I nod as the memory flashes through my head. Something about him had unsettled me. It’s as if my body had gone on high alert.
“That was Scott Michaels.” There’s a pause. “My father.”
“Oh.” Air gets lodged in my throat as my mind spins. That still doesn’t explain why he would feel the need to push me away.
A humorless chuckle escapes from him. “He’s been incarcerated for the last ten years for murder.”
Murder?
The word echoes in my head.
“Your father was in prison for,” I force out the rest, “murder?”
He jerks his head into a tight nod before glancing away as if barely able to hold my gaze. “Yeah. He’s been a petty criminal my entire life and then he fell in with the wrong people and got in over his head.”
I can’t begin to fathom how difficult it would be to grow up with a parent like that. My heart clenches painfully knowing there’s no way to alleviate the hurt and damage that must have been inflicted. Only now do I understand why Rowan is so closed off when it comes to his family. I wish he would have felt safe enough to open up and share this with me.
“Rowan,” I whisper, unsure how to proceed.
He doesn’t give me a chance to say anything else. “He’d recently been released from prison, and he started coming around, wanting money from me. The first time it happened, I gave him a good chunk of my savings. I told him that I couldn’t give him anymore, and I didn’t want to see him again. A week later, he showed up on campus.”
“That’s when we ran into him after stats class,” I murmur. Only now does Rowan’s strange reaction make so much more sense.
“Yeah.” Humiliation flags his cheeks as I cup the sides of his face with my palms. “As long as he’s free, he’ll never stop coming around, trying to milk me for everything he can. I didn’t want him anywhere near you.” He shakes his head. “Maybe I went about it the wrong way, but in the end, all I was trying to do is protect you from the ugliness of my past.”
All of the puzzle pieces I couldn’t fit together now make perfect sense. I had noticed changes in his behavior but was unable to put my finger on the reason for them. All the times I’d caught him zoning out, he’d been worrying about his father. He didn’t want me to know anything about his family. More specifically, his dad. Now that the man was out of prison, Rowan didn’t want me exposed to him. And the quickest way to cut ties would have been to—
“So, you made sure I found you with the one girl who would hurt me the most.”
His shoulders slump under the weight of my retort. “I was scared and didn’t want him anywhere near you. Pushing you away seemed like the easiest way to achieve that. It was stupid. The look on your face,” regret fills his eyes as he shakes his head, “I’m sorry for hurting you. I don’t expect you to forgive me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the truth? I would have understood.” There’s a beat of silence. “I would have stood by your side.”
“I was embarrassed.” He quickly amends the statement. “Hell, I’m still embarrassed. My father has always been a drain. Not only on me, but my mom as well. I hate that he’s in my life, causing havoc. The last thing I wanted to do was bring him into yours. Coach has been nothing but good to me. How could I repay that kindness by bringing a degenerate into his daughter’s life?” His voice dips, sounding scraped raw. “Tell me how I was supposed to do that?”
The heaviness of his emotion shatters my heart into a thousand jagged pieces.
“I wish you had trusted me with the truth.”
“It had nothing to do with trust and everything to do with keeping you safe. That’s all I wanted to do. Protect you.”
With my palms still cupping his cheeks, I bring my forehead to rest against his. “Your father has nothing to do with you. The truth wouldn’t have changed my feelings.”
“I realize that now. I made a mistake, and I hurt you. I understand if that’s something you can’t forgive.” His gaze clings to mine. “But I hope you will. I love you, Demi. I always have.”
“I love you, too.”
Air escapes from his lungs in a rush as he tilts his head until his mouth can slant across mine. When his tongue sweeps over the seam of my lips, it never occurs to me to hold back. No one has ever made me feel the way Rowan does. And the truth of the matter is, I don’t think anyone ever will again.
What we’ve found is once in a lifetime.
He breaks away long enough to search my gaze. “From the very beginning, it’s been you.”
It might have taken me three years to realize that I had feelings for him, but I’m there now. He took the time to break down all of my resistance until I could see the man standing before me with his hand stretched out.
Maybe I didn’t want to admit it—even privately to myself, but it’s always been Rowan. And if I have my way, that will never change.
Epilogue
Rowan
Three years later...
“As you can see, the kitchen is completely stainless steal with brand new marble countertops.” The real estate agent beelines from the spacious kitchen with an island so massive, I could probably roll around on it, to the adjoining living room.
Instead of following her, I stay in the kitchen and stare at the island. I can just imagine christening the joint, and that ocean of white marble is the first place I’d start.
“I know exactly what you’re thinking,” Demi whispers in my ear.
“That’s because you’re a dirty girl and thinking the exact same thing.”
“Only with you,” she says, pressing a kiss against my lips.
“Hey, that’s my line.” I glance at the realtor who stands next to the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the white-capped waves of Lake Michigan.
“You have to check out the view!” She pauses for a beat before doing her best impersonation of Vanna White. “Isn’t it absolutely fabulous?”
