Page 17 of Addicted

“And why, exactly, is this car a her?”

“Because she’s beautiful like you.”

Liam’s eyes stung and he had to blink to keep his vision from going blurry with tears. This was going to be hard and, to make things complicatedly worse, Owen was inviting him over. There was no way he could go to Owen’s home; that wasentirelyout of the question. He needed to think of a way out of this office, this assistant job, and any interaction with their new manager. As a server, he could avoid Owen easily; he’d only seen Dean once a night at most and it was usually from afar or through the office window. But he’d have to let Owen down as gently as the printer and he didn’t know how to do that.

He realized that he’d been quiet for too long and looked up to find Owen studying him. His face was placid but there was something strange and intense in those cornflower blue eyes. He was wearing dark slacks and a light gray dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, so his sinewy forearms were very on display, and his tie was off, strewn over the back of his chair. The effect made Owen look dapper, delicious, and slightly intimidating, which left Liam temporarily mute. He tried to think of something to say,anything, so he could derail Owen’s line of thought because somehow Liam knew it would be laced with concern, but it didn’t matter because the shrill ring of the landline came to his rescue.

Both of them started and Liam took in a relieved breath, looking away as Owen picked up the phone.

“The Pointe wedding and catering hall, this is Owen…Branson Limos?”

Liam turned back so fast he almost got whiplash, his wide eyes meeting Owen’s again.

Owen stared back for less than a second. “Can you hold for a moment? Great.” He stared at the five buttons on the side of the phone until Liam walked over and pressed the one at the bottom.

“Thank you.” Owen’s smile was bashful. “Are you sure he can’t hear us?”

Liam nodded.

“I saw that look. What’s the deal with him?”

“He wants to be the house limo-”

“House limo?”

“We promote him when people book. But he’s…” Liam eyed the phone nervously.

“He’s…” Owen acted like he had all the patience in the world.

“He’s not nice. Last time he was here he patted Marci on the…on the uh…”

Owen’s eyebrows flew to the top of his forehead. “How is he still breathing?”

“Dylan and Angelo held her back. It took both of them.” Liam’s eyebrows rose too as he remembered the fear on that arrogant jerk’s face when he’d realized that Marci had vampire strength. “And Branson is banned from here.”

“Which means that he’s calling because he heard I’m new and he thinks I’m naive and don’t talk to or support my staff. Thank you, Liam. I’m so glad you’re here to help me with this.” Before Liam could blush, Owen grabbed the receiver and pressed the button again.

“Hi, Mr. Branson?” He gave Liam a mischievous grin. “Yes, yes…sure I’d love to set up a meeting. I was just talking to Marci and she filled me in on your behavior at our hall and I’m eager to speak with you about-” Owen pulled the receiver away, glanced at it, then put it back on the cradle. “He hung up. I’m disappointed. I would’ve loved giving him pointers on how to be a gentleman.”

The last sentence was said in such a way that if Liam didn’t already have a crush on Owen, he would have fallen head over heels for him right then and there.

Before Owen could pull his hand away from the receiver, the phone rang again. He stared at Liam as he picked up. “The Pointe wedding and catering hall, this is Owen…Yes! Yes, we do weddings! Um…”

Owen scrambled to find a pen and paper in the pile on the floor. Liam quickly handed him the pen he’d found under the printer and for once his brain kicked in, remembering a sales call he overheard the last time he’d been in this office, when it had been Dean’s.

“Congratulate them,” Liam whispered.

Owen gave him a look that saidWhat?

“On their engagement. They just got engaged.” Liam told him, tone still hushed. He didn’t want to be overheard.

It only took Owen a second to process what Liam said and then he winked.

“Congratulations on your engagement by the way! Oh, you’re welcome! How did you hear about The Pointe?”

That gave Liam enough time to find a contract; it was easier for him since he knew what they looked like and he was able to see the corner of one sticking out in the chaos on the floor. Thankfully, when he pulled it free it was blank.

He handed that to Owen too and tapped the top of the contract where there was a box that saiddate. “Ask them when.”

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