Page 94 of Unexpected Entanglement

We got this.

Yet only a half hour before that, he’d talked to her about leaving. Why the sudden change of heart? Especially after the night they’d had?

Maybe he got scared I might want more from him.

Rowan’s heart skipped a beat. She did let herself imagine him being all hers.

“Sooooo,” Alex interrupted Rowan’s thought. “That kiss Chris gave you. That didn’t look like a temporary kiss.”

Rowan glanced at her friend. “What are you talking about?”

“It looked more like an ‘I got you, babe’ kiss.” Alex gave her a double brow twitch.

“That was just for Bruce,” Rowan dismissed.

“I don’t know,” Alex said. “This temporary thing you were saying, you sure he got the same memo?”

Rowan scoffed. “Come on, Alex. Even if I’m not stuck on this island, running this inn, the man has a temporary stamp all over him. He’s not the type to linger with the likes of me.”

“I think you’re underestimating yourself there, girlfriend.”

“No, just being pragmatic.” Rowan added, “You won’t be disappointed when you don’t expect much from people.”

“Now you’re underestimating him. That’s your experience with Richard talking.”

“I learned from my mistakes with Richard. I didn’t realize I needed more—deserved more—than being the perfect woman he wanted,” Rowan said. “I realized I was the muted version of myself when I was with him.”

“He’s always been a self-absorbed prick,” Alex commented. “More so in recent years.”

“So right now, I’m focusing on myself—my goals and needs,” Rowan continued. “Chris is helping me with those, both in business and in bed. If I keep my expectations where he already satisfies me, I’m good.”

“Does he?” Alex’s mouth twitched in a curious grin. “Satisfy you, that is?”

“Beyond belief,” Rowan exclaimed. “Oh, god. Last night, he gave me a full-body massage before he ate me out. I came so hard, I barely could move.”

Alex shoved her at the shoulder. “Now you’re just bragging.”

“I recommend getting yourself a night with a man in the hospitality business. Good lord, talk about being serious in giving the best service.”

Alex hooted with laughter. “Good for you, babe.”

Rowan’s smile was huge, but despite her big talk, she hoped she’d be ready when it was time to let Chris go. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on her feelings for Chris Sullens. She still had other matters to deal with.

“I need to find my new sister,” Rowan said.

“You’re gonna let her stay with the wedding and all?” Alex asked.

“We’ve been trying to get her here for months. I'm not letting her go now that she's here.”

“With everything going on, I’m just wondering if this is the right time to deal with her,” Alex reasoned.

“I know. But it’s only Monday. Who knows what we may accomplish in a few days?”

“She seems to handle it well, but meeting you and Kieran can’t be easy for her. And vice versa, really. But you got Kieran. Rae is alone.”

“No, she has Chris,” Rowan said.

“That may be. But you have a lifetime connection with Kieran that Rae would never have.”

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