Chapter 13 Rowan
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
rowan
“Can we start over?”
Claire glares at me again. “Start over?”
I nod and shove my resentment aside. “Hi, Claire. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight, but I’m actually very glad I ran into you.”
“Oh, are you?”
“Yes. I’ve been hoping I’d get the chance to tell you how sorry I am about the way we left things before,” I continue, because talking to her this way feels so much more natural than being as bitter as I was a minute ago.
“And I wanted you to know that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since the night we met. ”
She twists her lips to the side, as if she’s considering whether she wants to trust me. “Maybe a small part of me has been looking forward to seeing you again, too,” she admits shyly, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.
“It’s actually pretty funny when you think about it, meeting again like this,” I tell her.
“Yeah, I guess it is,” she agrees, smiling back at me and making my heart speed up.
“Maybe a little more than coincidence?”
“You’re not going to start with that star-crossed-soulmates crap again, are you?” she narrows her eyes.
“I did warn you about my fetish,” I hear myself saying, though I’m not supposed to be flirting with her. And I probably shouldn’t be reaching out to graze my fingers over her wrist, either, but it’s a little too late for that now.
“Hmm,” she hums, taking a step closer and hooking her little finger with mine. “You also told me you didn’t do dirty talk, and we both know how that turned out.”
I look away when I feel my face heat up, and she yanks on my hand.
“So, are you going to ask me to dance or what?” she poses just before we’re interrupted.
“Hey, you two know each other?” Daisy asks when she and Landry approach.
My eyes widen in panic as I drop Claire’s hand and take a step back, but she simply smirks at me before she turns to Daisy and says, “We’ve met before.”
I clear my throat to disguise my relief. The last thing I need right now is my best friend and sister finding out that I’m just a big, fat, adulterous hypocrite. Because …
Actually, now that I think about it, my love life is no one else’s business but my own.
I’ve only been so forthright about my celibate lifestyle to set a good example, but that ship has sailed now that the last of my siblings is sacramentally married to my best friend.
Or it’s scheduled to leave the harbor before the end of the night, at least.
Besides the blow to my pride when Claire inevitably denies having formed any real attachment to me, there’s no need to worry about my family learning I’m not as perfect or pious as they all think I am.
So I’m human; I’m not impervious to temptation.
They love me in spite of my other faults, so this shouldn’t be any different.
They’ll probably tease me if they ever find out I was moments away from losing my virginity to a stranger after waiting this long, but they’re just as likely to encourage me to make better choices next time.
I’m also a grown man, and I don’t have to answer to anyone but God at the end of the day.
I open my mouth to declare that Claire and I have done more than meet before or at least imply that we’ve dated, but I’m overcome with another wave of panic and shame at the thought of Daisy and Landry realizing it happened while Claire was still another man’s wife.
“She’s a patient,” I blurt out the half-truth instead. “Not mine, but … she’s seen one of the other specialists.”
Claire turns to glare at me. “HIPAA violation, huh?” she mutters under her breath, my chest tightening once I understand what I’ve just done.
“Oh.” Daisy gives her a sad smile.
“Yeah, small world, I guess,” Claire says quietly, but I see the pain in her eyes. And I hate that I’m the one causing it.
“Did Rowan tell you he’s going to be working in Camellia now?” Daisy continues.
Claire’s head swivels, and my pulse begins drumming in my ears as she stares me down. “He didn’t. I guess he’s just full of secrets tonight.”
Daisy furrows her brow in confusion, but she goes on. “He’s going to start seeing patients at Dr. Simms’s clinic a couple of days per week.”
“Looks like I’ll have the pleasure of running into him more often outside of work,” Claire says dryly, and my stomach turns at her word choice.
“Yeah,” I rasp when I finally find my voice again.
I want to say more, to dig myself out of this hole and make sure Claire understands how much I like the idea of seeing her on a regular basis.
But I’m a coward, and I’m afraid Landry’s on the verge of calling me out, if the way he’s scrutinizing me is any indication.
