“What … answers?”
His eyes lift to mine. “Is this what you want? For me to stop being so nice all the time?”
My lips part in a gasp. “Are you just messing with me right now?”
“You only seem to like me when I’m being dangerous, so I thought I’d test that theory.”
His gaze zeroes in on my mouth, and I realize I’m twisting my fingers into his shirt, bracing for impact.
“Is that true, Claire?” he rasps.
“What?”
“Are you still only interested in me for one thing? Is it just lust for you?” he asks, furrowing his brow.
I should say yes, that ever since we met, I’ve only been interested in sleeping with him. I should tell him my attraction is merely physical, that I’ve never cared about anything below the surface or even wondered what it would be like to let myself fall for him completely. I should declare last night was a mistake, right before I add something about finding his religious principles almost as irritating as his belief in soulmates. And if he brings it up, I should deny how much fun we have together, how I crave being in his presence all the time, and how he’s the only person who’s ever made me feel special and safe enough to be myself.
I clear my throat. “No,” I say instead, because I can’t bring myself to lie this time. “But I’m still afraid that’s all it is for you.”
He shakes his head. “Claire, of the two L-words I used last night, you do know which one I’m leaning toward, right?” he asks with a different kind of desperation in his voice, making my stomach dip.
“Stop right there. Please,” I tell him and reluctantly push away.
“Okay,” he says, sighing and lifting his hands in surrender.
The silence stretches between us before I turn away. “Maybe I should just stay?—”
“No, please,” he begs me. “I’m sorry. I’ll be good, I promise.”
I eye him skeptically. I’m not sure that phrase means the same to both of us.
“And I already went to Mass earlier this morning, so you don’t have to worry about walking into that trap again,” he adds.
“Fine,” I say, surprised by the hint of disappointment that last part brings. “But I’m only going for Daisy … and your mom. And Gertie. Well, and your dad.”
“Fair enough,” he says with a sad smile.
“And I want to bring the boys,” I blurt out, gesturing over to Frankie and Oscar. Oscar drops the toy in his mouth and bounds forward when he realizes he has our attention, tripping over his own ears and taking his brother down with him.
“All right,” Rowan agrees, his smile growing more genuine before he waltzes over and scoops up the dogs. “Family road trip, it is.”
I shoot another angry glare his way before I gulp down the rest of my coffee. Then I try to ignore him as he tells Frankie and Oscar about how much fun they’re going to have on the homestead. And Rowan pretends he doesn’t hear my frustrated growl after my plans to push him away backfire once again.
The tension fades on the drive, especially with the dogs to keep us preoccupied. In hindsight, stuffing two greedy pups into a back seat full of chocolate candy and boiled eggs probably wasn’t the best idea. I barely keep Oscar from snacking on the chocolate bunnies Rowan packed for his godchildren, and Frankie manages to embezzle at least one dyed egg, as evidenced by the blue tongue he’s sporting when we arrive at the homestead.
None of that stops the two of them from strolling in like they own the place, though, or the warm welcome they receive from the horde of children looking to get rid of the yolks from theirpâcquedeggs.
To be fair, Rowan’s parents greet me just as warmly. The embraceI get from Mrs. LaFleur pokes at my guilty conscience after telling my own mom I wouldn’t make it to dinner today, even more so once Daisy, Landry, and Juniper arrive and get the same treatment.
Daisy squeals with delight when she spots me and runs over to pull me in for a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she says, making my eyes water just the slightest as she walks off to add a pan of bread pudding to the dessert table.
“Good to see you, Claire. Especially here, at the LaFleur homestead, spending Easter Sunday with your good pal Rowan and his family,” Landry tells me with a knowing smile.
I cross my arms over my middle. “From what I understand, you were a regular around here long before Daisy ever caught your attention.”
“Yeah. I wasn’t always so keen on spending the weekends and holidays in Camellia. But my roommate couldn’t stand leaving me behind, no matter how many times I swore I’d rather be alone.”
“Sounds about right,” I mumble with an eye roll. “Let me guess, Daisy was just as persistent?”
