Maybe I’m giving him too much credit.
Rowan sipped her wine and stared moodily at the most important male in her life. She loved him beyond reason, but he didn’t fill all the holes in her heart. A lot of them, but not all.
Voices sounded out front, and Thor got to his feet, his focus on the living room door. Rowan tensed and then remembered officers were still there. The door opened and Evan Bolton strode in, tension emanating from him. He locked gazes with Rowan and visibly relaxed.
“Thank God,” he muttered, stopping to greet a tail-and hip-wagging Thor, who’d met him halfway.
Rowan watched him pet her dog, feeling something shift in her chest, a piece tipping into place.
I’m falling for him.
It wasn’t just an attraction; it was more.
31
Evan had known the three sisters were unharmed, but his heart had been in his throat during the entire drive to Ivy’s home. It wasn’t until he’d stepped through the door and seen Rowan staring at him, a big glass of red wine in her hand, that his heart had returned to its proper place in his chest.
He stroked Thor’s head and then crossed the room to his owner, the dog close at his heels. Rowan looked confused to see him and was silent, just staring, making Evan wonder how much wine she’d drunk. He pulled her into a hug without saying a word. She shuddered and then relaxed into him. He smoothed her hair down her back with one hand, realizing he’d never touched her in that way before.
It feels right.
“You’re okay?” he finally asked.
“Yes. Just tired,” she said into his shoulder. “I want to go home, but I’m waiting for them to finish so I can lock up the house.”
He pulled back and searched her eyes, his hands on her shoulders. “You good to drive?”
She gave a half smile. “I’ve had three sips of wine in the last two hours. I’m taking an Uber anyway.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“You don’t—”
“I want to.” He let go of her and looked around the room. “I want to walk the scene and talk to the officers. Then we’ll go. They can lock up, and I’ll get the key from them tomorrow. Now tell me what happened.”
Rowan walked him down a hallway, explaining how Thor had acted strangely and she’d glimpsed someone in the backyard. Evan stepped into West’s room, studying the broken glass.
Asshole.
“Did he know ahead of time that this was the boy’s room?”
“I’m not sure. Ivy hasn’t lived here that long, and I know Adam has never been in the house.”
“I heard Adam might have a broken leg?”
Rowan snorted. “I wish it was more. He slammed into the car pretty hard at the same time I was backing up. I didn’t see him until a split second before he hit.” An odd look crossed her face, and she took a sip of wine.
“You describe it as him hitting the vehicle.”
She thought. “He hit the corner of the car, and part of the dent is on the side. I was going straight back. And I saw him rushing toward the car. We collided . . . it wasn’t just me backing into him.” She started to say more and stopped, that odd look returning.
“What is it?”
Rowan looked at him, concern in her eyes. “For a split second I swear I saw two men before the collision.”
“You think someone could have been with him?”
“I do. But it was so fast.”
“You didn’t tell anyone?”
“No.” Her mouth twisted. “He’d be long gone by now. I should have said something, but it was all a shock and happened so fast.”
“Do you want to come outside while I ask the officers some questions?”
Rowan tipped her head at her wine. “I’m good. Already been out there.”
He’d already seen the dented car but wanted to ask what Adam had said during his arrest. And now take a look for signs of a second person. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Evan left the house, wondering about what Rowan could have seen. The driveway had been lit up with bright portable lights that were almost better than daylight since they illuminated the scene from all angles. Evan noticed the closest streetlight was across the road and down several houses. The driveway would have been very dark when the accident happened. A forensic tech was packing up her equipment behind the car, and he showed her his badge and was joined by the sergeant he’d briefly talked with before entering the home.
“You were one of the first ones here, right?” he asked the sergeant.