Page 30 of Single Chance

Ijogged up the back stairs at the brewery a little after five p.m. Friday, still digesting the implications of my meeting with Holden and Chloe.

As I rounded the corner on the second floor, I could tell the light was still on in Rowan’s office. Like always, anticipation pumped through me, and I had to shut down my involuntary eagerness to see her.

Over the past three weeks, we’d established a professional friendliness between us, an almost comfortable rapport. Almost. It’d be more comfortable if I could keep my mind from going where it shouldn’t. From remembering flashes of New Year’s Eve. From fantasizing about another hookup.

With Holden and Chloe hurrying off to pick up their daughter for some family event in the city tonight and Mateo on the road, the only other person in the building was Kemp, who was in the brewhouse. Rowan and I practically had the place to ourselves.

Which meant nothing at all.

I prepared to smile, wish her a happy weekend, and walk past her open door toward my own office. Except when I peered in, I stopped in my tracks. She had her head down on her desk, face buried in her arms.

“Rowan?” I said from the doorway.

She raised her head and blinked sleepily. “Hi.”

I stepped inside. “Are you okay?”

She inhaled as if assessing, then nodded. “I didn’t sleep much last night. I put my head down to rest my eyes for five minutes.”

“It’s almost five thirty. Weekend time.”

“I told Chloe I’d stay late to prep for tomorrow’s tour since she gave me the morning off.”

“She said you had a last-minute appointment in Nashville this morning.” I couldn’t help prying. I’d noticed Rowan’s absence and been relieved when I heard her voice in the hallway early this afternoon.

She eyed me tiredly. Assessing me. For what, I couldn’t guess.

“Is everything okay, Rowan?”

She didn’t respond, seemingly deliberating with herself. I took another step toward her desk, confused, my concern growing.

“Yeah.” She flashed a tired smile. “I’m good. What are you doing working late?”

“Just got done with a meeting. I’d ask you if you read Chloe’s email yet, but I’m thinking you haven’t checked lately.” I grinned to make it clear I wasn’t judging her for resting. I couldn’t help but notice the shadows beneath her eyes.

“Email about what?”

I sat in the chair facing her desk. “She has too much on her plate, and she knows it. Holden convinced her to hand off everything marketing related to you.”

Her eyes locked on mine as the ramifications sank in.

“Marketing,” she repeated. “You’re the marketing director.”

“Chloe’s been in on everything as we’ve developed the brand. But that’s pretty much established now. The next thing will be rolling out the event venue campaign.”

“So I’ll be working with you,” she concluded, not smiling.

“I’ve been told I’m decent to work with.”

“You all realize I know nothing about marketing, right?”

“You’ll do fine. As long as you can work directly with me?”

For the first time, I wondered if she was more uncomfortable than I’d realized because of our history. She’d seemed to handle working for the same company okay, as if our night together had been almost nothing. That sucked for me, but it was better than the opposite extreme. I did not need a clinger.

When she didn’t reply, just continued sizing me up, my concern grew.

“Rowan? What’s going through your head?”

---