“Dear God, what?”
Rubbing a hand on the back of his neck, he spoke to the floor. “If I give you and Liam twenty minutes, will you return the favor?”
“I’m not following, Rowan.”
“We all need to focus, but we’re so high strung that we can’t.” He winced over what he was saying, confusing her even more. “Izzy and Abe are supposed to bring the boat back here this afternoon, and there’s a little cabin in it.”
“What does that have to do with twenty minutes?”
Rowan didn’t reply, merely staring at her as if she were an idiot, and when the realization of what he was asking finally struck, she snorted. “Only twenty minutes? Poor Annabeth. That’s so sad.”
It was sad for all of them, actually. Twenty minutes here. Thirty minutes there. Moments together reduced to small increments of time.
“Shut up.”
An honest to God blush covered his face, and Jamison couldn’t hold in her laughter. “You could’ve at least asked for a half hour.”
Returning to his laptop, Rowan hunched over the keyboard like he wanted to disappear into it. “Forget I asked.”
“Why?” Jamison folded her legs under her, settling into the chair. “We’re in the middle of this insane crap, but you’re focused on getting laid. Why? That’s not like you.”
“I’m sorry, but what were you two doing when Will called to tell you guys Watson was at his shack?” Rowan held up his hand to stop her from answering. “That was a rhetorical question. A response is not needed.”
“Our party was just getting started,” she grumbled. “But then Liam had to go rush off and almost die.”
“That’s my point. I’m not the only one with their mind in the gutter.”
But there was more to it. She could see it in the way he moved and how tense he was over this discussion. “Spill it, Rowan,” she pushed. “Why is getting Annabeth naked on your mind?”
It was his turn to snort. “A naked Annabeth is always on my mind.”
“Okay, that’s fair, but what else is going on in that head of yours?”
He didn’t answer at first, his fingers tapping at the keys. But then he stopped, refusing to look at her when he spoke. “I think Annabeth is getting skittish about us. My family scared her yesterday. McIntyre women are a bit much—”
“A bit much?” Jamison echoed, scoffing. “I was at an event where your sister was in attendance. I’m not a pushover, but Caitlin McIntyre gives even me pause.”
A genuine smile spread across Rowan’s face. “Cait’s not one to mess with.”
“Yeah, the guy who grabbed her ass learned that the hard way.”
“Did she break his hand?”
“I heard it was two fingers.”
“That’s my girl.” Rowan’s grin grew. “Killian and I taught her not to take shit from any man.”
“I can assure you, no shit was being taken. And yeah, that little flex your Aunt Vivian pulled yesterday was over the top, but Annabeth can hold her own.”
“My aunt didn’t flex anything.”
Jamison cocked her head to the side. “She sounded disappointed my dad was still alive.”
“She wasn’t disappointed,” he said flatly. “Viv already knew Ben was alive. She was just being…”
“Insane? Over the top?” She sneered at him, knowing she was right. “Pick an adjective, Rowan.”
Propping his hands on top of his head, he studied her for a second. “What do you know about it?”