Page 38 of Protecting his Heart

“Can you find out what you can about Evan’s parents, please?”

“Consider it done.”

Owen hung up. He was worried he’d made a mistake, but he didn’t have to tell Evan what he’d found out. He wasn’t a fan of keeping secrets, but he could if it was in his best interests.

He made it until four o’clock, when his body cried out for sleep, and he tumbled into bed. He’d obviously slept because a warm body wrapping around him woke him.

“Go to sleep,” Evan said, kissing his cheek. “I’m tired.”

Owen did as his sir ordered.

****

“When I agreed for Nick to plan the party, I didn’t mean that he could keep it a secret,” Owen grumbled as Evan tied the blindfold over his eyes. “What has he got planned?”

Evan chuckled. “I’m not telling. All I will say is that he should be a party planner with how he’s pulled this off in eight days.”

“That doesn’t reassure me.”

His stomach twisted, settling slightly when Evan’s lips met his. “I’ll look after you. I promise.”

“You better.”

Evan grasped his hands and squeezed before letting go. Owen grabbed the inside car door handle, hoping it would settle him a little.

“Ready?”

“What would you do if I said no?” Owen asked.

Evan chuckled. “Take you anyway.”

“Exactly.” He waved his hand. “Onwards, Jeeves,” he said in his best posh accent.

Evan laughed again, which was worth the embarrassment. The car started, and Owen tried to figure out where they were from the turns and speed they were doing, but it wasn’t easy. He was sure Evan was taking them back on themselves.

“Are you trying to confuse me?” he finally said.

“Of course. How else would this be a surprise? You’re more than capable of figuring out our direction unless I take us on the long route and make a few random diversions,” Evan said.

“Asshole.”

He gave up trying and settled back, enjoying Evan’s company. It had been a week since Evan had seen his parents, and there had been no sighting of them again. Despite Evan not knowing whether he wanted to know what his parents had been up toduring their estrangement, Owen had received information from Felix, but he wouldn’t share it with Evan unless he asked. His feelings about Mr and Mrs Montgomery were less than stellar than it had already been.

The car finally stopped, and Owen’s ear strained for any hint of noise, but there was nothing other than the usual muted conversations from passing people.

“Can I take this off now?”

“Nope,” Evan said. “And, on top of that, you now need to wear headphones.”

He could hear the laughter in Evan’s voice. “No way.”

“Yep. Put them on.” He placed them in Owen’s hands, and Owen sighed.

“I’m going on record to say, this sucks.”

“Duly noted.”

He sighed again and put the damn things over his ears. They must’ve been noise cancelling ones because every bit of sound disappeared. It was unnerving. A displacement of air flowed around him, bringing with it a cooler temperature, and he startled when Evan grabbed his hand. Evan tapped his knees to get him to climb out, which Owen did, far more clumsily than he thought he would. Evan kept hold of his hand, leading him with an arm around his waist. A nudge to the back of his knee had him believing there was a step, so he carefully felt it out with his foot, finally getting up. He wanted to curse but was far too busy concentrating.

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