Page 45 of A Mutually Beneficial Proposal

I don’t want to lie to Cammie anymore, so I merely nod in reply. If she lets me help her, then I’ll come clean about Owen, but in the meantime, that’s my little secret. I do hope she’ll reach out or at least take my advice. Her kid deserves that just as much as she does.

* * *

A few hours later,I feel like a queen walking out of the spa. Cammie only stayed for the pedicure, which disappointed me. We were having fun once we stopped talking about the heavy stuff. I, however, opted for the offered manicure and sixty-minute massage afterward.

It’s been too long since I’ve been pampered, and I decide that I’m going to demand monthly spa days with Kenzie and Piper when I get home. We shouldn’t only treat ourselves when we go somewhere special.

I head to the lobby in search of some coffee and maybe a little sunshine. When I get to the coffee bar, I hear familiar laughter from across the room that has my head turning. As I see the source of the noise, whatever high I’ve been riding begins to diminish.

A dark-haired beauty dressed in white-wash jeans and a blue blouse has her arm looped through Owen’s, and they’re walking across the marble floor, laughing together while they carry on a conversation I can’t hear.

Memories of walking in on Gavin fucking the blonde on my couch assault me, but I remind myself that Owen isn’t my boyfriend. He isn’t anything other than my fake fiancé and hotel roommate.

Though the ache in my chest says differently, I force myself to stay calm. This is what I asked for. I told Owen I wasn’t going to offer him anything other than sex, and I never asked him to be exclusive.

I’m not allowed to be upset.

He finally sees me staring at them from my spot at the coffee bar. His face pales for a second before he whispers something to the woman and walks away from her. She frowns, and something passes over her eyes when she sees me, but I don’t stare at her for long. Owen is in front of me before I can decide what to do next, and I have no idea what to say.

“That isn’t what it looked like,” he says first, reaching a hand to cup my elbow.

I raise a brow and tilt my head. “It wasn’t a beautiful woman garnering your attention?”

He sighs. “Yes, but there’s more to the story that I didn’t want to share with you, because it’s complicated, but I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. First, I need you to know I’m not interested in Natalie. She’s only a friend from work that’s caught up in this mess with Jack. I’m just trying to help.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? That’s it? You don’t have a million questions about what you saw?” A crease forms between his eyes. He doesn’t like my lack of care, and I’m glad I stopped myself from allowing his actions to hurt me.

Protecting my heart in this way is exactly what I wanted to achieve. I’m not stubborn enough to deny that I like Owen for more than the killer sex we’ve been having—especially after the time we spent together this morning, getting to know each other better—but my ability to internalize my freak-out shows me that I’m able to keep a separation between us that will hopefully prevent myself from getting hurt once this fling ends.

“I just told you yesterday that whatever this is between us will only last until I get on the plane back home, Owen. If you say you were only helping a friend from work, then so be it. Even if she’s interested in you, then it’s whatever. I’m not going to make a big deal out of this.”

He steps closer, and his eyes darken. “I would never want to hurt you, Ella.”

I lick my lips and the walls around my heart shake, but I steel my resolve and smile. “I appreciate you saying that, but it’s not necessary. I’m not hurt.”

Owen pulls me into a hug. “I had plans of surprising you with a hike since our ziplining ended early thanks to Jack getting his junk pinched in the harness, but if you’re not up for one now, I understand.”

I can’t help but laugh, especially since I’d love nothing more than to move on from whatever I just saw. “Please tell me you got a video of that.”

Owen pulls back, but he keeps a hold on my hands. “Unfortunately, I left my phone in a locker so I didn’t lose it while up in the air. My fear of heights had me overthinking a bit. I also won’t deny that I was beyond okay with never making it past the ‘baby runs’ as the guide called them.”

I pull a hand out of his grip and pat his shoulder. “You poor baby.”

I’ve easily moved us beyond the moment with him and his co-worker, but that’s more for my benefit than his. If I don’t dwell on what I did or didn’t see, then the actions don’t have the power to hurt me.

Instead, I nod toward the door. “How about that hike, then? There was a beach I didn’t make it to yesterday that I really wanted to check out. Maybe we can go there.”

“Absolutely. Let’s go change and we’ll head out.” His voice is confident, but the deep way he’s staring into my eyes says something else. He doesn’t believe that I’m fine, but I need him to…more for myself than anything else.

I force a smile up to my face before taking a step toward the elevators. “Okay.”

He grimaces while we walk. “I don’t like that word anymore.”

I laugh. “Get over it, Okay Owen.”

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