two months later
Gravel crunched under the car tires as Rowan pulled into the driveway of the lakeside cabin situated only feet from the sandy shoreline. Dusk surrounded her, the enticing smell of campfire bringing memories rushing in. She’d lost count of the number of times she and her friends had gathered here, enjoying hot and blissful summer days, and even hotter mid-summer nights hanging with the locals and cavorting in the woods.
Slinging her purse over her shoulder, she retrieved her bag from the trunk and headed up the wooden stairs and straight inside without bothering to knock. The ringing of joyful voices and clinking of bottles grew louder, a sure sign everyone else had arrived and the pre-wedding celebration was well underway.
She hauled her suitcase upstairs and marched down the hall, coming up short as she spotted the suitcase and bag in the room two doors down on the left. “Oh, no,” she muttered, setting her bags on the bench under the window. This sweet location with the amazing view of the water had been hers every single year, and she wasn’t about to give it up. Everyone knew this, so she couldn’t imagine who would dare to try ousting her without so much as asking. She hauled the interloper’s bags into the hall and set them against the wall, brushing her hands together in satisfaction before she grabbed a sweater. Time to join the others out back.
“Ro!” Coco squealed the moment Rowan appeared on the back deck. The woman leaped from her chair, setting an unsteady, wobbly path toward Rowan. “You’re here.”
Rowan braced herself as the bride-to-be dove into her arms, followed by Sadie and Mallory, the two other members of the bridal party. The force of their collision sent all four of them tumbling into a giggling heap on the rough wooden planks of the deck. She hugged Coco tight, laughing as her university bestie kissed both cheeks.
“Now the party can truly begin,” Coco said, wrapping her arms around Sadie and Mallory, adding to the weight load on Rowan’s chest.
“Orff,” Rowan said, her voice muffled, buried as she was at the bottom of the pile. “Orff.”
“Sounds like a wounded seal stuck at the bottom of a log jam,” said someone in a deep and familiar voice. The man chuckled. “Come on.”
The weight of her friends eased slightly, making it possible for her to breathe again. She sighed as warm hands gripped hers, lifting her onto her feet as if she weighed nothing.
“Okay?”
She stared into gorgeous amber eyes, so intent on the man’s lush lashes, she barely registered the words. The pure masculine scent of him made her dizzy, her grasp on him tightening.
“Rowan? No bruises or breaks?”
After a hard blink, the man’s face snapped in clear focus, and she struggled to break free of his hold. Her cheeks flamed. “Nothing but my dignity,” she muttered. Of all the men to rescue her, it had to be him. He, who wasn’t even supposed to be here. “You know, just a wounded seal in a log jam.”
“Could have been worse.” Connor smirked. “You could have smothered under the pile of unruly bridesmaids.”
She glowered, ready to lay into him. “Why are you—”
“Now, now.” Tate slid a glass into her hand. “Play nice, Ro. We all have to get along so we can get Coco and Grady to the altar.”
“Why does it have to be me who’s all accommodating? Connor isn’t even supposed to be here.” She emptied her wine in two long swallows, the shine and excitement of seeing everyone dulled by the presence of the man who’d ripped out her heart and humiliated her all in one blow. To make it worse, from the looks going around the group, everyone knew she’d been played, which was another cruel twist.
Yet, Connor seemed totally unaware, going on as if nothing had happened; as if he’d never treated her like a worthless commodity. The least the man could have done was apologize, but of course, a womanizer like Connor Ashton would never admit his level of deceit.
Rowan set her glass aside and retreated into the house, stumbling up the stairs to her reclaimed room. The sight of the man sent her straight back into her recurring nightmare. Would she ever escape the series of unfortunate events during Sadie’s wedding?
Not long after she’d crawled into bed, a knock sounded on her door.
“Ro?” Mallory peeked in. “Can I join you?”
“Whatever.” Pain sliced through her at the thought everyone had conspired to blindside her.
“I’m sorry about Connor. Grady invited him.”
“You should have sent him away. It took everything I had to come here and face another wedding.” She sniffled and dabbed at her eyes. Already the hours of work with her therapist were fading, nothing but a pile of wreckage. Her precious reserves of energy melted away like snow during a Chinook wind.
“It wasn’t my decision for him to stay or go. Grady wants him here.” Mallory twisted a lock of hair around her finger. “Connor is his best man.”
“Coco asked me to be her MOH.” Rowan’s heart sank. “If Grady wants Connor, I have to tell her no.”
“You can’t deal with it, even for Coco?”
Rowan folded her arms over her chest. “He humiliated me, played me, treated me like a worthless plaything. Why should I have to deal with him?”
“You’re not wrong, but it might help you process and get over it.”
Just get over it. Rowan practically wept at the injustice of it all. “I’m exhausted. Could you please go?”
“Sure. Sleep well, and I’m sure things will look better in the morning.”
“Is Connor leaving, then?”
Mallory simply shrugged and kissed her cheek. “Night, honey.” She left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Rowan curled up, hugging the pillow.
Seconds later, another tap sounded at the door.
“Go away.”
The door opened a crack, then wider, and wider. Connor peeked around the edge of the door. “Ah,” he said. “It’s you who evicted me from my room.”
“No, I evicted you from my room. Everyone knows this room is mine every single summer, so you’ll have to steal someone else’s bed.”
“Can I at least reclaim my shaving kit?” He pointed at the leather satchel on the dresser.
“Take it and get out.” She closed her eyes. “Maybe tomorrow you can have the room back.”
“Where will you stay?”
“Somewhere far, far away from here,” she muttered.
The man sighed, the mattress sinking as he perched on the end of her bed. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry. Maybe we could go for coffee tomorrow, and you’ll allow me to explain.”
“It’s worth zip. Zero. Zilch. You left without a word.” She rolled onto her side, facing away from him. “You’re not forgiven, I refuse to entertain your lame excuses, or spend a second longer in your presence. If you have any decency at all, you’ll pack your bags and scram.”
“It’s not that simple.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair, but he stood. “Grady is counting on me. I can’t just cut and run.”
“Silly me. You only pull that crap with women.” She turned off the lamp, throwing the room into darkness.
Moments later the door closed behind him.