“Why are you being so weird, man?” he asks me bluntly, and everyone sighs. Despite my sister’s attempts to install a Landry filter, he still can’t read a room.
He hisses when Daisy elbows him in the ribs. “What? It’s true, I’ve never seen him like this before. He’s hiding something,” he says defensively.
Claire snorts and crosses her arms, daring me to prove Landry wrong, and I know this is the part when I’m supposed to come clean or at least make some charming allusion to a romantic connection between us.
But I open my mouth again, and nothing comes out.
“Maybe we interrupted an important discussion,” Daisy volunteers, breaking the silence, but she’s still studying me closely.
“Were you … shooting your shot? With Claire?” Landry asks incredulously.
“I guess I should have prepared a better pick-up line,” I finally manage, forcing a smile.
“Funny, you didn’t have any trouble charming the pants off me the last time we met,” Claire retorts, and everyone laughs awkwardly.
“Eh, you might be out of your league this time, bro,” Landry says, wincing when Daisy nudges him again. “Oh, come on.”
And that’s when it hits me—I’m not just worried about them finding out about what happened between Claire and me or that it nearly happened before her divorce was final.
I’m embarrassed because Claire couldn’t be further from my usual type, and I don’t want them to say I’ve settled or given up on the kind of woman I’ve been holding out for.
Not that Claire isn’t amazing in her own right—I meant it when I said she was the most beautiful and interesting woman I’d ever met.
But she is admittedly more worldly than the women I’ve dated before.
I glance over to find Claire’s eyes looking misty, and my stomach lurches.
“You’re right. I’d eat him alive,” she affirms with a cold laugh.
“You don’t think opposites attract?” Daisy poses to Landry.
He purses his lips thoughtfully before he speaks. “I think I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
“Blessed,” Daisy corrects him, and he nods in agreement before leaning in for a quick peck on the lips. “You haven’t gotten lucky, yet, but I plan on changing that soon,” she adds in a sultry tone.
I wrinkle my nose when Landry growls and shoots her a smoldering look, even though I’m grateful for the shift in conversation.
“There you are,” my sister Magnolia says when she appears and reaches out to tug on Daisy’s arm. “Come on, it’s time to cut the cake.”
Daisy whines. “Aren’t we done with all that stuff?”
“Not even close. And what are you doing out here? You haven’t even given your best man toast yet.” Magnolia aims the second half of her reprimand at me as we’re joined by another one of my sisters.
I groan, despite having prepared a nice speech. I’m just not a fan of Maggie’s bossy tendencies.
“Ma-ags, you’re not torturing the bride, are you?” chirps Marigold.
Magnolia crosses her arms and glares at her twin. “Someone has to keep things running smoothly.”
Iris and Violet appear then, each of them toting a baby, and I blow out a frustrated breath when I notice Rosemary and my mother making their way over.
I’m certain this impromptu meeting of the LaFleur women is just a guise for their investigation, but I suppose I was asking for it after having that heated conversation with a strange woman in front of everyone.
I venture a glance at Claire and find her taking in the scene with interest.
“What’s going on?” Violet demands. “Is Maggie trying to direct traffic again?”
Magnolia rolls her eyes. “Have none of you heard of wedding reception etiquette?”
Claire snorts quietly, and my lips twitch as I stifle a smile.
“I don’t get the impression that the people of Camellia care any more for etiquette than we do, especially not after watching them balance those beers on their heads as they danced to that Mardi Gras song,” Iris says sardonically and adjusts the infant in her arms.
“Regardless, it’s Daisy’s wedding,” Mari says gently. “She and Landry will cut the cake on their own time, if they decide to have cake at all.”
“Oh, I’m having cake tonight, one way or another,” Daisy declares vehemently, and Claire lets out a loud chortle.
“Yeah, I think you’ll like that cake better, anyway,” Claire says, making both Landry and Daisy’s cheeks darken, and I realize the rest of us must be missing the punchline of a dirty joke.
“What’s so special about this cake?” Rosemary asks. “Or are we talking about the groom’s cake?”
