Page 17 of Echoes at Driftwood Cottage

“Some of the insurance money is still there. I haven’t touched it, and I won’t. It’s earmarked for Gwynn’s care. How can I spend it when my mother needs to be in there long-term?”

Daniel listened as Rowan continued talking about her past. He could tell it was difficult for her to relive it, but he knew it was important for her to get it all out. He reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that.”

Rowan gave him a half smile. “It’s okay. It’s made me who I am today.”

“And who is that?”

“Someone who doesn’t give up. Someone who knows that life isn’t always fair, but you have to keep going anyway.” She thought back to the scene at the cemetery with Scott. “I didn’t even back down when I butted heads with a ghost.”

“And you went out tonight to a graveyard in the dark,” Daniel pointed out with a grin. He could see the strength in her eyes, even as she spoke about the darkest times in her life.

“I couldn’t very well let you go by yourself.”

They sat in silence for a few moments. Then Rowan leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“For what?” he asked, turning his mouth to hers.

“For listening and not judging.”

He stayed silent for a moment, contemplating everything Rowan had just revealed. He could see the pain and sadness etched on her face, and he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and make it all go away, at least for a little while. He reached over and took her chin. “Don’t even think about sending me packing tonight. I don’t want to leave you alone, even if all we do is sit by the fire.”

“That sounds nice.”

He adjusted the pillows so she could get more comfortable. “If you turn around, I’ll give you a shoulder rub. You look like you need it.”

She moved her hair out of the way so his hands could get to work and settled next to him. “I’m so exhausted, Daniel. I feel like I’ve been on the go for three days.”

“Shh,” he whispered as his hands moved along her shoulders. “You could probably use eight solid hours. Close your eyes. Let the wine work its magic.”

After ten minutes or so, she drifted off. He held her like that until the fire burned down to ashes before he himself fell asleep.

Chapter Four

Rowan woke up in their makeshift bed on the floor to an empty space beside her and the smell of bacon and coffee wafting from the kitchen. She’d slept like the dead, the first good night’s sleep she’d had in weeks. But what she really needed now was to brush her teeth and get in a shower before facing Daniel and breakfast.

She kicked off the blanket and tiptoed down the hallway into the bathroom. After reaching into the tub and turning on the water, she undressed, shedding her jeans and top while the water heated. Testing it first before stepping over the rim and into the tub, she pulled the shower curtain around her. She shampooed her hair first, then slathered the sweet-smelling bodywash gel all over that left an air of hibiscus and vanilla lingering.

Her thoughts drifted to last night and how Daniel had been there for her. She felt safe and cared for in his arms and admitting that made her heart flutter a little. Not since college had she fallen for a guy so fast. She couldn’t deny that she was developing feelings for him. If she was honest, those feelings had been there since December.

When the curtain jerked open, she jumped. But then she saw Daniel standing there with a mischievous grin on his face.

“Want some company?”

“You’ll have to play catch up,” she noted, eyeing his clothes. “Starting with the shoes.”

He toed off his trainers, slipped out of his jeans, and pulled the T-shirt over his head. Once he joined her under the water, his hands went around her waist.

“Good morning,” he whispered in a husky voice.

“Mmm,” was all she could muster before he leaned in to cover her mouth. When he moved down to her neck, Rowan let her head fall back. A surge of warmth moved through her. “You scared me just a little. Even if this isn’t our first shower together.”

“Didn’t mean to,” he replied as his hands slid down to cup her hips. He shifted to the other side of her neck before going in for another kiss, this one more heated than the last.

Rowan felt herself surrendering, one velvety layer after another, her body responding to his. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Feeling caught up in desire, she deepened their kiss.

Hard, lean muscles angled against silky curves. As water cascaded over his chest, she trailed little kisses, licking away the drops while his fingers encircled her breasts.

Through the steamy haze, he used his mouth, his tongue, to take her higher. Wrapped in sensations like a throbbing ache, there was need now, glorious need.

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