Page 129 of Brazen Obsession

“You’re still with Sara, right?” Owen asks. He knows to ignore my oddness.

“Yes, but she’s also with Wyatt, Finn Lawson over there dancing with Nancy Anderson, and Dante Stone who took our girl off somewhere private.” I smirk.

Owen shakes his head with a small smile. “You always did like to watch.”

He’s not wrong.

Sara told me how she wants to set up Hope with someone, potentially Owen. Knowing Owen, he’s more likely to be a one-night stand than a steady thing, but I can’t say no to my girl. Since he’s here, I might as well introduce them.

“Hope, Juliette.”

Hope stops and gestures to Juliette. They both come over.

“I wanted to introduce you to my friend, Owen Matthews.”

“Now, I’m just a friend. Demoted already.” Owen chuckles. He watches Hope’s hands as she translates for Juliette.

“I’m fickle,” I say. “This is Hope Williams and Juliette Somerset.”

Owen takes Hope’s hand and brushes his lips across her knuckles. What I can see of her cheeks turn pink. Then he shifts his attention to Juliette.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Juliette.” He speaks to her and glances at Hope’s hands as she translates. “Your mother has the top bid in the silent auction for my services.”

Juliette flushes and holds her hand out. Owen lifts her hand to his lips and lingers a little longer in his kiss on her knuckles. When he releases her hand, she signs and Hope translates for the rest of us.

“Your services?” Juliette asks.

Owen gives her a cocky grin. “I’m a chef. You might have heard of my restaurant, Indulgence.”

Hope’s eyes widen, but she doesn’t say anything because Owen’s attention is firmly on Juliette. I hope Sara isn’t too disappointed, because I know when my friend has his eyes on someone.

Besides, I’m pretty sure I saw Hope dancing with Sebastian Cross. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sebastian dance with anyone. Especially at a benefit, because usually he doesn’t attend unless he’s working. Either he was staking a claim on her or… Hopefully, his work doesn’t have anything to do with Hope.

I let it go as Owen asks Hope how to ask Juliette to dance with him. He mimics her signs while Juliette blushes. She nods.

“Would you like to dance?” I ask Hope.

She looks up at me and nods. “That would be nice.”

“Don’t wander off to find Sara.” I tap Wyatt on the shoulder and he shakes his head.

He glances toward where they disappeared, like he hasn’t been considering it. I’m sure by the time I get back, Wyatt will have tracked down Dante and Sara. I’d give anything to watch, but I’m going to do Sara a solid and dance with her friends while the others keep her occupied.

Two months later

Sara

I have books spread out across the dining room table. Even though we have a room for me to study in the basement, I don’t like being down there unless the others are working. Currently, I’m the only one home.

For a moment I let the weirdness take hold. For months, I’ve been constantly with one of the guys. And even after I went back to school, Colin insisted on having a man on campus to make sure I was safe. The bodyguard didn’t come into classes, but I could feel him shadowing me.

At dinner this weekend, Colin declared everything could go back to normal. Anyone who had an issue with the transition had either been rounded up by the Feds, taken out, or given enough money or power to satisfy them.

So, this is the first time in months I’m truly alone. No guys watching the house. And while I need the time and space to study, it’s a little unnerving. I could pack up and head back to campus, work in the library, but I want to catch glimpses of my guys as they get home.

That’s the other thing with finishing up my internship. I don’t get to see Wyatt, Finn, and Dante all day. I enjoyed working with them, and yes, they took time to play with me when Tom was out of the office.

The door opens and I glance toward the foyer. My heartbeat quickens. But I take slow, steady breaths like my therapist taught me. If I have a panic attack, I can always text the guys, but it’s better if I get ahead of it.