Page 41 of Just a Little in Love

Killian’s eyebrows shot up and amusement crinkled his eyes. Rowan wanted to die. Right there. Right then.

“This is Killian, Rowan’s friend from college. Rowan’s bitch of a mother turned up at Eric’s and started shouting her mouth off. I think—”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” Daddy almost growled the response. “Do not let Rowan leave.”

“Oh, I won’t,” Killian said, but he was talking to himself as Daddy had already hung up.

Killian took in Rowan’s scarlet face. “You lucky fuck. You’ve got a Daddy. Okay, where did you meet and how can I get one?”

Chapter twenty-one

Desperate as he was to get to Rowan, Gabriel checked his speed a couple of times. It wouldn’t help either of them if he got pulled over. He slammed his fist on the steering wheel as the lights turned red. What the fuck had happened? How had the vicious bitch known Rowan was there? At least his friend had called him. But any progress they’d made with Rowan’s confidence over the last couple of weeks had probably just plummeted. He’d get Rowan home and settled, then he was going to report Janice Wilson for violating the restraining order. Or better still, inform Philip. He was obviously trying to help his son.

He pulled up behind Rowan’s car outside a well-kept family home. It wasn’t too far from Janice’s place, but Rowan wouldn’t drive past hers to get here, so that didn’t explain how she knew. He got out and walked past both Rowan’s and three other cars in the wide driveway and the door opened as he stepped onto the porch. An older man introduced himself with a handshake as John Cartwright. Eric, their son, was Rowan’s college friend. He introduced himself and stepped inside. Patricia Cartwright, Rowan’s mom, was full of apologies. Apparently Janice Wilson had called round yesterday full of a sob story about Rowan getting involved with a much older man that was after his money.

Gabriel sighed and tried to remain polite. “Well, ma’am, as you can see, I am older, but I assure you I am gainfully employed and certainly don’t need anyone else to pay my mortgage.” Patricia, as she pressed him to call her, flushed, apologized again and explained how much help Rowan had been to Eric when he had struggled last year.

Gabriel didn’t want to be rude, but every instinct he had was screaming at him to see Rowan. “Is Rowan upstairs?” But he heard footsteps and saw three young men come down the stairs. He only had eyes for the one in the middle, though. He half expected Rowan to have shut down, but a quite frankly adorable flush stained his cheeks, and he sent Gabriel an almost bewildered look.

He didn’t seem frozen in fear, which was what Gabriel had dreaded. Gabriel extended his hand, uncaring what anyone thought, and Rowan rushed to his side. Killian and Eric introduced themselves and Gabriel thanked them for supporting Rowan and told them they were welcome in their home any time. He took leave of Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright and swept Rowan away, promising Rowan’s car would be collected tomorrow.

Gabriel very carefully settled Rowan into the seat of his car, even fastening the seatbelt. “Do you have Baby Bear?”

Rowan pulled out the little bear from his pocket and Gabriel nodded in satisfaction before closing the door and jogging around to the other side.

“I want to talk about everything,” Gabriel said, “but let’s leave discussing your mother until we’re in bed and I’m holding you, huh?”

Rowan shot him a startled look, but Gabriel couldn’t listen to the story and drive at the same time. Whoever said Doms were great multitaskers was a liar. “Tell me about Eric and Killian.” That seemed safe.

“I’ve known Eric since elementary school. I went to a different middle school, but we reconnected in college. His dad works for the mayor and his mom is a professor at UNC.”

“He seems nice. And Killian?”

Gabriel glanced over at the silence, and even just from the streetlights as they zipped past, he could see Rowan’s blush. He smiled. “Baby, you won’t upset me by telling me about old boyfriends. So long as I’m your only current one, it’s no problem.”

“No,” Rowan said in a panicked voice. “It was never…we were never—”

“Then why the blush?” Gabriel asked gently. “Not that don’t I love seeing that color on your face, but I would rather put it there myself.”

He didn’t look, but he could imagine Rowan’s blush darkened even more. Rowan told him about the phone numbers and what Killian had said. Gabriel chuckled. “We can invite him to the next open night.”

“We can?” Rowan said in surprise.

“Of course. I owe him a great debt. Because Killian called me, I could get to you quickly.” Gabriel reached his hand over and found Rowan’s. “That’s important to me, baby boy.”

Rowan linked their fingers and the last ten minutes of the journey were comfortably spent discussing how Rowan had managed to help them with their studies. Gabriel had no intention of letting their biggest problem coast though. Tempting as it was to let Rowan remain relaxed, he didn’t want it hanging over them.

As soon as they got inside, Gabriel drew Rowan into his arms and sat down on the sofa with Rowan cuddled into him. “Eric’s mom told me she had called Janice.”

“I know,” Rowan murmured, burrowing close. “Eric was so upset with her, but it wasn’t his mom’s fault.”

Gabriel dropped a kiss on his head. “You weren’t surprised she did?”

Rowan hesitated. “I didn’t think about it at the time.”

“Repetitive behavior?” Gabriel guessed.

“It was always the same,” Rowan admitted. “I’d mention a new friend or a school club, then something would happen to stop me from going or seeing them.” He paused. “I didn’t realize it for a long time, but then it just seemed easier not to cause a fight. I suppose that makes me weak.”

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