Page 19 of Begin Again

She stumbled. He eased her closer. “Yes.”

“I was so clumsy with words. I finally managed to ask you out by the end of the song. I can’t believe you agreed to go on a date,” he said.

“It wasn’t what you said, Owen. It was the way you said it. Like you really meant it. Like I was special.”

He pressed his lips against her temple. “Because you were. You are. Knowing I made you question that by leaving will haunt me forever.”

The last of her resistance faded and she melted against him. His thighs brushed hers. Her breasts pushed against the wall of his chest. His lips coasted over her face in light brushes as they fell into the song, into the night, into each other. Time slowed, stilled, stopped. Light streaked the sky, Etta James crooned about finding the one, and Owen tumbled all over again, on this night, in this moment, holding the woman he’d always loved and always would.

When the song ended, he stepped back, still holding her hand. Her blue eyes were wide, a bit stunned, as if she’d experienced the same emotions. Wild hope surged and shook through him. God, he wanted her. Needed her. He whispered her name, sensing she was on the verge of giving him back a part of herself, of giving him a second chance to protect her heart.

Instead, she slowly retreated, her hand slipping from his grasp. The wall slammed down between them, and Chloe turned away, shoulders squared as if leaving a battle she’d just barely won. “It’s late. I think we better go. I need to hit the rest room, I’ll meet you downstairs.”

“Chloe—”

Her name hung on the breeze as she walked away from him.

eight

The flowers came the next day. This time, the blooms were a rich, creamy white, looking almost like an Instagram photo, the open petals tinged with a touch of dusty pink. The vase was square and crystal cut. The card read, Can’t wait for tonight.

This time, Owen didn’t mention the delivery. He kept his distance, immediately launching into work mode and trying to catch up on the leads they’d been given from last night’s fundraiser. He’d already contacted the Animal Defense Fund and agreed to get help for Regina and the puppy mill case.

Chloe went through the motions and tried to convince herself it was for the best. Last night had been too intense. Dancing with him to their song created a storm of emotion inside. Her mind blurred and her body came alive, practically zinging under every stroke of his hands, glide of his hips, and burning stare that reminded her of how good it had been between them.

Until it had gone bad.

Her instincts screamed for her to run when the song ended before he could utter words she wasn’t ready to hear. Owen had followed her lead and drove her home in relative silence. But his gaze haunted her in her dreams, along with the kiss she still couldn’t forget.

Tonight, she had her big date with Drew. Chloe wanted to give him the chance he deserved. It wasn’t fair for her not to explore their relationship, especially since she’d worked so hard to put Owen in the past. But a part of her also recognized tonight was a test. She wasn’t a game player. If she wasn’t experiencing the seeds for growth in their relationship, Chloe would end it. It wasn’t fair to lead either Drew or Owen to play them off one another.

She sensed Owen knew she’d be seeing Drew tonight and decided to back off. God knows, she appreciated the space. Lately, her emotions spun so hard, she only wanted clarity.

Chloe spent the late afternoon at site visits, her favorite part of the job. She checked on her fosters and abused animals settled into local shelters. By the time she’d finished up, she was running late, so she quickly showered and changed, deciding to dress a bit more sophisticated tonight for the Wall Street crowd. Her dress was a silky navy blue that spilled to the floor and left her back bare. She paired it with the sapphire necklace and drop earrings her father had given her last Christmas, slid her feet into platform silver heels, and was thankfully ready when Drew buzzed in.

Casting one last longing look at her slippers and TV, she got ready to dazzle for the evening. He waited outside with his driver, and his gaze lit with appreciation as she walked toward him. “You look beautiful,” he said with a smile, flashing a devastating set of dimples. “I’m going to be the luckiest guy in the room.”

Chloe smiled back. “Thank you. And I’d say…ditto.” He cut a handsome figure in his custom suit, the material emphasizing his trim build and muscles. The expensive Italian shoes were leather. She wondered if they were vegan, then pushed the thought from her mind. Sometimes it was better not to know. Drew liked the finer things in life, which sometimes meant products she refused to purchase in protection of the animals. But now wasn’t the time for such a serious dialogue.

He laughed and guided her into the car, where champagne was already chilling. “A pre-cocktail to celebrate.”

“Did you close a new deal?”

He poured and handed her a delicate crystal flute. “No, but I get to spend the evening with you so that’s a good reason. Did you like the flowers?”

She shifted in her seat. “Yes, I texted you. They’re stunning.”

“Roses remind me of you. There’s a classic mystery to them I always enjoyed, and of course, timeless elegance.”

She gave him points for the description, even if he’d never thought to just ask what flowers she enjoyed. She was used to dealing with alpha men, though, especially in the world her father walked in, so Chloe had no problem holding her own. “How was your week?”

He filled her in on some complex deals she found interesting, and they talked about the economy and predictions with ease. Then Drew paused, resting a palm on her knee, squeezing gently. “I haven’t dated many women who were able to discuss finance in depth. It’s refreshing.”

“I took a lot of economics courses. My father always said history and the economy is something we need to learn from due to concrete patterns that play out.”

“Brains and beauty. I’m going to have to step up my game so I don’t lose you.”

She frowned at the odd statement. “What do you mean?”