Was the Owen in a plaid shirt, jeans, and sneakers—the man I’ve known for the last few days—someone else? Isthiswho he really is? A man who dresses in designer suits, attends cocktail parties, and does multi-million-dollar business deals? Is this an utterly different person?
What I’ve seen up to now is a man who chose to come find Elsa in a snowstorm rather than prep for a vital meeting. A man who knows how to bake banana bread from scratch, from a recipe he keeps in his head. And a man who looks at me in a way no one ever has—like he can’t tear his eyes off me, like he wants to be by my side forever, and like he wants to remove my clothes and kiss me all over.
Max catches my eye, gets Owen’s attention, and jerks his head in my direction.
Owen looks up at me over his shoulder.
His eyes light up and a smile spreads across his face that says he couldn’t be happier to see me. Nowthat’sthe man I know.
And, right here, my heart opens to the possibility that being with someone, the right someone, might be better than being alone.
He turns away from his brothers and skips up the stairs, two at a time.
22
OWEN
If my legs were longer, I’d take these stairs three at a time. I can’t get to Summer fast enough.
When I first turned to see what Max was gesturing at, I did a double take. Gone was the natural beauty in leggings, oversized sweaters, socks that won’t stay up, and a flawless, makeup-free face. And there stood an entirely different kind of beauty, one with an understated elegance and red lips. For a second, I was taken aback, but then I spotted twists of the Summer I know—a couple of blonde curls not following the pack, and a top that has to be one of her own unique handmade designs.
Finally, I summit the stairs.
“You are stunning.” I dip my head, plant a gentle kiss on her soft cheek, and whisper in her ear. “If there were time, I would take you somewhere quiet and try to figure out how to get you out of this sexy creation.” I tug at the sleeve of her top as she presses her cheek against mine.
“It unties at the back.” Her breathy whisper brushes my ear, sending a shiver chasing the goosebumps down my side.
Good God, I need to make this a three-night stand before Archie gets here. And this simply can’t be the last evening I spend with her. I can’t allow that to happen.
“And look at you.” She eases back a little and runs her fingers down a lapel of my jacket. “Is this what you look like every day at work? Is this the real you?”
I take her hand and squeeze it. “You have a pretty good idea who the real me is. The real me can’t drive in snow. The real me accidentally shuts your dog in the woodshed.” I pause and lock eyes with her. “And the real me could come from just watching you come.”
Her eyes widen with feigned shock. I love that I can bring a flush to her cheeks and a smile to her lips.
“But if you think Silicon Valley tech people wear a suit, tie, and shiny leather shoes to work, you’re ill-informed.”I lift her hand to my lips and kiss the back of it. “Maybe you’d like to come find out for yourself sometime.”
Something resembling fear flashes across her face.
Shit.
Those words fell out of my mouth by accident. I’ve gone too far. Suggested too much, too soon. I’d planned to work up to it later, to suggest I fly her out to visit me. But my mind is so consumed by the need to spend every possible second with her, it slipped out straight away. I’m such a fucking fool. I can’t ruin this before I’ve even attempted to convince her that tonight doesn’t have to be goodbye forever.
“Sorry. I was kidding. Of course I know you’d never want to come visit.”
She presses her red lips together and straightens my tie. That tiny action sends a dart of desire to my groin, tightening my balls and making my dick twitch. I had no idea tie-straightening could be the hottest thing ever.
Oh, it’s not.
Running her fingers down the length of it afterward,that’sthe hottest thing.
I rest my hands on her hips and pull her against my growing hardness. She arches into me and slides her hands inside my jacket and around my waist.
“Maybe there are a couple of minutes before Archie gets here.” I raise a hopeful eyebrow. “And I believe you have a room.”
She smiles and taps a finger against my mouth. “You have no idea how long it took me to get this lipstick on straight. There’s no way you’re kissing me and smudging it. I’d never be able to do it again.”
I brush my lips against her earlobe and sense a need in her as big as my own when her fingers sink into the muscles in my back. “I can think of other places to kiss you where it wouldn’t harm the lipstick.”