Ignoring the woman, I glance around the wide-open space. “What do you think of the place?”
We’ve been condo hunting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and have toured a couple dozen buildings. Demi and I have spent the last two years living in separate cities. I ended up getting drafted in the first round by the Milwaukee Mavericks and Demi tried out for the Chicago Suns women’s soccer team after graduation and made it. Even though we’ve been in different cities, we’ve only been an hour and a half away from each other. As much as it sucks, it could be worse.
The most challenging part has proven to be when we’re both in season. My training camp starts mid-July and goes through February, depending on if we’re knocked out of the playoffs. Professional soccer runs April through October. It’s a constant battle to find time together.
While Demi has enjoyed playing in the NWSL for two years, she’s decided to hang up her cleats and attend graduate school for a master’s in Exercise Science. She’s already been accepted at the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin and is now moving here permanently.
Demi makes a visual sweep of the kitchen and living area. “I like it.”
The place is just shy of three thousand square feet and is located on the thirtieth floor. There are three spacious bedrooms and a study with wood paneling.
“Did I mention there’s a rooftop garden?” Cindy, the realtor, takes a step toward us. Her high heels click against the sea of shiny hardwoods. “I’d be happy to show it to you.”
The woman is a little pushy for my taste, but she’s shown us everything under the sun.
I clear my throat. “Would you mind giving us a little time to talk it over?”
Her eyes sharpen with the thrill of a potential sale. “Of course!” She rushes past us on the way to the foyer. “I’ll pop downstairs for a few minutes and speak with the building manager to make sure all of the necessary paperwork is in order.”
I dip my chin in acknowledgment. “Great.”
“Tootles,” she calls out in a sing-song voice, closing the door behind her.
“Finally,” I sigh, pulling Demi to me, “alone at last.”
Her arms thread around my neck. “Yup. I’m sure we have a good ten minutes to ourselves.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not nearly enough.” I brush my mouth across hers for a quick kiss. “You know I like to take my time.”
Her lips bow up against mine. “Yes, I do. And trust me, the effort is always appreciated.”
“Damn right it is.”
When Demi groans, I reluctantly break away before we ignite a fire that can’t be extinguished.
“Give it to me straight. What do you think?” I wrap my arm around her waist and walk us toward the large picture windows to inspect the million-dollar view. I point to the path across the street that winds its way along the shoreline. “How amazing would it be to run along the lake every morning?”
The sexual haze I’d stoked to life moments ago clears from her eyes as she surveys the vast blueness of the water. “That would be nice.”
“Plus,” I add, “there’s a gym on the third floor. If you can’t run outside, you can lift weights or use the elliptical.”
She narrows her eyes before slanting a look in my direction. “It sounds like you’re already sold on the condo.”
“Yeah, I like it.” It would certainly be the bougiest place I ever lived, that’s for damn sure. “But you have to like it, too.”
She wraps her arms around my neck again before leaning into me. “I do, it ticks all the boxes.”
I squeeze her body to mine before dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “I love you.”
A smile wreaths her face as she tips her chin up to meet my gaze. “I love you, too.”
“You know what?” I make a big production about looking around the living room and kitchen. “I think there’s something missing.”
“Really?” The smile disappears as she frowns. “What? This condo has every possible amenity. A gym, amazing views, rooftop garden, security, underground parking, a small convenience store next to the lobby...” Every item is ticked off on her fingers. “What more could you possibly want?”
When she shoots me a perplexed expression, it’s all I can do not to grin like a lunatic.
“This.” When I drop to one knee, Demi’s eyes widen. I slip my hand inside the pocket of my khakis and pull out the signature light blue box with a white bow wrapped around it.
Her hands fly to her gaping mouth as her eyes fill with tears, and she shakes her head. “No.”
“Yup.” I pull off the silky ribbon and pop open the lid. “You saying yes to being my wife is all that’s missing.”
“Rowan,” she whispers, emotion flooding her features.
“What?” Before she can respond, I say, “I’ve wanted this for the past two years, but I needed everything to be perfect. I wanted us to be in the same city and state. And now that we are, and we’ve found the perfect place to call home, I want to make that home with you. I want to marry you, Demi. I want to be your husband and spend the rest of my life with you. What do you say, baby? Will you marry me?”
Her hands fall back to her sides as she presses her lips together and nods. “Yes!” Even though her voice is wobbly, it grows stronger. “Yes, I’ll marry you!”
I jump to my feet and take the ring from its plush satin bed before carefully slipping it on her finger.
She stares at her left hand in wonder. “It’s gorgeous!”
“I’m glad you like it. Sydney helped pick it out.”
“What!” she laughs. “She knew about this and didn’t tell me!”
I give a little shrug. “I swore her to secrecy.”
Demi throws herself into my arms. “I can’t believe this is happening.” Tears of joy streak down her face. “I’m so happy that we’re finally going to be together.”
“Me, too. If you hadn’t retired, I would have. The separation was killing me.”
“Really?” She grins. “You would have done that?”
