“I will punch you. Don’t think I won’t.”
Ross continues blithely on, ignoring my threat. “Went to your usual campsite, but your tent was empty. Young lad saw me looking and pointed me this way. Said you might have company.” He wriggles his eyebrows and tries to peer around the doorframe again.
I block him.
Fuck. This is not how I wanted this to happen. Not before Rowan and I have had a chance to talk.
“Give me two minutes, and I’ll be out.”
“Excuse me?” Rowan interrupts, finally sitting up in bed, covers pulled to her chin. Her hair is wild with sex and sleep. Her cheeks are flushed. She looks delicious, and I have to work hard not to lean over and kiss her. Now is not the time. “Who are you and why are you barging into my room?”
Ross ducks under my arm and sticks his head inside. “Ross. Angus’s brother. Who are you?”
“Rowan.”
I watch his face work as if he’s doing complicated maths and the solution is out of reach. Then something clicks. “Angus. Did you fuck the bride’ssister?”
“None of your fucking business,” I retort instantly.
“Fuck me.” Ross rubs his hands together. “After that talking to you gave us about saving the farm? About how you’d do anything to make sure it survived? And now you’re fucking the bride’s sister? The one person we most need to keep happy right now? Wait until I tell Mason.”
“How did you know?” Rowan asks, a slight flush rising to her cheeks.
“There’s hardly legions of Rowan’s prancing about, are there? Sophie’s pissed at you. She keeps muttering about bloody Rowan and her bloody walk, as if the rest of us can’t hear it. Nice to meet you, by the way.”
“Er… nice to meet you too, I guess?”
“To be fair, hot.” Ross turns back to me. “Smoking hot. I can see why you did it, but man is Stuart going to be unhappy when he finds out.”
“Still right here!” Rowan waves from the bed.
I’ve reached the end of my tether. I haven’t had any coffee yet, and Ross is already getting on my last nerve. “Get out.”
“But I’m having so much fun.”
“Out.”
“Nice to meet you, Rowan!”
“I’ll see you at the car. Now fuck. Off.”
I slam the door closed and lean against it, pressing my forehead against the cold wood. So much for any chance of keeping what has happened between Rowan and IbetweenRowan and I. There’s no way Ross didn’t start texting Mason and Stuart as soon as the door closed.
Sure enough, less than a minute later, my phone buzzes.
I unlock it reluctantly. The messages start last night.
STUART:Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, mate. I’ve got a shit ton to do, so Mason and Ross have volunteered to pick you up. Don’t know why it needs both of them but at least they’ll be out of my hair.
STUART:Okay. It’s just Ross coming. Mason has to take a work call. When did your brother get serious about WORK? Or anything, for that matter? Call me.
STUART:What time works for you?
STUART:Earth to Angus. Can you let me know, please?
STUART:Hello???
STUART:You’ve gone and bloody fallen off a mountain, haven’t you? Fucking hikers.
