Page 66 of Unexpected Entanglement

They toasted each other and drank. Morgan was the home goods store proprietor on Main Street. Chris had only glanced at it when he’d first arrived, but Rowan told him Morgan had created the toiletries she supplied at the inn. Based on the quality of the products, Chris imagined her store could be a major draw for tourists.

“So, Chris,” Morgan teased. “I’d watch your back if I were you.”

Chris laughed. “Why?”

She gestured to one end of the bar. “You’ve just robbed Greg of his chance forever.”

The brawny plumber sat alone, transfixed by his glass. And as if he could feel their eyes on him, Greg looked up and caught Chris’ eyes. Chris gave a slight nod, which Greg returned with a drunken glare.

“That is one heartbroken dude,” Morgan stated, not unkindly.

“He never had a chance,” Rowan stated. “Not with me, at least.”

“He thought he did,” Morgan said. “When you moved to the island permanently, and his divorce from Raven was finalized, he thought it was finally time for you and him.”

Rowan heaved a sigh.

“I knew he had a crush on Rowan, but I didn’t realize he had it bad,” Chris said, his eyes studied her face. “I can understand why, though. Those big blues would get any men captivated.”

Rowan blushed. Despite the dimness of the pub, Chris couldn’t help but notice how the blush brought out the faint freckles on her nose.

“Alright, cool it, Casanova,” Kieran said.

“Oh, girl,” Morgan cooed as she squeezed Rowan around her shoulders. “I wish I had a man who looked at me that way.”

“I’ll look at you however you want, Morgan,” Kieran offered with a grin.

Morgan laughed and pushed Kieran in the chest. “Tempting, Kieran. I might take you up on that if I didn’t know any better.”

“What? What’s wrong with me?” Kieran asked with a frown.

“Not a thing.” Morgan gave him a kiss on the cheek. “But you’re spoken for, babe.”

Kieran scoffed. “What the fuck? Nobody told me that. Who the hell am I supposed to be spoken for by?”

The two ladies exchanged knowing looks, but they just grinned at each other and ignored Kieran.

“Let me drink for you two.” Morgan lifted her glass one more time to Rowan and Chris. “Glad you found each other. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better, Chris.”

“Same here.”

Morgan finished her drink, gave Rowan a kiss on the cheek, and headed out after telling Rowan, “I’ll have your other prototypes in a few days, ’kay?”

As they watched Morgan squeeze her way out, Rowan said to Chris, “I should probably head out, too. You can ride with Kieran if you want to stay.”

“No, that’s all right. I’ll come with you.” Chris finished his drink and stood up.

But before Rowan cleared her seat, a dark-haired lady came around with three shot glasses. “Compliments of Connor Gibbes,” the woman announced. Her heavily made-up eyes barely acknowledged Rowan. Instead, she focused on Chris. “You gonna introduce me to your fiancé, hon?”

Chris could sense Rowan’s annoyance rather than see it. He wondered why he seemed very aware of Rowan’s emotional changes.

“Raven, Chris,” Rowan said, almost unable to mask the irritation in her voice. “Chris, Raven.”

The name jumped out from the conversation they’d just had.Ah, this is Greg’s ex-wife.

“Raven’s the co-owner of Bottom Feeder,” Kieran supplied.

“You got a great place here,” Chris said politely.

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