kissing. Who’s distracting who?”
She shot him a glare. “Forget it.”
“I can’t. That’s my problem also. Wait till I raise the stakes to other things besides kissing. We’re doomed.”
Frustration mingled with laughter at his mischievous wink, but he strolled away before she could say anything. He’d always loved teasing her and knew exactly how to reduce the tension when a moment got too dark or negative. There was an inner light inside him she’d always been aware of.
She just hadn’t known how much she’d missed it until now.
The day flew by, and soon she was transforming herself for the evening. She decided on a classic black dress that hugged her body and had criss-cross halter straps over the shoulders. Shooting a longing glance at her fluffy slippers, she surrendered and chose her treasured and only pair of sparkly Louboutins. If she was going to suffer, it might as well be worth it.
She was on time when Owen buzzed in, despising any sort of lateness—another gift from her father. Grabbing a light wrap, she made her way downstairs to the lobby.
Owen was chatting with the doorman. Her gaze quickly roved over his sleek black suit, admiring the way the fabric emphasized the broadness of his shoulders, but when he turned, all she could do was stop and stare.
Those pale blue eyes filled with a fierce hunger and male appreciation that made shivers explode all over her body. Taking in every detail of her outfit, he straightened and prowled over, closing the distance, then leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“You stun me.”
The words hit her full force. She’d received endless compliments from male admirers. Dates. The press. Her friends. Chloe had grown into her confidence, and knew her looks were striking with her dark hair and blue eyes. Being in the public eye made her work a bit harder to always seem flawless, though it was a complete façade. But the way Owen spoke was different. It was as if he not only acknowledged the physical, but also the core of who she was. She fought to reach out and touch him, slide her fingers into his and surrender. Instead, she blinked back the ridiculous sting of tears from his compliment and smiled.
“Thank you. You’re looking quite dapper yourself.”
He laughed. “For now. By mid-evening, I’ll probably have spilled something on myself.”
She laughed with him. He’d always been a bit clumsy, but to her, it was part of his charm. Secretly, she was glad he hadn’t outgrown it and turned into a polished, perfect suit like so many liked to portray. She preferred flaws in all their glory.
So far, she hadn’t discovered any of Drew’s. But maybe it was too early.
Chloe pushed the thought out of her mind and followed Owen to the car.
“Want to give me a rundown on anyone I need to dazzle?” he asked, easing into the crowded city streets.
“Marisol and Rob Thomas will be there, of course. They own Sidewalk Angels and donate to a variety of shelters—we received a hefty contribution last year, but hoping there will be a few investors who don’t know how we work. We need to grab their ear.”
“Got it. His music rocks. Any politicians?”
She rolled her eyes. “No, thank goodness.”
He laughed. “Come on, your dad is one of the good guys.”
“Yes, but many of them aren’t. I never realized how power is more attractive than money to some people. The more they get, the more they crave, and suddenly it’s all about what they can get out of an exchange. I give my dad credit that he fights for what he believes in, but I wouldn’t want to be part of that world. Alyssa is perfect for him.”
“Yes, I was happy to hear he got married again. Even happier when I knew you loved her as part of your family.”
She arched a brow. “How did you know that?”
He shrugged. “Harper told me. Sent me pics of the wedding. It was obvious from your smile.”
Chloe shifted in her seat. “I don’t know if I like the idea you’ve been keeping tabs on me from across the country. It’s weird.”
“Sorry, I didn’t want to be a stalker. I just wanted to share a piece of your life and know you were okay.”
She was silent for a while, mulling over his words. “I can’t shift so quickly into believing you cared about me. I’ve spent too long convincing myself you were a cheating, lying asshole.”
A laugh boomed out and she relaxed back in the seat. “Fair