My body gets hot and right. Rowan was seventeen fucking years old when some pervy older man moved in on him. Fuck.
No wonder Rowan acts like the most sheltered whore I’ve ever met. That’s exactly what he is.
Now I feel like shit. I also want to kill his ex.
“Fine, we can go to the damn brunch.”
A grin breaks through Rowan’s exhaustion. “Really? Thanks.” He turns to Adam. “You mind making sure we’re up in the morning?”
“Sure thing.” Adam gives another wave and then heads out a set of sliding doors at the back of the house. Across the grass, there appears to be a smaller guesthouse. A minute later, the lights in the guest house go out.
“Don’t make me regret this.” I point to Rowan. “We go, we eat, we come straight back. Tomorrow, I’m supposed to meet with one of Brennan’s hackers again. If we’re lucky he’ll be able to find a name for me.”
And then this will all be over. Which is…good.
Oblivious, Rowan nods enthusiastically. “Right. There and back. Definitely.” He adjusts his grip on Iggy’s tank while I jiggle the key in the door. “Oh, and, Milo?”
“What now? You want to stop for pedicures after brunch?” With a too-loud click and a creak that matches the rest of the house’s vibe, the door to our room swings open.
“I wanted to say thank you. You know. For everything.”
There’s a joke right on the tip of my tongue about how he already did thank me. That’s what all the sex we had was about. It’s too late, and I can’t manage the flip attitude.
Truthfully, there’s a core-deep ache in me like I haven’t felt since my parents died, and I don’t know what to do with that.
“It’s not a big deal.” The lie makes me itchy, but it’s better than the truth.
I don’t look at Rowan as I step back to let him into the room. “Come on. Let’s get some sleep.”
No amount of rubbing at my sore chest makes the ache diminish, though. Deciding I can’t kill Rowan is one thing. What I’m feeling right now is something else entirely.
It’s warmth and worry. I don’t need to protect Rowan because we made a deal. I want to. That’s a dangerous fucking feeling.
One I need to shut down before it endangers us both.
14
Notes:
Sorry this chapter is late. I found a spider in my shower and had to burn down my house.
Rowan
For all Milo acted as if coming to brunch was a massive pain in his ass, you wouldn’t know it now. In the few months I’ve been working as an escort, everyone has been nothing but friendly to me here, and I enjoy coming. Still, my shyness and the noise make me more content to hang out and let the conversation wash over me.
Meanwhile, Milo’s chatting with everyone as if he’s their new best friend. Of course he is.
All I can think of is the night he found me in that hotel room. How easy it must have been for him to sneak into that room unnoticed. How many murders has he gotten away with simply because he blends in with the crowd so easily?
Since the question puts me off my breakfast, I try to focus on the surrounding conversation. This week there’s chatter about another one of the guys, Christian, who hasn’t been showing up because of something with an ex of his. Some guys are worried about him.
Adam, Wes, and Troy are nearby, bickering among themselves about what they’re all going to order. Seems odd considering the spread I saw them offering at their bed and breakfast. I’ll admit I’m curious about them, since I’ve never met a throuple before. Troy’s already caught me staring, but all he did was wink.
“So, tell me about this bet,” Milo murmurs in my ear.
The heat of his minty breath on my skin sends a shiver down my spine. The worst part is how I want to lean toward him. I’m craving the feel of his lips on my skin. I force myself to pull away, telling myself it’s just the air conditioning overhead.
“Down there.” I nod to the other end of the table. “The guy with the shaved head and the septum piercing? That’s Gabe. Apparently, he and his brother both came from a religious cult or something.”
