Unexpected Entanglement (Echo #3)

20. Chapter 20

twenty

Rowan turned into the Chamber’s lot and parked in an empty spot. She turned off the ignition and gathered her stuff. Her hand reached her head to adjust her hat but only met hair. She forgot.

Her arm dropped, and she let out a frustrated sigh.

“What’s wrong?” Chris, sitting next to her, asked.

“I don’t get it. Where could my hat be?” she wondered.

They’d looked again for her hat this morning, but nothing.

“Your hair looks beautiful,” he told her. “You don’t need the hat.”

Rowan gave him the side-eye.

“Okay, what’s with this hat?” Chris turned a little to face her. “Why is it so important to you?”

“It’s my dad’s hat, okay?” Rowan replied.

“Oh.” He clammed up.

“Come on. Let’s get this over with.” Rowan got out and looked for Kieran’s truck. It didn’t look like he was there yet. It was almost five-thirty when the meeting usually started.

Chris met her by her side of the truck and touched her elbow. “Hey, sorry about the hat. I didn’t know.”

Surprised by his apology, she just nodded.

“We’ll find your dad’s hat,” he promised. “Though I must say you look good without it.”

Chris’ eyes scanned her from the top of her head to her feet in one slow sweep. Rather than her usual work clothes of shorts and a T-shirt, Rowan leveled up her outfit to a pair of jeans and a pine-needle green blouse for the night. Though the boot on her left foot ruined the little effort she’d put in .

Chris didn’t seem to notice it. Now, Rowan knew he was used to ritzy women, but the appreciation in his gaze felt real. It created a major heat that was melting her inside.

Kieran’s truck pulled in and parked next to them. “What are you love birds waiting around here for? Let’s go,” he said as he got out.

Chris took Rowan’s hand in his and followed Kieran in. “We got this.”

I can do this. I did theater at school.

Rowan put her head into the game and reminded herself of the backstory they’d worked on together.

Just stay as close to the truth as possible. Keep it simple.

When they got in, all heads seemed to turn in their directions, at least to Rowan. She paused just beyond the threshold of the meeting room, filled with rows of plastic chairs. Business owners from the stretch of Main Street were all there, as well were service-oriented proprietors like Bobbie and Greg.

“It looks like most of the town is here,” Rowan whispered.

“Really?”

“Well, sans spouses or children.”

Kieran had already picked a seat, and they were about to follow him when Bobbie stopped them in their tracks.

“Is it true?” Bobbie glanced at Rowan and Chris’ clasped hands. “Is congratulations in order?”

Rowan hated lying to her friends, so she just smiled with a little shrug.

“Oh, my god!” Bobbie threw her arms around Rowan.

“Shhh… we’re trying to keep it on the down-low,” Rowan said with a chuckle.

“I think that’s out of the window, Ro. The whole town is talking about it,” Bobbie said.

“Seriously?” Rowan rolled her eyes.

Bobbie smiled at Chris. “You got yourself a good woman here.”

“I know.” He smiled back and looked at Rowan with adoring eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat as his hazel eyes seemed to take in every detail of her face, as if she was the most fascinating creature he’d ever laid eyes on.

He’s good . Even Richard never looked at me that way .

But Rowan couldn’t enjoy the fake love for more than a second since Connor Gibbes was fast approaching them .

“Glad you could make it,” Gibbes said to Chris with a glance at Rowan.

Chris let go of her hand to shake Gibbes’ hand, and Rowan felt unmoored. But not too long. Chris put his hand, this time, on her back, and she felt steady again, enough to introduce Chris to some people before they finally sat down.

The meeting started as dull as usual, with the reading of last month’s meeting minutes and updates on several issues. Honestly, this was the reason she skipped the meetings.

“Miss Rowan Kelly,” Connor Gibbes calling her name, brought her out of her reverie. “It’s good to have you grace our meeting tonight. Earlier this week, you mentioned that you’d like to share your plans for the Bright Head Inn. Would you stand up, please?”

Shit. Here we go.

Chris gave her an encouraging smile as Rowan stood up. Her hands felt icy as she rubbed them together. Boy, she hated public speaking. But before she could start, Mickey Fitz, the Chamber’s Vice Chair and the island’s most prominent—out of two—realtor, fired up a question.

“Is the gentleman accompanying you who I think he is, Rowan?”

Rowan’s mouth opened and shut at the rude interruption. “And who do you think he is, Mickey?”

“Chris Sullens of The Sullens Hotels,” Mickey answered, as if he was the authority of everything Sullens-wise. “I should know. I’m just surprised I wasn’t aware that he’s on the island.”

“Why would you be aware of my fiancé visiting me?” Rowan asked with a straight face.

The room erupted with whispers, as if they weren’t gossiping about them already.

“So it’s true?” Mickey questioned.

“Why does it matter?” Rowan shot back.

“It matters because of who your fiancé is, Miss Kelly,” Gibbes said.

