Page 71 of Asking For It

Owen shook his head. “If you shared anything with him, it’s between you and him until you tell me otherwise.”

“Until. You assume—”

“Nothing,” Owen said. “I’m not amake assumptionskind of guy.”

“You assumed I’d show up here today.”

“I knew you would. It’s different.”

I rolled my eyes. I was enjoying this so much, and it was the most basic banter. “You’re an arrogant asshole.”

“So, I’ve been told. But I knew you would be here, because if our roles were reversed, I’d have shown up. You saw what you wanted to, does that mean you’re leaving?”

“Yes.” Was I pleased or slightly terrified that he knew me so well?

“Give me two minutes of your time?”

I wanted to give him all my time, but there was a little catch inside. One tiny doubt that was loud enough I couldn’t ignore it. I didn’t want to be hurt again. Especially not by them. “I’m pretty sure you’ve already taken at least that much.”

“Please.”

“One minute.”

He grabbed a napkin from the canister on the table, wroteReservedon it in the most perfect block letters, and set it down.

I followed him through anEmployees Onlydoor, down an empty hallway that led us away from the excitement of the café.

We stepped into a back office and he closed the door behind us.

I wiggled my fingers, not sure what to do or say. “So what—”

Owen cupped my cheeks in his palms and crushed his mouth to mine. The intensity in his kiss re-broke my heart. Or maybe that was the walls around it shattering. Either way, it was the most delicious agony. Why hadn’t we done more of this before? I wanted all his kisses. Forever.

I summoned what little willpower I had, and pushed him back. “I can’t—” what? I didn’t know what I could or couldn’t do. I reached for the door.

Owen loosely. grabbed my wrist.

I could break away, but did I want to?

“I can only speak for me, because Kingston would be upset if I stole his moment,” Owen said. “I’m sorry about what happened—what we did. I’d take it back. I tried, and it wasn’t an option. I can apologize over and over, and do better next time, if you let me have that chance. I’ve never metanyonelike you. You fill a void in my life I didn’t know was there. I love you.”

That was definitely my heart falling into a million pieces. “You don’t get to say that to me. Not now.”

“You being pissed off doesn’t change how I feel, but I don’t say it to manipulate you. You know me better than that.”

Did I?

Yeah, I did. Damn it.

“Good luck with the new shop. Not that you need it.” I reached for the door again.

This time Owen didn’t stop me from leaving.

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