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Chapter Eleven
Shutting up shop at the end of the day is no hassle and, although it’s cooler, the walk home with Jasper is still pleasant. Once home, I let Jasper explore the garden, but his incessant barking draws my attention outside. There’s a large hole in the fence of my back yard. Big enough for a puppy to escape out of. Or for a person to crawl in through, my overactive mind tells me. I’m sure it wasn’t like that this morning, but I was pretty distracted by Ash turning up with breakfast and a puppy.
I race outside, impressed that Jasper hasn’t attempted to go through the fence, but keen to rescue him nonetheless. I take him in and make a mental note to try and fix the fence tomorrow. I give Jasper some food and water and then think about my date with Rowan. Do I change?
On the one hand, I feel like I should get changed because it’s a date after all, but on the other, I want to treat the guys all the same and I didn’t get dressed up for the others. Plus, Rowan had seen me earlier, so if I get changed now will he think I’m trying too hard?
“I’m overthinking this, Jasper, aren’t I?”
He cocks his head at me and yips once. Yep. Overthinker. The doorbell goes and I realize that it’s too late anyway.
I open the door and greet Rowan on the doorstep. He’s wearing dark denim jeans and a form-fitting, white shirt that shows off his muscles. His hair is slightly damp and he smells amazing. I inhale deeply then blush as he stares at me. Damn, I should have changed.
“You look beautiful,” he tells me, leaning forward to kiss my cheek. Blatant lie, but the thought is sweet.
“Come in.” I smile. “Do you want to order takeout?”
“I was planning on cooking for you, but I thought takeout might be best. After I saw Oakley earlier and he mentioned he was taking you for a homemade picnic, I chickened out.”
I laugh. “Well, if we get a takeout we can spend more time getting to know one another.” His eyebrow raises in an exact imitation of his brother, but he says nothing.
“Not a euphemism,” I hastily clarify.
“Boo, you spoil all my fun. Are you going to tell us?”
“Tell you what?”
“How long it’s been!”
I groan.
“How about, I’m hoping to rectify that number real soon?” I flirt. Rowan gives me a wicked grin, and my heart rate spikes.
“Hold that thought, darlin’,” Rowan tells me, as the doorbell goes again. I hasten to answer it and frown when I see Linden on the doorstep, dressed similarly to his brother, but in a black shirt.
“What are you doing here?” I say with some hostility. There’s something about him that just rubs me up the wrong way and he’s gate-crashing my date.
“Erm, I...I’m here for our date. Did I do something wrong?” His beaming smile drops and he looks crestfallen.
Realization hits me in the face like a brick.
“Linden!” I seethe.
“No, I’m Rowan,” the real Rowan says, frowning. He looks me up and down and instantly his beautiful blue wings sprout from his back. Yep, he’s Rowan alright.
“No!” I clarify. “Linden is already here. He was pretending to be you.”
“Actually, darlin’, I wasn’t pretending anything. You just assumed.”
I jump at the sound of his smooth voice behind me and spin. He’s close enough to hit, so I whack him on the arm.
“Ouch,” he deadpans, not hurt in the least, which just makes me more mad.
“Sorry, I’m a little late,” Rowan explains, “I stopped by the grocery store to get some supplies for tonight. I thought I would cook.”
“Sorry, bro, we decided on takeout.”
“We did not.”