“I thought I was here to update you on the Bright Head Inn’s reopening plan.” Rowan continued, “We’re to have a soft reopening toward the second half of the summer into early October as we work out the kinks in our services and procedures. I’m looking at the possibility of numerous employment opportunities. I have also worked out verbal agreements for future collaborations with other local businesses on the island. I have a rough projection of what the inn could bring revenue-wise for the island if we work together.”

“What you would bring is the possible destruction of this island’s delicate balance, Miss Kelly,” Gibbes cut in. “Especially if you bring The Sullens into the mix. They are too big and disruptive to this island’s simple way of life.”

“Nobody’s bringing The Sullens into the mix,” Rowan stated.

“And yet, the heir to The Sullens Hotels sits next to you in this very meeting,” Gibbes pointed out.

“At your invitation, Mr. Gibbes. Chris doesn’t want to get involved in my business except to help me in getting the reopening on track. He has no financial influence or interest in Bright Head whatsoever.”

“How would he not? Isn’t he marrying you? How does your husband not get involved in your business?” Gibbes asked.

“Just the same way Mrs. Gibbes isn’t involved in yours,” Rowan pointed out. She knew Charlotte Gibbes hadn’t been involved in her husband’s lobstering business as soon as they could afford to hire out any administration job.

“If that is the case, why the secrecy?” Gibbes still wouldn’t back down. “From what I can surmise, nobody knew about your engagement, even your friend, if I recall.”

“Why do you think, Mr. Gibbes?” Rowan looked around the room. “Was anybody else’s engagement scrutinized at the Chamber of Commerce meeting?”

Some people looked down when Rowan met their eyes. But Bobbie, Morgan, and a few other fellow businesswomen nodded at her with big smiles.

Knowing Rowan wouldn’t break, Gibbes turned to the silent Chris and addressed him. “Mr. Sullens, please stand up? Let us get to know you a little better.”

Chris stood up and smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. But I’d like to reiterate that I’m only here to support Rowan, Mr. Gibbes. I came to visit the island Rowan had talked about so much. Her home and her family legacy. I’ve only been here for a few days, but I can see why she loves this island and why she, Kieran, and all of you are very protective of it.”

“So you understand how your presence here could be alarming,” Gibbes said.

“I don’t see why,” Chris said calmly. “I’m only here on vacation. ”

“You are known for building luxurious resorts in remote, untouched locations, Mr. Sullens,” Mickey said.

“Not quite untouched, but yes,” Chris said honestly.

“Vinalhaven fits that bill,” Mickey said. “Though I wouldn’t mind having a resort like yours here to think about it. They’re small, exclusive, and would bring up the property value.”

“And bring everything up for the rest of us!” someone exclaimed from the crowd.

“Yes, but think about the increase in revenues for all of us as well,” Mickey argued.

Chris glanced at Rowan as the floor started arguing about the merits and disadvantages of having Chris’ resort there.

“This isn’t good,” Rowan said to Chris.

“I didn’t start it.”

“Crap.” Nobody would ever hear her if she didn’t do something. Rowan grabbed Chris’ arm. “Help me up,”

As Chris helped Rowan onto a chair, Kieran abruptly stood, towered over everyone else, and roared, “Quiet!”

Her brother said little in public settings like this, so everybody was shocked into silence. Kieran then gestured to her, “Rowan.”

Standing tall now, everybody looked up at her. And Rowan stared them down.

“Did you hear yourself arguing, creating your own narratives without facts backing you up?” Rowan demanded. She pointed at Chris. “Chris is here on vacation! He doesn’t even want to be in this meeting. Mr. Gibbes invited him to come just because he’s a well-known businessman. Well, he happens to be my fiancé, too. You can argue all you want, but the fact is he isn’t here to build a resort. He’s here for me. I can’t help who I fell in love with. And none of you can make it more than it is.”

The floor was still stunned in silence.

“You got their attention now,” Chris whispered from beside her.

Well, I’m not done.

Rowan looked straight at Gibbes, sending him a warning. “And I will make it clear, right here, right now, that the Bright Head Farm & Inn belongs to the Kelly family—always has, always will. Nobody—and let me repeat that—nobody is getting their hands on it.”

“Nobody’s gonna underestimate you now,” Kieran told Rowan as they settled around a small high-top table at the Bottom Feeder pub at the end of Main Street.

The local business people told Chris it was their tradition to get a drink or two at the pub and be social after all the arguments during the meeting. They said it helped to soothe bruised egos. Hence, a group of people piled into the fisherman’s watering hole and rubbed elbows with pints of beer or glasses of whiskey in their hands.

Rowan and Chris received more than a few congratulatory pats on the back for their engagement. Most of the people he’d met tonight were fantastic. Except for Gibbes and Greg, the people of Vinalhaven had been more than welcoming. Some were a bit more curious than most and asked him questions after the meeting, but they weren’t as hostile as Gibbes.

