His chest heaved with anger. Something must be wrong with her, because it only turned her on.
“You found my thong? I looked all over for it. Do you know how uncomfortable it is to wear tight shorts without underwear?”
He shoved a hand in his pocket and pulled out the balled up red thong. “Yes, I found it. Under the couch, where you left me naked for anyone to find without so much as a goodbye. How's that for uncomfortable?”
“I locked the door behind me,” she said.
Owen blew out a heavy exhale through his nose.
Not the right thing to say.
She stood and wrapped her arms around his waist, tipping her head back to rest her chin on his chest. He’d always loved when she did that.Maybe it would get her out of trouble. His arms didn't move around her.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered. “When I woke up, you looked so peaceful, and I had a bunch of messages from Summer asking where I was. I'd been at the bar with her, and she only thought I went out for some air. I wasn't thinking.”
At her apology, the fight left his body, and he wrapped his arms around her. “I was worried. When I woke up and you were gone, I thought I dreamed the whole thing.”
“It wasn't a dream. Otherwise, I wouldn't have a hickey on my thigh,” she teased.
That got a small smile out of him. She shoved her face against his chest and sank into his warm embrace. After a moment, she pulled back. “Can I have my thong back?”
“No.”
“What do you mean,no?”
“Finders keepers. You left them inmybuilding. Now they’re mine.”
He arched an eyebrow at her, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.
Owen released his hold on her and stepped back, shoving the red thong back into his pocket. She immediately missed his warmth.
“If we're doing this, we're doing it right. Avery comes home tomorrow from camp, so we have tonight to get our shit together. Understand?”
She wasn't sure she understood, but she nodded anyway. At his raised eyebrows she added a quick, “Yes.”
“I'll pick you up at 7:00pm. We're going on a date. An actual date, not a fuck on my grandfather's antique desk, God rest his soul, in the Agatha Building. And we're going to talk.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
“Okay,” he said. A finality to his tone. He cupped the back of her head and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “See you tonight,” he murmured against her hair.
She stood in a daze, confused by the turn of events.
“You guys can come out now,” Owen called over his shoulder as he walked away.
The porch door swung open, and Noah tumbled out like he’d had his ear pressed to it. Lucas followed out more slowly. Ava trailed after Owen, stopping at the edge of the porch, not wanting to step on the gravel with her bare feet.
Owen swung himself up into his truck. Before shutting the door, he gave her a final look. “Later, Birdie.”
Warmth filled her all over. She was Birdie again. Not just Ava. She watched him back up and maneuver out of the driveway, his driving less aggressive than before.
Noah walked up behind her, bumping his shoulder against hers. “If that's how you ask a woman out, then I've been doing it wrong this whole time.”
Ava laughed and bumped his shoulder back. She had a whole day to obsess over their date tonight, and she'd take any distraction she could to quiet her mind.
“Please tell me you didn't hear all of that?” She cringed, remembering how he’d refused to relinquish her panties.
“Nah, only the last part. About the date. Guess me and Lucas are on our own for Fourth of July tonight,” Noah said, throwing an arm over her shoulder and turning her back to the porch.
