Free Luck of the Draw by Kelley Vitollo Page B

Rowan didn’t know. Then Sidney giggled. Great. The flirt had already won over her friends.
    Breck turned to Sidney now. “Nice to properly meet you. You’re Kade’s fiancée, right?” He gave Rowan a look that said, Ha! “And you’re Betsy? Jace has mentioned you a few times.”
    Betsy’s cheeks immediately flushed crimson. Rowan didn’t know if it was because Jace mentioned her or just because Breck had that effect on women.
    As Breck spoke to Betsy, Sidney fanned her face and mouthed, Oh my God. Yes, the man was gorgeous. She knew that. Sidney acted like she’d never seen a good looking man before. Hell, she was engaged to one!
    Rowan rolled her eyes.
    “If you’ll excuse us, Breck, we need to chat with Freckles for a minute.” Sidney eyed him.
    “I’ll see you later, Freckles. ” Breck grinned before walking away. Betsy and Sidney each hooked an arm through both of hers as they ushered her into the back office.
    “He’s gorgeous!” Sidney squealed as soon as the door was closed. “I mean, I noticed the other day, but I was worried about you, so I didn’t fully take in the experience.”
    “The experience?” Rowan echoed.
    Her friends ignored her. “Did you tell him yet?” Betsy asked.
    Rowan fought to hold her guilt at bay. She was trying to do the right thing. She had plenty of time to tell him once she knew him better. “No…it’s only been a couple days,” she added the second part to try to make herself feel better.
    “Have you learned anything about him?” Sidney asked.
    “He’s a professional poker player who loves his freedom, doesn’t want kids or to settle down. Ever.” Her friends’ looks sobered. “See. I have a very good reason for not telling him yet.”
    “He could change his mind,” Betsy added. “I’m sure it’s easy to say you don’t want children until you find out you’re having one.”
    Rowan sighed. “I know… I just need to be sure. I don’t want to rush into anything. This is my baby we’re talking about here.” She was determined to do right by this child. By their child.
    “Let’s just go out there and have a good time, huh?” Sidney grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I need to make sure this guy is good enough for my little niece.”
    Rowan laughed. “Convinced it’s a girl, huh?”
    “Absolutely. I already started making her baby clothes.” The online shop Sidney had started since moving home was doing awesome. She’d bring a car full to the post office to mail each week. Rowan pictured a little pink bonnet instead of the purses that were Sidney’s most popular items and smiled.
    On their way out of the office, Rowan couldn’t help but add, “He is pretty gorgeous though, isn’t he?”

    Chapter Seven
    Breck sat with Jace, Kade, and Melissa, Jace’s date. He watched as she hung on every word Jace said, but not in the way that looked like it held real affection. He couldn’t stop himself from wondering where Rowan’s friends had dragged her and what they were talking about. He kept glancing in the direction he saw them go, but they still hadn’t made an appearance.
    “I recognize that look, man,” Kade said.
    Breck eyed him, wondering what he meant. He didn’t know Kade well enough to read between his words, so he watched for a tell—some kind of sign that told him what he meant or how he meant it. “What look is that?” He took a swig of his beer.
    “Your eyes. They’re skating the room for Rowan. Been there is all.” He took a drink as well.
    Kade had it all wrong. Yeah, Rowan was beautiful, but he wasn’t looking for her in that way. She’d just…well he’d begun to think of her as a friend and they did come here together, so he didn’t want to be separated from her the whole night. “It’s not what you’re thinking. I don’t even know the woman very well.”
    Which was true, but it didn’t really feel true. He knew she could be sarcastic as hell. That she liked to laugh and had a great one. She enjoyed taking