Page 83 of Unexpected Entanglement

“Save it. I saw Chris sneaking out of your room.” Alex’s brow rose with a superior look on her face.

Rowan’s jaw went slack. “I… He… We—”

“Good for you, girl.” Alex winked.

Rowan’s mouth clammed shut in confusion, but she uttered, “What?”

“I knew something was up between you two. You can say this engagement is fake, but this connection you two have.” Alex gave a micro headshake. “It ain’t fake.”

“What are you talking about?” Rowan brushed off Alex’s observation and went to pour herself a cup of coffee.

“You and Chris,” Alex pressed. “You act like a real couple. You gravitate toward each other like lovers.”

“We have to make it look real.”

“If that’s all pretend, I’ll get you both a set of fucking Oscars,” Alex said. “Why are you denying it?”

“Because it’s just sex, okay?” Rowan told her friend.

This was too much conversation before she finished a cup of coffee.

“Just sex?” Alex repeated with eyes narrowed on Rowan.

Rowan looked around, checking that Oliver wasn’t about to appear like he always did. When she felt the coast was clear, she leaned into Alex. “The connection you see is called attraction, or in Chris’ word, lust. That’s all there is to it.”

“Bullshit,” Alex claimed. “How that man looks at you isn’t saying lust. Well, maybe, but there’s more.”

Rowan shook her head. “No, we’re just two people filling each other’s needs. It’s temporary.”

Alex didn’t look convinced. “You’re not the type to just sleep with any guy to fill a need.”

Rowan laughed. “I spent years feeling unfulfilled. I’m making up for a lost time.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Alex shrugged.

“Look, he’s leaving once we’re done with the wedding. He has his life to go back to and his resorts and hotel empire to deal with. I might see him again, depending on how things go with my half-sister. But uh… yeah.” Rowan nodded. “This is temporary.”

“You said that,” Alex noted.

“Right.” Rowan smiled brightly at her friend, showing her she was okay with the arrangement. “I just got out of a long-term relationship. I’m not ready for anything but a casual...”

“Dancing in the sheets? The occasional bumping boots? Meaningless riding the bony express?” Alex suggested.

“What in the fuck?” Rowan laughed.

“Isn’t that what you’re trying to say?” Alex pointed out with her usual careless demeanor. She added, “Or is that what you’re trying to convince yourself?”

Rowan decided it was wisest to say nothing and drank her coffee. Because after last night, she wondered the same thing.

Chris was about to leave his room when his phone rang. He saw the caller’s name and answered, “Hey, brother. What’s going on?”

“You tell me what is going on,” Dean retorted from the other end of the call. “How did you get yourself engaged to my wife’s half-sister?”

“Rae told you, huh?” Chris grimaced.

“Of course she told me,” Dean said. “You think she can keep that big of a secret from me? She’s antsy and keeps saying she needs to rescue you.”

Chris laughed. “I don’t need rescuing. I know what I’m doing.”

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