A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 304

Rowan’s words made Elissa freeze, her heart suddenly racing for no good reason.

What she said in response, though, made Rowan’s eyebrows arch in mild surprise.

It was the first time, since everything that happened all those years ago, that she’d reached out to him first.

At the very least, it meant she didn’t seem to resent him the way she once did.

Elissa pressed her palms together, her answer stumbling over itself as she rushed to explain, “I just didn’t drive today. I figured I’d hitch a ride, that’s all.”

She’d left her car at the clinic and caught a lift with Lorraine.

Rowan’s lips curled up on one side as he watched her fumble for words, a smile glinting in his eyes. “I was asking if you’ve been staring at me because you’ve fallen for me,” he teased, voice low and amused. “Not why you want to ride in my car.”

Elissa barely dared to breathe, terrified her frantic heartbeat might be loud enough for Rowan to hear.

She took a slow breath and, grasping for composure, blurted out, “There was this article online—some expert says looking at handsome men can extend your life. I just wanted to see if it’s true.”

“Is that so?”

Rowan’s smile deepened. He reached out and ruffled her hair, tone playful yet gentle. “Did the expert mention that if you look at handsome men long enough, you might just fall for one?”

“Of course your heart gets stirred,” Elissa shot back without missing a beat. “If your heart doesn’t even flutter, you’re probably dead.”

Rowan suddenly understood why Lorraine had said, just a few days ago, that he and Elissa were more alike than they realized.

But this uncanny resemblance, he thought, wasn’t always a good thing.

He glanced at her. “Have you eaten?”

She ignored the question, lifted her head, and—almost on impulse—said, “Rowan, why don’t you take me out to dinner tonight?”

He looked momentarily startled, eyes brightening, and replied softly, “Let’s just eat at home.”

Home.

Given how badly he’d been hurt back then, even with the best care, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were lingering effects.

Rowan shot Evan a look, then turned to Elissa. “It’s nothing serious.”

She didn’t buy it. “Really?”

“Really.”

Evan, clearly unconvinced, blurted out, “Sir, you shouldn’t hide things from Miss Elissa.” He turned to her, anxious. “He works out for two hours every day, no matter how busy he is. Says the doctor ordered it. But even Mr. Rex couldn’t get him to say what’s wrong. You should try and talk some sense into him, Miss.”

Elissa frowned at Rowan. “What kind of problem requires such intense workouts…?”

Halfway through the question, something clicked in her mind. Her words caught in her throat, and she started coughing violently.

—So that’s what it was. Premature ejaculation.