She took a deep breath. “Can I ask a favor?”
“Of course.”
“Would you be upset if I asked my grandmother to stay longer even though I’m working?”
“Absolutely not,” he said. “This is your house too.”
“No, it’s not.”
“I want you to feel as if it is. Your grandmother can stay as long as she wants. Do you think she’ll agree?”
“Probably not.”
“Then I’ll ask,” he said, grinning. “I think she really likes me.” He was wiggling his eyebrows like he always did.
“She does.”
“I’ve got a way with the ladies,” he said. His arms squeezed her tighter, his finger poking her ribs.
“I’m sure you do,” she said, poking him right back in the same place.
She’d ignore the pang of jealousy she felt inside.
Her grandmother returned. “Are you enjoying your time here?” Rowan asked.
“You’d have to be nuts not to enjoy it here,” her grandmother said.
“I’d love it if you could stay longer. Maybe another week? I’ve got a busy week ahead of me and won’t be around much. Saylor would love to have you. You can relax in the house. Saylor can take my car and leave you her SUV when she’s working. Say yes. If you don’t, I’ll just keep asking. I can be annoying too when I want. Just ask my mother.”
Saylor laughed. He’d told her some stories of him doing things like that and then getting in trouble.
“I don’t know,” her grandmother said. “I don’t want to be in the way.”
“You’re not, Grandma. Please. I’d love to have you. Stay another week. We’ll get your flight changed to next Saturday. Just think of how mad Sandy will be.”
Her grandmother laughed. “This is horrible, but I think her reaction might be the scale tipping. I’d love to. I just need to get a few more things. I don’t have enough clothes.”
“We can go shopping today or tomorrow. Or you can go on Sunday when I’m working.” She hugged her grandmother. “Thank you. I really wanted more time with you.”
Three days wasn’t enough, but she hadn’t wanted to push it with Rowan. Guess she worried over nothing.
24
YOU SCARED ME
Two weeks later, Rowan and Saylor went to the beach with their surfboards.
Saylor had been annoyed when he brought one home for her. He laughed and said it’s not like he bought it, just grabbed it out of inventory.
It’s like she forgot he could take what he wanted in his company.
He knew she was nervous about learning to do this and he wasn’t sure why.
But after having a few heartfelt conversations with Leslie while Saylor was at work, he understood his girlfriend much more.
He actually enjoyed having Leslie stay for the week. On Sunday when Saylor went to work, Rowan was off but went surfing with Logan for most of the day, giving Leslie the house to herself so it wasn’t uncomfortable.
He did that most Sundays anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal to him.
