Page 87 of High Roller

Owen smirks. “I see why Victor is smitten with you.”

My cheeks flame. “He’s in love with Grace, whether he wants to admit it or not.”

Owen shrugs again. “Ask my wife whether or not you can be in love with two people and make it work.”

I laugh. “Fair point. But I’m just an apparition. Grace has been in his life for a long time.”

Something in his demeanor changes, and he stands a little straighter as he reaches into his suit jacket to pull out a cell phone.

“I need to make a phone call. Please make yourself comfortable in the living room. You can watch TV. Remote is on the coffee table.”

“Thank you, but I spy a book collection. I was hoping to browse.”

Owen smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Help yourself.”

He leaves the room, and I make my way to the bookshelves in the living room, trying to shake the feeling that he doesn’t like me. In front of the shelves, I scan the collection available. There isn’t time to get sucked into a novel, so I choose a book of poetry instead.

I sit on the sofa with my legs curled under me and open the book.

I’m not sure how much time passes, but several poems in, I hear the beep and snick of the lock for the front door and glance up in time to see a familiar pretty woman with long dark hair step through the door. She’s wearing leather pants, a leather jacket, and holding a helmet under her arm.

She offers me a genuine smile as she shakes her hair out, as if she’s just taken the helmet off.

“How lovely to see you again, Lili.”

I set the book aside and stand. “And you as well, Bellamy. You have a lovely home.”

“Is that you, love?” Owen shouts from somewhere in the house.

He appears, and Bellamy’s gaze immediately shifts to him. The attraction and love between them is palpable. I’m witnessing an intimate moment between the two even though all they are doing is looking at each other, and there is no way for me to give them privacy.

“How was the ride over? Were you followed?” he asks.

Bellamy shakes her head as she puts the helmet on a table in the entry and goes to her husband. “No, Sir. Everything seemed fine. I’m sure you’ll study the cameras along my route, though.”

“Sarcasm about your safety, love? Is that allowed.”

She leans back in his arms and studies his face. “No sarcasm, Owen. It’s a fact. That’s just how you are, and I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

He cups her face for a kiss, and I turn my head away because now I really am intruding.

“We’re being rude to our guest,” Bellamy says with a little giggle. I turn back to find Owen staring at me with an icy gaze.

“According to her she’s an apparition, not a guest.”

Bellamy’s mouth falls open. “Owen! That is so inappropriate.”

I laugh to lighten the mood. At least now I understand the change in Owen’s behavior around me. He’s worried I’m going to hurt Victor and Grace.

“It’s OK, Bellamy. I did say that, and I think Owen is being protective of the people he loves. I don’t blame him. In fact, I admire him for it.”

Bellamy leans into her husband. “Owen is the most protective man I know.”

“I heard that, Vixen,” Tobias says from the hallway.

Bellamy’s face practically melts into a puddle as she turns in Owen’s arms so she can look at Tobias over his shoulder.

I want to ask Owen if it’s strange to watch Bellamy melt that way over another man, especially when she’s in his arms. But he seems unbothered by it. And when Tobias appears, the long haired man goes to Bellamy’s side and kisses the back of her neck until she turns in Owen’s arms. Owen pulls her back against his chest and Tobias kisses Bellamy full on the mouth, his hands framing her face.

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