Page 86 of Unexpected Entanglement

She hated to leave the conversation hanging. But it had to wait. She went down the steps to the driveway with Chris only a step behind.

When the truck stopped in front of them, Chris put an arm around Rowan’s back as he stood close next to her—an automatic gesture he’d been doing in front of the locals since Rowan had announced their engagement.

But the woman who stepped out from the passenger seat wearing a white shirt tucked into her designer blue jeans wasn’t a local. She took off her sunglasses and focused her eerily familiar blue eyes on Rowan before she turned her gaze to Chris.

“Don’t you two look cute together?” said Rae Allen.

Chris stared at his friend with his mouth wide open. Rae smiled warmly at him as she approached, then her eyes landed on Rowan with a curious glint.

“Surprise!” Rae said.

Connor Gibbes came around the hood of the truck with speculating eyes. Chris quickly jumped into action and hugged Rae.

“Rae, what are you doing here?” Chris said loud enough for everyone to hear and whispered only to Rae, “Follow my lead.”

When he pulled away, Chris turned to Rowan with a big smile and a signal. “Babe, it’s Rae!”

It took Rowan two seconds to register his signal, but she, too, quickly plastered a big smile. “Rae, what a surprise.”

Chris nudged her toward Rae with a gentle push on the small of her back. She understood the message and went to hug Rae as if they were old friends.

The look on Rae’s face was priceless, and Chris was glad Gibbes couldn’t see it. He didn’t know what Gibbes knew about Rae, but he hoped Rae had remembered enough about what he’d informed her and had said nothing damaging to Connor Gibbes.

“You’re a little early for the wedding. The rest of the family isn’t arriving until Thursday,” Chris added, earning a brief questioning look from Rowan.

He was thinking on the fly as he noted Gibbes’ keen eyes on the sisters. He was sure Gibbes noticed the resemblance. They might as well be open on the familial relation without revealing too many details.

“Mr. Gibbes, how are you?” Chris quickly turned to the older man. “How did you end up driving Rae here?”

“I was dropping off my wife at the ferry for her day trip to Camden, and we overheard Rae here asking how to get to Bright Head. So I offered her a ride,” Gibbes answered with a smile.

“Connor told me he’s your neighbor,” Rae said.

“That he is,” Rowan said. “Thank you for getting Rae here, Mr. Gibbes.”

“You should’ve called us,” Chris said to Rae. “We would’ve picked you up.”

“I wanted to surprise you both. You know me. I always figure out my own way.”

“Well, consider us shocked,” Rowan said. “Wait till Kieran hears about your arrival.”

“It’s gonna be a party,” Chris said.

Rae looked at them with a confused look but maintained her smile.

“Is that your bag?” Chris pointed to the carry-on in the back of the truck.

Rae nodded to Chris before turning to Gibbes. “Thank you again for your kindness, Connor. I truly appreciate it.”

“Of course. We look out for each other on this island. I hope you enjoy your visit,” Gibbes said.

“I’m sure I will,” Rae said with a smile.

Connor Gibbes nodded to Chris and Rowan, then got back into his truck. The three of them stood there watching him drive away before they turned to each other.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Chris asked Rae.

While Rae shot back, “What the hell are you still doing here?”

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