Elissa’s earlobes flushed such a deep red she thought she might just burst. Flustered, she stammered, “I–I’ll go to the restroom myself.”
“Wait a second.”
Rowan caught her gently by the wrist, drawing her closer. With practiced ease, he shrugged off his suit jacket and fastened it snugly around her waist, shielding the stain <b>on </b>her dress.
“Th–thank you.”
Their teachers coulde back at any moment–this was definitely safer. Elissa’s face burned all the way to her cheeks. She turned away, but instead of heading straight for the restroom, she made a detour to the
car.
She always kept a change of clothes in the trunk, just in case, though she hadn’t expected to need it today.
Her sleep had been erratictely, throwing her cycle off, but she’d checked her pulse yesterday and had a feeling this wasing. She’d tucked a pack of pads in her bag, just in case.
She cleaned up in the restroom and changed into fresh clothes. But when she stepped back out and met Rowan’s dark, fathomless eyes, she still
felt awkward.
She walked over, holding out his jacket. “Your jacket–I’ll wash it and-”
“This one’s pricier than thest.”
His words were blunt as ever.
Elissa wilted. Only she could get her period and lose a small fortune at the same time.
<b>09.18 </b>
She rubbed at her stomach, about to protest, when he gently plucked the jacket from her hands.
myself.”
s aze
was unreadable. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of this.
Elissa blurted out, “You’ll wash <b>it </b>yourself?”
In all nine years under the same roof, she’d never seen Rowan do his ownundry. And besides, you couldn’t just toss a suit in the wash.
Rowan’s hand stiffened for a split second as his eyes flicked to the faint stain on the fabric. He cleared his throat. “I’ll take it back and have it
cleaned.”
“Alright then.”
Elissa nodded, just as their teacher and Cliff returned from the backyard.
Aaron set his fishing rod aside and held up his catch for Rowan to see. “Later, I’ll make you a fish stew so good it’ll knock your socks off. It’s the least I can do after the hundred–year–old ginseng you brought me.”
Rowan hung the jacket over his arm, his expression calm, and smiled. “Sounds like I’m in for a treat.”
Elissa stared, surprised. “Hundred–year–old ginseng?”
She’d always kept track of rare herbs like that.
The only one on the markettely had been at thest auction.
Aaronughed. “It’s the one you werementing over at lunch today–the one you didn’t win for my birthday.”
Elissa looked at Rowan,/confusion written all over her face.
He’d paid a fortune <b>at </b>the auction for that ginseng. Wasn’t it meant for Lorraine’s father, to help him recover?
Aaron pped Rowan on the shoulder. “How about a game of chess<b>? </b>Cliff always lets me win–it’s no fun.”
<b>09-18 </b>
Actually, it wasn’t just Cliff.
Cliff deferred to him out of respect, but most people who yed against Aaron either wanted medical advice or to curry favor, always trying to please him.
Only Rowan yed him straight, making every match a fierce, exhrating challenge–win or lose.
Rowan agreed easily. “Sure.”
Cliff scratched his head, grinning. “You two y; I’ll go help Jacqueline in the kitchen.”
“I’ll help too-” Elissa started, but Rowan called her back.
“It’s cold. Why don’t you make some tea?”
Aaron chimed in, “You can’t cook anyway, so don’t go making trouble.”
“Oh, alright.”
Elissa followed them inside, setting about brewing tea, her mind
wandering.
What exactly did Rowan mean when he said that just now?
Was it because it was cold, and since she had her period, she shouldn’t be in the kitchen with cold water?
Or did he just want her to make him a hot drink to warm him up?
By the time dinner was over and they were leaving, the sky was pitch
ck.
Elissa was just about to get in the car when she saw Rowan stride out, his long legs covering the ground in seconds. “Ian’s already left. I’ll ride with you.”
“|—”