Page 46 of Love Me Tomorrow

“Who was the first?”

“The mayor.”

“Frannie Barron is a smart woman.”

“She’s a bloodhound,” I gripe good-naturedly, seeking her out in the crowd. “A lovable, nosy bloodhound.” My gaze finally lands on her tall frame—only, she’s not alone. Dad stands beside her, his head bowed to listen to whatever it is that she’s saying, even as I realize that his gaze is locked on me.

OnOwen.

I open my mouth, fully prepared to ask the question that has nagged me for years—whyis it that my father despises Owen so much—but the words are swallowed by a gasp when I’m tipped backward over a muscular arm.

My gaze flies to his face in shock. “You dipped me.”

“Thought you wouldn’t mind being my first,” he says, his voice pitched low, his breath hot on my lips. His dark hair falls in front of his eyes, and just like that, my control snaps.

With eager fingers, I brush the strands back. Meet those midnight eyes of his like my soul depends on it. Give him my full weight because I know he can take it, and justonce, I want to feel as though I belong to him and him alone.

My heart is pounding so fast, so loud, that I swear I can’t hear a damn thing over it.You can do this.Ask him to kiss you. Screw that. I can be bold and brave, too. A coward would ask for a kiss. America’s goddamn sweetheart would ask for a kiss. I’ll kisshim.“Owen, I—”

“Mind if I cut in?”

Dad.

Crap, crap,crap.

At the sound of my father’s voice, Owen’s hold tightens around me. His hand veers south, toward the curve of my butt, as though he’s unwilling to let me go.Or unwilling to dance to my father’s fiddle. I feel that one touch like a brand on my soul.

Slowly, Owen lifts me back to standing on my own two feet. I feel the loss of his embrace immediately.

The magic,as my grandmother used to say when things went sideways,is broken.

“Harvey,” Dad says through a thin smile, “good to see you joining the mayor’s ranks.”

A step up from the tattoos, isn’t it?

My father doesn’t say it, but I know that’s what he really means. And, God, but itinfuriatesme. Yes, Owen dated Amelie. Yes, they broke up. Sowhat? Amelie has had a string of ex-boyfriends in her twenty-seven years—a lot more than I have, that’s for sure—and yet I can’t remember my dad reacting to any of them the way that he reacts so viscerally to Owen, as though Owen has personally wronged him.

It drives me insane, and though I’ll probably regret it come tomorrow, I loop my arm through Dad’s before Owen can even get a word in. “I think we need to have a chat.” I look to Owen, giving him a small nod that I hope he’ll correctly interpret asI’ve-got-your-back, before gently steering my dad toward the bar.

No one ever said we can’t have this conversation with booze.

Once I’ve shoved a flute of champagne at him, I cock my hip and cross my arms over my chest. “You were rude.”

Visibly unconcerned, he sips from the crystal glass. “All I did was greet him,cherie.”

Looks like I’ll be needing champagne for this conversation too, then. I swipe a glass, take a healthy drink, and then jump into the proverbial fray. “It was what you insinuated. Like he can’t behere because he’s not worthy enough.”

Black eyes, so very similar to my own, stare back at me as though I’ve lost my damn mind. “We aren’t having this conversation again, Savannah. Once was enough.”

When he moves to leave, I step in his way. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice heads begin to turn in our direction. I ignore them all, focusing instead on the man who has had a firm hand in directing every avenue of my life.

Softly, I hiss, “I agreed to your ultimatum, didn’t I? I went on that stupid show and Istayed. ERRG got its notoriety. I’m the new VP, just like you’ve always wanted. Profits are bursting through the roof ever since I came home.” Fearing the wineglass stem might snap, I loosen my grip. “Tell me, Pops, is there really anything left for me to do? Because from the way I see it, I’ve fulfilled my side of the bargain and youhaven’t.”

His expression stiffens. “We are not doing this right now.”

“Why not? Because you’re scared someone might overhear that your picture-perfect family isn’t so very perfect after all?”

“Savannah.”

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