I should be angry that he thinks he can tell me what to do. Instead, butterflies spring to life, living for this possessive side of him.
“Why do you even care?”
“You’re cute when you pretend to be dumb.” He flicks my nose with his finger. “The thing is, I know you’re anything but.”
Yes, he’s confessed how he feels about me, but he’s never asked me to stop dating.
He made a lot of bold statements in Hawaii. However, I thought he was caught up in the moment, deep in his vacation bliss. But New York… well, he proved I was mistaken not to have taken his feelings to heart. Since then, there haven’t been any more sweeping confessions; instead, there have been small actions that prove his feelings were bigger than I ever imagined.
And I’ll be damned if his affectionate actions don’t melt my heart more than his words.
“What’s gotten into you, Owen?”
“You,” he states matter-of-factly, yet his eyes soften, and he reaches out to cup my face.
You.
One word is all it takes. My heart soars and my body yearns for him to close the space between us. To put his hands on my body again.
“There you are!” Ryan interrupts, with Mia on her heels.
“Yay! Owen’s here!” Mia exclaims when she sees the two of us together.
Thank God these two are drunk. If they were sober, they’d see me reeling from the word that left his mouth the moment before they showed up. They would see my hands shaking and the flush on my cheeks. Luckily, they’re clueless about what they’ve interrupted.
Ryan looks at me sheepishly. “Don’t be mad, but we left to get a pretzel.” She holds said pretzel in front of her face. “And some old dudes took our table.”
Mia shakes her head. “We didn’t listen,” she blurts. “We never listen.”
Before I can scold them, Owen steps in. “Well, would you look at this? I can’t remember the last time I saw either of you quite this hammered.”
Ryan lifts her hands above her head. “Bavarian music, dudes in lederhosen, and beer. It’s a deadly combination, Swift. Besides, we’re both going through some serious shit. We deserve this.”
Swaying a bit, Mia explains. “Owen, I’m sharing custody of my son with my boyfriend's brother, and this one is in love with Knox. She deserves a drink or fifty.”
“What she said,” Ryan concurs, her head upturned to face the deep blue sky. “Also, it was hot in there. This breeze feels amazing.”
“Why don’t we get those pretzels in your belly and then maybe switch to water for a bit?” I suggest.
Owen and I take care of the girls until they’re feeling better. Shockingly, they rally quickly and before you know it, we’re back in the beer garden. Owen and his friends from work have commandeered multiple tables. We’re safe and sound, surrounded by police officers, firefighters, and EMTs.
There is no shortage of attractive men in the vicinity, yet only one stands out. The one who doesn’t leave my side. Not even to get beer. He sends his co-workers with a handful of cash and our orders. His own beer must be warm, because he’s barely sipping it.
Someone bumps into me and in a flash, his hand is resting on my lower back. It’s sexy as hell, but he seems too preoccupied with taking care of us to enjoy himself.
I tug on his T-shirt to get his attention. Tipping my head back to look at him. “Did we ruin your night?”
His hand on my back slides to my hip, pulling me against his side. “You could never ruin my night. I’m happier than a pig in shit to be here with you.”
“Could have fooled me. You’re barely drinking, and if you ask me, you’re a little too overprotective to have any fun.”
“This isn’t my first Oktoberfest, Clover. I know what happens here. None of these assholes are getting their hands on you. There is no such thing as being overprotective of the three of you.”
“Well, it’s gonna be a long night for you. You'd better drink up.”
“Oh, sweetheart. I’ve got plans for you tonight, and impairment is not a part of those plans.”
“I’m staying with the girls.”
