you want to hear what I came here to say,” she said honestly. Because seriously, she was about five seconds from throwing herself at him.
“Okay. Shirt stays on then.” He led her into the living room and paused at the stairs. “Do you want to go up where we have a view of the water while we talk?”
“Yes. That sounds perfect.” She followed him up the wooden staircase and into a sitting area that was furnished with a comfortable white couch and two matching chairs, each of them positioned for optimal viewing of the Pacific Ocean. “This is incredible, Owen.”
“It really is, isn’t it?” He walked over to a small wet bar off to the side. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Um, just water, I guess.”
He grabbed two mini bottles of water and then led her over to the couch. Once they were seated, he turned to her and said, “So, what are you doing here, Grace?”
That was certainly direct, wasn’t it? She opened her mouth, closed it, and then shook her head and chuckled. “I didn’t think through what I wanted to say.”
Owen just nodded and waited her out.
Finally, she blurted, “I don’t want to date Matt. Or anyone like Matt. I want to date you.”
His eyes widened at her outburst, but then a smile crept over his lips. “Why?”
“Why?” she echoed. “Why not? You’re smart, sexy as hell, sweet, charming, a damn fine kisser, and you don’t play games. Besides all that, I just like you. You’re kind and helpful, and you seem to genuinely like people. Who wouldn’t want to date you?”
“Someone who thinks they’re too old for me?” he asked, not letting her off the hook so easily.
Grace blew out a breath. “Okay, listen. The age thing… I admit I was having some issues with it. They weren’t rational, but they were there. That has everything to do with me thinking about what I should be doing and not recognizing what I want to be doing, if that makes sense.”
He nodded. “I think so.”
“And I’m sorry if I made it sound like I was only seeing you for a little fun. I wasn’t. That’s not who I am either. I was just… flailing a little bit after jumping back into the dating pool.”
“What about Matt? Does he know you don’t want to date him?” he asked, holding her gaze.
“Oh, for crying out loud! I was never dating Matt. That dinner was me taking a client out after he made an offer. I should have told you that right away, but I was so caught off guard by the conversation I didn’t manage to get it out. But besides that, he did call me today and ask me out. I said no because there’s someone else I’d rather be with.”
“You did?” He reached out and took her hand in his.
“Yeah, I did.” Her skin tingled where his fingers were caressing her palm.
“I hope that someone is me. Otherwise, this is going to get awkward really fast,” he said in a husky tone.
“It’s you, Owen. Definitely.”
“Good.” He scooted closer, and in the next moment his lips were on her neck while he buried his other hand in her hair. “You taste so good, Grace.”
“I bet it’s cinnamon roll glaze,” she said absently, practically drunk from the feel of his soft lips on her skin.
He pulled back and chuckled. “Cinnamon roll glaze? What do you do? Use it as a fragrance?”
She snickered. “No, but I will if it keeps you kissing my neck like that.”
“You can count on it.” He leaned back in and nibbled on her ear. “So, what happened? Did you get into a food fight with your niece or something?”
“Close. My sister threw it at me. She’s been staying with us while she looks for a new place.”
“Uh-huh,” he muttered absently. “It’s good you came over here then.”
“Why’s that?” she breathed.
“Because in about five minutes I’m going to have you completely naked except for those sexy-as-hell shoes, and we don’t need an audience when I make you scream my name.”
“Oh,” she said, already nearly combusting from the heat beneath her skin though he’d barely even touched her. “Okay. Good.”
“Okay. Good,” he repeated. And then he picked her up and carried her to his bedroom where he made good on his promise. Twice.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Hope Anderson sat at the round table near the front of the banquet hall and watched as Grace whispered something into Owen’s ear. They were at a luncheon for Landers Realty where Grace was