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Before my mind can be overwhelmed with thoughts, the door opens again, and when Owen steps outside, I shake my head at him.

Frustrated, I close the distance between us and shove my finger against his chest. “You said there can’t be anything between us. Why do you keep staring at me?” Getting more upset by the second, I rip my glasses off my face. “I don’t want to see you right now. Go away.”

Suddenly, his arms lock around me, and when I push against his chest, he tightens his grip until I’m squashed against his body.

“Owen!” I gasp.

“Cuteness aggression,” he grumbles. “Can’t help it.”

What the hell?

Feeling the strength in his body, I know I’m stuck until he decides to let me go. I still in his arms, clutching my glasses in my hand.

After a moment, he eases his grip on me, but before I can attempt to pull away, he lowers his head, and his lips brush over my forehead.

God.

“You said—”

His hand darts up, and gripping my chin, he forces my head backward. I only see a blur but instinctively sense he’s going to kiss me.

Knowing I have to be the strong one, I push against him and manage to pull myself free. I shove my glasses onto my face, and breathless from the intense interaction, I run into the kitchen again.

I go straight to the restroom and lock myself in a stall. Pressing my palm to my forehead, I try to work through the chaotic mess I feel.

My body is hot and bothered. My stomach flutters like crazy. My heart is beating a mile a minute.

How do I handle this? He’s decided we can’t be together, but if he won’t keep his distance and stop looking at me like I’m his next meal, things are going to get ugly.

“Annie?” Vanessa calls. When I open the stall and step out, she gives me a worried look. “You okay?”

I shake my head and let out a sigh, my shoulders slumping.

“Want to talk about it?”

“I like Owen,” I admit out loud. “A lot.”

She gives me a questioning look. “Okay? Doesn’t he like you back?”

I shrug. “Hell if I know. One second he’s hot and the next he’s cold.” I walk to the sink, and opening the faucets, I wash my hands while rambling, “Two weeks ago we kissed, then he told me we can’t be together, but he won’t stop staring at me, and just almost kissed me out in the alley.”

Vanessa’s manicured eyebrows fly into her hairline. “Holy shit! Okay. Uhm . . . and how do you feel about all of that?”

“Frustrated,” I snap, before pressing my palm to my forehead again. Then I whine, “It’s so frustrating.”

“Oh, honey.” Vanessa gives my shoulder a squeeze, then says, “If I were you, I’d fuck him out of my system and move on.”

A burst of laughter explodes from me while I blush my ass off. “Ooohhh, we are two very different people. I can’t do one-night stands, and I have to work with him.”

“Hey, at least I got you to smile.” Her expression turns serious. “Guard your heart, Annie. You’re too sweet to have it broken by a man, no matter how hot he is.”

“Yeah.”

We leave the restroom, and when Harlan gives us a questioning look, Vanessa says, “Girl stuff.”

Owen

After the door slams shut behind Annie, I thrust a hand into my hair and let out a growl.