A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 337

The words slipped from Rowan’s lips, sounding so easy, so casual.

But Elissa was utterly stunned.

Her first thought was that Rowan was confessing his feelings to her.

But she quickly snapped out of it. No way. He hadn’t even been interested in someone like Lorraine Lynn, with her trust fund and perfect pedigree. Why would he ever be interested in her?

Divorced, and to make it worse, she’d basically handed herself over to him, contract and all.

She forced herself to focus, and for once, didn’t look away. Meeting his gaze head-on, she tried to get a clear answer. “What do you mean, ‘pretend you’re my girlfriend’?”

“Rowan, are you actually confessing to me? Or do you just want practice, to make it easier when you get a real girlfriend?”

“Practice? With you?” Rowan let out a short, exasperated laugh. “Out of all the people in the world, if I wanted practice, why would I choose you?”

She was sharp as a tack—except when it came to feelings. When emotions got involved, her logic always seemed to take a left turn.

Practice. Only she could come up with something like that.

As his words hung in the air, the elevator doors slid open. Rowan strode out without looking back.

As usual, Ian Murphy took Elissa’s car keys to drive her car back to Vistapeak Gardens.

Once inside the car, even Evan Murphy—normally the slowest on the uptake—could sense the tension. He silently raised the divider, giving the backseat some privacy.

In the back, Rowan and Elissa sat on opposite sides, neither making a move to break the silence.

Elissa gazed out at the city lights flickering to life, her nerves twisting in her stomach.

She realized she’d probably said the wrong thing.

She wanted to apologize, but had no idea how to start.

And yet… if Rowan hadn’t meant it that way, did that mean he really did like her? Even just a little?

Did he really like her?

Before Elissa could react, she found herself perched on Rowan’s legs.

Rowan lifted her chin. “What are you thinking about now?”

She blinked, and before she could stop herself, blurted out the truth: “I’m wondering if I’m even allowed to like you now.”

The words were barely out before she realized she’d said the wrong thing again.

Rowan caught the key point immediately; his annoyance melted away, replaced by a slow, deliberate smile. He leaned in, drawing out each word: “Now? Allowed… to like me?”

Watching her ears turn red, Rowan pressed a little closer, coaxing gently, “So, little Nine, you used to have a crush on me?”

A crush. And with their history—Elissa’s cheeks burned as she slapped his hand away and turned from his intense gaze.

She’d grown up now, and she was well aware: even if she and Rowan weren’t related by blood, everyone else had always seen her as Rowan’s little sister.

The thought of anything more between them? It would be unthinkable to everyone around them.