Page 150 of Bossy Romance

“Rowan?” I thought for sure my son would be the first to come hurtling out when he smelled the food.

Curious, I tiptoe to Rowan’s room.

He and Nova are deep in conversation.

The eavesdropper in me comes alive and I quietly listen in.

“Adam asked me to make a list of the things that’ll make mom happy,” Rowan is saying.

I tilt my head back, my heart twisting. The way I left things with Alexa was the opposite of honorable. I’m glad I get this chance to make it up to her. Even if I don’t love her and I don’t feel the attraction I did when I was in college, she’s Rowan’s mother. I want her to have a good life, as short as that life may be.

“Wow,” Nova says. “These are a lot of interesting things.”

“If it’s too expensive, he doesn’t have to do it,” Rowan defends.

I chuckle silently. No matter what’s on the list, it’ll happen. I plan to hire someone whose job is exclusively to help us make those wishes come true.

“This is number one?” Nova asks, sounding astonished.

“Every time that scene comes up in movies, mom said she wanted that. She said she’d give anything to have it.”

Unable to hide my curiosity, I step into the room. “What are you guys talking about?”

Nova stiffens guiltily.

Rowan seems eager to rope me into the conversation. He shoves a paper at me.

“Is this the list?”

He nods.

My eyes skim the paper and then freeze on number one.

‘Wear a white dress and get married to a good guy.’

I glance nervously at Nova and then I look at Rowan. “Thanks for your help, bud.”

“You’re going to do it, right?” Rowan asks. “You’re going to help mom like you promised?”

Nova’s not looking at me.

The knots in my stomach get worse.

I choke. “Yeah, bud. Like I promised.”

* * *

Later that night,after Rowan goes to sleep, I massage Nova’s feet while we watch a movie.

Honestly, it’s more like the movie’s watching us.

Neither of us seem to be paying much attention.

After it’s over, I turn and find Nova eyeing me studiously.

“Like what you see?” I tease, shifting my head and showing off my jawline.

Her smile barely sticks the landing. She drops her gaze to her hands. “Have you visited Alexa lately?”

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