After Rowan’s fiery speech, Gibbes had wisely moved the meeting to other matters and ended it promptly at six-thirty. She might’ve shut down the lobster mogul’s campaign against the inn for now, but Chris was sure that wouldn’t be the last time they heard from Connor Gibbes.

“You were badass,” Chris added to Kieran’s statement.

“It needed to be done.” Rowan drank her beer. “The gall of that guy. I understand why Dad hated his guts.”

“People tolerate him because he owns the biggest moneymaker in the community,” Kieran said. “That’s why he can influence what happens on this island.”

“I see why he sees you as a threat,” Chris said. “You’re the biggest landowner on the island, but you haven’t been productive in the past decade. Now that the farm is doing well, and the inn is reopening with many improvements, you’ll be a contender for the top moneymaking business on the island.”

“I doubt it. Lobstering and fishing are one of the biggest industries in the state. It is the bedrock of this community,” Rowan said. “It’s not our intention to threaten that livelihood, and it never will be. The fishermen and their lobster boats anchored at Carver’s Harbor are a part of the appeal for the guests of the inn.”

“I know,” Chris said. “But Gibbes definitely sees you as a threat.”

Rowan was about to say something but saw someone approaching and smiled instead. Chris noted it was a genuine smile, so it must be a friend.

“Morgan, have a drink with us,” Rowan said to the brunette she’d introduced Chris to earlier.

“That’s why I’m here. I can’t stay long, though. But I just gotta tell you, girl, you’re my hero, telling off those men like that.” Morgan lifted her almost empty glass. “I gotta drink to that.”

“Here, here!” Kieran agreed.

They toasted each other and drank. Morgan was the home goods store proprietor on Main Street. Chris had only glanced at it when he’d first arrived, but Rowan told him Morgan had created the toiletries she supplied at the inn. Based on the quality of the products, Chris imagined her store could be a major draw for tourists.

“So, Chris,” Morgan teased. “I’d watch your back if I were you.”

Chris laughed. “Why?”

She gestured to one end of the bar. “You’ve just robbed Greg of his chance forever.”

The brawny plumber sat alone, transfixed by his glass. And as if he could feel their eyes on him, Greg looked up and caught Chris’ eyes. Chris gave a slight nod, which Greg returned with a drunken glare.

“That is one heartbroken dude,” Morgan stated, not unkindly.

“He never had a chance,” Rowan stated. “Not with me, at least.”

“He thought he did,” Morgan said. “When you moved to the island permanently, and his divorce from Raven was finalized, he thought it was finally time for you and him.”

Rowan heaved a sigh.

“I knew he had a crush on Rowan, but I didn’t realize he had it bad,” Chris said, his eyes studied her face. “I can understand why, though. Those big blues would get any men captivated.”

Rowan blushed. Despite the dimness of the pub, Chris couldn’t help but notice how the blush brought out the faint freckles on her nose.

“Alright, cool it, Casanova,” Kieran said .

“Oh, girl,” Morgan cooed as she squeezed Rowan around her shoulders. “I wish I had a man who looked at me that way.”

“I’ll look at you however you want, Morgan,” Kieran offered with a grin.

Morgan laughed and pushed Kieran in the chest. “Tempting, Kieran. I might take you up on that if I didn’t know any better.”

“What? What’s wrong with me?” Kieran asked with a frown.

“Not a thing.” Morgan gave him a kiss on the cheek. “But you’re spoken for, babe.”

Kieran scoffed. “What the fuck? Nobody told me that. Who the hell am I supposed to be spoken for by?”

The two ladies exchanged knowing looks, but they just grinned at each other and ignored Kieran.

“Let me drink for you two.” Morgan lifted her glass one more time to Rowan and Chris. “Glad you found each other. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better, Chris.”

“Same here.”

Morgan finished her drink, gave Rowan a kiss on the cheek, and headed out after telling Rowan, “I’ll have your other prototypes in a few days, ’kay?”

As they watched Morgan squeeze her way out, Rowan said to Chris, “I should probably head out, too. You can ride with Kieran if you want to stay.”

“No, that’s all right. I’ll come with you.” Chris finished his drink and stood up.

But before Rowan cleared her seat, a dark-haired lady came around with three shot glasses. “Compliments of Connor Gibbes,” the woman announced. Her heavily made-up eyes barely acknowledged Rowan. Instead, she focused on Chris. “You gonna introduce me to your fiancé, hon?”

Chris could sense Rowan’s annoyance rather than see it. He wondered why he seemed very aware of Rowan’s emotional changes.

“Raven, Chris,” Rowan said, almost unable to mask the irritation in her voice. “Chris, Raven.”

The name jumped out from the conversation they’d just had. Ah, this is Greg’s ex-wife.

“Raven’s the co-owner of Bottom Feeder,” Kieran supplied.

“You got a great place here,” Chris said politely .

“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.