Page 55 of Unexpected Entanglement

“Son, I…” his father started again.

“I’m tied up until at least next weekend, Dad,” Chris cut it short. “I’ll try to get there after that if it’s all the same to you.”

Chris was expecting a fight from his father. George Sullens usually got what he wanted when he wanted. Chris was the only person who didn’t dance to his fiddle. But this time, his father just sighed.

“I’ll be here,” George said and hung up.

Chris let out a big exhale himself. Why did he get so worked up whenever he talked to his dad?

He looked out toward the cove and knew precisely what he needed. Jumping into a cart, he drove toward the cottages. He parked and made a beeline for the water as he pulled his T-shirt off and tossed it onto the pebbly beach. His shoes and socks followed.

Chris didn’t have to test the water. He knew New England water wasn’t for the faint of heart, even in the summer. He eyed an area deep enough and dove in. The chilly water shocked his system—exactly what he needed.

He swam under the clear water for a few strokes before coming for air. He gasped a lungful of breath before swimming along the curve of the beach. With each stroke and breath, he felt himself calming down. He wasn’t an easy man to rile up, but George Sullens had the golden touch. He just had to say anything, and it’d trigger Chris.

Does that make it his or my problem?Chris pondered as he swam back to where he’d started. He walked out of the water at the shallow side, ran his hands over his wet hair.

Thank goodness for a sunny day. The warm rays felt good on his chilled skin. But he wasn’t done. The initial cold jump helped him control his sudden anger, but he had two decades of frustration to release.

Chris looked around the beach for things he could use to exercise. Most times and in most places, it was easy for him to find alternative tools to use for his calisthenic workout. He didn’t need any equipment to keep up with his squats, push-ups, handstands, and other bodyweight exercises.

He found a couple of large smooth stones and placed them firmly on the sandy part of the beach. They made good makeshift bricks he could grip on now that he felt limber.

After testing the firmness of their placement, Chris grabbed the stones and focused on using his arms and core muscles to hold his weight in the air in a sitting position with his legs straight out. He felt his core burning as he held the position, but he kept himself steady.

With control, he folded his legs at the knees toward his chest and slowly dipped his torso forward to bring his legs under, then behind his arms. He paused at a frog stand where his folded knees rested on his triceps above the elbows.

He straightened the legs behind him in a straight line while he pushed halfway down on his arms. Sweat covered his skin, and every muscle in his body screamed, but it was a good scream. It felt good to control his body this way and simultaneously train his mind not to give up when things get tough.

He was halfway up to a full handstand when a loud crack and a yelp came from somewhere around the cottages behind him.

“Son of a bitch!” someone yelled in pain.

What the fuck just happened?

Rowan felt the hard ground under her. The thick grass didn’t soften a fall much when you fell from a few feet up. Her backdefinitely felt it. She pushed herself up with her hands, and a pain shot up her left leg.

“Fuck!” she groaned.

“Rowan! Are you okay?” Chris came running toward her only in damp shorts and skin.

Shit, here comes trouble.

Now, Rowan remembered what had happened a few seconds ago. And it was all Chris Sullens’ fault.

He dropped to his knees next to her. “What happened?”

You happened!Rowan couldn’t help but shoot daggers at him.

She’d just come out from Honeymoon Cottage No. 2 when she’d spotted Chris on the beach in front of the cottages. From her higher vantage point on the porch, she’d seen him doing unbelievably controlled movements with his body. She admitted she’d been gawking at him and those working muscles on display. Jeezus, who knew mister smiley was that ripped.

And while her eyes had been on him, she’d stepped off the porch and, in the next second, found herself on the ground.

Rowan scanned the porch and the few steps she would’ve stepped on and saw the hole. She pointed. “My foot went through that.”

Chris’ gaze followed her direction. He stood up and walked over to inspect the hole closer.

“What the hell?” he muttered.

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