Page 119 of Tempting Promises
I see the hurt flash across her face. “You’re choosing him?”
“Rowan has been here. Rowan makes me happy. Rowan is who took care of me when that drunk guy was trying to get me to sleep with him. Rowan is who carried me in the woods when I hurt my ankle and then helped me for days when we were stuck in the ice storm. It was Rowan who supported me, drove me to New York for a meeting for a contract that he’s also competing for. Where were you, Aurora? What exactly in the last two years have you done to make me choose you? Nothing.”
“I’m your sister.” Her incredulity seeps through the words.
“I know, and I planned to come to New York in a few days and tell you about everything, how it happened, and how I feel about him. This wasn’t supposed to be how you found out.”
She shakes her head. “I can’t believe this. First, I find out we may lose the farm, and now I find out you’re hooking up with the man who ruined my life!”
Rowan steps forward. “Enough. We weren’t together. We slept with each other for a few months. You said you wanted to date, I said no, and three days later, you were telling everyone I cheated on you, and you witnessed it. With who, Aurora? Who exactly did I fuck that you walked in on? When we weren’t even in a damn relationship! No one. It never happened, and instead of being a decent human being and admitting you lied, you doubled down.”
Aurora’s jaw drops. “You’re insane.”
“No, sweetheart, that’s the truth, and we both know it. However, I let you say whatever you needed to because, apparently,you needed me to be the villain. The thing is, I’m with Charlotte. I care about her. I want to be with her for as long as she’s willing to put up with me. I want to take care of her, hold her when she cries, make her smile, and support her. If you can’t be happy for her, then you can fuck off, but you won’t make her birthday sad. You want to attack me? Go for it, but you’ll have to get through me to get to her.”
I look up at this man who just defended me like a warrior and tears fill my vision. Not because I’m hurt or worried about my sister but because I’ve never had anyone go that far for me.
“I said no tears,” I say as my lip wobbles.
Rowan turns his body to me, his hands moving to my face. “I’m sorry if I made you cry, baby.”
I shake my head. “I’m not sad. You just . . . you . . . no one has ever stood up for me like that.”
He huffs out a breath and leans close to me. “I will fight the world and ruin myself in the process to make sure nothing hurts you.”
I lift up, not caring that I’m half naked or that my sister who hates my boyfriend is standing here, and kiss him softly.
My phone rings, I drop back and reach for it.
Oh, God, it’s Carson.
Rowan’s eyes find mine and I smile. “I have to answer this,” I say.
He probably thinks it’s Faye.
I swipe the screen, ready for my life to be changed. “Hello?”
“Hi, Charlotte, it’s Carson Knight.”
I turn around so I don’t see my sister or Rowan as I hear the news. “It’s great to hear from you.”
“Listen, I wanted to give you a call and let you know my decision. After a lot of debate, and back and forth, I’ve decided it’s best to go with a larger farm. I think you have a wonderful setup and you’d do great, but maybe for a smaller scaled project. I have a few things down the line and when they come around, I’d like to reach out again.”
My heart breaks. Literally. I feel the pain in my chest like I’venever felt before. I somehow keep my voice steady. “That would be great. I’d appreciate it.”
“Of course, and again, it was nothing personal or anything like that. I genuinely went back and forth a lot more than I’ve ever done. It was a toss-up until this morning, and I just went with my gut.”
“I understand,” I say, the defeat loud even though I was close to whispering.
“All right. Good luck to you, and I’ll be in touch when the right project comes around. I hope we find a way to work together in the future, Charlotte.”
The phone goes dead, and I stand here, staring at the photos in front of me through watery eyes. Gran and Pop on the front porch, his arm around her waist as she holds my mom in her arms. The one to the right, my parents’ wedding photo where they are staring into each other’s eyes. A photo of my dad climbing the maple tree out front, the one where he carved his daughters’ names beneath his and my mother’s. Then my sister and I sitting on the front porch swing.
So many memories in this house that will never be passed down.
“Charlotte?” Aurora calls my name, and I swipe at my tears.
I turn to her, shake my head, and look at Rowan. “Congratulations.”
