Page 10 of Owen's Heart

OWEN

Rania’s brown gaze clashes with mine. A sight so beautiful that I know there is a God sitting high, who has mercy on my soul.

“Rania,” I call out to her, unable to not call her name upon laying eyes on her.

“What do you want, Owen?” she asks but stands rooted to her spot as I walk closer to her.

“Can we talk?”

Rania glances around the café, which isn’t super busy at the moment. “The late lunch crowd will be arriving soon, and I will be busy.”

“Yeah. I know. I—can we have dinner later?”

Rania’s brown eyes slowly rake over me, from my red and black checkered long sleeve shirt to my well-fitting wrangler jeans. Her eyes pause midpoint near my leather belt before moving on down to my scuffed brown oiled leather boots.

I use the time to take her in as well. She’s sexy as fuck, so hell yeah, I’m absorbing every detail about her into my mind. Rania is still gorgeous in her work uniform. Her mid-length hair is held in a loose ponytail at the top of her head. My heart begins to patter against my chest in hopes that she will say yes to having dinner with me.

“Owen, I’m going to be busy at the café, and in between that time, I will be taking care of my Aunt Mildred after her knee surgery.”

“Your aunt told me that after she gets from the hospital that her doctor arranged for her to have in-home care, but she preferred to go to the local inpatient rehabilitation facility. She said she wants to use her six weeks of recovering like a mini-vacation she never had.”

Rania’s mouth drops open as if she is surprised that I know of her aunt’s plans.

She clears her throat before meeting my green eyes. “Well, clearly, you’ve been talking to my aunt behind my back because she never mentioned that you’ve talked. I’m still busy,” she adds.

My lips automatically turn up at the corners, and amusement enters my eyes.

“Your aunt also told me she hired someone to help you out around here. She said she couldn’t have her only niece working herself to the bone.”

More merriment enters my eyes when Rania glances away from me. She seems to be momentarily at a loss for words. Finally, she turns her beautiful eyes on me and graces me with a long glance.

“When did you want to go out to dinner? It can’t be tomorrow because my aunt is having surgery early Wednesday morning, and we’ll be getting ready for it tomorrow night.”

“I know. We can have dinner on Friday night or Saturday if you prefer. Or we could do both,” I say, giving her a confident smile.

“You’re so full of knowledge today, aren’t you, Owen? If you must know, I already have plans for this weekend.”

“With who?” The smile that is attached to my lips suddenly slides away.

RANIA

“I guess my aunt doesn’t tell you everything,” I taunt Owen.

I feel great pleasure in knocking that cocky assed smile off his face. How dare he show up looking all handsome in his tight jeans looking all sexy, smelling good enough to devour, and as confident as always.

I’ve matured a lot since I was in university. I’ve lived life on my own while working and navigating a new city. I may have been a country naïve girl when I left Alabama, but I’ve returned full grown and full of enlightenment for men like Owen. I’m sure the rumors I heard of his womanizing ways were true. He may have fooled me once but never twice.

“I want to know who you have plans with this weekend, Rania.”

“Owen, lower your voice!” I pull him aside as a couple enters the restaurant. I greet them and give the couple a warm smile before pulling Owen back into the small office that I’m now using that belongs to my aunt.

I open the door, step inside, and Owen walks in behind me. He kicks the door close with the heel of his boot, faces me, and crosses his arms across his muscular chest.

“Let’s get this straight,” I start talking as soon as we are alone. “I don’t owe you an explanation about who I go out with. The last time I checked, I was a grown woman of twenty-nine. What gives you the right anyway?”

“Fuck!” Owen tugs on the thick strands of his wavy hair. “You’re right. You don’t owe me an explanation, but I would prefer one nonetheless.”

“Do I ask about who you’re dating? From what I heard since being back, you keep your dating card pretty full.”

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