Page 76 of Unexpected Entanglement

“It’s a freshwater swimming hole,” Alex replied. “A tad warmer than the seawater. We used to love jumping off the rocks. Remember, Ro?”

Rowan loved to see the glow on Alex’s face. “I remember.”

“I’m game,” Chris said with one of his irresistible smiles.

“You’re sure it’s warmer?” Oliver asked.

“I thought you’d be used to cold water, seeing you’re from Chicago and all,” Rowan said. “Isn’t Lake Michigan cold?”

“Not in the summer,” Oliver retorted.

Rowan laughed. “Why don’t you see if it’s too cold for you? Children love it. I’m sure you can handle it.”

“And you can always warm up on the granite. It’s a great sunbathing spot,” Alex said. “Come on, let’s get packing.”

Seeing Alex and Oliver packing food and drinks into a cooler, Rowan couldn’t help but pat herself on the back. She felt better already.

twenty-five

Rowan was right. The swimming hole was what they all needed after a full week of work and problems.

Chris couldn't believe it had only been a week since he'd been in Vinalhaven and met Rowan, Alex, and Oliver. They'd been working, eating, and living together the whole time. And in result, he had a good understanding of them already.

Oliver was a still-water-runs-deep type of man. He hadn’t shown Chris his passionate side except for his phenomenal cooking. Still, Chris knew there was some fire bottled up in him under that Zen demeanor. Maybe he’d get to see it someday.

Alex was the opposite. What you saw was what you got. She wore her personality proudly and unapologetically. She was the friend you’d always want at your party because she’d keep the fun going. Alex had shown she was a real friend by helping Rowan. Taking a break from her popular restaurant job in the middle of summer to cook for this wedding was a generous act. Most sous-chefs would fear losing their position.

Then there was Rowan. She surprised him the most. Chris wasn’t sure why, but she wasn’t who he’d expected. First, he’d thought she was a man. That would go down in history as one of the stupidest mistakes he’d ever made. His second mistake was assuming he could come here, judge everything—her included—in one glance and be on his way. The situation was much more perplexing than he’d anticipated, as was Rowan.

She was a complex woman. Determined and spunky, for one. She wasn't afraid to get down and dirty when her opponent backed her into a corner. But knowing that, Chris also thoughtshe was honorable. The way she accepted Rae’s right to Bright Head assured him the Kelly siblings and Rae would coexist fine.

Rowan’s dedication to bringing the Bright Head Inn back to its glory reminded Chris of his long buried desire to continuing his own family legacy. Working with Rowan this past week had reawaken his childhood dream of taking The Sullens to its next phase.

Then there was the siren Rowan.

Chris hadn’t expected the level of heat they created together. They had burned the sheets on Friday.

But Friday had ended. They’d agreed it had been a one-day deal. That was what Rowan wanted: hot sex for the day. That was it.

Except I’m not done wanting her.

Watching her sunbathing in a two-piece number on the quarry’s granite earlier had been torture. How could he be this close to her without touching her again?

“What are you doing out here?” Rowan’s bedroom voice swept over Chris like warm velvet and brought him out of his musing.

“Just enjoying the sunset.” Chris flashed her a smile.

Rowan walked up the steps to the porch with a box under her arm. She went to Chris and sat next to him on the couch. “That was a fun day, huh?”

“It was,” Chris agreed.

The quarry had been fun. There had been families with kids, teenagers, and tourists enjoying the natural pool. Sharing the joy of a glorious summer day had bolstered their spirit in getting the inn ready for guests.

They’d continued the fun by going for a drink and dinner in town. The chefs had claimed exhaustion from the physical exertion and retired to their house. Chris suspected Alex was deliberately trying to give Rowan and Chris private time. Did Alex know what happened between him and Rowan?

“I needed that,” Rowan said.

Chris grinned. “Like you needed Friday?”

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