by Kennedy Fox
“Gonna finish fixing up this place this winter, and then you won’t be able to resist movin’ in with me.”
“Alright, Cowboy. Challenge accepted.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
ROWAN
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Diesel: You wearing that sexy red thong I like?
Rowan: I was thinking commando might be more your style?
Diesel: Screw dinner. Gonna fuck you against the table instead.
Rowan: That is not the romance package I signed up for on our first Valentine’s Day.
Diesel: Okay, fair point. I’ll wine and dine you, then fuck you senseless.
Rowan: Deal.
“You sure you’re okay babysitting?” I ask Elle who’s sitting on my bed, waiting for me to finish getting ready for my hot date tonight.
“I think I can handle a three-year-old,” she states. “Plus, Kenzie and I are having a singles-only party after Dawson goes to bed, so she’ll be there to help me.”
It’s been a crazy five months since Chelsea and Dawson moved to Texas. In fact, it’s been quite the adventure since the night Diesel kissed me in the bar office.
But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve never been happier and love seeing this side of Diesel.
“Alright, I’m ready,” I tell Elle, staring into the mirror and inhaling a deep breath. I’m dressed up more than usual, and I hope I knock Diesel on his ass when he sees me. “How do I look?” I spin around for her to get a good look.
She examines me from head to toe with a cheeky grin. “Like you’re about to get laid six ways to Sunday.”
“Well, then I guess that’s perfect!” I chuckle, brushing my hands down my skintight dress. “Though I’m like ninety-percent positive I won’t be able to sit in this thing without it splitting at the ass.”
“I’m wondering how you’re going to even walk in those shoes…” She raises her brows at my five-inch platforms. I’ve worn heels less than five times in my whole life, and it’s possible I might trip and break my neck.
I walk around my bed, and my ankle jerks, making me stumble. “Dammit. How do women wear these things?”
“You should’ve practiced,” she scolds.
“No, no. I think I have this…” I straighten my back and walk around my room. “I’ll be fine.”
“You’re walking in slow motion,” Elle deadpans.
“It’s the only way.”
She snickers, shaking her head at me.
“You’re basically a doctor, so if I twist something, you can fix me up!” I grin.
“A vet,” she emphasizes. “An animal doctor.”
“Potato, potahto.”
“No, ma’am. Now, if you’re birthing a calf or a foal, then I’m your girl. Otherwise, you’d be going to see my parents at the ER.” Both my uncle Evan and aunt Emily would no doubt give me a hard time for wearing these, especially if they saw me at the hospital banged up.
“Yeah, I don’t want that. Would kinda ruin my whole rough sex plans for tonight.”
Elle gags, making me laugh.
“Please, let’s go before you hurt something.” She stands, and we head for the door.
We drive to Diesel’s house where Dawson’s staying tonight. He wanted to give Chelsea and Trace a chance to have a romantic night without worrying about getting up with a toddler in the morning. They’ve been seriously dating for the past few months, and they’re great together. Trace adores Dawson and is great with him. He’s surrounded by so much love and is the luckiest little kid to have four adults who get along and can co-parent together.
Elle parks her truck, and I slowly get out, adjusting my dress before making my way to the door. As soon as it opens and he sees me walking up his steps, his jaw drops.
“Hooooly fuck.”
Seeing Diesel’s face was totally worth it.
“You like?” I ask, swallowing hard.
Elle comes to my side. “He better, considering what it took to get you in that thing.”
“I definitely do, but now I don’t want anyone else to see you…” He pulls me into his arms and slides one hand down my back. “Especially with your legs and ass on display. Hell, you’re tryin’ to kill me, aren’t you?”
“She’s gonna kill herself in those heels,” Elle says, snickering as she walks into the house, and Dawson comes running toward her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear those before.” His gaze lowers, admiring every inch of me.
“Nope, but I wanted to wear them for a special occasion.”
“Then we better get going because my mind is running wild with ideas…” He closes the gap between us and kisses me. “Like right now, I’m envisioning you bent over wearing only those heels.”
“Mmm…now that I can probably arrange,” I whisper, brushing my lips against his again.
“Daddy!” Dawson interrupts, tugging on his jeans.
We quickly pull apart. I forgot we had an audience.
“What is it, bud?” Diesel kneels, removing his cowboy hat.
“Aunt Ellie said I could have cereal for supper!” His smile’s so wide and genuine, it’s impossible to tell him no.
“Is that so?”
I crack up laughing because Dawson’s obsessed with cereal. Ever since we tried that potty training trick, it’s all he wants to eat.
“Would you rather I feed him something I make? Because trust me, it won’t be good. That’s Maize’s area.”
Elizabeth Bishop is smart as a whip, but her cooking skills are null.
Diesel picks him up and stands. “Alright, buddy. You have fun with Aunt Ellie.” He kisses his head, then hands him off to Elle. “In bed by eight,” he reminds her.
“This isn’t my first babysitting rodeo,” she mocks. “I have this. We’re gonna get high on sugar, run a mile, then crash out. Easy peasy.”
