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I’m not pretending the elephant in the room has gone into hiding just because the female company has returned to the table. This decision effects everyone in the room. “Why, Dad? Why did you summon Cas out of the fucking woods when I’ve been here all along, working my ass off to prove to you I have what it takes to run this company?”
“Cassius was always going to take over. That’s always been the plan,” Dad says, matter-of-factly. “I don’t know why this surprises you.”
Kinley squeezes my hand again, but I tug mine free to run it through my hair. “Tell him,” she says quietly to me. “Tell him orIwill.”
“Kin, don’t.”
“Don’t what?” Cassius, the jerk, asks. As if this private conversation is any of his damn business.
I can feel Kinley staring at me, but I refuse to look. I’m afraid of what I’ll see there. Pity? Disappointment? Surely she understands how complicated this all is. She can’t possibly expect me to tell my family about a passion I’ve never shared openly with them. I’m already the laughingstock for not realizing Cas was always going to swoop in and be the hero no matter how I worked.
“I was serious about what I said earlier,” Cas says to me. “I want you as my VP. I appreciate everything you’ve done for the company in my absence. You really stepped up. I thought you hated working there—”
“Hedoes.” Kinley’s stern tone turns every head at the table. My heart stops beating, the unexpected betrayal hitting me square in the chest like a fucking log. “Have you tasted your damn apple fritters yet? Because if you had, you wouldn’t be offering him a position he doesn’t really want. You’d be supporting him for the talent that makes him happy.”
“Cooking?” Dad looks at me as if I’ve grown two heads. Maybe three. “You want to be a chef?” The disappointment in his tone guts me. Like I’ve disgraced the family.
“Fuck, Kin,” I grumble. “You couldn’t just leave it alone?” I push up from the table and storm out. I don’t know what’s worse. The mockery I’ll no doubt endure from my family oranotherbetrayal from the woman I love. Somehow, this hurts so much fucking worse than when she picked the city asshole over me. I knew in my gut she’d be back someday. That we still had a chance. But this?
This was the lowest blow she could deliver.
CHAPTER19
Kinley
Iglance around the table, confused why the hell no one is moving. “You can’t be surprised,” I say, pushing up from the table. If they won’t go after Rowan, I will. I know he’s pissed at me, but I’m not letting him shut me out. Not for being the only one willing to be honest. I’m not allowing another rift to come between us ever again.
“His talents in the kitchen are quite impressive,” Grandma Dottie says proudly.
“You knew?” Arthur asks, eyebrows drawn in confusion. To his credit, I think the man feels blindsided. Maybe he just needs a few minutes to let it all sink in. I glance at Cas, unable to discern what his blank expression is all about. I’m too frustrated to care.
“Rowan didn’t want anyone to know. I respected his wishes,” Grandma Dottie says as I rush toward the door. “Besides, I’ve passed off alotof his cooking and baking as my own over the years.”
“You have not!” Sophia gasps. It’s the last I overhear before I leave the room in search of Rowan.
I’m thankful I remember every inch of this house. It saves me from getting lost as I hunt Rowan down. I should’ve known I’d find him in the only guest room that contains a trace of his mother. He’s sitting on the edge of a four-poster bed, clinging to her picture.
“Kinley, now isnotthe fucking time.” His tone is icier than the day we fought at Willow’s almost-wedding. It’s a warning that if I don’t back off, he’s prepared to end this right here and now. But this time, I’m not taking the coward’s way out. I’m not backing down.
“You deserve to behappy, Rowan.”
“I was happy.” He pops up from the bed, facing me. He grips the corner post so hard his knuckles turn white. “Did that ever occur to you? Why would you do that to me?”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Stand up for you, you mean?”
“It isn’t your place—”
“Thehellit isn’t.” I dare to move closer, until we’re standing toe-to-toe. The moment my hand rests on his bicep, it’s as if all the tension rushes out of his body through a single, heavy exhale. “Iloveyou, Rowan. Did you not hear me earlier? And when you love someone, you believe in them. You stand up for them. You stand by their side no matter what. I made the mistake of leaving you once before, and it was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.” I slide my hand until my palm is flat against his chest. “Maybe that’s why I’m fighting so hard for you now. Because I wish I could go back in time, to that day you kissed me and chooseyou. I was scared, Rowan. Scared I’d lose you if I wanted more.”
“Kinley…” He says my name in a husky whisper that reminds me of last night. An involuntary shiver races through my body. I shouldn’t be so turned on right now, considering this is a serious conversation, but tell that to my wild and reckless lady bits. They’re out of fucking control.
“You won’t be happy working for your family’s company. Not as CEO. Not as vice president. Maybe you’d be okay for a couple years. But you’d come to resent what it took from you.”
“So what am I supposed to do?” Rowan wraps an arm around my waist, tugging me closer. Seems I’m not the only one turned on right now.
“Don’t be scared to wantmore. See if Grandma Rose wants to retire? BuyMountain Prime? Sell food orders out of your house? Rowan, the options are so endless with your talent. You deserve to explore them.”
“I do?” The grimness has left his eyes, a warmth replacing it. A half smile tugs at his lips. My nipples harden into peaks, desperately hoping that no one finds us for several hours. Because I have a feeling we’ll be missing our clothes very shortly.
