he explained.

  “If you could have it done today it would be so helpful. I always take my little brother and sister to school in the mornings, and we don’t have a spare car,” I rambled.

  “It’ll be done today,” Trent assured me, leaning forward to eye his brother. “Today,” he repeated.

  Trace didn’t say anything, he merely leaned his elbow against the window, and a small smile played on his lips. Clearly his brother amused him.

  Trace pulled into the parking lot and I directed him to where I needed to be dropped off. Trent hopped out of the truck and reached up to give me a hand to help me down. A part of me didn’t want to accept his hand, but I didn’t have much choice if I wanted to get out of the mammoth truck without breaking an ankle. I finally placed my hand in his, after an awkward hesitation. I forced myself to ignore the tiny zings coursing through my body at his touch.

  I jumped down, stumbling to the side.

  “Whoa,” he grabbed my waist to steady me. “You okay?”

  I nodded, embarrassment causing my cheeks to flush.

  He reached inside the truck for my backpack and handed it to me. “I’ll make sure he gets it done today. Even if I have to hold a gun to his head,” he winked.

  “Thanks,” I forced a smile, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “I really have to go. I’m already late.”

  “Of course,” he climbed back in the truck. “See you later.”

  “See you later,” I whispered, standing there and watching the truck disappear.

  

  Tatum’s car was still being fixed, so luckily Jude was nice enough to be my chauffeur for the day. He pulled into the parking lot of Wentworth Wheels, and I took a deep breath as I prepared to see Trent again. This many times in only a few days was getting to be a bit much—especially since I hated how much I enjoyed seeing him. “I’m gonna head out,” Jude said, already putting the car in reverse, “if for some reason it’s not ready, just call me and I’ll come back.”

  “Thanks,” I told him, slipping out of the car.

  I headed into the shop through the open garage door. “Hello?” I called out, looking around. The place looked deserted. “Hello?” I ventured further into the shop.

  “Hey!” Trent called from somewhere in front of me. “I’ll be there in a second!”

  I stopped where I was and waited for him. I looked around and found the garage to be oddly neat and tidy. Don’t get me wrong, it was a repair shop so there were plenty of tools and the occasional grease spot on the ground, but it looked nicer than most. Trace had done a good job with the place. I remembered what a dump it had looked like before.

  “Here’s your keys,” Trent grinned, appearing in front of me. He dangled them in front of my face, but when I went to grab them he lifted them too high for my reach. “Not so fast,” he wiggled a finger in front of my face.

  “What do you want?” I rolled my eyes, a disgusted breath whizzing past my lips.

  “Well,” he clutched my car keys in his fist, “since I was a good guy and stood over my brother all day to make sure he got this fixed for you, I think I deserve to be rewarded.”

  “Rewarded, huh?” I raised a brow in disbelief.

  “Mhmm,” he nodded, smiling crookedly. “Go to dinner with me.”

  “Yeah, um, no. I don’t have time. I have to get home to take care of Tristan and Ivy, which means no time for dinner. Now, please, give me my keys,” I held my hand out.

  “Fine. Say no. Crush my dreams,” he wiped away a pretend tear.

  “I think you’ll live,” I rolled my eyes again, taking the keys from him. “How come you didn’t fix it?” I questioned.

  He smirked. “I would have, but my talents are more useful elsewhere.”

  “Talents?”

  He shrugged. “Okay, that’s a lie. I’m not very talented, at least when it comes to cars, Trace has got me beat there. All I can do is change oil and rotate tires. I assure you, though, I’m extremely talented in many other ways and if you’d like me to show you I’d be more than happy.” He smirked, his tongue flicking out to moisten his lips.

  “Uh…no thanks,” I shook my head. “I don’t need a demonstration.”

  “Aw, too bad,” he bit his bottom lip.

  I shook my head. I really needed to stop being distracted by Trenton. “How much do I owe you guys?”

  “I already paid him,” Trent shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “Why would you do that?” I asked through gritted teeth.

  “Because I wanted to,” he answered simply.

  “Did you think fo
r a second that maybe I didn’t want your help?” My temperature was rising as anger filled me. “I don’t need you to take care of me.”

  “Think of it as a friend doing a friend a favor,” he shrugged casually. “Don’t worry about it.”

  I don’t think Trent understood how guilty I felt. I knew he had the money to blow, but that didn’t matter to me. I didn’t like being seen as a damsel in distress. This princess could take care of herself.

  I didn’t have time to stand there and argue with him, so I found myself saying, “Fine, but don’t do it again.”

  He smiled triumphantly. “Your car’s parked out front to your right,” he said, backing away. I couldn’t tell if he was angry that I’d turned him down or what. “And Rowan?”

  “Yeah?” I turned back to face him.

  “This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”

  chapter four

  I tucked Tristan and Ivy into bed, kissing each of their foreheads. I closed the door behind me and set about cleaning the kitchen. I was supposed to pick up Tatum in thirty minutes, so we could hopefully get some homework done. I didn’t know what went on at Tatum’s house, but I got the impression that her parent’s didn’t get along at all.

  I hated leaving the kids once I got home, but they’d be asleep and never know I was even gone. If they woke up and needed me, I wouldn’t be here, and that worried me. Only my mom was home, who was currently passed out in her bed, the floor littered with various bottles of alcohol. I had no idea where Jim was, or if he was even coming home.

  Once the kitchen was wiped down and the dishes were clean, I checked to see if the kids had fallen asleep. Both were snoozing peacefully and I knew I could make my escape.

  As much as I hated to leave them, I needed to get out of the house more. My mom had been unbearable when I arrived home and didn’t shut up until she passed out. I needed to get away from this toxic environment for a while. It was killing me, but I wasn’t ready to escape yet.

  I grabbed my backpack and purse from my room. I scribbled a note explaining where I was and shoved it under the kid’s bedroom door in case they awoke.