Page 148 of Forgot to Tell You Something

“You are hardly the third wheel.” He presses a finger to my lips, keeping me quiet. "I informed Charlotte that these unscheduled visits had to stop. I told her you were stressed enough, and that you and the baby—”

I bolt upright. “You told Charlotte about the baby?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

My mind races. “There are so many reasons tonottell that woman. First, she wants you back. Second, she could tank your deal. Third,”—I hesitate, because that’s really all I have to work with—“you’re not supposed to say anything until twelve weeks. It’s bad luck.”

The smirk widens as his large hands ease me back onto the mattress. “First, I don’t want her back. Second, it’s not Charlotte’s deal. It’s her father’s and trust me, he wants it completed. Third,” he murmurs, his lips caressing my neck, “I’m excited about our baby and I want to tell everyone. Sue me.”

“I might have to,” I grumble, shoving at his iron chest. “Get off, Owen.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do, Darlin.”

His words are playful, coaxing me to let him back in and forget everything before this moment. But my heart is not a cat toy—something to be batted about and then discarded when a newer toy appears. “It’s not going to work like this.”

Owen sighs, pulling himself to a seated position. “Is that why you’re camped out in here?”

“Should I take the other bedroom?”

“Yes, your sweet ass should be inourbedroom, where I can strip you naked and adore every delectable inch of you.”

I throw up my hands, jumping to my feet. “See? This is what I’m talking about. We can’t do this,”—I motion between the two of us—“anymore. It’s not healthy.”

Owen runs his hand over his scalp. “Trust me, I get it, Darlin. It’s been difficult for both of us. Charlotte has ruined far too many nights.”

I shake my head. “That’s just it, Owen. It’s notjustCharlotte. You’re an active participant, too. She’s been destroying things between us, and she will keep doing it. Worse, you’ll keep allowing it. Something has to give, and that something is me.” I wag my finger at him, daring him to cut into my diatribe. “I really appreciate you helping me out, giving me and Hecate a place to stay. But this is temporary, Owen. I won’t be a third wheel. I won’t be your roommate, and—”

“Let me guess. We can’t be intimate anymore,” Owen spits out, his foot tapping against the floor.

“Exactly. I’m glad you understand.”

“Like hell I do. I’m not giving you up, and I’m not giving up on us. Now, I’ll admit that this situation is beyond screwed, but I fixed it tonight. Don’t believe me? Call Charlotte.”

“I don’t want to call your ex-fiancée. I’d rather go through a root canal without Novocain. How many people have to put up with the crap I’m dealing with, Owen?”

He grabs my wrists, pulling my ass back onto the bed. “You’re right, and it ended tonight. I promise you.”

“I don’t believe you.”

A grin splits Owen’s face as his mouth closes around one of my fingers. Damn this man and his talented tongue.“I’m fully aware of that fact, which is why you can remain stubborn and angry. In the interim, I will continue to seduce the fuck out of you until you cave.”

God, I hate how delicious that sounds. “You think I’ll cave? Have we met?”

“Darlin, I think those pregnancy hormones are going to be raging soon—if they aren’t already—and you’ll be begging me to sink inside you.” His lips nip my neck, and I hesitate one second too long before shooing him away.

He knows he has me.

“I also have you living under the same roof, now. So, if it makes you feel better to draw your line in the sand and stay back here, be my guest. But don’t think for one second that you aren’t going to be mine. Not happening, Tally.”

* * *

“Let me get this straight. You’re living with Owen but not sleeping with him, and that is entirely your decision?” Stefani pops a fry into her mouth, shooting me an exasperated scowl.

I nod, ignoring her incredulous stare. “He didn’t give me much of a choice. He barged into my apartment, hired some movers, and whisked me off to his condo. It actually worked out, because Mrs. Smalls needed the space for her grandson.”

“Way to ignore the question.”

“We both know that Owen is gorgeous and sexy as hell. But, and this ishugebut, he also sees his ex-fiancée almost every day.”

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