“I don’t know,” she said whispered.
“Then this is something you need to consider.” Mrs. Tibbs patted her hand, “Is what they’re offering you worth the price?”
Sitting slowly back in her chair, Rowan looked over at Edward as he leaned forward on his elbows, deep in conversation with Dr. Tibbs. The lamplight cast deep shadows on his face, lending him an almost sinister look that she knew was a lie. Beneath that brash exterior beat a heart as strong and gentle as any man she’d ever met. Her father had been the same way. A big Viking of a man, who wouldn’t hurt a fly, but would beat the tar out of anyone that threatened his family.
Her heart lifted a little as he caught her looking at him and gave her his slow, unbearably sexy smile. Lifting his hand to his mouth, he blew her a kiss that she swore landed on her heart with a thump. When she smiled back at him, he winked, then turned to face Dr. Tibbs when the older man said something that made Edward laugh.
Looking the other way to the card table by the fire, she caught Garret already watching her. He was facing away from the other players, which was a good thing because the desire in his gaze was unmistakable. Heat stirred between her legs as she basked in his attention. His gaze felt like a caress, and her heart began to beat faster just from his look. The chemistry between them was potent, and she hoped no one noticed the sudden flush to her cheeks.
Garret gave her a wink, then turned back to the card game as one of the men said his name, then something in French. As she watched, she once again noted that he was polite to Fleur, but at the same time distant and did nothing to encourage her interest. Trust was something that didn’t come easy, but she forced herself to stop watching over Garret like a jealous fishwife and return her attention to a carefully watching Mrs. Tibbs.
Tilting her head to the side, she considered something then asked, “Do you daughters think the price of their family is worth the cost?”
Mrs. Tibbs gave her a bright smile, “A million times over.”
Rowan smiled back, then yawned. “Goodness, it is barely seven o’clock and it feels like midnight.”
Making a tsking sound, Mrs. Tibbs stood and turned to Edward and Dr. Tibbs, “Edward, I believe our beautiful Rowan is in need of a good night’s rest. Would you be a dear and escort her to her room?”
Garret stood from the card table, concern wreathing his handsome face. “I’ll help you. She is looking a little pale.”
Fleur said something, but Garret shook his head and his reply made her pout, but he obviously didn’t care.
In a matter of seconds, Rowan found herself sandwiched between her men as they hustled her up the stairs and into her bedroom.
Once the door closed, Garret slumped against it with a huge sigh of relief. “Thank the Lord you finally got us out of there. That woman was driving me crazy. She is as dumb as a box of rocks and wouldn’t take a hint to save her life.”
Edward laughed and went over to the door, giving his friend a pat on the shoulder as Garret gave an exaggerated grunt. “Sorry, my friend. Dr. Tibbs and I were discussing business and I lost track of time.”
At some point, the maids had turned down the room for the night. A fire crackled merrily in the hearth and the thick rose velvet drapes had been drawn around the windows. The bed looked so inviting, with the pillows freshly plumped and the pale cream sheets turned back on the deep gold velvet blanket. She’d never stayed in such a luxurious place before, and another yawn cracked her jaw as she eyed the bed.
It was big, really big, and Rowan wondered if this room, with the one adjacent with two beds, had been added to the Inn for when the owner’s Bridgewater daughters came to visit.
“Rowan,” Garret said from softly behind her. “May we help you get ready for bed?”
Remembering the last time they’d helped her fall asleep, she nearly moaned at the thought of the pleasure they’d given her. Feelings like she’d never experienced, sensations that had been better than anything she could have imagined. Turning slowly, she looked at them both before nodding.
“I would like that very much.” Anticipation tightened her sex when both men gave her equally hungry looks. “Please.”
Garret reached her first, but instead of grabbing her and giving her the kiss she needed, he led her over to the small table with the plush stool and etched mirror. A beautiful oil lamp burned there, and she watched the men in the mirror as the set about the task of carefully removing the pins from her hair. They were so intent, so careful not to hurt her, that she couldn’t help but giggle at the image.
“What?” Edward asked around a mouthful of hair pins.
“Nothing,” she giggled again.
“How many pins did Mrs. Tibbs put in your hair?” Garret muttered as he tossed another pin into the growing pile on the dresser.
“I have a lot of hair,” she said with a shrug, then sighed as the mass atop her head was finally free to tumble down.
To her surprise, Edward began to massage her scalp with big, strong fingers that left her near limp with pleasure. Tingles raced from her scalp and down her spine, and she sighed with delight when Garret took one of her hands in his own and began to massage it. More prickles of desire sparked through her body, the need that never seemed to sleep waking beneath their touch. Leaning back, she found her head