Diesel groans.
“Bye, lovebirds!” Elle all but pushes us out the door, and Diesel takes my hand, threading our fingers together as we walk to his truck.
“Can you actually walk in those things?” he asks, opening the passenger side for me.
“Where’s your confidence in me?”
He lifts me, and I settle into the seat.
“About three inches lower.” He snickers.
I glare at him, buckling in. “We’re on a date, mister. You’re supposed to be charming and romantic, remember?”
Diesel clears his throat and slides his hands down his dressy button-up shirt. “Startin’ now.” He throws me a wink, then shuts the door and runs to his side.
As soon as we’re on the road, he grabs my hand and presses his lips to my knuckles, planting a sweet kiss there.
“In case I wasn’t clear, you look gorgeous.”
“You look quite handsome yourself. That shirt is making me want to rip off the buttons and slide my tongue up your abs.”
“You better watch that naughty mouth.”
“My mouth most definitely wants to be on you.”
“Rowan…” he warns in a deep drawl. “Getting my dick hard in these jeans is uncomfortable, so start talkin’ about something else.”
I grin, tightening my grip on his hand. “So I shouldn’t tell you I’m wearing a new black thong and bra set tonight?”
“Goddammit, woman.” His jaw tenses. “That black piece of fabric you call a dress is already drivin’ me insane.”
Although we spend as much time together as we can between our work schedules, we don’t always get nights alone, so after fourteen days of no sex, I’m dying for him. He gets Dawson three to four times a week, and by the end of the night, Diesel’s usually so exhausted he falls asleep the second his head hits the pillow. I’m still working late at the bar, so I need to make tonight count.
“Or that I haven’t touched myself since you last did, and I’m so wet right now.”
“Row…I won’t hesitate to pull this truck over and put you up on my lap, so unless you want us to miss our dinner reservations, y
ou better stop.”
I know he wants this to be super special, but all I want is him.
“I think you should do just that…”
Diesel jerks the steering wheel to the right until we’re off the road. Gravel spits up under the tires as he takes a hidden path, and I squeal, hanging on tight as he laughs.
“What’re you doing?” I shout. “You tryin’ to kill us?”
“Hang on, sweetheart.”
It’s been raining for three days straight, which is more than we typically get in an entire month this time of year, but it means it’s muddy as hell. The truck dips into a deep puddle and then water rises and splashes against the side.
“Adam!” I shriek through my laughter.
He quickly turns the wheel again, and we drive through another muddy puddle. Dirty water flies everywhere, covering my window.
Diesel looks over at me with a shit-eating grin on his adorable face before he does another donut, and the truck spins in circles.
I hang on for dear life, gripping the safety handle, and can’t stop smiling and laughing. I’ve gone mudding on four-wheelers through the woods before, but nothing like this.
After ten minutes, Diesel finds a dry spot and parks the truck.
“What the hell was that?” I ask, still trying to catch my breath from the rush of adrenaline.
“That was the equivalent of me dumping a bucket of cold water over your head so you’d stop looking at me like I was your next meal.”
“But that’s all I want,” I pout, sticking out my lower lip.
He adjusts his seat so it slides all the way back and then grabs my hand and helps me climb over the middle console. My dress is too tight to straddle his lap, so I sit on his legs.
“Why do I even bother trying to plan a romantic night for you?” he asks, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
I shrug, grinning. “Good question. You know I’m not high maintenance.”
“One of these days, I’m gonna try to propose, and you’re gonna jump me before I even get the chance to ask.”
Smiling wide at the thought of him putting a ring on my finger, I nod in agreement. “Probably. So you might wanna ask me when I’m least expecting it.”
“Duly noted.” He winks. “But I actually have something for you.”
“A gift?” I prompt.
“Perhaps.” He stretches back and reaches for a small box behind him. “This is one of them. The other is at the house.”
“You really didn’t have to get me anything,” I tell him. “I just wanted to spend time with you.”
He grabs my chin. “I know. But this gift is a little selfish.”
I narrow my eyes as he sets it in my palm. “What do you mean?”
“It’s for both of us,” he clarifies.
“Oh God. Is it one of those remote vibrators?”
“Huh?”
“Like I put it inside me, and you have the remote to control the speed…”
Diesel furrows his brows, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Okay, so by your expression, I’m gonna say no.”
He smirks. “Rowan, just open it.”
My heart races as I lift the top and unwrap the tissue paper. Whatever it is feels light. My fingers rub against metal, and when I pull it out, I narrow my eyes in confusion. “A key?”
“Yep,” he says.
I hesitate. “Because I have the key to your heart?”
He releases a laugh. “Well, yes. But this is the key to my cabin.”
“You’re giving me a key to your house?” I ask. Is this the next part of a relationship? Exchanging house keys?
“I am.”
“Oh.” I flip the key and study it. “Thank you.”
“But I’m also giving you the key to your house.”
My eyes meet his, and I frown. “Wait. What?”
