Page 77 of His Eternal Temptation

Rowan’s cheeks darkened. “Your reaction the first time I brought you here.”

Lane closed the distance between them, straining to remember. “What did I say?”

“Nothing. It was your tone. Your surprise.” Rowan averted his gaze. “I thought you were sneering at me.”

“Aww, Rowan. I wasn’t sneering. There’s far more personality in here than the rest of the building. It surprised me in a good way. Everything’s so pretty and delicate. Two things I love about you.”

Rowan grinned. “That does make a hell of a lot more sense.”

“Exactly. We were at each other’s throats then, but you know me better now. All those first impressions were off base.”

“Not all of them.” Rowan’s smile twisted, his eyes glinting. “You’re as hot as ever. I was never mistaken about that.”

“True.” Lane nodded mock-seriously. “I’m incredibly appealing.”

Rowan snorted. “Let’s shower. I’m ready to get to the good part.”

Lane followed him into the bathroom. “Good part? Like being my good boy?”

“I was thinking more like us and everything coming. The beginning of the relationship I’ve always wanted. But we can start with me being good for you. Tell me how you want me, and it’s yours.”

Lane captured Rowan’s mouth in a bruising kiss. Good part indeed.

Lane met his father by the river a few days later. He seemed recovered, his expression stern and familiar, if a little exhausted around the edges. It might have been Lane’s imagination, but he looked grayer.

“Let’s walk. It’s a nice afternoon.” Marshall headed along the riverfront path without waiting for Lane’s response.

Typical. Lane fell into step beside him, keeping the comment to himself. He didn’t expect his father to turn into a completely different person.

Marshall shot him a calculated look. “How did you come to be at Rowan Valero’s side?”

Lane wanted to tip his head back and groan. Rowan was the most pressing thing they had to talk about? Marshall might not be completely different, but couldn’t he do better than returning to the same old conflict?

“Does it matter? Rowan isn’t what you think.”

Marshall’s jaw worked. “I know.”

Lane stopped short. “Excuse me? You’re saying you know Rowan isn’t the dodgy leader you claimed he was?”

Marshall kept walking, forcing Lane to follow. “When you first told me Rowan was trustworthy, I didn’t believe you, but I was wrong.”

The admission was like a slap in the face. Lane had no idea his father had changed his mind. “Did what happened at the warehouse finally convince you?”

“No, it was long before.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“What was the point?” Marshall shook his head. “You knew I was wrong about the Sherwoods. I had my reasons for acting as I did all those years ago, and I stand by my decisions as coven leader. My motivations were pure. I couldn’t have done better at the time.”

Lane wasn’t touching that mess with a ten-foot pole. “It still would have been nice to know you saw the truth about the Valeros in the end. To know you believed me, even if it didn’t change how little you trust me.”

Marshall scowled at the river. “I trust you.”

“You never act like it.”

“What do you mean? I trusted you to go off and make a life for yourself.”

“You’ve never said so. You called my shop a rebellion. Made it sound petty. Your lack of trust was the reason I left to make my life elsewhere.”