Page 129 of Maneater

“What are the chances you can take off for a couple of days and spend them lazing with me? I’ve got five days here, after all, all expenses paid.”

I smile.“I don’t know, my boyfriend is pretty powerful,” I whisper, and he shakes his head, smiling. Rory comes over then, giving me a thumbs-up.

“You did good, kid,” she says, and I roll my eyes.

“Ialwaysdo good.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she says.

“Do they always… just fall for it that easy?” Isla asks, clearly equal parts confused and impressed.

“Every time,” Rowan says as he sits back with a smile.

“Wow,” she whispers. I smile and shrug.

“Men are stupid and simple.”

“I’m right here,” Rowan says, and I turn to him, an eyebrow raised.

“And?”

He stares, then smiles and shakes his head.

“As much as I love to see Josie take Rowan down a notch or seven, I’m planning to give the report to Gabriel tonight so we can enjoy the rest of our trip.” I nod, then move to stand, giving a wink to Rowan, but Rory shakes her head. “No. You two stay. I’m going to show Isla how to process the footage and data. You’re going to be bored andstart chatting and distract me.”

I fight a smile because she’s not wrong.

“Are you sure?” I ask, feeling bad because we are on a job.

She nods and turns to my boyfriend, pointing at him.“You owe me one,” she says with a stern face. Rowan gives her a smile, and I can’t help but think this is pre-planned.

“There’s an unlimited credit for spa services and room service attached to both of your cards,” Rowan says to Rory and Isla. “On me. Enjoy yourselves.”

“Rowan, you—” I start, but Rory cuts me off.

“Perfect. Later, Josie! Lunch tomorrow.” I try to argue, but then she’s grabbing Isla’s hand and tugging her out of the restaurant. When I turn back to Rowan, he’s grinning wide.

“Is this one of your dates?” I ask, though we’ve gone well past the twenty-one promised to me months ago at this point. He smiles wide, leaning over the table to press a kiss to my lips. He never answers, but I guess I didn’t really need him to anyway.

“I love you, you know,” Rowan says two hours later as we walk along the empty shoreline hand in hand, the soft ocean breeze wrapping around me as he says those words for the first time.

Out loud, at least. Rowan’s been showing me he’s in love with me for months now. Years, maybe, in his own strange Rowan Fisher way. I thought when we finally said it, my heart would pound and butterflies would fill my chest, but instead, it’s like warm, soothing water is coasting along my skin, filling my body. It makes sense, though. I think that’s what love is, after all: comfort and desire and friendship wrapped up into something so precious, I can’t believe I once convinced myself I would never want it. Need it.

“Hmm?” I ask, though I heard him loud and clear. With my words, he stops walking, turning toward me and tuggingme into him.

“Don’t play dumb,” he whispers. “It’s not cute.”

”I’m always cute,” I argue, because even now, I can’t seem to find it in me to just give in to him. It’s been six months, and I still love to get under his skin.

“Are you going to really argue with me when I’m telling you I love you for the first time?”

My heart lifts and spins just a bit at his words.“I wasn’t arguing! I was just saying I’m always cute. That’s a fact, not an argument.”

He closes his eyes with exasperation, letting out a long breath, an action I’ve seen so many times. One, I hope I’ll see a million more. For the rest of my life.

“So the answer is yes, then,” he murmurs to himself.

“You haven’t actually said the actual thing, Rowan,” I say, grinning now.