“I’ll see you tonight then,” Owen says to me, hooking his fingers with mine. He steps in and kisses me, melting my heart all over again.
“Ewww!” Jackson cries, and I laugh. Owen smiles, says bye to Quinn and Scarlet, and then heads to his truck to go to the bar. I watch him leave, knowing I’m going to get a million questions as soon as I turn around.
The smile is still on my face when I do.
“Oh my God,” Quinn gasps. “Are you guys back together?”
I try to play it cool. I fail. My smile widens and a flush comes to my cheeks. Owen and I haven’t really talked about what we are, but there’s no doubt in my mind we want the same thing.
“Yes, we are.”
Quinn squeals with excitement. “Sorry. I promise I’m not this involved all the time. But I’ve tried so hard over the years to find the perfect match for Owen, and I never have. Because no one was you.”
I push my hair back, wishing I had a band to put it up. The sun is hot, and having my long, thick hair down my back isn’t much different than wearing a shawl in this heat.
“We’re going to take things slow,” I say only because it feels like the right thing to tell someone. “We didn’t work the first time because we didn’t want the same things in life. I don’t want him to do anything he doesn’t want to do, but I have a better feeling this time around.”
Quinn beams again. “I do too.”
Kara joins us a few minutes later, and then we go to the bakery to get Danielle. Even though I already ate, I order a spinach salad, needing the extra energy boost. Owen and I had sex three times in under twenty-four hours. I’m a little tired.
I had a really nice time hanging out with the women who could very possibly be my own sister-in-laws someday. I don’t want to go back in to the office, but the thought of being with Owen again tonight will get me through the rest of the day.
“Hey, lady,” Amy says when I go through the lobby. “Did I see you with Owen?”
Oh shit. I can’t deny it, but I don’t have to act guilty. “Yeah. I was with him.”
“I thought so. I was across the street and the market was busy.”
Good, she saw us together at the market. Not fucking on my desk upstairs. “It was really busy! Is it usually like that? I don’t remember it being so crowded before.”
“It’s gotten popular. People from Newport come now. It’s trendy or something.” She waves her hand in the air. “And I have to say I’m impressed to see Owen with you more than once.”
“You are?”
She laughs. “That man is the definition of love ‘em and leave ‘em. Not that I mind. I mean, we all know what we’re getting into with Owen Dawson, right?”
“Right.” He’s not that man anymore. Being with a different woman every night isn’t what he wants.
He was holding out for me…right? Suddenly, I feel insignificant, like I’m not enough to make Owen change his playboy ways. I blink rapidly and shake that thought from my head.
I’m a strong, smart, confident, and beautiful woman. Any man would be lucky to have me.
But then again, Todd cheated on me.
Motherfucker.
I hate how easily I can be shaken like this.
Owen is with me.
Things are different now…unless they’re not.Chapter 32OwenThe day has never gone slower. And the night? The night is dragging by so slowly I’m starting to wonder if I died in a freak accident on the way to work and went right to Hell. Charlie isn’t here, so there’s no way this is Heaven.
A group of guys are out celebrating a twenty-first birthday. They’ve spent a ton on beer and shots, and we’ve been watching them closely to know when to cut them off. It’s late and the crowd is starting to dwindle, but they’re still going strong.
This happens every now and then, and usually it doesn’t bother me. If we’re making money, I’ll stay open for another half hour or so. But tonight, tonight I want to go home, strip off my clothes, and feel Charlie’s body against mine.
Everything feels right in the world. Charlie is back, and this time she’s staying. I want to tell her I love her, but won’t. It’s too soon. She wants something serious this time around, and I do too. But freaking her out isn’t the way to go.
I turn on the lights, giving the birthday group a hint it’s time to leave. We start cleaning up the bar, and one of my employees pays attention to how the partygoers are getting home. We take drinking and driving seriously around here and do our best not to ever over-serve.