Page 22 of The Witch's Rite
Instead of answering, he lets out a gentle purr.
I straighten up and head for the parlor doorway, but when I glance through, I find the room empty. Alden was reading when I left, and his book lies abandoned on the table beside Auntie’srocking chair. Turning, I head for the kitchen. As soon as I step through the doorway, I freeze.
Because I’ve found Alden, but he has a visitor.
And it’sRowan.
My body locks up as they both shift to look up at me. What is he doing here? And with Alden no less.
Quickly, I take in the scene: both men seated at the table, teacups steaming in the light glowing through the windows. The air smells of mint.
Are they . . . havingteatogether?
The thought makes my lips quirk up on one side, but I don’t allow myself to fully smile or laugh. Somehow, I don’t think they’d appreciate it.
“You’re back,” Alden says in way of breaking the silence. My gaze flicks to his.
“Lydia said hello. Oh, and she wants to know if you can stop by soon. One of her doors is squeaking on its hinges. It puts up a terrible racket.”
Alden sits back in his chair, the wood making a tiny squeak beneath his weight. “All right. I’ll head over there tomorrow.”
Again, silence blankets us. My eyes find Rowan’s. He holds my stare, but he doesn’t say anything.
Before I can figure out how to cut through the tension, Alden stands and stretches his arms overhead. He’s so tall his fingers nearly brush the ceiling.
“You two should talk,” he says, gaze flicking between me and Rowan. I search his tone for any sign of unease, but if he’s feeling it, he’s masking it well. “I’ll be outside if you need me.”
He picks his teacup up from the table, then takes a few steps toward me and presses a gentle kiss to my cheek before heading out the kitchen door. When he opens it, a swirl of warm air rushes in, making my skirt sway. Then it closes with a gentle click, and it’s just me and Rowan.
“Hi,” I say softly. Even now, he still has a way of making me nervous. Butterflies dance in my stomach, and I reach up to push a strand of hair behind my ear.
With Alden having left, Rowan appears to relax. His shoulders soften, and he lets out a gentle sigh as he meets my eyes. He holds my gaze as his lips lift on one side. “You look beautiful.”
My cheeks warm at his compliment, and I glance quickly away. “I didn’t know you were coming to visit,” I say. The basket of fish is making my arm tired, and I turn to set it on the counter. Out the window, I spot Alden near the woodshed and wonder briefly what sort of project he’s got in mind, if any at all. Maybe he’s just trying to make himself scarce so I can speak with Rowan freely.
I’m not sure how I got so lucky to have a man like him in my life.
“I considered it,” Rowan says behind me. “Considered... sharing you.”
His words make my stomach tighten. If he’s here to tell me he’s not interested... The idea has my heart squeezing uncomfortably.
“I know it’s a bit odd,” I say, hands pressing into the warm wooden counter, “but—”
Before I can get the words out, there’s a gentle creak of a chair, and then Rowan’s body presses against me. I go rigid for a moment, eyes widening.
He curls his body around me, his chest to my back, warm and strong and soft. His hands come to rest atop mine on the counter, and he lowers his chin to my shoulder.
“I’ll try it,” he says, breath minty as it tickles my cheek.
Those three words make a wave of relief wash over me. The tightness in my body softens, and I lean back against Rowan, nestling myself into the curve of his tall body.
“Really?” I whisper.
His laughter is a gentle thing that rumbles softly in his chest. “Yes, really.” His hands curl around mine, our fingers slipping together to intertwine atop the counter. When he turns his head, his nose brushes across my cheek, then down my jaw. He breathes in slowly. “Mm. You smell like sage,” he whispers.
“It’s from Lydia’s. She always has it burning.”
He releases one of my hands and reaches for my hip. Slowly, he turns me to face him. My back presses against the kitchen counter, and I have to tip my head up to look into his eyes.
