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The three of us have talked non-stop all night about clothes, make-up, travel, food, and yoga. Adeline and Crystal are yoga devotees. They’ve tried to convince me to give it a go, but I’m standing strong on my desire to only move my body for sex and dancing. Maybe if I hadn’t found a man who wants me to use him for sex for a year, I’d be more inclined to consider yoga, but since I know Owen can get my body into positions that will work all my muscles, I don’t need it in my life.
“Oh,” Crystal says, “I know the coffee shop you mean. A friend told me about that place last week. She recommended it too.”
Owen’s completely committed to this conversation even though he’s not involved in it. Ron and Bradford are discussing something with Jameson, but Owen is paying them no attention. He and I need to discuss what “no contact besides seeing each other at work when necessary” actually means because he clearly has no idea.
I’m suddenly feeling hot. Bothered. Flustered. In the kind of way that necessitates putting some distance between Owen, that attention of his, and me.
I stand and excuse myself to go to the powder room again.
I spend way longer in there than is necessary, although I would argue that putting out the volcano-level of heat raging through me requires even longer than I take.
Owen is nowhere to be seen when I emerge from the powder room, and I take this as my opportunity to leave. I say goodbye to everyone, resisting Adeline when she encourages me to stay for more dessert. I also resist Crystal when she practically begs me to stay and drink some of the whiskey I brought over.
I’m waiting for the elevator when Owen’s deep voice sounds from behind me. “You were going to leave without saying goodbye?”
I turn to face him. “Considering we’re not supposed to be having any contact except when necessary for work, I shouldn’t have even stayed for dinner. You’re a bad influence.”
He moves closer. “I would argue this dinner was necessary for work.”
I arch my brows. “Really?”
“Really. Crystal is charmed by you, and since she is the key to keeping her husband happy, which is my reason for this dinner party, your presence here was required.”
I search his face. God, I really like his face. “I hope I helped.”
“You did.” He smooths a wisp of hair off my cheek and murmurs, “You took your hair down.”
My breaths come faster. “It was a mess.”
He gives a slow shake of his head. “No, it was sexy as hell.”
“You like messy buns.” It’s not a question but rather an observation I’m filing away for later use.
He trails a finger down my neck, sliding my hair back over my shoulder, his eyes following the line his finger takes. “I like to see your neck.” He finds my eyes again. “I like your hair however you have it, but any hint of untidiness makes me think about you waking up in my arms that first morning after we met. It makes me think about everything I did to you that night.”
My breaths are now in a state ofwhat even is breathing?
“Thank you for dinner, Owen,” I say, trying to find some oxygen to fill my lungs with.
My ruin is complete when he gives me a sexy smile. “Good night, Charlize.”
15
Owen
Bradford: I like Charlize. It’s about time you stopped letting Jill dictate your dating life.
Owen: Says the guy whose family is dictating his.
He calls me, asking, “What’s with keeping her a secret, though?”
I stop reading my emails and lean back in my chair. I’ve been in the office for three hours this morning, since four a.m. I worked late last night after the dinner party ended and didn’t get a lot of sleep. I can usually function on little sleep, but I’m feeling it today. Or maybe it’s the tension my body’s holding because it can’t get the release it needs. Either way, I sense a long day ahead.
“Jill slept with a client and caused issues there. Julian has also heard talk that she’s getting close to the staff. She and I had words about all this.” I exhale a long breath. “I can’t be that asshole who sleeps with an employee after telling her she can’t. And if I do, and she finds out, it’ll ruin the relationship we’ve got hanging by a thread.”
“Didn’t you meet Charlize before she started working for you?”
“Yes, but Jill wouldn’t be interested in that detail.”
