CHAPTER 18

Heath hugged his cup of coffee and stared out over the porch railing at the early-morning haze. He hadn’t slept, not much anyway. It had been difficult knowing Rowena was only a few yards away, sleeping in her bed… alone…

“Hi.”

Rowena’s voice jolted through his system, much stronger than the caffeine he’d been using to jumpstart his brain. Heath needed every last ounce of intelligence and willpower so he wouldn’t do or say something stupid.

He turned at the rail, leaning back against it as she slid beside him.

“You’re up early...”

Leaning out over the wooden rail, she turned and gave him a perfect morning smile.

“I’m pretty much a morning person. Besides, I found it difficult to sleep.”

“Why?”

She shot him a pointed look through lowered lashes.

“Because you were sleeping next door… Besides, I’d worked up this whole fantasy in my head about how last night would end.”

Reaching over, Rowena snagged his cup and sipped