“Well, Landry’s mom said she made that one herself, so I doubt it’s gluten-free,” Iris mumbles, triggering another fit of snickers from Daisy and Claire.
“Do I want to know?” I whisper to Landry, and he cringes as he shakes his head.
“From where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like our Landry’s been worried about gluten,” my mom says, patting his backside affectionately.
“And I’m definitely looking forward to a piece of that groom’s cake,” Daisy barely manages to squeak out before she slaps a hand over her mouth to contain her giggles, and Landry surprises me again by smiling at her, seemingly amused.
Violet narrows her eyes at Claire, who’s biting her lip and holding back tears at this point. “Wait a minute. You’re talking about sex, aren’t you?”
“Oh, but I’m the one who’s bad at picking up on social cues?” Landry mutters, and Violet screws up her face at him. That does Claire in, and she chokes so hard on her laughter that it becomes contagious.
I shoot her a grin once everyone settles, hoping to convey my remorse after I left her hanging earlier. But her smile fades, and she doesn’t hold my gaze.
“Right, and who are you again?” Magnolia asks Claire.
Claire’s brow rises, but she doesn’t bother waiting for me to introduce her. “Claire Bergeron, Daisy’s work friend,” she replies confidently.
“And an acquaintance of Rowan’s,” Daisy adds, lifting her chin and daring me to correct her.
My heart races as I struggle to form a response. “Yes. We have been … acquainted before,” I fumble awkwardly, and Claire huffs.
“You weren’t at the bridal shower,” Maggie says, a hint of accusation in her tone.
“I missed it. Something … came up,” Claire says, her eyes flashing to Daisy’s, and I surmise that something was our acquaintanceship.
“Interesting tattoos,” Iris remarks, eyeing her.
“Yes, very lovely.” Rose leans forward to inspect Claire’s arm while Claire simultaneously studies Rosemary’s nun’s habit, and I frown at the urge to protect them both from one another’s scrutiny. But they both seem more curious than anything.
“And you know what? I think we’re all here. I spy a marigold and a magnolia, an iris, a violet … a daisy, a few roses … oh, and a couple of camellias,” Rose explains, pointing out each of the vibrant flowers in Claire’s mural.
“Hmm, how ‘bout that,” I accidentally say aloud, and everyone turns to glare at me. But the only eyes I see are Claire’s.
“There are others,” Claire maintains. “Tulips, lilies, a sunflower.”
“Orchids,” I add, swallowing hard. Because even though I hadn’t thought about exactly which fleurs grace Claire’s arm, I could probably map out every inch of her tattoos with my eyes closed.
Claire shrugs and turns back to my sisters. “What can I say? I like pretty things.”
I’m afraid I do, too.
“Assuming you meant to prioritize visual appeal over anatomical accuracy, it’s actually quite nice, as far as tattoos go,” Violet concurs, and I clamp my jaw shut before I blurt out something about Claire’s agricultural background.
“It’s beautiful,” Marigold tells her with a warm smile. “As is the canvas.”
“I agree, she is gorgeous,” my mom says, moving in to wrap an arm around Claire’s waist without warning. “And I’ll be expecting you the next time Dr. and Mrs. Reed grace us with their presence at the homestead, Claire Bergeron.”
Daisy grins, obviously pleased by their seal of approval, and Claire’s expression softens as she relaxes into my mother’s side. And I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cause my chest to tighten and a lump to form in my throat.
“Okay, now, time to get moving, people! I have a toast to deliver!” Loren calls out, clapping her hands as she joins us.
Landry’s head lolls back, and he groans. “Do we have to?”
Loren scoffs and grabs me by the elbow. “Damn right, we do. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?”
Daisy whimpers. “Have mercy, at least for my sake?” she begs Loren, who barely manages to stifle a smile.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Loren muses, casting a telling smirk in Claire’s direction before she tugs me forward. “Come on, Dr. Athanasius. Baby sis is ready to cut into that cake, from what I hear.”