Page 53 of Unexpected Entanglement

“Well, they reminded me of how you were when we first met, though you were less confrontational. But I can definitely see that you guys share genetics and traits.”

“I know,” Rae said. “It’s been a while, but I remember the shock when I got a glimpse of them. My father asked me not to break the perfect family he had, so I never looked back. I tried not to think about them ever again.”

“I’m sorry, Rae. That’s fucked up.” Chris felt for his friend. “But perhaps it’s time to finally meet them.”

“You think I should?”

“Now that I’ve met them, I think it would help for you three to get to know each other. Kieran still resents that you own a part of his farm, but I don’t find him unreasonable. And Rowan… She’s curious about you.”

“Curious?” Rae questioned.

“And conflicted. You’re a reminder that their father wasn’t perfect, but they won’t deny your existence. I think they’re taking on your father’s guilt for abandoning you—Rowan, especially.”

He wanted Rae to understand Rowan didn’t have ill will toward her.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to face them,” Rae said.

“I’d say take your time, but I also think it’ll be easier to work things out—inheritance or emotional baggage—when you finallycommunicate face to face. There’s something more going on here that I’m still uncovering. Meanwhile, I’ll help them with the wedding for the next ten days.”

“Chris, you don’t have to do that. I know you have more important things to do.”

“I cleared my calendar. I’m supposed to be on vacation, remember?” He dismissed Rae’s concern.

“You should be relaxing, not working at a remote island inn slash farm,” Rae said.

“I kinda enjoy it. It brings me back to the old days when things were simpler,” Chris said.

“Nothing about this situation with me and the Kellys is simple.”

Tell me about it.

The sound of a lively but unintelligible conversation caught his attention. He looked over the vast lawn and found Rowan and Alex talking loudly and animatedly.

Are they fighting?

From where he stood, he could only see their shapes and movements. Rowan seemed to laugh hysterically as if she were telling Alex a joke. But Alex wasn’t laughing at all, which was expected since she’d been unhappy when she’d stormed out of the house last night. In the short time he’d known Alex, he knew she was the type who didn’t take most things too seriously, but she’d really taken Rowan’s deception personally.

“Chris?” Rae’s voice alerted him she was still on the phone.

“Sorry, I got distracted.” He averted his eyes from the women and focused on Rae. Seeing Rowan and Alex reminded Chris he had something else to share with Rae. “There’s another reason I need to stay.”

“What’s that?”

“Well…” Chris wondered the easiest way to say it and went straight to the point. “Rowan and I are engaged.”

“You what?”

seventeen

Chris’ phone rang.

He sighed, hoping it wasn’t Rae again. Their earlier phone call had gone longer than he’d expected since Rae had demanded an explanation for his “good” news.

He shouldn’t be getting a kick out of this, but the situation was so ridiculous that he somehow had to find humor in it. He’d avoided long-term relationships for years because he hadn’t found the right partner. But it took Rowan less than two days to hook him into an engagement.

Chris checked his phone and saw “Dad” on the screen. George Sullens must have psychic power.

Would he be happy to hear I’m engaged?Chris mused as he answered the phone. He had to think hard to recall the last time his father had called him himself instead of having his assistant make the call.

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