Chapter 6

Up close, he was even bigger than she remembered tall, broad shoulders, arms filling out that plaid jacket like it was painted on. His voice was low and rough, the kind that settled deep in her chest and made her warm all over.

“Protect me from what?” she asked quietly. Part of her wanted him to say he’d protect her from everything in the world, her doubts, all of it.

“You were scared. Not the little spill earlier. Real fear.”

Her eyes narrowed. “How could you possibly know that? Did one of the girls tell you?”

He hesitated, catching his bottom lip between his teeth for a second while he looked down at her. It was enough to make her forget what they were even talking about. “Yeah,” he said finally. “They mentioned it.”

“What exactly did they say?”

“Doesn’t matter.” His hand lifted like he wanted to touch her hair, but she pulled back on instinct. “Hey, easy. I’m not gonna hurt you, Elara.”

The way he said her name slowly, like he was tasting it sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

“You don’t know me,” she murmured. Though God helped her, she could already picture things with him that would make her blush in daylight.

He arched his brow. “I saved you from face-planting in coffee, remember?”

That pulled a reluctant smile out of her. “Hard to forget.”

Everything else seemed to fade the dark lot, the quiet road, the crickets in the fields. It was just them under that harsh light, and the pull between them felt almost tangible. He looked at her like she mattered, like she was worth something, and it was a feeling she wasn’t used to.

Then, out of nowhere: “Let me buy you jewels.”

She actually snorted before she could stop herself. When he didn’t crack a smile, she realized he was dead serious shoulders back, jaw set.

“Is that a local pickup line or something?” she asked, half-laughing.

He frowned, like he was replaying his own words. “No, I meant… let me take you out. Properly. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since I held you earlier.”

Her heart did a stupid flip. A man like Rowan wanting to date her? She wasn’t about to talk herself out of it. He was pure rugged masculinity, no fake charm, no games. The pretty city boys she’d known had nothing on him.

“A date?” she echoed.

“Call it our second. I’m counting the coffee you bought me as the first.” A faint smirk tugged at his mouth, something playful flickering in his gray eyes. It was enough to make her knees weak.

“I guess that works.” She bit her lip, trying not to grin like an idiot. This was happening too fast and not fast enough all at once.

“Tell me what you want,” he said, voice dropping lower. “Anything. I’ll make it happen.”

“I’m… kind of new to this whole dating thing.”

His brows shot up. “You’re new to dating?”

Heat rushed to her cheeks. “Why’s that so shocking?”

He shook his head. “No reason. Just tell me.”

She sighed. Better to get the awkwardness out now. “Look, you’re like a solid nine, maybe higher and I’m probably a three on a good day. Guys like you don’t usually go for girls like me. Makes a person wonder.”

He stared at her for a long beat, like he was trying to solve a puzzle. “Nine and a three… I’m not following.”

She laughed despite herself. God, he was refreshing. “On a scale of one to ten. You’re gorgeous. I’m… average. At best.”

Understanding dawned on his face, and his expression softened. “Elara, you’re a ten. Easily. I’ve been around forty years and never met a woman who hit me like you do. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that to you.”

Her breath caught. He sounded so damn sincere it almost hurt. Should she bring up the age thing? Twenty-five felt worlds away from forty sometimes, but right now it didn’t matter.

“So what do people even do around here?” she asked, changing the subject. “I haven’t found much besides trees and more trees.”

“You’re still new,” he said. “I don’t come into town often, but I know all the best spots off the main roads. Quiet places, beautiful. I’d love to show you.”

She nodded, tempted to say yes to whatever he suggested. “Maybe we start small? Coffee somewhere that doesn't work? Get to know each other a little?”

“Sounds perfect.”

She winced inwardly. What would they even talk about? Her life was a blank slate of dead-end jobs and bad decisions. Better to keep him talking about himself. She wanted to know everything, where he came from, what he did out in those woods all day.

“Not at the diner, though,” she added with a nervous laugh.

“Definitely not.” His gaze flicked toward the building, then back to her, warmer again.

“You’re not married or anything, right?”

He gave a soft huff of laughter. “If I’d already found the woman I’m meant to spend my life with, I wouldn’t be standing here asking you out.”

The way he said it, life mate felt old-fashioned, sweet. She liked that he didn’t talk like everyone else.

Behind them, the diner door opened again. Joe stepped out, keys rattling as he locked up. The sound cut through the quiet night like a warning.

Rowan stiffened instantly. The easy warmth in his eyes turned to steel. He shifted, putting himself between her and Joe, one arm guiding her gently back.

“Give my best to your boss,” Rowan called out, voice hard.

“I’m sure he’ll be in touch,” Joe replied coolly. Then, to her: “See you Monday, Elara.”