Page 2 of Unexpected Entanglement

“I finished installing the fixtures. They’re ready for the final inspection.” Rowan jammed her hands into her jeans’ pockets. “We’ll get this place ready for operation and Meredith’s wedding next summer.”

He flashed her a proud smile, reminding Rowan that her father was one handsome man. She bet he’d turned many girls’ heads when he was young. But he’d only committed to one woman,her mother, which reminded her of something: her parents’ wedding anniversary.

“Are you thinking about Mom? You would’ve been married for thirty-five years,” Rowan mentioned.

“That we would’ve.” The smile faded from her father’s lips, and he averted his eyes toward the water. “Say, when is that Dick going to pop the question, huh?”

Rowan laughed. “Richard, Dad. You know he doesn’t like being called Dick.”

Neal innocently shrugged. “Is he planning to make an honest woman out of you?”

She scoffed at his term.

“You’ve been together for five years. What are you waiting for?” he asked.

“We’ve talked about it. It’s just not the right time yet.”

“When is the right time?”

“Richard wants to reach his goal of being a regional VP before he turns thirty-five.” She and Richard worked in the same company where her father was chief of operations. While she was in merchandising, Richard was a few levels directly below her father.

“That’s the only thing stopping you from getting married?” Rowan could feel her dad’s probing eyes on her as she pretended to inspect her well-worn work boots as they strolled.

She couldn’t tell her father she didn’t know if she wanted to marry Richard. But as if he could read her mind, Neal threw an arm around her shoulders.

“Why are you staying with a man you don’t love, sweetheart?” he asked gently.

Rowan’s gaze flew to his face. “Who says I don’t love him?”

He gave her a knowing smile. “Your silence says enough. Even if you love him, you don’t love him enough to marry him. Trust me, don’t commit yourself to someone because you feel you have to. If five years haven’t convinced you to marry him, cut your losses.”

“What do you mean?” Rowan frowned. “Richard is a good man. He has a lot of potential—”

“But does he excite you?” Neal asked. “Does he light the fire within you?”

“Are you asking about our sex life?” Her eyes widened. “Because that’d be weird.”

Her father burst into laughter. “Physical passion is definitely important, but I’m talking about the fire within us. It burns bright when we’re the happiest, and it’s usually fueled by people who love us the most—people we love the most.”

He squeezed her shoulders. “You should find that person. Don’t settle.”

“Where is this coming from? I’ve never heard you talk like this before.” Rowan eyed her father with a questioning smirk. “Are you talking from experience, Dad? Did Mom light your fire?”

The brightness in her father’s blue eyes dulled at the mention of her mother. With a sigh, he slowly pulled his arms back to his sides and jammed his hands into his work pants’ pockets.

“Dad?” Rowan’s brows turned down in puzzlement.

Neal kept walking and stopped at the edge of the rocky cliff where the family cottage stood on one side. He studied the building with its cozy porch facing the water and smiled again. Though regret seemed to cloak his face.

Out of nowhere, Rowan had a foreboding sense that whatever her father was about to tell her would tilt her world.

In seconds, Neal Kelly had aged a decade. The lines on his face deepened as he pursed his lips.

“Dad, what is it?” Rowan rubbed his arm, hoping to allay whatever suddenly plagued him.

Neal looked into the distance, beyond the cove. “I have so many regrets, Rowan. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.”

“What do you mean?” Rowan probed. “What regrets?”

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