Page 67 of Unexpected Entanglement

“Why, thank you, darling.” Raven batted her long fake eyelashes and offered the glasses to the three. When she got to Rowan, Raven eyed Rowan’s booted foot. “Did you hurt yourself?”

“Just a sprain.” Rowan didn’t pick up the shot glass. “I can’t drink anymore. But please thank Mr. Gibbes for me.”

“He’s right over there.” Raven gestured to the same spot where Greg was sitting.

Connor Gibbes held his glass up and spoke over the crowd. “I’d like to toast the new happy couple.”

The room went quiet, and people followed Gibbes’ gesture—even Greg. Chris, Rowan, and Kieran couldn’t refuse without looking ungracious. So they did—Rowan, somewhat reluctantly.

“Congratulations on your engagement,” Gibbes toasted simply.

The small community was happy to drink to anything. They cheered, started banging the surfaces, and chanted, “Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss!”

Shit.

Chris glanced at the stunned Rowan, the scowling Kieran, and the smirking Raven. That smirk. Gibbes planned to force Rowan into a confession with the toast.

Think again, Gibbes.

Sliding his hand to the back of Rowan’s neck and wrapping an arm around her, Chris pulled her up to meet him halfway. And his mouth descended on hers.

The pub erupted into cheers, yells, and whistles. But a wave of adrenaline surged through Chris’ veins, drowning the background noise, and all he felt was the woman in his arms.

Chris thought he had everything under control, but the moment his lips touched hers, he was pulled under the churning surf of her warmth, her softness, and her fragrance. But he didn’t care. All he wanted was more of the blissful taste of her mouth, the bewitching scent of her skin, and the urgency of her touch.

Siren.

twenty-one

Eight days to the wedding

Rowan lingered in bed even as the sun rose above the horizon. Normally, by this time, she'd be out on the porch watching the morning sky with her first cup of coffee.

But not today. Because Chris would be out there.

In fact, she’d heard him rummaging around the kitchen, brewing the first pot of coffee about a half-hour ago. The man woke up as early as she did. And being the extrovert he was, Chris was ready to chat her up as soon as he saw her.

Rowan needed to linger on that first cup of coffee before she could handle any chattering. But if she was being honest with herself, mornings with Chris Sullens actually had been pleasant. By now, he’d deduced her routine and would give her space until she was ready to engage.

Today, she needed a lot of space. After that kiss, how could she not?

When the pub crowd had demanded them to kiss, Chris had taken her in his arms and locked eyes with hers.Trust me, he seemed to say.

Rowan couldn’t have done anything but trust him. She couldn’t possibly refuse to kiss him without blowing their cover. And she’d known Gibbes had orchestrated the whole thing to push them into a corner, but neither she nor Chris was going tolet him win. They’d taken one for the team. That was what she’d told herself.

Until his lips touched hers.

Despite understanding that they'd been two actors, acting as lovers, that kiss had felt searingly real. Though Rowan had braced for it, she hadn’t expected the powerful wave that swept her into the deep sea. Everything around her faded into nothingness, and all she could sense was Chris: the trace of the whiskey he’d just drank, the earthy scent of his skin, the prickly feel of his evening stubble. And the most delicious thing was how big he felt as he enveloped her in his embrace.

The kiss probably lasted only a few seconds, but it must’ve deprived her of oxygen because her brain hadn’t functioned well after that. She hadn’t even realized when Chris had escorted her out of the pub and walked her to the truck.

He’d taken her key and driven them home. They hadn’t discussed what had happened and kept the talking to a minimum on the drive. Until they returned to the inn and Alex demanded an update. But neither of them mentioned the theatrical kiss.

Coward! You have to face him, eventually.

The thing was, admiring Chris Sullens from a distance was safe. She could indulge in a little fantasy in her head. But now she knew how it actually felt to be touched and kissed by the man. The fantasy wasn’t good enough anymore. Now she wanted more. He seemed to enjoy the kiss, too. Maybe…

Bad idea, Rowan! It’s an all around bad idea.

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