Page 93 of Owned
“Don’t talk about that man and Leo in the same sentence, do you hear me?” She jabs her finger into his chest. A rush of heat floods me as her words hit me. “They are not the same.Thisis not the same.”
“I know they aren’t the same.” He reaches out to rest his hand on her shoulder. “Ezra isn't worth the shit on Leo’s shoe. I just… shit, I wasn’t expecting to walk in on the two of you.”
“Well, I wasn’t ready to talk to you about this yet either. I haven’t wrapped my own head around what’s happening.” She shakes her head, looking down at the ground.
Hunter’s gaze flicks to mine over Ria’s shoulder, and I come to stand at her side. “And what is happening?” I whisper softly.
When I curl my arm around her waist, Hunter drops his hand and Ria leans into me. “Not sure, but I’m not stopping. I want to find out.” Looking up at me expectantly, she continues, “If you do?”
“Yeah, Ri Ri, I want to.” I kiss her forehead softly. “But I think I need a word with your brother.”
“Are you going to explain?” Hunter gives me a side-eye from his stool, tipping his head at the bartender who places our drinks down.
“I’m not really sure what to say.” I stare at my tumbler on the bar top.
“Try explaining why you were pinning my sister to her office window.” I cringe as he keeps going. “Her office window? Jesus Christ, Leo. Anyone could have walked in.”
“I know.” Groaning, I rub at my brow.
“So what were you thinking?” he presses.
“I wasn’t.”
“What’s going on? You tell me everything. I always want to help you, man.”
“I don’t know. I…” Trailing off, I shake my head, not daring to look at him. “I lose my head around her.” Pushing the heels of my palms into my eyes, I groan, adding, “I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“This isn’t a new thing, is it?” He claps his hand on my shoulder, and I turn to look at him, my brow furrowed. “I thought it was just a crush.”
“What do you mean crush?”
“I have eyes. I saw how you looked at her when we were growing up, but I just thought it was a teenage crush.” He shrugs.
“I guess it started out that way. But…”
“But what?”
“But I married her. And I was all set to sign the papers, but she wanted to stay married. Then having to pretend to be her husband in public made me lose my head in private, and I got carried away and I can’t apologize—not really—because it feels right with her.”
“Do you love her?” he asks, no malice in his voice, just curiosity.
“Yeah. I really do. I think I’ve loved her for a while.”
“Does she know that?”
Downing my drink, I let the heat of the scotch settle in my throat. Relishing in the burn, I shake my head.
“You plan on telling her?”
“I’ve been silent for years. A few more weeks until this is finished isn’t going to hurt. This isn’t permanent for her.”
“Bullshit.” He scoffs.
“I’m sorry?” Turning, my brow knits as I watch him belly laugh.
“Bullshit. You claim to know my big sister, so tell me… If she says she wants to do something, will she do it?” I nod. “And I’m not deaf. I heard her say she wants to try this with you.”
“She shouldn’t want to.” Gripping my now empty glass, I force down the hope bubbling inside me at his words.
