Wear to Brunch
Remi’s POV
The silence after my words was immediate.
Rowan didn’t say anything.
Didn’t argue. Didn’t scoff. Didn’t throw out another annoying comment.
He just… stayed quiet.
And for some reason—
It didn’t feel good.
I shifted in my seat, gripping the strap of my bag tighter.
I hadn’t meant to be that harsh.
I was just tired—tired of this forced politeness between us, tired of him trying too hard to act normal, like we were two people with a fresh start instead of a messy past full of things neither of us had confronted.
But now, with the way he was clenching his jaw and keeping his focus strictly on the road, I felt like the bad guy.
And I hated that.
I sighed, leaning my head against the window.
Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
Maybe I should’ve been less defensive.
Maybe I should’ve—
I closed my eyes. God, my head hurt.
The truth was—
I didn’t know how to do this.
How to be near Rowan without feeling like I was about to fall apart.
He had always been larger than life. Even without his memories, even without the sharp edges of the man he used to be, Rowan Vaughn still carried a dangerous pull.
And maybe that was why I had built so many walls.
Because deep down—
I was still afraid of falling for something I couldn’t survive.
The tension in the car stretched, thick and unmoving.
He didn’t even tap his fingers on the wheel anymore.
I exhaled sharply.
“Rowan—”
“We’re here.”
I blinked, sitting up.
The car slowed as we pulled into a secluded driveway, the tall trees giving way to an open, breathtaking view of a lakeside cabin.
The air was crisp, the scent of pine and fresh water filling my lungs as I took in the scene before me.
Rowan parked, unbuckled his seatbelt, and opened his door—still not looking at me.
My stomach twisted.
I swallowed, pushing down the weird feeling settling in my chest.
I had asked him to stop pretending.
And now that he had…
I wasn’t sure I liked it.
The silence was thick as we stepped out of the car. The sound of the lake lapping against the shore filled the air, a soft, rhythmic hush that should have been calming.
Instead, I felt on edge.
Rowan walked ahead, grabbing the bags from the trunk. He moved effortlessly, like he had done this a million times before, like he wasn’t still pissed at me.
I hadn’t expected him to listen so quickly.
I thought he’d roll his eyes, push back, make some sarcastic comment to remind me that he was still the cocky man I had grown to—
I cut the thought off before it could form.
“This is… not what I expected,” I admitted, looking around.
Rowan didn’t turn. “And what did you expect?”
“Something dramatic. Maybe a five-star resort, private chef, security guards lurking around the perimeter.”
“You think I can’t function without luxury?”
“No.” I eyed him. “I just think you like making things bigger than they need to be.”
His lips twitched—almost a smirk. Almost.
But then his expression flattened again as he headed toward the cabin, and I was reminded—he was still upset.
I sighed. Great.
The cabin itself was… beautiful.
Rustic, but modern. Large glass windows, a wrap-around porch, wooden beams framing the front. It looked like something straight out of an overpriced Airbnb listing, the kind of place couples escaped to for romantic weekends away.
That thought didn’t help.
Rowan unlocked the door, stepping inside without waiting for me. I hesitated before following, my boots clicking softly against the wooden floor.
The inside was just as impressive—warm lighting, plush furniture, a fireplace in the corner that looked untouched.
Everything was clean. Perfect.
I crossed my arms. “You come here often?”
Rowan dropped the bags by the couch. “It’s a family property.”
I raised a brow. “And they let you borrow it?”
His jaw ticked slightly. “No. But I don’t ask for permission.”
I snorted. “Of course, you don’t.”
I wandered toward the window, looking out at the lake. The water stretched endlessly, the reflection of the sky rippling across its surface.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
It felt like a trap.
Like the silence would force us to talk about things neither of us were ready for.
Rowan exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, if you don’t want to be here—”
“I didn’t say that.” I turned to him. “I’m just… surprised. That’s all.”
His eyes met mine, unreadable. “Surprised that I wanted to bring you here?”
Yes.
I swallowed. “Surprised that you knew how to book something so normal.”
That almost-smirk appeared again.
“I have layers, Remi.”
I rolled my eyes, ignoring the way my chest tightened.
“So… what now?” I asked, shifting my weight.
Rowan shrugged, heading toward the kitchen. “Now, we settle in. Unless you have other plans?”
I did.
Those plans included not thinking too hard about why my heart was racing.
I crossed my arms, watching as he casually walked around like he belonged here. Like we belonged here.
This was a bad idea.
I should’ve said no. I should’ve stayed home, buried myself in work, kept my distance—like I always did.
But instead, I was here.
And worse?
I wanted to kiss him.
God, I actually wanted to kiss him.
I turned away, forcing my focus elsewhere.
The cabin was beautiful, and it deserved more of my attention than Rowan Vaughn.
“Where’s my room?” I asked, moving toward the hallway.
Rowan didn’t look up from whatever he was pulling out of the fridge. “Take your pick. There are three upstairs.”
I shot him a look. “You didn’t plan this out?”
He smirked. “I didn’t think you’d be picky.”
I scoffed, heading up the stairs before he could see the small smile that almost—almost—slipped out.
The hallway was quiet, lined with doors. I picked one at random and stepped inside.
And I froze.
It wasn’t just a guest room.
It was a perfectly curated, high-end space—big windows, soft lighting, and the most inviting bed I’d ever seen.
I dropped my bag on the chair, exhaling slowly.
What the hell was I doing here?
I should shower. Change. Act normal.
Maybe then, this uneasy feeling in my chest would disappear.
\---
The bathroom was too nice.
That was my first thought as I stepped inside, staring at the modern design—the sleek countertops, the rainfall showerhead, the fluffy white towels that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe.
I shook my head, peeling off my clothes.
The hot water hit my skin, soothing, but my mind wouldn’t shut up.
Rowan.
This trip.
The way I wanted to kiss him downstairs like an idiot.
I hated how easily he got under my skin.
Worse?
I hated that he wasn’t even trying.
I finished up, wrapping myself in a towel as I stepped back into the room.
And then I noticed it—
A box sitting on the dresser.
I frowned, walking over and lifting the lid.
Inside was a soft, silk dre
ss—simple but elegant, the kind of thing someone would wear to brunch at an expensive resort.
And next to it, a small note:
Wear this. Brunch at noon. — R
I stared at it.
Then at the dress.
Then back at the note.
What the hell?
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