Page 34 of The Temptation of Roan Island

I love my siblings, but we’ve never been close, not exactly. Our father made sure of that. And now I’ve screwed everything up with my stubborn overthinking. This doesn’t have to be all or nothing. I’m stronger than whatever lust I feel for her. We can be friends without it turning into anything more.

Determined to apologize, I storm out of my room to chase after her. “Pippa!” I call, moving swiftly down the empty hallway.

Steps away from the breakfast parlor, I turn the corner and run right into Anna. I grab hold of her to keep her from toppling backward and right her at arm’s length.

“Shem.” Her wide eyes take in my undone state. “Are you alright?”

“Fine.” I look past her into the breakfast parlor, searching for Pippa.

“But you…” She pauses. “You aren’t dressed.”

“Huh?” I look down at myself. “Oh.” Haphazardly shoving my shirt into the waistband of my trousers, I take a step back. “Have you seen Pippa?”

“Pippa?” Her voice sounds strange, laced with jealousy. Her dark brows collapse over her eyes, her thick lashes coated with moisture. “Pippa? The same woman you’ve been avoiding for the last two weeks?”

Her gaze rakes down my form. She’s clearly jumping to conclusions about why I’m not completely dressed.

“It’s—”

“What is it about me that you find so repulsive?” Anna interrupts.

“You’re not repulsive.” She’s actually a very beautiful woman. And the few times she’s dropped the flirtatious act, she’s seemed smart and competent too, like the day she helped Pippa.

“Then what is it? You could at least give me a chance.” She stalks forward, backing me into the parlor. “It’s not like you’re in love with someone else or anything. Why can’t we see if something could grow here?”

Of course I’m not in love with someone else. The thought is ridiculous.

“You and I both know Jafeth’s just playing games, and Zarah’s been spending most of her time with Kay—who knows what’s going on there—so you’re my only hope, Shemaiah. If I can’t…” Tears pour down her cheeks in a flood. “Please! Why won’t you try? Why?”

Two crying women in a single day. The thought itches me from the inside, and I want to claw at my own skin. I burst out the only thing I can think of that might pacify her tears. “I am in love with someone else!”

Fuck!

What the hell! Now I’m lying?

I glance around, hoping I can find a way out of this mess, except there are six additional pairs of eyes on me in various states of shock at my confession. Noah and Ruby are sitting at the round table near the window, Noah’s coffee cup suspended near his mouth. Jafeth is standing at the end of the buffet, smirking like a cat who got into the cream. Zarah and Kay are at the long table in the middle of the room, their heads bent together, only they’re both looking at me, waiting, Zarah’s head tilted at a shrewd angle. And Pippa.

Pippa stands in the doorway on the opposite side of the room as if she only just arrived, her expression that of a reprimanding tutor who knows when you’re cheating.

I raise my eyebrows, pleading, knowing she owes me nothing.

The clink of a coffee cup reanimates the room. “What did you just say?” Noah asks.

“Who?” Anna looks more shocked than any of them.

Pippa’s eyes narrow.

“Pippa,” I blurt, my gaze never leaving hers. “I’m in love with Pippa.”

Pippa’s brows arch high over those pretty cornflower blue eyes. You’re a liar, she seems to admonish.

Go along with it, I silently beg. Please go along with it.

“Is this true?” Anna shifts her attention to Pippa.

Rather than deny or confirm it, Pippa says nothing, just continues to stare at me. Her blush says enough.

Ruby shakes her head. “But you’ve been avoiding⁠—”