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"Maybe seven to be safe," his dad said from the living room. "I'm not sure about the weather."
"I can do seven," Owen agreed. But he wanted to spend every last second with Corey. "I'm going to see if Corey wants to ride with us," he said, even though she was right there. He looked at her. "Do you?"
"Sure, that sounds good," she said. She was smiling and it was completely irresistible. Owen couldn't take it.
"Okay, so we're going upstairs," he said.
"I think Caroline and Lila are up there somewhere."
"That's fine," Owen said, pulling Corey by the hand.
His heart continued to race as they walked upstairs. He wasn't sure that he knew what love was, but this was it. He would bet on it. He had met and dated women over the years, and there was no one like Corey. He was walking in front of her, pulling her along, and he turned and took her into his arms when they made it to the top of the stairs.
"I love you," he said, holding her up. He had never said that to anyone outside of his family. He hadn't planned on saying it right then.
"Owen, I love you too," she said, in the sweetest voice he had ever heard.
He could hardly breathe. He wanted her so badly that he would elope with her right that second. "Do you?" he said.
"Yes. How could I not?"
Her voice and her face. It was irresistible. She was delicate and vulnerable, and he was scared he would take her into his arms too tightly and break her.
"I don't want to leave you tomorrow."
"I know. It's terrible. I mean it's awesome that you're on such a cool project, but, boy-oh-boy has it been nice with you being home."
"Home is in L.A. for the next month."
"It'll go fast," she said. "It's almost been that long since I started working full-time at your dad's office."
"Don't."
He said the one word and he left it at that. She tilted her head at Owen, and he closed his eyes, taking a slow blink. Staring at her caused such tension between them that he had to break it. He was too passionate about her. He wanted her in ways that he couldn't have her… not yet, at least. He would settle for a kiss. They had kissed a few times today, but it was only when they had a few seconds alone.
"Why did you say don't?" she asked, looking curiously at him.
He snapped out of his daydream.
"Oh, because you said that you've been working at Dad's, and you don't need to."
"What's that mean?"
"I don't know," he said with a sigh.
What it meant was that he wanted Corey to quit that job and go to California with him. He would have to work a lot and not be able to see her constantly out there, but he would see her a lot more than if she were here.
He couldn't expect that of her.
"I'm not Keanu, Corey, but I've made it to a level that I can afford to have you with me. If you ever wanted to just not work for my dad and come out to California with me… you could… I would take care of you. You don't have to work."
She moved closer to him, smiling up at him. She blinked.
"What are you thinking?" he said.
"I-I the first thing that crossed my mind was that, yes, I'll go with you in a heartbeat."
She paused, and Owen said, "But what?"
