Page 56 of Off the Mark
That was a mistake.
I remembered that comment on our pictures:good for Charlie, snagging a boyfriend who looks like he wants to devour her on the spot.
Rowan was a flirt to his core. When there was a woman he wanted, hedidlook at her that way. I saw it happen too many nights to count, watched women melt beneath the scorching fire of his focused attention and carefree charm.
The hunger in his eyes now was different. Edgier, full of something like true yearning.
I’d never, not once, been on the receiving end of such palpable longing.
Which was why I spun around and blurted, “Do you think we should practice kissing?”
14
CHARLIE
Rowan went utterly still. “Sorry…what did you say?”
“Should we practice kissing? On the cheek. Not on the lips, of course. But, like, here?” I indicated the side of my face like a heavily tattooed Vanna White.
He studied me, his eyes moving back and forth. “Are you sure? Because I’m fine holding hands and sensually hugging each other.”
At my inquisitive brow, he said, “Hugging but with more neck nuzzling. For what it’s worth, seems like we’re talented in that area.”
The memory of oursensual hugwas hot enough to send desire spiking through me. The feel of his open mouth on my throat, the caress of his breath, his hushed growl.
“I’m completely sure,” I said, lifting my chin. “It feels like we’d make this fake dating thing seem more realistic if you kissed me…somewhere…when we were out in public.”
He considered this, taking a step closer. “A cheek kiss does seem the most appropriate given that we’re, you know—”
Rowan waved his hand between our bodies.
“Friends who aren’t really dating?” I finished. “That’s how I feel too. Sorry for springing it out on you like this. We’ll be around people nonstop tonight so figured we should discuss it here while we still have privacy.”
He passed a hand along his jaw and wouldn’t drop my gaze. “Charlie, are you sure you’re okay? You seem nervous, and not about the panel. Did something happen with your dad?”
I resisted the urge to look away. To lie. It didn’t feel right, pretending with Rowan when I’d just done that with my dad.
“What gave it away? Me babbling about cheek kissing?” I said breezily.
Rowan’s smile was comforting. “Don’t worry about it. I’m legitimately asking, friend to friend.”
I tugged on an earring, fiddling with the clasp. “My dad video-called right before you showed up. He and Penny wanted to ask me about mynew boyfriend.”
Jaw dropped, Rowan pointed at his chest and mouthedme?
I laughed, and the act loosened my shoulders. “That’s where the ‘ginger hunk of burning love’ came in.” I tipped my head back and forth, unsure of how to express the complex knot of emotions that call created. “My dad knows I’m stressed about the eviction notice, stressed about money. He offered to sell the house, which I don’t even think we can do, but I wouldn’t let him do that even if he could. Let him lose the one place we had that made us a family.”
“You’ve always been responsible for a lot, Charlie.”
I shrugged it off. “I would do anything for him. My dad raised me by himself and it wasn’t easy. Let me run wild on a dirt bike when I asked, and that—” I paused, throat taut. “It’s how you feel about baseball. Racing that bike is my entiresoul. And he was the one who put me on it when I was five and saidgo get ’em, tiger.”
I smiled at the memory. Rowan did too, then said, “I’m sensing abut.”
“He’s never been that great at managing his money. And sometimes makes…bad decisions. Or at leastshortsightedones. I’d help him in a heartbeat, no questions asked. But every time we avoid some financial catastrophe, my hope is that the next time will be different. So far, that hasn’t been the case.”
Understanding dawned slowly on his face. “When I came back to Philly after my injury, I spent the first year telling everyone I wasall good. Told the neighbors I was lucky to have pitched in the majors for sixty-one games, and that letting go of a lifelong dream was no biggie.”
My stomach twisted in sympathy. “I watched my dad get crushed by that loss. I know…I remember how you felt, Rowan.”
