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Owen
It’s beenthree weeks since we came back from Saint Lucia, and it’s been the best of my life. Ella has kept me at arm’s length, as expected, but the benefits have been worth every day I wait for her to feel ready for another serious relationship. Even if it takes months for that to happen, I’ll still be right here waiting.
I’ve been properly courting her ever since I jumped off that damn bridge and almost died. Weekly dates, outings with her friends because I know how special they are to her, flowers, and breakfast in bed on those couple of nights I’ve gotten lucky enough to stay the night with her.
Today is extra special, though. Today is her thirtieth birthday, and I plan to woo the hell out of her in hopes she’ll finally allow me to at least call her my girlfriend.
Kenzie and Piper stayed with her last night. Apparently, it’s a birthday tradition to have sleepovers on the night before so that they can be the first to wish a happy birthday to whoever is the honorary bestie—their words, not mine.
I’m only mildly jealous, but when I think about what I have planned for tonight, I know I have no reason to be. Reservations to her favorite restaurant have been secured, I have a black pearl necklace wrapped in my glove box, and after dinner, she’ll get her favorite dessert: my dick.
Only when I’ve turned her into mush do I plan to pop the girlfriend question. Devious? Yes. Meant to be a sweet gesture? Absolutely.
Me: Happy birthday, beautiful. I’m outside your house with pastries and mimosas
She reads the messages immediately.
Ella: Why isn’t your sexy ass inside then?
My grin grows at her response, and I get out of the car with my offerings. I wasn’t allowed to crash their sleepover, but nobody objected to the morning after.
Using the code to the door I was given, I let myself in and head to the kitchen, even though I’m dying to go straight to Ella’s room. The only thing keeping me away is seeing Kenzie or Piper wearing less clothes than I’m comfortable with.
I hear footfalls coming from the hallway and hurry to make the first mimosa. I hold the glass out just in time to see Piper appear instead of Ella.
“Well, don’t you look disappointed. That’s adorable,” she says with a wink before stealing the glass from my hand and heading to sit at the counter.
I sigh and make another, hoping the next face I see is Ella’s.
Another minute later, I’ve prepared two more mimosas while Piper debates out loud to herself over whether she should take the chocolate or glazed pastry.
Kenzie shows up next, and I roll my eyes at her devious smirk. She waltzes over to me and kisses my cheek before stealing both glasses from me. “Good morning, Owen. Don’t you feel so lucky to be serving the three most beautiful ladies in North Carolina on this fine day?”
“Oh, so lucky,” I deadpan.
Ella finally appears and my hands are empty. Instead of reaching for the champagne, I take two steps forward and scoop her into my arms, dipping her backward before whispering, “Happy birthday, Ms. Danes.”
“Why thank you, Mr. Porter,” she says with a light squeal before I press my lips to hers.
Her hands grip my hair, and she opens to me. I wasn’t going to devour her in front of her friends, but if this is what she wants first thing on her birthday, then that’s what my woman is going to get.
Something soft yet heavy hits the back of my head. “Get a room!” Kenzie yells.
Ella’s right hand releases my hair, and I assume she’s flipping her best friend off. “Go home if you can’t handle the heat,” Ella says when I bring her back up.
“Ha! Good luck getting rid of me,” Kenzie replies.
Piper elbows her. “You have work to do today.”
“Yeah, adulting at its finest,” Kenzie grumbles.
I follow Ella to the counter and say, “Speaking of work, that’s my first surprise. I took today off so we can go shopping, to the spa, hiking, or whatever you want to do.”
Her vibrant green eyes widen with a spark of joy. “Seriously?”
“As soon as you told me you weren’t working, I knew I couldn’t leave you here alone.”
Piper scoffs. “Um, hello? I would have happily stayed with her.”
