Chapter 2
Rowan
“Ember, you are theworst workout buddy ever.”
The puppy licks my hand and yawns in response. I chuckle and stroll down the sidewalk to my house. I thought I’d take her with me for my morning run, but that turned out to be a bad idea. She got distracted by everything she saw, so I spent a lot of the time trying to stop her from running off in different directions. Halfway through the run, she decided she was done, and I had to carry her. So, my exercise session turned into entertain-Ember-time.
“I suppose when you’re bigger, you’ll keep up. Right, girl?” I smile. Talking to a puppy gets less weird every day. My smile vanishes when I turn into my driveway and see a red convertible. “What the hell is she doing here?” I grumble as I hurry up the driveway.
I don’t want Grace running into Devlin because I’d like to avoid the questions. Hopefully, she isn’t awake yet. It’s just a little after seven and she was exhausted last night. That’s why I didn’t wake her to let her know I’d be gone for a bit.
Devlin’s perfume greets me as soon as I step inside. The woman goes overboard with everything. Ember squirms in my hands and when I put her down, she immediately jets through the foyer. Devlin’s screech tells me the pup has introduced herself. I round the corner in time to see Devlin jump to her feet and hop around as Ember circles her, tail moving at a dozen wags per second.
It’s a comical sight and I can’t help my little snicker. Devlin glances at me.
“Rowan, where did you get this rodent?”
I look skyward. And my sister thought I was cold. “I’m sure you know that’s a puppy, Devlin, not a rodent.” I snap my fingers to get Ember’s attention. “Come here, girl.” She bounces back over to me, but I immediately lose her attention when she spots one of her toys.
My uninvited house guest smoothes her hands over her skirt and smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. Devlin Cohen has had that practiced, plastic smile since the day I met her.
“Since when do you have a pet?” she asks.
“Since my sister decided I need one,” I grumble, throwing my key on a side table.
I glance at the stairs. Grace is up there... in my bed. That’s new for me. I’m not the best with the morning after, so I usually avoid it.
Attention back on Devlin, I ask, “Since when does my lawyer show up at my house without notice? At seven a.m.” I ensure she hears my irritation.
“Rowan, sweetheart—”
“We talked about your habit with endearments,” I remind her.
If it’s possible, her smile gets tighter. “I’m sorry.”
“I see you made yourself comfortable.” I nod at the glass in her hand.
“It’s orange juice. I hope you don’t mind.”
I do mind. “You don’t have a key to my place to just drop by any time.”
Devlin has access to this house and a few other properties because I need someone to check in on things when I travel. Since my only close friend is usually busy and I hate to put my sister out, I thought my lawyer, who has handled the family’s business for almost two decades, would be a good fit. If she’s going to pop up whenever she feels like it, perhaps I made a mistake. Maybe my sister won’t mind doing me the favor from time to time.
“I came to discuss business.” She shrugs.
My eyes keep darting up the stairs. “I’ve had the same phone number and email address for seven years.” I mimic her shrug.
“You can be so rude,” she grumbles.
“We all have our flaws.”
“If you’re waiting for your new bed partner, she left.”
Every muscle in my body tenses. Left? Worry nags at me. Grace didn’t even have a ride. I brought her here. “So, she saw you.”
“Yes. What are you ashamed of me now?”