Page 65 of Unexpected Entanglement

“Not quite untouched, but yes,” Chris said honestly.

“Vinalhaven fits that bill,” Mickey said. “Though I wouldn’t mind having a resort like yours here to think about it. They’re small, exclusive, and would bring up the property value.”

“And bring everything up for the rest of us!” someone exclaimed from the crowd.

“Yes, but think about the increase in revenues for all of us as well,” Mickey argued.

Chris glanced at Rowan as the floor started arguing about the merits and disadvantages of having Chris’ resort there.

“This isn’t good,” Rowan said to Chris.

“I didn’t start it.”

“Crap.” Nobody would ever hear her if she didn’t do something. Rowan grabbed Chris’ arm. “Help me up,”

As Chris helped Rowan onto a chair, Kieran abruptly stood, towered over everyone else, and roared, “Quiet!”

Her brother said little in public settings like this, so everybody was shocked into silence. Kieran then gestured to her, “Rowan.”

Standing tall now, everybody looked up at her. And Rowan stared them down.

“Did you hear yourself arguing, creating your own narratives without facts backing you up?” Rowan demanded. She pointed at Chris. “Chris is here on vacation! He doesn’t even want to be in this meeting. Mr. Gibbes invited him to come just because he’s a well-known businessman. Well, he happens to be my fiancé, too. You can argue all you want, but the fact is he isn’t here to build a resort. He’s here for me. I can’t help who I fell in love with. And none of you can make it more than it is.”

The floor was still stunned in silence.

“You got their attention now,” Chris whispered from beside her.

Well, I’m not done.

Rowan looked straight at Gibbes, sending him a warning. “And I will make it clear, right here, right now, that the Bright Head Farm & Inn belongs to the Kelly family—always has, always will. Nobody—and let me repeat that—nobody is getting their hands on it.”

“Nobody’s gonna underestimate you now,” Kieran told Rowan as they settled around a small high-top table at the Bottom Feeder pub at the end of Main Street.

The local business people told Chris it was their tradition to get a drink or two at the pub and be social after all the arguments during the meeting. They said it helped to soothe bruised egos. Hence, a group of people piled into the fisherman’s watering hole and rubbed elbows with pints of beer or glasses of whiskey in their hands.

Rowan and Chris received more than a few congratulatory pats on the back for their engagement. Most of the people he’d met tonight were fantastic. Except for Gibbes and Greg, the people of Vinalhaven had been more than welcoming. Some were a bit more curious than most and asked him questions after the meeting, but they weren’t as hostile as Gibbes.

After Rowan’s fiery speech, Gibbes had wisely moved the meeting to other matters and ended it promptly at six-thirty. She might’ve shut down the lobster mogul’s campaign against the inn for now, but Chris was sure that wouldn’t be the last time they heard from Connor Gibbes.

“You were badass,” Chris added to Kieran’s statement.

“It needed to be done.” Rowan drank her beer. “The gall of that guy. I understand why Dad hated his guts.”

“People tolerate him because he owns the biggest moneymaker in the community,” Kieran said. “That’s why he can influence what happens on this island.”

“I see why he sees you as a threat,” Chris said. “You’re the biggest landowner on the island, but you haven’t been productive in the past decade. Now that the farm is doing well, and the inn is reopening with many improvements, you’ll be a contender for the top moneymaking business on the island.”

“I doubt it. Lobstering and fishing are one of the biggest industries in the state. It is the bedrock of this community,” Rowan said. “It’s not our intention to threaten that livelihood, and it never will be. The fishermen and their lobster boats anchoredat Carver’s Harbor are a part of the appeal for the guests of the inn.”

“I know,” Chris said. “But Gibbes definitely sees you as a threat.”

Rowan was about to say something but saw someone approaching and smiled instead. Chris noted it was a genuine smile, so it must be a friend.

“Morgan, have a drink with us,” Rowan said to the brunette she’d introduced Chris to earlier.

“That’s why I’m here. I can’t stay long, though. But I just gotta tell you, girl, you’re my hero, telling off those men like that.” Morgan lifted her almost empty glass. “I gotta drink to that.”

“Here, here!” Kieran agreed.

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