The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1)(46)

“Excuse me? I won our apartment pumpkin-carving contest last year.”

He raises a brow.

“Okay, well that’s a stretch, but I did receive an honorable mention. They gave me a ribbon and everything.”

He throws his head back and laughs. It’s the best kind of laugh—rough with a hint of a wheeze. As if he can’t take in enough oxygen to support such a rare event. I let the sound wash over me, and all I can think about is how I can get him to do that again.

His eyes open and he startles. “What?”

“Who are you, and what did you do with the real Rowan?”

His brows pull together. “What are you talking about?”

I fumble for my phone. “Could you do that thing again?”

“Laugh?”

“Yes. I need to catch it on camera this time.”

He loses the battle with hiding his smile. “What for?”

“Because this is history in the making.”

“You’re ridiculous.” He flips the pumpkin upside down.

“Ridiculously amazing,” I finish for him.

His smile evaporates like it never existed.

Was it something I said?

Maybe he’s sensitive about people complimenting themselves.

I peer over at his completely symmetrical circle. “What are you doing?”

He grabs the knife and hacks away at the bottom of the pumpkin. “Don’t ask stupid questions.”

“Hey! What happened to ‘There’s no such thing as stupid questions’?”

“Want to guess who came up with that phrase?” he replies dryly.

I flip him off behind my back.

His smile reappears and I count it as a small victory.

“I’ll rephrase my question. Why are you choosing to carve the lid from the bottom?”

He slices away at the last bit of pumpkin before putting the knife down. “Because the experts say so.”

“Experts?”

“Yes. The articles I reviewed all stated that cutting a hole at the bottom prevents the pumpkin from caving in on itself.”

“Well, wow. I didn’t know that.” What kind of person researches how to carve pumpkins?

Rowan Don’t-Know-What-the-G-Stands-For-Yet Kane, that’s who. The man is quite thorough in everything he does.

“Your sister sent me a picture of you with your honorable mention-worthy pumpkin. I thought I was doing a disservice to everyone if I didn’t come prepared.”

“How did you know we would be partnered up together?”

His brows pull together. “She told me before.”

“And you decided to come anyway?” I hold on to the counter to keep me steady.

He shrugs. How can he play it so cool at a time like this?

“Why did you come?”

“Because I felt like it.”

I tilt my head at him. I’m not sure what to make of this kind of revelation. For some weird reason, Rowan wants to hang around me. He is even willing to take time off.

But why? What changed? While we might have this strange chemical reaction to one another, not much has been different between us besides dinner at the warehouse.

Yet he came here to spend time with you.

“Your turn.” He shoves the stuffed pumpkin at me.

“Gross. Ani does that part.” I wrinkle my nose at the pumpkin brains.

He sighs and takes the pumpkin back.

“You’re the best!” I grin as I pass him a garbage bag.

He tries to hide his smile by looking down, but I catch it anyway. Another wave of warmth rolls through me.

Together, Rowan and I work on the pumpkin. By the time we are done, I conclude that I genuinely enjoy his company.





23





Rowan





I send the message before I can stop myself.

Me: What are you up to?





I fix the pillows behind my head as I get settled into my bed for the night. This is the usual routine now, with me getting home late and texting Zahra once I’ve eaten and showered. I’ve only been at Dreamland for a few months, and I’ve already fallen into a comfortable ritual that can only lead to one thing: dependence.

A photo of some child’s homework pops up on the screen.

Me: You’re finally learning the alphabet? Nice.

Zahra: No. I’m tutoring kids.

Me: At 10 p.m.? Don’t they have a bedtime?

Zahra: Yes, but I can’t see my clients at their usual times with my new schedule.





Clients? I didn’t even know she tutored on top of everything else she does. When does she find the time to take care of herself if she’s so damn busy helping everyone else?

Something resembling a rock drops into my stomach. Guilt?

Nope. Maybe indigestion.

Me: Don’t they pay you enough as a Creator?

Zahra: I do this as a favor for a single mom I used to work with at the salon. It’s only once a week so no big deal.

Me: Why?

Zahra: Because she works a second job and can’t afford a tutor herself, so I offered to help.

Me: For free?





The concept makes no sense to me. Who works late nights on top of a full-time job to help someone else?