Page 147 of Unexpected Entanglement

“Wow, I think this is the first time I’ve seen you speechless,” Chris said, watching her with an amused smile.

Taking her hand in his, Chris told her again, “I love you, Rowan. I don’t know when I started loving you, but I do. Maybe I fell in love with you from that first moment you blew me off. Or maybe when you showed me how determined you are to preserve your family legacy.

“Though that night when you stood up against the bullies in front of the whole town was pretty badass,” Chris said. “But I know for sure that I was in fucking trouble when I kissed youthat first time. Because I didn’t want to stop kissing you. I still don’t, and I never will.”

Chris pulled her closer so he could run the back of his fingers over her cheeks. He took in the details of her face—her bright eyes framed by her auburn eyebrows, the sprinkle of freckles over her nose, the light tan over her skin, and the way she bit her bottom lip when she was thinking. Even if she was often grumpy, she also made him laugh. And he could listen to that sexy voice any day, whether she was talking about renovation or cursing him to love her harder. He loved everything about her.

“We met three weeks ago, Chris,” Rowan finally found her voice. “We barely know each other.”

“The heart knows what logic can’t explain,” he said. “I don’t take these words lightly, Rowan. But I understand if you don’t feel the same way. I know it was a temporary arrangement. I thought I could be there for you and walk away after. Falling for you was never a part of the plan. But I want you to know how I feel about you.”

“I love you, too,” Rowan blurted out.

There. I said it. I love him.

Rowan blew out a breath. “But this can never work.”

The bright smile on Chris’ face turned into a questioning frown. “Why not?”

“The same reason I told you to leave Vinalhaven,” she explained. “You can’t stay there as much as I can’t leave Bright Head. You have a life in New York, a business that requires your full focus. And I have mine. As much as I want us to be together, I can’t see how it would work.

“I left a relationship because I felt my dreams and goals had to take a backseat to his. I can’t be in the backseat again—I won’t. But I also won’t ask you to take a backseat for me," Rowan finished.

Undeterred by her skepticism, Chris grinned. “Honey, the only backseat I’m planning to be in is when I’m there making out with you.”

“The rest of the time, we’ll share the driver’s seat,” he added. “When I’m driving, I want you there next to me. And when you take the wheel, I’ll be right there with you.”

Rowan shook her head with a sad laugh. “Easier said than done, Christopher.”

“We can work on our dreams together, Rowan,” Chris insisted. “A wise friend of mine, who happens to be your sister, told me that when the heart wants it badly enough, the brain will find a way to make it happen. I think between you and me, we can figure this out.”

“It’s that easy, huh?” Rowan scoffed sarcastically.

Chris pulled her into his arms. “It is if we don’t make it complicated.”

Rowan’s eyes stared unblinkingly at Chris, seeing the conviction in his face. This man who kept her on her toes from the first day he’d mistaken her as a guy. He uplifted her when she felt defeated and took every challenge she threw at him with a sunny smile on his face. The fact he could easily turn her on like a light switch was a bonus.

“You’re not one to let fear make your decision for you,” Chris challenged. “Come on. Where’s that girl who told a room of old men to go fuck themselves?”

Rowan laughed.

“We can do this.” Chris’ smile was full of confidence. “You know we can.”

He lights you up, sweetheart. She heard her dad’s voice as if he was still there with her.

“Tell me again,” Rowan asked.

Chris didn’t ask which part this time. “I love you, Rowan Kelly. I want to spend my life with you.”

“And I love you,” Rowan said.

“But?” Chris checked.

“No but.”

Rowan had seen many smiles on Chris’ face, but this one took the prize. His face was lit up with it.

“Never stop looking at me that way,” Chris said.

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