He laughs again, but it’s strained this time. “Your parents are just inside the cottage.”
Rowan’s right. For that reason alone, we can’t do this—not right now.
“The hotel is really nice,” I say. “Maybe they could stay there?”
A grin ghosts across Rowan’s face before he schools it. “This is for the best. If they weren’t here, limiting our physical relationship would be far more difficult.”
“We talked about this. There’s no reason that we can’t?—”
“Three months.” He brushes his hand down my arm. “Please, Kit. Let me at least attempt to do this right, otherwise I’ll hate myself when this is over. I know I keep stumbling, but I have to try.”
How am I supposed to argue with that?
“Yeah, okay,” I sigh.
“Go inside. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I agree, but I’m not happy.
Rowan turns toward the horse and then pauses, glancing back over his shoulder. The clouds shift, revealing the bright moon, casting him in silver light. He looks so handsome; I want to commit the moment to memory.
“Stop,” he says affectionately.
I quite literally have done nothing but stand here. “Stop what?”
Turning back, he closes the distance between us, slides his hand under my curls, and kisses me softly. “Being adorable.”
I smile against his lips. “Your willpower might be flimsier than mine. I really like that about you.”
He laughs as he releases me, shaking his head. “Go before we end up making out in the greenhouse.”
“Now there’s an idea?—”
“Go,” he laughs.
“I’m going.” Grinning, I hurry toward the house, pausing at the door to give my sparkles time to subside.
When I’m sure it’s safe, I step inside and find three sets of eyes on me. Mom lowers her dainty cup of hot chocolate onto the saucer expectantly. Dad frowns.
“That took a while,” Nadine says innocently, her lips twitching. “Did Rowan have trouble finding his horse? We thought we were going to have to form a search party.”
“It’s getting late,” I say, embarrassed. “I think I’m going to head to bed. Are you all set?”
“We made the guestroom bed,” Mom answers. “And we found extra blankets so Nadine can sleep on the couch.”
“Okay, great.” I hightail it down the hall, cheeks red. “See you all in the morning.”
Dad comesinto the tea shop from the back garden and says, “Well, no doubt about it, you have gnomes.”
Even though I was already very aware of that, my stomach sinks.
He continues, “Right now, we’re looking at three families, maybe?—”
“Three families?” I gasp. “Already?”
We haven’t opened for the day, so it’s just the three of us in the tea shop. Rowan is currently upstairs, on a call with our tea supplier in Taiwan.
Dad continues, “To be honest, I’m surprised they crossed the street to get here. It’s always busy.”
