“Oh, but I haven’t. I’d never do that to Nicholas!” I loop my arms around my best friend’s older brother and pull him close. As predicted, he’s solid, all hard muscle. Instead of stiffening or pulling back, he shifts until he’s flush against my side and wrapshisarm aroundme.
My heart beats like it’s about to burst out of my chest. Shivers run through me—this isn’t like me at all, but I’m too mad to behave properly. The wine I gulped down earlier isn’t helping either.
Owen is staring like I’ve lost my mind, but it only eggs me on. “After our conversation tonight, I’ve decided it’s time to upgrademypersonal brand by accepting Nicholas’s offer of a date. I’ve been declining them, since, unlike some people, I take my commitments seriously. Silly of me to think you’d do the same, but whatever. Good luck enhancing your food complainer brand with Dana!” I say, even as blood roars in my head. I’ve never done anything this impulsive, but I feel incredibly brave with my arms around Nicholas.
Owen flushes at the way I throw his words back at him, then nods slowly as he regains his composure. “You know what? You’re right. You aren’t the kind of girl who can pull off cheating. And I doubt you were entertaining an offer behind my back.” The superior smirk on his face says he knows there weren’t any offers. “You can still stay with me until the end of the month because I’m not the bad guy here.”
Damn it. He knows I’m lying. I’m not the type of woman Nicholas would be asking out—
“That won’t be necessary.” Nicholas presses his lips to my temple, then gives Owen an indolently superior look. He beams at me like I’m the only woman worthy of his attention. “She’s coming home with me.”
Chapter Eight
Nicholas
Molly quivers against me. If she were just a little bit meaner, I might think she was tense with the need to kick her boyfriend’s ass, but—
Actually,ex-boyfriend.Music to my ears. So much for all the “I love you” bullshit he’s been feeding her. I make a mental note to thank my COO for wanting to have our business dinner at Dolce. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to shield Molly from this idiot’s abuse.
I can’t believe he had the nerve to humiliate and dump her on her birthday. He’s unfit to lick the soles of her shoes. I’d spend my days thinking of ways to make her smile if she were mine.
For the first time since Molly wrapped her arms around me, Owen’s confidence falters. He studies her closely. I don’t need to be a mind reader to know what’s going through his head. He’s wondering what he might’ve missed. He doesn’t want to make a mistake of dumping her if she has some quality that he’s overlooked. He’s dying to figure out what I see in her.
What an asshole.
Wanting and caring for her isn’t even on his radar. The fact that she wasted time with undeserving trash like him makes me want to punch him in the nose, then hug her.
“She doesn’t live with you,” Owen says.
Is he high? He can’t possibly expect her to go home with him. Not after the stunt he pulled. The biggest reason I didn’t make a move on Molly was that she appeared content with her boyfriend, and her happiness was supremely important to me. But now that he’s destroyed that, the gloves are off.
“Not until tonight. But there’s no reason for her to continue slumming it at your shitty home,” I say coolly. “Not when she can have an entire wing of my mansion.”
He shrivels as he realizes how much more I can offer Molly. Dear God. So many men believe they’re hot shit once they get a bit of fame, which he must think he possesses as an influencer of sorts. Personally, I’m blasé about fame and fortune. It’s difficult to be dazzled when your father is one of the most successful Hollywood movie producers of all time.
I turn to Molly. “Ready to head out?”
Say yes.
Her wide, owlish eyes focus on me. She’s so adorable I want to kiss her on the mouth, but that would probably freak her out. She’s quivering like a rabbit, and I don’t want to lose her.
“Soready.” Her voice is low, but firm.
“You can’t!” Owen shouts.
“Why not?” she demands. “Does Dana not want to move in with you next week?”
He shuts up, unspoken protest flashing his eyes. What did Molly ever see in this guy?
“Thought so. I’ll drop by later to grab my things,” she says.
“I’ll throw everything out!” he seethes.
I’m not against him tossing her things because I’ll be more than happy to replace everything. Hell, I’ll fill her closet with luxurious things that will make her feel like a million bucks just for having them in her room.
But she stiffens. She probably has some sentimental items at his place. And the notion annoys the hell out of me. She should’ve never wasted time with this asshole.
“If you do that, I’m calling the police,” she says. “And I’ll sue your ass. Or maybe make such a ruckus that it damages yourpersonal brand.”
