Page 3 of Just A Little Magic

“I already own the company.”

“I could take it back.”

If looks could kill, my father would be a dead man. He withered under my glare. The waiter politely cleared his throat to alert us to his presence. My father picked up the menu and made quick work of ordering a hangar steak and pommes.Without being forced to say the words, my dad knew the topic was now closed.

“I don’t know what I want. Too many things sound good,” Owen whispered quietly to no one in particular.

This was standard—every menu was a minefield of indecision for him and he always waited to order last. It could take several attempts for the waiter to get the final order, and Owen was always irritated by his own indecisiveness. When it came to fabric swatches and paint colors, he was focused like a general on the battlefield, but lunch stymied him.

“Want me to order for you?” I murmured close to Owen’s ear so it wouldn’t be overheard.

“Do you mind? It’s just easier and a helluva a lot faster.” Owen’s voice was equally as soft and quiet as my own. It momentarily made me forget my dad was sitting across from us and the waiter waited on us.

“Mind? I never mind taking care of you,” I quietly teased Owen with a wink. That particular line usually got a proper laugh out of him, but this time, it elicited a weak chuckle.

I picked up the menu again and made a quick glance though it. “I’m sorry we’re taking so long. He’d like the braised elk, and I’ll have the salmon. Please set aside two crème brûlées, one for now and one to go.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll put this in right away. Is there anything else I can get you for now?”

“No, thank you.”

The quicker we finished dinner, the faster I could get us out of here.

CHAPTER TWO

OWEN

“Are you sure you don’t mind driving me home? I can take an Uber.”

Bear and I both knew there was no way he’d let me do that. He always took me home when we were out together, but I had to ask anyway. It was polite.

“Stop. I’m taking you home.” Bear didn’t even pretend to consider it. “Here, let’s get your jacket on.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him I could do it myself, but honestly, it was too much tonight. All evening, he’d been glued to my side, and I wanted to soak in a few more moments before reality snuck back in.

Tonight, I’d pretend it was me he wanted and we were on a real date. Bear was always attentive to his dates, and tonight, I was the one he lavished his attention on. It was almost impossible to swallow the moan that threatened to escape when he whispered in my ear. As it was, I couldn’t suppress the shiver when he put his giant hand on the small of my back. At over six feet myself, feeling small and delicate was a moment totreasure. Bear always managed to make it happen though. I always felt like a proper little around him.

Barrett ushered me into his vehicle, waited until I’d buckled myself in, and then went around to slide into the driver’s seat. The low rumble of his sports car vibrated the seat, and I could smell the woodsy citrus cologne he always wore on date nights. I recited state capitols for breath control purposes. The last thing I needed was for him to notice the growing tent in my slacks. It was awkward trying to manage myself around him in a confined space without popping wood, where he was sure to notice.

Dammit.

“What was that in there?” Bear was broody tonight, and I knew he’d need to talk through it. The blessing and curse of best friends was knowing all their struggles and coping mechanisms. I knew Bear’s tells better than my own. His dad’s words weighed on him. It had been awhile since he’d dated anyone. Maybe he was feeling lonely?

The impulse to offer him my company was strong, but I didn’t. The rejection would hurt, sure, but losing him as my best friend would be… Well, not the end of the actual world, but it would be the end of mine. A life without him wouldn’t make sense. I needed Barrett like I needed oxygen. And when he found someone else, I’d take the scraps I was left with. Pathetic but accurate.

“I think it’s a mid-life crisis. He thought when the divorce happened that my mom would pine for him. She got on with her life instead, and it was him left behind even though he was the one who wanted it.”

Early fall in the Pacific Northwest could be wet, and Bear’s concentration was split between me and the slippery roads.

“Can he really take back the company?”

“Nah, he wouldn’t even if he could. Wedid an official buyout when I took over. I own it free and clear, but I wasn’t going to remind him of that tonight. Do you think he wants grandkids or something?”

“Do you want children?”

Oddly, we hadn’t discussed that in the last decade of friendship. If his answer was what I thought it would be, I knew heartbreak was headed my way. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. I wanted to see his face when the answer that would undo me was given.

“We used to go to my grandparents’ place out on Almstead Island for the whole summer, and it was the fucking best. We’d stay up late, have bonfires on the beach, and explore the woods. It was the perfect childhood.” He glanced over and grinned ruefully. “Until my dad decided to chuck it all for his secretary. But even after, my mom sent us out there.”

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