Page 48 of Unexpected Entanglement

“Your island?” Rowan's tone rose. “This is as much my island as yours. In fact, my family was on this island way before yours arrived.”

“You and your father weren’t interested in this property until recently. I’m not surprised if you want to free yourself of it. Butthis is unacceptable. The last thing we need on this island is a generic hotel chain.”

Now that statement got Chris’ back up. He might not have a hand in the recent The Sullens’ developments, but he still didn't like anyone insulting his family business.

Before Chris could make his objection known, Gibbes continued, “I’ll have to report this to Doug—”

“Why would you involve the town manager?” Rowan interrupted, her voice rising slightly in what might sound like panic.

“Any investment this big, and knowing The Sullens Hotels, I assume it’d be significant, needs to be discussed because it will impact the entire island,” Gibbes plowed through.

“There is no investment!” Rowan exclaimed almost desperately as Gibbes continued to ignore her.

Chris finally stepped to Gibbes’ face and forced him to stop talking. “I told you I’m not here for my family’s business,” he said firmly. “My reason for being here is personal.”

“I can’t see how you would have any personal connection to the Kellys unless you’re eying the property,” Gibbes retorted in disbelief. “What other reason would someone in your position have to be here?”

“Me! He’s here for me,” Rowan announced loudly. “He’s my fiancé.”

Gibbes’ head jerked down to Rowan as fast as Chris’ did. Good thing, too, because Chris was sure his eyes popped out of his head. Alex, standing behind Rowan, had gone speechless with her mouth wide open.

Feeling Rowan’s hand reaching for his, Chris instinctively met it halfway, and their two hands clasped. Though he was as flabbergasted as Connor Gibbes was. He wasn’t sure where Rowan was going with this, and he had no reason to play along, but the irrational urge to protect her from Gibbes was stronger than his common sense at the moment.

“He’s family,” Rowan stated. “Or soon to be.”

“Bullshit,” Gibbes spat. “You’ve been on the island since spring, and this is the first time your fiancé visited you?”

“I’ve been busy opening a resort in Switzerland,” Chris supplied.

The information didn’t satisfy Gibbes, and he pushed past personal boundaries. “Where the hell would you have met a Sullens?”

“Again, none of your business,” Rowan retorted. “Mr. Gibbes, I respect your position as a leader in our community, but it doesn’t give you the right to question my personal life or how I run my business. I don’t have to report to you where or how I met my fiancé. And if I want his help in reopening the Bright Head Inn, that is my prerogative.

“Now, I appreciate you checking on me, but as you can see, I have things under control. You won’t have to worry that this property is too big for one little woman to manage anymore. As you can see, I have top-notch help.”

Connor Gibbes didn’t know how to respond to this bit of pushback. But Chris could see he was still trying to find a chink in Rowan’s story. Chris felt deescalating the confrontation would be better than putting the older man in an embarrassing situation.

“Mr. Gibbes, Rowan and I met rather recently, but you know when Cupid strikes, time doesn’t really matter,” Chris started in an easy, relaxed tone. He looked at Rowan and continued, “When you find the one, you just know.”

Rowan looked back at him with her big bright blue eyes, questioning what he was doing. He smiled at her and hoped she trusted him to run with what she’d started. He let go of Rowan’s hand, put his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her to his side. She, following his lead, put her arm around his waist and relaxed in his arm.

“Since we’ve had little time together, we wanted to take this time to deepen our relationship before we announce our engagement.” Chris glanced at the still-shocked Alex and winked. “But I guess the cat’s out of the bag now.”

Alex seemed to thaw out of her frozen state, and a vast grin replaced it.

“Whoah! OMG, Ro.” She jumped both Rowan and Chris and hugged them both. “I knew something was going on between you two from the first moment he showed up. Man! You really put me through the loop there.”

“Rowan and I share similar interests in hospitality,” Chris said to Gibbes. “And we bonded over our dreams to create an oasis for people to enjoy—a place to rejuvenate, recharge. I set my sight globally, but Rowan’s dream has always been bringing Bright Head Inn back to its glory like her family had in the past. I only want to help her make that dream come true.

“I’ve only been here for a couple of days, but I’m getting what Rowan told me about this island. There’s something special and idyllic about Vinalhaven,” Chris added as he smiled down at Rowan. “I had the best sleep I’ve had in a long time last night.”

Rowan’s cheeks blushed, giving Chris’ statement a double meaning he didn’t consciously intend. But it fed into their overall story.

“Our island is special, Mr. Sullens. Pardon me if I came off as overprotective. We like to keep Vinalhaven true to its identity,” Gibbes said, sounding less confrontational though not entirely convinced yet.

“I understand.” Chris nodded. “Rowan feels the same way about the island and Bright Head.”

Chris could feel Rowan holding herself rigidly as he spoke for her, as if she wasn’t there to speak for herself. He squeezed her shoulder gently to calm her. Unfortunately, men like Connor Gibbes responded better to another man. So this time, Chris hoped she understood his signal.

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