The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1)(40)

I spend the rest of my day thinking about my conversation with Scott. It’s hard not to jump to conclusions about it all, but why else would he watch my favorite movies? All seventeen versions of them?

I think Scott might like me. If only he had enough courage like Lizzy to face me.

Maybe one day.





If there’s one thing no one should look good wearing, it’s bowling shoes. But of course the man who wears thousand-dollar suits can make clown shoes look designer. When Ani suggested bowling as our first group mentorship activity, I agreed wholeheartedly. I thought a bowling alley would make Rowan uncomfortable enough to drop out of the program.

My assumptions were proven wrong the moment Rowan showed up an hour ago with a custom ball and shoes. I’m ninety percent sure he probably bought them at the bowling alley’s store because he couldn’t bear the idea of sharing anything with the general population.

I spent an hour hoping he slipped up so I could have the opportunity to prove my other assumptions correct. There’s no way he could be genuinely interested in participating in my pilot program. Right?

Wrong. One hundred and ten percent wrong.

Rowan is completely different from what I expected. Although he might still be the Burberry polo-shirt-wearing prep, he’s nice to my sister and her boyfriend. And it makes me feel all sorts of things.

Ani drops into the plastic seat next to me. “So, Rowan’s cute.”

I shoot her a withering glare. “Stop.”

A weird feeling sits in the pit of my stomach at the idea of finding Rowan cute. It feels wrong to be interested in him while also feeling a pull toward Scott—like I’m playing around. It adds to the growing nausea every time I find myself zoning in on Rowan tonight.

It’s wrong to be attracted to my boss, but it’s despicable to be interested in two guys at the same time. I’d never want to intentionally hurt anyone like that after everything I’ve been through.

“But look at him teaching JP how to bowl.” She points at both men standing side by side.

Trust me, Ani. That’s all I’ve been doing.

Rowan demonstrates how to properly launch a bowling ball and JP copies the movement. I’m still not bored after watching them for the last hour.

I shake my head. “Not happening, so whatever you’re planning, stop it.”

“I’m not planning anything.”

“You bring him up during every conversation we have.”

She smiles. “I like him.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to.”

“But you like everyone!”

I wince. “Not this one.”

“Yeah, right. You blush anytime he looks at you.”

“No, I don’t!”

She pushes my shoulder. “Do too!”

“Why are you staring at me like a creep anyway?”

“Because it’s funny. Rowan gets all nervous too.”

“Oh, really?” I blame my mother for teaching Ani to believe in fairy dust and fairy tales from a young age.

She taught you the same.

“What else do you notice?”

“I thought you didn’t like him?” She raises one sassy brow at me.

I end up laughing at the expression on her face. Rowan’s eyes connect with mine, sending goosebumps across my skin. He refocuses his attention on JP right before he almost drops the ball on Rowan’s foot. Together, with Rowan’s help, JP launches the bowling ball down the lane.

Pins crash in front of us. Ani jumps up and claps her hands as JP dances in place. A hint of a smile graces Rowan’s lips before disappearing. JP pulls Ani into his arms and gives her a kiss on the cheek. It makes my heart melt all over the sticky linoleum floor.

The back of my neck tingles and I look over to find Rowan staring at me. “What?”

His brows pull together. “Nothing.”

“Your turn, Zahra!” Ani calls out. “Hurry up. We only have thirty minutes left before our time runs out.”

I grab my pink bowling ball off the rack and throw it. It rolls forward before veering off straight into the gutter, resulting in zero pins.

“Your wrist is twisting right before you throw it.” Rowan speaks behind me.

I turn on my heel. “And you’re a bowling expert all of a sudden?”

He shrugs. “I played varsity.”

The seriousness of his voice has me curling over and laughing. By the time I stop, I find Rowan’s face guarded as ever.

“What?” I frown.

“Forget I offered to help.” He turns on his heel and takes a seat next to JP.

Oh God. Was he being serious? I didn’t even know there were bowling teams. My stomach takes a dive into dangerous territory, and my cheeks turn hot at the idea of embarrassing him.

What if he was really trying to help me?

If so, then you just grabbed his olive branch and snapped it in half right in front of his face.

I try to fix my wrist like Rowan suggested but my ball only ends up in the gutter again. Ani laughs as she gets up for her turn. JP follows her like always, leaving me alone with Rowan.

“So, varsity, huh?” I try to break the ice as I take the seat next to him.

His crossed arms flex. “I can guarantee that your jokes will be nothing new to me.”

I playfully shove him with my shoulder but his body doesn’t budge. “I’m sorry. It was a shitty thing to laugh at.”