While Rowan goes to board up the broken windows, I go back to his place and call Del to fill her in on what happened. The only thing I leave out is my fake dating agreement with Rowan, because I don’t want him walking in while I’m freaking out about it with Del.
A fake relationship.
This is going to be interesting.
I set my phone on the coffee table in the living room and glance around—actually taking in my surroundings for the first time.
This place isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It’s been what…two weeks since Rowan moved in? He’s done a damn good job sprucing this place up.
If this is where I’ll be living for the next little while, I might as well look around.
The living room and kitchen have been repainted, the kitchen cabinets look brand new, and the hardwood floor has a gorgeous shine that can only be a result of a recent refinishing. I’ve seen some contractors coming and going, so it’s not like he’s done all of this himself, but still, the man gets shit done. I’ll give him that.
He must’ve also worked on at least a few of the bedrooms if he’s got a room for me. Down here, it seems like it’s just the master bedroom—the one he sleeps in—but there’s probably two or three more upstairs.
I’m torn between wanting to go up there and feeling like I might be overstepping.
Better wait for him to come back and show me around.
I sit down on the sofa and moan with relief. Now that the adrenaline has finally left my system, I’m exhausted.
God, this sofa is comfy. My body melts into the cushions, and my eyelids grow heavy. I’m exhausted. I could probably pass out right now…
Clank.
I startle from the sound and sit up. My throat is dry, and my head feels like it’s filled with cotton. I must have fallen asleep.
My eyes land on Rowan and the bowl of pasta he just placed on the coffee table in front of me.
“Eat.”
He’s standing on the other side of the table, clad in jeans and a black T-shirt that molds to his muscular chest entirely too well.
“You changed,” I mumble, my voice still hoarse with sleep.
He glances down at himself. “A while back. I was covered in ash after boarding up the windows.”
Right. He was doing me another favor while I was on his couch napping. My cheeks heat. “What time is it?”
“Just past seven.”
“I was out for hours,” I moan. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. You were exhausted.”
“I still am.”
“Then eat and go to bed.”
I pick up the bowl. The pasta smells amazing. It looks like pasta carbonara, which isn’t the kind of thing you can make out of a box. “Did you make this?”
He hands me a fork. “Try it.”
I twirl the spaghetti around my fork and take a bite. My tastebuds explode. “Oh Lord, this isgood.”
Rowan’s lips twitch. “I feel like I should be offended at how shocked you sound. I told you I’d get you room and board, didn’t I?”
I shove more pasta into my mouth, feeling completely famished. Or maybe it’s just that good.
