Page 12 of One Lustful Summer
“I don’t want to impose,” I tell the group.
“You’re not,” Rowan answers as he comes to stand closer to me. “I’d like you to come,” he says quietly so that only I can hear.
“I’d like that, too.” I tell him. Rowan slips the bag off my shoulder and walks next to me with his hand on my lower back as we follow Lauren and Jodi to the diner.
“So, you have a daughter?” I ask after a minute. I know I should probably keep my thoughts to myself. But there are so many things I want to know.
“I do,” he answers with a smirk.
“What about her mom?” Shit, did I really just come out and ask that? “Sorry, it’s none of my business.”
“She’s not in the picture. It’s just me and Jodi.” He stops a few feet from the entrance and looks at Lauren and Jodi. “Y’all grab a booth. We’ll be right in.”
Lauren nods and heads inside with Jodi. I turn towards Rowan so we are face to face.
“I’m gonna be completely open with you here, Maggie. I know we don’t know each other that well, but there’s something there. I want to see what that is. But, I also have a little girlthat is my world. If you think there’s something here as well, then let’s go eat. If it’s too much for you, then I ask that you bow out now.” Rowan takes a breath and watches me.
There’s so much to unpack in his words. And while he’s direct, I admire how he is looking out for his little girl. I also love the fact that he has voiced the pull between us. It lets me know that this feeling is not one-sided.
“I feel it, too. And I respect that your daughter comes first. Now let’s go eat.” He grins and shakes his head. A deep chuckle escapes his lips. His hand clasps mine and we head into the diner.
I thought his hand at my lower back was exquisite. Scratch that, his hand in mine — palm to palm, shoots warmth up my arm.
Lauren raises an eyebrow when we approach the table. Her eyes ping from our joined hands up to mine, a small smile gracing her lips. She has Jodi on her side of the booth, allowing Rowan and me to sit next to each other.
I’m not sure if that was intentional or not, but I’m not complaining. Now that I know where he stands, some nerves and uncertainty have disappeared.
The waitress is quick to take our orders. Jodi insisted I try the French Toast. And I couldn’t complain, because who doesn’t like pan fried bread lathered in butter with powdered sugar sprinkled on top.
While we wait for our food, Jodi captivates the whole table.
“What did the mother cow say to her calf?” Jodi asks the table. Lauren and Rowan snicker at her question. Jodi looks at each adult and then blurts out. “It’s pasture bedtime!” Her giggles are infectious and we all laugh along.
Jodi catches her breath and hits us with another one. “Why did the cow want to get in the rocket ship?” Shegives us less time to think of an answer before she gives us the punch line. “He wanted to go to udder space!”
We all laugh at her antics. She is the cutest little girl.
Before she has time to give another joke, our food is being delivered. Throughout the meal, I notice the small things Rowan does for her. He’s attentive to her needs, but also allows her to try to figure things out herself first. He waits for her to ask for help.
He doesn’t fuss when she gets syrup on the table, or dribbles a little milk on her shirt. There’s no frustration from him when she asks for some of his eggs. He takes it all in stride.
It’s so different from how I was brought up. You didn’t dare to make a mess, no matter how small of a crumb. There was no way I could have been cracking jokes at a public outing. It would have been unheard of. My upbringing ingrained in me the idea that children should be seen and not heard.
It was refreshing to see the grass was greener on the other side. Watching Rowan with his daughter enforced my thoughts on how I wanted to be as a parent. Patient and understanding. Helpful and guiding. Yes, there would be times I had to discipline, but it would be different from what I had endured.
After we finished eating , and Rowan’s insistence with covering the bill, we all headed out and say our goodbyes.
Chapter 9
Rowan
I hit send on my email to Maggie and close the laptop. I spent yesterday afternoon and this morning working on the quote for the renovations she and I discussed on Friday.
The house is too quiet. Mom picked Jodi up this morning for church, and they have plans to go to shopping this afternoon.
I stand and walk out of my office, looking for something to do. But my brain stops short. My thoughts once again on Maggie. She didn’t run yesterday when I laid everything out. So that’s a plus.
With her on my mind, I grab my cell and send her a text.
