“You bet your adorable ass I am,” Verna replies before glaring at me and adding, “Nice work, cowgirl.”
My mom rolls her eyes, though I can’t tell whether her disapproval stems from our eccentric aunt or the fact that I’m toting around a man who isn’t my husband. “Hi, I’m Claire’s mom, and apparently the only one of us with manners,” she offers after a moment of awkward silence.
Rowan chuckles good-naturedly. “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you. I hope you don’t mind if I borrow Claire for a bit. I’m, uh, kind of having a rough night, and she’s offered to doctor me up.” He gestures to the rash covering his face and neck.
“Food allergy,” I volunteer when they all look confused. “We’re going out for antihistamines. Don’t wait up.”
I grab Rowan’s hand and drag him out to the lobby, snorting to myself when my Aunt Verna calls out, “Go get ‘em, Claire Bear!”
CHAPTER THREE
rowan
“Claire LeBlanc?”
“That’s me,” confirms the gorgeous brunette who saved my life a few minutes ago as she directs me toward a small SUV in front of the hotel. “For a few more days at least,” she adds to herself.
“I thought we were walking to the pharmacy?”
She ignores my question and ushers me toward the back seat, though I instinctively stand by and wait for her to duck in first. She rolls her eyes, but I catch the way one corner of her mouth turns up before I shut the car door and walk around to join her on the other side.
“Is this an actual emergency? You’re not sick, are you?” the driver inquires after introducing herself as Tiana. I narrow my eyes at the destination set on the GPS screen as I buckle my seat belt.
“I told you I was fine.” The protest comes harsher than I intend, and I clear my throat self-consciously.
“And I obviously don’t believe you,” Claire replies before turning to Tiana. “Don’t worry, no one’s contagious. It’s a food-allergy situation, and I’m forcing thistête durto get checked out for my peace of mind.”
Maybe I am being stubborn. While that injection seems to have successfully alleviated my most life-threatening symptoms, anaphylaxisand hives aren’t the only complications I’ve experienced in my prior peanut confrontations. And I’d definitely prefer to mitigate the risk of any gastrointestinal side effects tonight.
“Okay, so I’m not fine,” I admit reluctantly. “But a dose of Benadryl and some hydrocortisone cream would have?—”
“I can hear your tummy rumbling from here, Rowan. Do you really want my first impression of you to include dermatitisanddiarrhea?”
Tiana snorts, and I groan and let my head fall back when my stomach gurgles loudly. At this rate, I really am going to die alone, even if it’s not tonight. I say a quick prayer under my breath that my gut at least holds out a while longer.
“Hey,” Claire continues in a more soothing tone. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad. But I can’t let you suffer for the sake of your pride.”
“My pride took enough of a hit when I realized you’re only hanging out with me so you can make sure I get medical assistance.”
She surprises me by reaching over to interlace her fingers with mine and offering me a rueful smile. “Maybe this isn’t about you. Maybe I’m just too thirsty to let a trip to the ER ruin the vibe with a cute doctor.”
I’m not sure how I feel about the way she keeps reasserting herself, since most of my prior dating experience has been shaped by more traditional gender roles. Still, my stomach dips as she stares me down, and I don’t think it’s the peanut oil from that jambalaya stirring up the butterflies now.
“Cute? Is that what you call it when a guy’s gut troubles flare up in the middle of his attempts to get closer to a woman, especially when she’s clearly out of his league?” I ask, unable to hold back a smile. I’m not usually this forward either, but there’s something about her that seems to bring it out of me.
“No, but I thought it was more flattering than ‘refreshingly honest and inadvertently hot,’ ” she replies smoothly, lifting her shoulder in a shrug. My gaze follows the movement down a brightcollage of twisting vines and colorful flowers, and an appreciative growl rumbles through my chest without my permission.
I can’t remember thinking much of tattoos before, but I’m mesmerized by hers. The way the delicate lines wrap around her toned arm might be one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen, and I can’t help wondering whether there’s a story behind the artwork or if she’s hiding more of it beneath her dress.
Another involuntary growl escapes, this one originating from my stomach, but I suppose I deserve it after those last few improper thoughts. Claire stifles a giggle as I shift uncomfortably in my seat.
“You can’t possibly think this is attractive,” I say, gesturing over the red rash covering my chest.
“For the record, I’d probably have gone with you no matter what, even if you’d have called my bluff on that joke about getting me back onto my knees,” she leans in to whisper near my ear, and my breath hitches when I realize this is where the fairy tale ends.
Because gorgeous and witty as she may be, Claire is obviously not the kind of woman I’m looking for. And I definitely can’t give her what she wants.
I try to disguise my embarrassment by scratching at my jaw, grateful when the car rolls to a stop.
