Page 104 of At First Smile
Twisting to face me, she bends close. “For what?”
I trace my fingers along her jaw. “For helping Liv.”
“All I did was listen.”
“It was so much more than that. You supported her to own her story, to speak up. You helped her regain her power.”
“I’m just following my teammate’s lead. Thank you.” With the sweetest goddamn smile, she offers me the sandwich.
“I love you.” Bypassing the sandwich, I slant my mouth over hers. The salty taste from the cheese toasty blends with her natural sweetness in the most decadent flavor.
“Are they always like this?” Eli chuckles.
“Yes!” Both Finn and Trina guffaw.
Mouth still locked with mine, Pen flips off Trina and Finn, making me fall just a little bit more in love with her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Brothers
Pen
“You about ready?” Bemusement coats Rowan’s question.
“Almost.” Teeth scraping against my bottom lip, I take in my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My hair, pulled half back, is styled in loose waves. The sapphire-blue sheath dress that JoJo helped me select, drapes my curves in a flattering, but not too sexy way.
It’s just enough to give me the confidence I need to meet Rowan’s family, mainly his mom. She’s only been a muffled voice from Rowan’s phone, when I eavesdrop, just a little, on his weekly calls with her. Rowan assures me that she’ll love me, but still a jitteriness ignites my nerves.
“You’re perfect.” Rowan comes behind me and winds his arms around my waist.
“You’re biased.”
He nuzzles into my hair. “A hundred percent… Doesn’t mean I’m not right, though.”
The presence of his arms calms the anxious swirl inside me. Nobody has ever had this power, not even Aunt Bea. The last few weeks dealing with the situation with Alex has frayed my nerves. But each night coming home to Rowan awakens those same nerves in the best way. I don’t have to pretend with him that everything is okay, like I do at the hospital. Nor do I have to be on constant guard. With him, I get to just be me… Just Pen.
“You make me feel perfect,” I murmur.
“You make me feel so much.”
A quiet throb almost whispers in my chest with how full it is. Sometimes I fear I may burst with how much I love this man.
“I have something for you.” He squeezes my middle.
“Is it your cock?” I sass, rubbing my backside against him.
“Christ, woman,” he laughingly groans.
“Youloveit.”
“I love you.”
“And I love you.”
He slips a small rectangular box out of his back pocket and places it in my hand.
Eyes wide, the breath swooshes out of me. “Rowan…is this…”
