My heart did a little leap. “You don’t need to do that. We can always try again another day. I know how busy you must be.”
Rowan gave me a quelling look. “When a beautiful woman asks you to try out their rug, you try out their rug.” He laughed at my expression and picked up my hand to press a kiss against the back of my palm. “Life is meant to be experienced as it comes. Plans have their place, and work is just work, Evie. If I have the chance to spend my time with you or people I care about, I will always choose them. Besides, the Lords have too many damn meetings anyway, and ninety percent of them are mostly so they can bluster about shit that doesn’t matter.”
My palm tingled where his lips had touched me. “If you’re sure.”
“If you’re not here at one, I’ll break into the cottage and use the rug anyway, so make sure you’re here.”
I snorted. “It’s your cottage. You can come in anytime you want.”
He scooted his chair to the side so he could face me, his expression serious. “No. The cottage is on my land, but it is yours for as long as you choose to use it. I will not avail myself of the facilities.” His lips twitched. “But I will be here sitting on your porch, so you better be here.”
How did he always manage to say all the words I needed to hear? “I will,” I said softly.
“Good.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Hope needs to go into town this morning and offered to drive you, if you’re interested. She’s leaving at nine.”
My car was here, but Tess and Ash were using it for now. Neither would tell me what happened to theirs, and I had a terrible feeling whatever it was had to do with me. “That would be great. Ash is supposed to be looking at a car this week.”
Rowan’s jaw tightened. “Have him hold off. He and Tess will be receiving a check in the mail soon for the damages their vehicles sustained during Lugh’s reign of terror.”
“I knew it,” I whispered, guilt flooding me. “Neither one of them would tell me what happened.”
Rowan exhaled heavily. “Lugh had nothing to do with it. The check is coming from Caelan’s Keep. His shifters got a little overzealous in Rachel’s presence.”
My chest tightened at the mention of the woman’s name. She had a lot to do with what happened to me and Caelan, but so did Lugh. And so did Caelan. And if I really thought hard about things, I had a little bit to do with how things ended, too.
“I’m surprised mine wasn’t damaged.”
“Yours wasn’t downtown. The damage was localized. Either way, that never should have happened. I negotiated what I hope is more than a fair amount.” His lips twitched. “They should be able to purchase whatever they want, within reason.”
I reached over and took Rowan’s hand. “Thank you.”
He inclined his head. “Your people are my people now. I’d do the same for anyone.”
“Thank you anyway.” I sighed and tilted my head up to look at the cloudy sky. “I love the cottage, Rowan, but I was thinking I might need more room soon. Can you put me in touch with a realtor or direct me where to go downtown?”
He was silent for a long moment. “Of course.”
“I plan to stay for at least a few more months, but if you haven’t noticed, I have an indoor plant problem.”
He smiled. “You want a larger space, maybe a screened in porch?”
I nodded. “Maybe I could design something this time. I always wanted to have a place built around my power. Might be nice.” A tree growing through the middle of the floor would be cool, but I’d have to ask Dad about the logistics of something like that.
Rowan shifted, stretching his long legs before him. “We have a talented Pack architect living in the dorms. I’m happy to ask him to meet with you.”
“Gotta find the land first and figure out a budget. The shop wasn’t doing as much business over the last several months after everything happened.”
Rowan’s face darkened, but he held his tongue. “How about you build on my land?”
I blinked and stared at him. “You’ve already done so much for me. As soon as we figure out who’s responsible for that spell and get rid of it, I’ll turn your land back over. As much as I love being here and nurturing these woods, I need to have a space ofmy own. Everything I do here affects you and your shifters.” A chuckle slipped from my throat. “And you already have several females pregnant. Eventually, they’ll stop thanking me.”
Rowan shook his head. “Shifters have trouble getting pregnant. Your presence remains a gift to them.” A sly grin curled his lips up. “Besides, they all have the ability to curb their urges, they just don’t want to.”
I snorted. “The Keep is going to be so cute in a year. There are going to be so many cheeks to squish.”
“Evie.” Rowan leaned forward. “Let’s work out a deal. Even if you choose not to accept what is between us, you are good for this place. My shifters love having a Floromancer around, and we’ve never had one as powerful as you. My land is happy. I am happy. We can come up with a deal where you buy ten or more acres, and I can knock off some of the price if you agree to continue tending the territory once your claim is gone.”
“And the mating bond?”
