Page 57 of Unexpected Entanglement

What the hell is he talking about?

“You didn’t think that step breaking right in the middle is suspicious?” Chris frowned at her as if the answer should be obvious.

“No, I didn’t think that.” Rowan waved at her ankle. “I was a bit preoccupied. Still am, by the way.”

Chris glanced at her ankle that had ballooned and pressed harder on the accelerator. Did he think the cart could suddenly go beyond 16.5 mph?

“We’ll talk about that later,” he said. “Let’s get you checked out first.”

“I’m fine,” Rowan insisted. “Why do you think someone is out sabotaging us?”

They were approaching the main house, and he gunned it at full speed to the parking area and stepped on the brake at the last second, jerking it to a stop.

“Jeezus!” Rowan lost her grip on the cart’s frame and flew forward, but a muscular arm stretched out in front of her chest, preventing her from hitting the windshield, and it rested on top of her heaving breasts.

“Sorry.” Chris retracted his arm as quickly as he’d extended it. The next second, he ran toward the house, calling out, “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

“I’m fine, for god’s sake!” Rowan yelled back in frustration, but he was halfway to the porch.

Grumbling at his insistence on taking her to the doctor, Rowan started getting out of the cart and shrieked in pain when she moved her foot.

Damn it! I don’t need this. I’ve never sprained anything in my life. It has to be this week?

Rowan examined the swelling ankle and prayed it was just a sprain. And that some ibuprofen, ice, and elevation would reduce the inflammation.

What a week of injuries. Rowan turned her palm up and studied the healing gash she’d had yesterday. It didn’t bother her much anymore, but it made working with tools difficult. And now this?

What are the odds?Rowan wondered as Chris’ earlier word rang in her head: sabotage. What would cause that break? Everything about the cottages was new. There was no rotting wood; everything was weather-treated to the max. Nothing should break, yet this wasn’t even the first incident.

“Got the key.” Chris rushed back to her and handed her a bag of ice.

He was about to scoop her back into his arms, but Rowan quickly stopped him. “I can get up on my own.”

She pulled herself up by holding on to the cart and kept the injured foot off the ground. She stood unsteadily on the right leg as she gauged the distance to her truck.

“Put your arm around my waist,” Chris suggested and scooted closer to her.

Reluctantly, Rowan did as he said while he put an arm around her back, supporting her under her other arm as she hobbled to the truck.

“It’d be easier if you’d just let me carry you,” he said.

“I’m not a baby.”

“There’s nothing wrong with accepting help, y’know.” His voice was gentle.

“You’ve done enough already. You don’t need to be my personal caretaker, too,” Rowan replied without her earlier annoyance. “This is embarrassing enough.”

Chris opened the passenger door and assisted her into the seat.

“There’s no need to be embarrassed,” he added with a grin. “You are my fiancée.”

Rowan’s lips lifted at one corner in a reluctant smile. “Right. We probably should discuss some ground rules about that.”

“Probably. One second.” He took his phone and called Alex. “Hey, you’re in the barn? Rowan twisted her ankle. I’m gonna take her to urgent care. Can you—”

Rowan could hear Alex’s voice cutting off Chris, asking if she was okay and what had happened.

“I’m fine,” she shouted for the third time so her friend could hear her. “But our resident doctor here insists I see an actual doctor.”

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