30. Chapter 30
thirty
Rowan and Alex had to take Bruce through the inn all over again. While that happened, Chris felt it safer to remove Rae from the inn’s vicinity. He’d suggested Kieran to give Rae the property tour, starting with the farm, and explain what had happened in the past week.
Trusting Rae could handle Kieran on her own, Chris had focused on adjusting the room assignments for guests and the extra incoming help. Bobbie had come with a small cleaning crew, and they immediately got busy, turning several rooms ready for occupancy. It cleared Chris to pick up Walt and Jane at the ferry.
As he parked Rowan’s truck at the ferry service lot, he felt good about the morning’s accomplishments despite the surprises. Everybody pulled together to get tasks done. Even Oliver had assisted with the housekeeping job. The chef never minded helping, but Bobbie was the real motivation this time. Chris couldn’t help but notice how Oliver became chattier when he was around her. Bobbie didn’t seem to mind the attention.
Was romance blossoming there? Chris wondered. Though, where could it go? A widow with a young son and a chef who was only in town for another week. It’d be over before anything could happen. Not unlike Rowan’s and his arrangement, really.
Chris had gotten upset earlier when he’d overheard Rowan telling Alex what they had was temporary. That was what they’d agreed on, and if he was being realistic, that was all it could be. It wasn’t her fault he caught feelings for her.
What the fuck am I doing with Rowan ?
Kieran and Rae had said nothing after Chris had sent Rowan off with a kiss. He’d brushed it off as keeping up with the ruse for the inspector. But Kieran and Rae were not stupid.
“Boss!” Walt’s voice, calling out from the ferry’s gangway, got Chris’ attention.
In their chic outfits, his energetic assistant and club event manager stood out among the day visitors. Though dressed in relatively simple black traveling pants folded at the cuffs, a white oversized box T-shirt, and pristine white sneakers, anyone could tell Walt wasn’t from around here. Jane, also dressed down from her usually elaborate style, still oozed Manhattan just from the edgy accessories she wore.
Chris laughed and wondered what he’d been thinking about bringing in these New Yorkers. It was bad enough Rowan had declared her fiancé was Boston born and bred. And who did the Mainers dislike more than people from Massachusetts, if not New Yorkers?
“Didn’t I tell you to tone it down?” Chris said when he reached the duo.
“We are toned down,” Walt protested. “Not everyone can slip off their designer suit to shorts and T-shirt and maintain their sex appeal like you do. Some of us have to work it a little.”
“You’re not here to appeal to anyone,” Chris pointed with a grin.
“You’re saying there aren’t any hot, young, beefy lobstermen around here to entice us?” Jane asked, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head.
Chris laughed. “I’m not sure they’re equipped to handle either of you.”
“Well, we can handle them instead.” Walt winked.
Chris could only shake his head as he chuckled. Then he eyed the baggage Walt and Jane had brought. “Hand me some of those. Thanks for getting here on such short notice.”
“This is like a paid vacation, right?” Walt said, then patted his luggage. “I got your suit and extra clothes here.”
“Here are the decor items.” Jane pointed to a box, which Chris put straight into the back of the truck, along with the rest of their stuff.
“I also have that other thing you asked me to get from your safe.” Walt patted the bag he wore across his chest .
“Great. Thanks. Give that to me later when we get to Bright Head.” Chris nodded and opened the driver’s door. “Let’s go.”
Walt looked at the old truck. “Are we all going in there?”
“We’ll fit.”
They all piled in without another question.
“Okay, Boss. Spill. Why are we here?” Walt asked, as Chris pulled out from the lot.
“Long story short, you’re here to help me run a wedding,” Chris said. “And I’m engaged.”
Rowan waved at Bruce as he drove away. She finally could take a deep breath after Bruce told her the Bright Head Inn’s license was safe. They’d gone through everything he’d asked to see and addressed all of his questions. She assured him the inn met every health requirement to a T. She suspected someone had pressured Bruce to reassess his recommendation for the Bright Head Inn. But in the end, Bruce couldn’t find any fault with the inn.
Rowan took whatever time was necessary to make Bruce content and avoid further issues. As Chris had advised, building a relationship with the inspector paid off. Inspections would happen regularly and were part of doing business. Though this one had come at the most inconvenient time.
“Glad that’s done,” Alex said and started back toward the house.
Following her, Rowan replied, “Me, too. What a crazy Monday.”
“Right?” Alex laughed. “Secret half-sister showed up out of nowhere, check. Surprise health inspection, check. What else is coming? The day’s still young.”
“Please don’t jinx it.” Rowan checked the time: 3:43. “We have Chris’ people coming, too. They should be here soon. I hope he got the rooms done.”
“He did. He asked Bobbie and her team to help. I saw her briefly when you took Bruce to the cottages,” Alex informed.
“Good call,” Rowan nodded. “I would’ve done it myself and taken a couple of extra hours. ”
“The guy knows how to delegate.” Alex said. “Glad he’s around to share the load, huh?”
Rowan agreed. She wouldn’t have been able to handle today without him. Well, she probably would, but with more worry and less focus. But knowing Chris had her back had really eased her mind. She knew he would handle the other things. His simple words earlier had calmed her entirely.
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.”
“I’m aware, Alex.”
“She also doesn’t have the same memory of your father that you do,” Alex pushed on.
Rowan stopped short of entering the house and turned to Alex. “When did you become Dr. Alex?”
“I’m just trying to protect you, Ro.”
“Me? Sounds like you’re more concerned about Rae.”
“It’s not a competition. The three of you will deal with a lot of emotional shit.” Alex threw up her hands in the air. “I mean, just look at how you reacted when you first saw her. Both of you were fuming.”
“We had a misunderstanding. We’ve cleared that air. ”
“I’m just saying, tread lightly. You can run a little hot when you’re stressed.” Alex patted Rowan’s arm. “Like you said, she’s here. You don’t want to lose her.”
Rowan took a deep breath and digested Alex’s words. That was why Alex was her best friend. She really understood Rowan.
“The upside of having a chef as a best friend. You don’t break under pressure.” Rowan grinned.
“Oh, really? That’s the upside? I thought it’s all this delicious food I cook you and shit.”
“That, too, because Alex, you’re the shit.”
Alex burst into laughter. “Don’t you forget it!”
“Never,” Rowan promised. “Now, where is my sister? I wonder where did Chris send her to.”
“Check with Kieran,” Alex suggested.
“God.” Rowan pulled out her phone and called her brother.
Kieran picked up after a few rings.
“Is Rae with you?” Rowan asked.
“She’s here at the farm.”
“You didn’t put her to work, did you?” Rowan asked.
“She wanted to help. She said it reminded her of the time she worked at vineyards in Italy,” Kieran said. “Did you know she’s pregnant?”
“She told me.”
“Did you see the pictures of her daughter?” Kieran asked. “Maya’s cute.”
“Wow. I never thought you cared much for children.”
“She kinda looks like me when I was a baby,” her brother said.
“She does. You were kinda pretty as a kid.” Rowan laughed, relieved to hear Kieran seemed to forget his stand to never accept Rae as a sister.
What a difference a day made.