Diesel grabs my hand and rubs the pad of his thumb over my knuckles. “I want you to move in with me.”
With wide eyes I blink, and my throat goes dry.
“I want to wake up with you every morning and go to bed with you every night. I’m tired of cramming time with you between our work schedules and hectic lives. Now that the cabin is all fixed up, I want it to be our home. Decorate the walls. Fill it with pictures and candles. Pick out new pillows and blankets in your favorite color. Hell, new china and silverware. I’ve been ready for the next step with you for months but didn’t want to rush you. However, I know I want you in my life forever.”
Diesel’s looking at me as though I’m his whole world with his cowboy hat sitting just right and his green eyes sparkling at me. The scruff on his chin is newly trimmed. He’s my everything.
There’s no doubt in my heart that I want him.
“Rowan, what do you say? Do you want to live together?”
My eyes swell with happy tears. I frantically nod and wrap my arms around his neck. “Yes, absolutely!”
I pull his lips to mine, and he tightens his hold on me. “I love you,” I murmur.
“I love you more.” His hands slide up my thighs, moving my dress up to my waist, and he shifts my body until I’m straddling him. Rocking my hips, I feel him harden between my thighs. Diesel groans as I rub his cock against me.
“You want to take another one of my firsts?” I whisper.
He pulls back slightly, furrowing his brows. “What’s that?”
“Sex in a truck,” I explain. “I’ve never.”
The corner of his lips tilts up into a wide grin. “Good, neither have I.”
Leaning back, I flash him a skeptical look. “Really?”
“Serious! I was saving all the fun places for you.”
I snort, laughing. “I’m sure.”
He manages to undo his buckle and jeans, sliding them down until I palm his cock and stroke him.
“Fuck…” he hisses. “Why does it feel like it’s been too damn long?”
“Because it has!”
Sliding my panties to the side, he pushes a finger inside me. “Now you’ll have me all the time.”
“Finally,” I say, gasping as he adds a second finger. When Dawson sleeps over, we have to be quiet since his room isn’t far from the master, but now that we’re in his truck, we can be as loud as we want. “I need you inside me.”
He lifts me slightly to position himself against me, and I slowly slide down his length. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, and my head falls back as we rock in unison and come together.
It’s the best Valentine’s Day ever.
“You’re what?” Riley shouts as I tape up the boxes in my room.
“You heard me.” I smirk.
“You and Diesel are moving in together? Like…legit?”
I nod.
“No one asked me.”
Snorting, I laugh. “Why does this surprise you so much? We’ve been dating for six months. You married Zoey after twelve hours,” I remind him with a shit-eating grin.
“Am I ever gonna live that down?” he huffs.
“Nope,” Diesel answers, rounding the door and walking in.
“That’s different. You’re moving in with my best friend,” Riley retorts, then points at Diesel. “And you…”
Diesel holds up his hands in surrender. “What now?”
“You know the rules. You break her heart; I break your neck.”
Diesel smirks. “Crystal clear, boss.”
“Relax.” I stand and pat Riley’s shoulder. “We’re living in sin, not getting hitched in Vegas.”
Riley groans, and without another word, he turns around and leaves.
“You’d think he’d be used to us dating by now,” I say, wrapping my arms around his waist.
Diesel leans down and gently presses his lips to mine.
“I could be the King of England, and I still wouldn’t be good enough for his little sister.” He shrugs, knowing there’s no use in worrying about it.
“Would that make me your queen?”
“You are mos
t definitely my queen. Royal title or not.”
I smile. “Ready to be roomies with me?”
“Ready to have a three-year-old around half the time?”
“Well, I grew up with Riley so…” We both laugh, and we hear him shout from the room across the hall.
“I heard that!”
“Dawson’s a good kid. I love watching you be a dad and getting to experience him learning something new. Do you think Chelsea will be okay with me being around more?”
“Of course. I told her so she’s aware, but Trace is around him all the time too. As long as his parents are happy, he’ll be happy.”
“And that’s all that matters, right?”
“All that matters to me is you, my son, and this ranch. I don’t think I could be happier if I tried.” He cups my face, and our lips merge.
A throat clearing from behind interrupts us, and we pull apart. “Y’all can’t wait till you’re under your own roof to make out?” my mother scolds. Then she looks at Diesel. “I hope you take good care of her. You hear me?” She steps in and hugs me. “This is my baby.”
“Mom.” I grin. “I’m not going very far,” I remind her.
“But still. I wasn’t ready for this. Seems too soon.”
“If it helps, I’ll still come over and raid the fridge while you do my laundry.”
“Nice try.” She pats my butt.
Like clockwork, my father enters. He’s been working all morning and gives Diesel a curt nod. “You’re really leavin’?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Five minutes away,” I say. “You won’t even notice I’m gone.”
He pulls me in for a long hug. “I’ll always notice the absence of your bobby pins lying around the house and tripping over your boots you never put away.”
“Geez, it’s like you two want me to be here until I’m eighty.”
He pulls back and kisses the top of my head. “We’re gonna miss you. You know we will.”