Is she kidding?
Damn straight I would have.
“Yup.” I smack another kiss against her lips. “You’re the most important thing in my life. You always have been, and you always will be.”
“I don’t know how we made it through the last two years, but I’m glad we did.”
“So...” I waggle my brows, “any interest in celebrating our engaged state by christening our new condo?”
“You really think there’s time for that?” She throws a cautious look toward the entryway. “Won’t Cindy be back any minute?”
“Nope, she’s gone. I bought the place last week. Straight up cash, homey. It’s ours.”
Her eyes widen to the point of falling out of her head. “What!”
“Yup.”
“I can’t believe you did that! What if I had hated it?”
“Then I would have sold it. But I was pretty sure that you’d fall in love with it like I did. The moment Cindy showed me the condo, I knew it was the perfect place for us to start our future together.”
She shakes her head. “I can’t believe you had this all planned out.”
I can only grin before telling her the rest. She’s probably had enough surprises for one day. “We’ve got enough time to make this place ours, and then we’re meeting Sydney, Brayden, your dad, and a few of the guys from the team to celebrate our engagement.”
For about the dozenth time in the last ten minutes, her mouth drops open and a wave of shock washes over her. “Are you serious?”
I smack another kiss against her parted lips. She’s adorable when she’s thrown off-kilter, and this has definitely done the trick. There haven’t been many times when I’ve been able to keep anything from her. Demi is way too smart for that. And apparently, I’m bad at keeping secrets. Especially from her. “Yup. I planned a little celebratory party so you can show off that giant rock on your finger.”
Her gaze falls to the ring before her features soften. She holds out her hand to admire the massive sapphire surrounded by diamonds. “It really is spectacular.” Her gaze flicks to me. “And you did an amazing job picking it out.”
“I want you to be happy.”
She places her palms against my chest before sliding them toward my shoulders and wrapping them around my neck. “You make me happy. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
Unable to resist the lure of her mouth, I dive in for another kiss. “Guess it’s a good thing you’ll never have to worry about that.”
With a sigh, her lips part, and my tongue sweeps inside to tangle with hers.
After a couple of heated moments, she pulls away enough to ask, “Aren’t we going to christen the place?”
She squeaks in surprise when my palms settle on her ass, and I hoist her into my arms. Thirty steps later, I’m setting her on the marble island. Her hands go to my shirt, untucking it from the khakis before yanking it over my head and tossing it to the hardwoods. It doesn’t take long before we’re both naked. As I sink inside her tight heat, I’m hit with the realization that as much as this condo will be our new home, it’s this right here, buried deep inside the warmth of her body, is where I belong.
As long as Demi and I are together, it doesn’t matter where we are or what city we live in.
My home is with her.
It will always be with her.
The End
The Girl Next Door
Chapter One
Mia
Summer before freshman year of college…
“Get your butt over here,” my best friend squeals from the window where she’s taken up sentinel, “you need to see this!”
That’s a negative, Ghost Rider. I’ll take a hard pass. I have zero interest in spying on a yard full of drunken classmates who are partying it up at my neighbor’s house. Reluctantly, I glance up from the toes I’m painting with a pale pink polish. Coney Island Cotton Candy, to be precise.
When our gazes lock, Alyssa waves me over. She’s practically vibrating with excitement. Kind of like a schnauzer.
>
“Everyone is over there!”
“Not true,” I mutter, lacquering my baby toe with an impressively steady hand. “We’re right here.” And that’s exactly where I plan to stay.
“Yeah, that’s kind of the problem.” She steeples her hands together before shaking them at me. “Please?” she begs. “Can’t we go over there for a little bit? Just a little? That’s all I’m asking.”
That’s all she’s asking…ha!
I’m calling bullshit.
Alyssa knows I’d rather chew my arm off than crash one of Beck Hollingsworth’s parties. I didn’t mention it to her, but Beck shot me a text earlier this afternoon with all the details. If she even suspected an invitation had been issued, she would have dragged my ass across the lawn that separates our properties as soon as the first guest pulled into the drive.
No, thank you.
It’s obvious from all the commotion coming from next door that the entire senior class has shown up to celebrate our newly graduated status. If we didn’t live on a quiet cul-de-sac tucked away in a gated subdivision, I’d expect the police to make an unannounced visit and shut down the festivities.
Then again, no one wants to mess with Beck’s father, Archibald Hollingsworth. He’s a high-priced attorney with a fleet of underlings working for him. He’s one of those overly tan guys with blindingly white veneers you see on television yapping about if you’ve been injured, you need to call them—they fight for the little guy! The dude is everywhere. Billboards. Commercials. Newspaper and magazine advertisements.
The local police have tangled with Archibald several times over the years because his son is a magnet for trouble. Let’s see, there was the time (or five) when he was picked up for underage drinking. When Beck was fifteen years old, he borrowed his parent’s brand spanking new Range Rover and did a little off-roading. And the police were involved when he super glued the locks on the high school building doors for senior prank day.
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