Read Online Tempting Rowan (Trace + Olivia #3) by Micalea Smeltzer - Free Book Online Page A

was here first,” I responded, cringing at my words. I sounded like a whiny child. “Anyway,” I moved around him, backing towards the table, “sorry for almost spilling coffee on you,” I ground the words out.
    “Apology accepted,” he smiled, his eyes sparkling.
    He turne d to Griffin to place his order and once he wasn’t looking I ran for the table, falling into my seat.
    “What the hell?” Tatum exclaimed, surprised at my abrupt arrival. “No more coffee for you if it makes you that hyper.”
    “It’s not the coffee,” I whispered, letting my hair fall forward to shield me.
    “Then what—” She looked over her shoulder to see what I was staring at. She smiled. “Ah, I see now,” she laughed. “I don’t know why you don’t face facts, y’all so want to do each other, so get it over with already.”
    I spat out my coffee, surprised at her words. She ducked to avoid the spray, but some still landed on her shirt.
    “I can’t believe you said that,” I grabbed a napkin, wiping up droplets of coffee.
    “Hey,” she shrugged, “you two are the ones who have sex with your eyes.”
    “Who’s having sex?”
    I closed my eyes, my whole body flushing in embarrassment.
    Trent grabbed a chair and pulled it up to the table. “Please, don’t stop talking on my account. It sounded like you were getting to the good part.”
    Tatum sat forward, propping her head on her hand. “I was saying that clearly you’re both attracted to each other,” she pointed from me to Trent, “so you might as well do it and get it over with. It’s going to happen eventually.”
    “Tatum!” I shrieked.
    “It’s true!” She exclaimed, throwing her hands dramatically in the air.
    “Well,” Trent tipped his chair back on two legs with a smirk gracing his full lips, “I’m happy to hear I have someone on my side. Not that I only want to do the lovely Rowan,” he nodded in my direction, “I want much more than that.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please.”
    “What?” He raised a brow. “It’s not possible that a guy might want more than sex? Come on, Row, you know I’m not some player looking to get in your pants for one night.” He eyed me, daring me to refute him, but I couldn’t. I did know Trent, and I knew he wanted much more from me than sex, and that’s what scared me the most. Trenton wanted all of me, specifically my heart, and it wasn’t something I could give away. I couldn’t deny my attraction to him though. I did yearn for him, but he wanted more than I was willing to give. “Go on a date with me,” he pleaded. “You, me, and a delicious dinner. I’m not asking for anything else.”
    Tatum kicked my shin from beneath the table, willing me to say yes.
    “No.”
    Trent stood, replacing the chair he’d sat in back to the table it belonged with, and grabbed his cup of coffee. Pointing a finger at me, he said, “I knew you’d say that. But it won’t stop me from asking you again and again, until one day you do say yes. See you later, Row an.”
    With that, he turned sharply on his heel, and headed out the door. The bell dinged above the door, signaling his departure.
    “Why won’t you go on a date with him?” Tatum asked, her mouth agape with shock. “He’s hot and he’s nice, that’s a winning combination in my book.”
    “I don’t date,” I stated bluntly. “I don’t have time for a relationship. It wouldn’t be fair.”
    “Excuses, excuses,” Tatum shook her head, a few strands of blonde hair escaping her ponytail to frame her face. “I know you’re busy with school, and taking care of your brother and sister, but you have to find time to do something for yourself. What’s so wrong with letting yourself have some fun?”
    “It’s complicated.”
    “I don’t see anything complicated about it. You like him. He likes you. Go for it. Live a little,” she smiled as she started packing her stuff up.
    Live a little.
    I pondered those words, wondering if I could do it—if I