Page 45 of Just A Little Magic

“The Diner worked for Rory and Gabe, so it’s worth a shot.”

“What does that mean?”

Instead of answering, he pulled me closer to him andstarted walking. Within a few minutes, Barrett pushed open the heavy doors. The threatened rain began to fall upon our arrival. Maybe it was a lucky sign?

An older woman looked up from her place behind the counter, slid off her stool, and reached for her ticket pad.

“Gentleman, take your pick,” she said with a wave of her hand, “and I’ll get you some water.”

We settled into a booth at the front window, which gave us a view of the street and the raindrops streaking down the window. We sat silently until the server came by with drinks and menus. I glanced over it, but I always got the same thing from here, so it killed no time.

“I don’t understand what’s going on. Why did you bid on me? I can’t think of a single reason for you to do it.”

My petulance was more pronounced than I wanted. I was just so damn tired. Barrett was every damn thing I wanted and all that I couldn’t have. I should just confess everything and be done with it.

“Do you remember what I said when I found out you were participating in the auction?”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

BARRETT

“Of course I remember what you said.” Owen’s confusion clouded his eyes, and I hated it. “But what does that have to do with tonight?”

“It has everything to do with tonight.”

As much as I’d tried to prepare myself for our necessary conversation, having Owen across the booth from me still took my breath away. This was the man I’d wanted for years, but we were both hiding something from the other.

We’d always had this strong connection with easy affection and laughs, and then it was gone. We both came up with excuses without explanations. Owen’s refusal to allow me to help him or be a caretaker stung. Not because he owed me anything but because I wanted him to be happy, and his distance felt like a punishment.

All of that led to our time in the mountains, and once I had a taste of him, I knew there was no way I could give him up again and just go back to the way it had been. I had to get him to agree that trying and being together was worth the risk.

“I want a repeat of what happened in the mountains,” I said.

“What did you say?”

“Did you like what happened at the lodge? It kinda sorta seemed like it, what with the way you screamed my name.”

Owen watched me through narrowed eyes before he delicately plucked at his paper napkin. “That doesn’t matter. It happened, but it shouldn’t have. I refuse to regret it, but I told you it was a one-time deal.” With an aggrieved sigh, he added, “We want different things.”

“Who decided that? Because I didn’t decide shit.”

My question went unanswered because our server arrived at our booth with her pad and pencil.

“Gentlemen, what are you having?”

I waved for Owen to answer first.

“Ugh. I can’t decide. Umm…” Owen’s eyes darted across the menu in a frantic rush.

“You could get what you always get.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’d like the patty melt, please.” The server was in the process of writing that down when he added, “With extra onions and onion rings too.”

Oh, silly boy. He smiled smugly. Like a few onions would deter me. It would take a helluva a lot more than that to put me off him.

“I’ll have the same,” I said while I handed her the menus. “Thank you so much. Owen, do you want a cookies and cream shake to go with it?” His eyes lit up at the suggestion. “I think that’s a yes,” I said with a smirk. “He’ll take that, and I’ll have a strawberry one. Can we please have extra whip cream on each?”

“Sure. Did you want anything besides water right now?”

---