Page 119 of Unexpected Entanglement

“That may be, but you don’t have to do it alone,” Chris pointed out.

“He’ll never survive this island.” Rowan laughed, misunderstanding his meaning.

“I wasn’t suggesting Richard.” Chris smiled.

But before Chris could elaborate, Rowan tensed in his arms. “Shit. We’re in the couples’ dance.” She belatedly realized.

Chris moved them in a slow circle so she could see the people on the dance floor. Meredith and Sam smiled at them. Caroline and John looked a little perplexed but smiled at Rowan, while others simply minded their own business.

“I don’t think you need to worry about anything,” Chris said.

Rowan sighed. “I worry more about having to tell them of another break-up.”

“We don’t have to break up,” he suggested.

She looked at him with a smile. “We made a deal. You’ve more than fulfilled your end of the bargain. I have to honor the terms of the agreement.”

“I was actually thinking—” Chris started to say.

“Tomorrow, everybody’s leaving,” Rowan steamrolled over his words. “And you are free to go see your dad.”

Chris nodded. “He’s been texting me for five days straight now.”

“I know you don’t want to, but you should go see him,” Rowan said.

“You’re right, I should,” Chris agreed. “But I was thinking, I can come back and help you with the reopening.”

“I’ve taken too much of your time and your kindness. I got it from here, Chris.” She patted his chest lightly over his suit jacket. “Kieran, Rae, and I got it. Thanks to you, the three of us are learning to be a family.”

“That’s… wonderful,” Chris said, taken aback by Rowan’s dismissal.

“You know I won’t keep our engagement over your head as if it’s real.” She laughed.

“Right.” Chris studied her face.

“I’m sorry. Our little ruse must've been a pain for you when girls hit on you last night,” Rowan joked.

Chris frowned. “Sorry. What are you talking about?”

“Those girls.” Rowan turned them around. “Meredith’s friends. I saw them flirting with you.”

Chris spotted the girls from the clambake. “Oh. They were drunk. I was just making sure they didn’t hurt themselves on the beach.”

Rowan nodded. “You don’t have to explain.”

“Hey.” Chris pulled her flush against him. “Let’s get something straight.”

Rowan gasped in surprise at his little display of dominance and met his eyes.

“We may not be engaged for real, but get this,” Chris said. “I only have my eyes on one particular woman, and that woman is you.”

Chris watched her pupils dilate, making her blue eyes almost dark.

“And I only have mine on you,” Rowan said.

Hope blossomed in Chris’ heart only to shrivel back.

“For one more day.” Rowan pulled him down to meet her kiss. “Let’s make tonight a night we’ll always remember.”

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