<b>Chapter </b><b>179 </b>


    Thankfully, Rowan’s arm was steady as steel around her waist.


    He acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing, utterly absorbed in the kiss, his lips moving insistently over hers. The doorbell kept ringing, but Elissa managed to push him back just enough to catch her breath. “Someone’s here…”


    Rowan’s eyes, dark and intense, were clouded with desire. His fingers squeezed her waist, sliding upward as he kissed her again. “Ignore them,” he murmured, his voice husky and dangerously enticing.


    No one answered the door, and the person outside was quickly losing patience. The ringing turned to loud knocking, punctuated by muffled, confused voices.


    “What’s going on? Did Rowan forget we wereing today?”


    “No way.”


    That was Frank’s voice.


    Panic fluttered in Elissa’s chest. She nced up at Rowan, her eyes wide. “Frank and


    the others are here…”


    “So what?”


    Rowan pressed another kiss to her lips, his face tightening with a flicker of coldness. He tilted her chin up. “Afraid he’ll find out you’re cheating on your husband?”


    “That’s not it…”


    It was just–awkward.


    Frank was out there ringing the doorbell, and she was tangled up in Rowan’s arms.


    -In her brother’s arms.


    But all Rowan saw was her fear of being caught.


    He stepped closer, caging her in, a mocking smile twisting his lips. “So, who’s the better kisser, me or him?”


    Elissa stared at him, baffled by his logic. “What are you even talking about? I just-”


    Before she could finish, the lock beeped–the sound of someone rapidly punching in


    the code.


    As thest digit was about to be entered, Elissa bolted for the hallway, but Rowan


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>11:36 </b>


    caught her, pulling her back and locking eyes with her, refusing to let it go. “Answer


    me.”


    Her cheeks burned, her heart thundering. She gritted her teeth and muttered, “You. You’re better, way better.”


    It was the truth–she’d never even kissed Frank. Rowan was her first.


    Satisfied, Rowan let her go, lips quirking with a hint of smugness. He arched a brow, then turned to open the front door.


    Elissa darted into the bathroom, closing the door behind her and taking deep, shaky breaths to calm herself.


    Rowan swung the door open, ncing coolly at the group outside. “What brings you guys by so early?”


    Bradley grinned. “We just wanted to meet your girl, that’s all.”


    A couple nights ago, Rowan had dropped a bomb in their group chat–hinting, not so subtly, that he was finally seeing someone. So of course, the guys decided to show up early, hoping to catch a glimpse of Rowan’s mysterious girlfriend.


    Bradley sauntered inside with a bag in hand, but stopped dead, staring at Rowan as if he’d seen a ghost. “Rowan, is that… lipstick on your mouth?”


    The others turned to look, eyes zeroing in on the unmistakable smear of lipstick at the corner of Rowan’s lips.


    The evidence was obvious–there was no hiding what had just happened inside.


    Rex raised a brow, shooting Rowan a knowing look. “No wonder you said we were early. So your girl really is here, huh?”


    Frank looked unsurprised. He remembered seeing Rowan waiting downstairs in the parking lotst time–clearly for someone he cared about. With Rowan’s looks, charm, and determination, there wasn’t a woman he couldn’t win over. The only reason he’d stayed single all these years was because he simply hadn’t wanted to date.


    But now, Frank was genuinely curious. What kind of woman had finally caught Rowan’s eye and heart?


    He smiled, asking, “Is she the one you were waiting for downstairs the other day?”


    Rowan nodded slightly, ignoring the other two. Only then did he seem to realize, rubbing his thumb across his lips and noticing the telltale stain of lipstick. He licked


    his lips, almost relishing the taste.


    Frank, being a man himself, recognized the signs. He chuckled, teasing, “Looks like we’ll be toasting at your wedding soon, huh?”


    “Wouldn’t count on it.”


    Rowan stuffed one hand into his pocket, tossed each of them a cold beer, and spoke with a cryptic half–smile.


    Bradley popped open his can, took a sip, and shot Rowan a mischievous grin. “What do you mean? Is there actually a woman out there who doesn’t want to marry you? Or…” He grinned wider, voice lowering in mock scandal, “Don’t tell me you’ve got your eye on a married woman, Rowan?”


    Elissa stepped out of the bathroom just in time to hear thatst line, her mind goingpletely nk.


    <b>Chapter 180 </b>