Isleen’s attention zeroed in on him, and she felt a wrinkle of confusion furrow into her forehead. It was like that. They’d just made love.
“No, no, no. No explanation needed. You’re both adults. Consenting adults. What you do is none of my beeswax.” Row jumped up and down and clapped her hands like an excited little girl. “But I am so happy for you both.” She grabbed Xander, who stood at least a foot and a half taller than her, and gave him a squealing, happy hug.
Xander was tall and broad and made of muscle and male strength, but he melted into a little boy version of himself while Row hugged him. It was so sweet and tender that water came to Isleen’s eyes. This happy crying was getting to be a bit much. But there was so much to be happy about, wasn’t there?
She ducked back into the loft and dressed, then headed down the stairs to join them. Row latched on to Isleen the moment she was within arm’s reach and gave her the same treatment as Xander. Isleen soaked it up like a flower in need of rain. “I’m sorry I scared you. I didn’t mean to.”
Row pulled back and clasped Isleen’s face in both her hands. “Don’t you ever apologize for being…” She trailed off, not finishing.
In love. Isleen’s mind filled in the blank. She was in love with Xander. Had been since her first dream of him.
“Now you grab your honey and come on down to the main house.” Row released her and moved out the still-open doorway. “I’ve whipped up a batch of my famous butterscotch pecan pancakes. They’re Xander’s favorite.”
Isleen felt the smile in every muscle on her face, felt joy swelling inside her. This life here with Row and Xander and Gran was gonna be better than any dream she’d ever dared to imagine. She turned to Xander.
His scars were blood colored. “Go.” His lips pulled back over his teeth in a sneer of disgust. The only thing missing was him spitting out the bad taste. “Go without me.”
The fragile bubble of her happiness popped. “What’s wrong?”
“Damn it, Row, that was pretty underhanded. Not gonna work.”
Isleen heard his every word; she just didn’t understand any of them.
Xander turned his attention to her. “Go with Row. You shouldn’t miss her pancakes.”
None of this situation was what she’d expected to happen after they made love. She’d expected to spend the whole day lounging together, exploring each other—body and mind. She hadn’t expected this. Him telling her to leave. Maybe what they’d just done meant more to her than to him. Her stomach sank so low it hit the ground.
“Don’t order me around.” She packed her tone with irritation to mask the hurt. She turned her attention to Row. “I can’t wait to try your butterscotch pecan pancakes.” She linked arms with the lavender-haired lady, and they sashayed across the porch and down the steps.
Focus forward. Forward.
The grass was cool and damp underneath Isleen’s feet. A slight breeze ruffled her hair and was filled with the scent of clean air and green growing things. A crown of trees ringed the yard, and a strip of gravel came out of the forest to stop at Xander’s front door. They passed from the open lawn to a whimsical trail carved through the woods. It was the kind of path she’d expect to read about in a book. Only it was real.
Sunshine filtered between the leaves and branches, lasering cheerful yellow rays throughout the landscape. Birds whistled back and forth, and a woodpecker hammered a hollow tree. The ground was mossy and soft and the most brilliant shade of green she’d ever seen. This place was the most beautiful place on earth.
“He’s not mad at you,” Row whispered. “He’s mad at me. Remember how I said he and his father haven’t spoken in over twenty-five years? Well, Xan hasn’t stepped foot in the main house since the day he became a legal adult. I think there are just too many painful memories there. And I—damn—shouldn’t have used you to press him. I’m sorry. I’ll talk to him after breakfast.”
Her heart latched on to Row’s explanation. Could it really be that simple? “Xander should’ve explained that to me. Not acted all… Go. Go with Row.” She deepened her voice in an imitation of him.
Row chuckled. “Sweetie, he doesn’t have a lot of experience when it comes to relationships. He’s going to fuck it up a few times before he figures it out. And let’s be honest—he was an asshole. All the Stone men are. It’s genetic.”
Chapter 11