Page 110 of Unexpected Entanglement

“Suit yourself.” Kieran shrugged and stood with him, watching the party.

“Why aren’t you in there?” Chris asked.

“I need a break.”

The dramatic exhaustion in Kieran’s voice made Chris chuckle.

“I don’t know where both of my sisters got their disposition, but gatherings like this take the energy out of me,” Kieran said, watching Rae taking pictures of the cooking, the food, the staff, and the general party. She’d asked Meredith and Sam if she could take photos for the inn.

“There’s always one of you in a family,” Chris noted. “My best friend—Rae’s husband—is the quiet, mysterious one between two livelier siblings. He and Rae are different in so many ways, yet very similar at the same time. It’s mind-boggling. But they seem to work.”

“We want to introduce Rae to the family, but she said to wait until after the wedding,” Kieran said.

“I agree with her. It’s Meredith and Sam’s time.”

They stood there in silence for a few long beats, just watching. They’d also built a couple of bonfires for people to sit around. As the sun disappeared behind the trees, the fires burned brighter.

A slim man with closely cut light brown hair, wearing a maroon sweater and a pair of chinos, stood away from one of the bonfire circles. But when Rowan got up and walked to the drink tables, he trailed behind her.

“That’s Richard, Rowan’s boyfriend,” Kieran said, obviously noticing the man, too.

“Former boyfriend,” Chris corrected. Alex had given him a heads-up earlier.

“I’m glad she didn’t marry him.”

Chris glanced at Kieran. “You don’t like him?”

“I thought he was okay. But I don’t really know the guy. We don’t mesh,” Kieran said. “When things get tough, that's when people's true colors come out, y’know?“

Chris just nodded.

“When Dad died, Richard was barely at Rowan’s side. He was too busy securing his promotion that opened up due to Dad’s death. The three of them worked for the same company,” Kieran explained.

“He barely had time for her, but when Rowan broke up with him and moved here, he couldn’t leave her alone. He kept telling her she was throwing her life away. That he would take her back when she realized the inn was too big of a job for her,” Kieran continued.

Chris listened as he kept his eyes on the man they were discussing.

“When the hell is he gonna take the hint that my sister is too good for him?” Kieran said through clenched teeth.

“Are you sure your sister isn’t considering Richard’s appeal?” Chris asked. “Because she didn’t seem sure when I asked her about it yesterday.”

Richard shot him a look.

“Managing this place is a big job, Kieran,” Chris said honestly. “I have no doubt Rowan can do it, but she will need help. My professional advice is for her to hire a General Manager.

“A GM will allow her to have a life of her own—off island, if that’s what she wants. You have your farm and Rae can’t be full time, either, especially with another baby on the way. I wouldn’t blame Rowan if she’s considering going back to Freeport. She shouldn’t be running this place alone,” Chris finished.

“No, she shouldn’t,” Kieran said pointedly.

Chris met Kieran’s eyes and gave a short laugh. “I can’t keep doing this, Kieran. I have my own business to run.”

“Right.” Kieran nodded. “So you’re done after you had you two fun weeks with her, huh?”

Chris jaw tightened at the dig, but he kept his voice level. “Rowan doesn’t want me to continue sticking my nose in her business.”

“How would you know? Did you ask her?”

“She said two weeks, that’s it.”

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