Page 34 of Owen

“I don’t have your number.” He throws his hands in the air as if defeated.

“You could have called Gregor,” I point out.

He rolls his eyes. “She asked me not to, plus everything is cool. Poppy and I have had an awesome day together. Haven’t we, Pop-a-doodle?”

I love his nickname for her.

Poppy smiles between her thumb-sucking, batting her long eyelashes at him.

Yup, I’m a sucker for him too, Pop-a-doodle.

“See, she already loves me. I took care of her like a pro.” He stands confidently with his hands on his hips, pushing his muscular chest out, and all I want to do is reach out and run my hands down the rivets of his washboard stomach.Mischievously I question, “So, you managed the diaper changes with no problems?”

“None whatsoever. Diaper changer of the year.” He points at his chest, then examines his fingernail.

I giggle, assuming that’s the one that had poop under it.

As proud as punch, he replies, “We are all fully sanitized within an inch of our lives. Like I said, no poop on any hands or clothes.” He waves his hand down his body, motioning to himself. “Professional.”

I look up at his homemade hat. “You look like one.”

Pushing his hands out to the side, he throws me a dazzling smile. “I do, don’t I? I’m the best alien ballet dancer on planet Zog.”

“Really?” I tuck my lips into my mouth.

“Well, Poppy seems to think so, don’t you?” He looks at Poppy for an answer, but she’s already half asleep, making squelchy noises as she sucks her thumb. “She’s so bloody cute.” I’m not sure he means to say his next sentence out loud. “If she was mine, I wouldn’t want to miss a thing.” He reaches out to touch a lock of her hair. “Michael’s a fool.”

I clear my throat, not wanting to give the meaning of my erratic heartbeat thumping in my chest another thought. “I’m going to check on Mom.” I tilt my head toward the stairs.

“Keep in touch with Gregor. Let me know how she is, yeah?”

“Have Gregor give you my number.” I suddenly feel nervous and forward. Giving a man my number is not something I do, but at least I have an excuse now.

Nodding cheekily, his megawatt smile lights up the already luminous sun-filled hallway.

“Will I see you later?” Hopeful eyes search mine as he removes his makeshift tin hat.

“Blake is coming over for dinner tonight.”

“Blake?” He eyes me suspiciously.

“Yeah, our public relations manager.” Blake and I have been firm friends since I joined the display team.

“Right.” Jaw clenched, Owen nods his head slowly. “So, you’re seeing Blake tonight?”

“Yeah,” I confirm.

“Fine,” he grits out, hastily removing Poppy’s tutu, almost ripping it. “Well, have fun withBlake.” His sarcastic tone sounds riled.

Confused, I reply, “Thanks.”

Owen stares me down. “You know, if you were already seeing somebody else, you should have said.” There is an underlying biting tone in his voice. “If I was simply the warmup act to prepare for Blake, then you could have at least told me the truth.”

Taken aback by his outburst, words of reassurance get stuck in my throat. I’m speechless.

He runs his hands through his wild hair haphazardly. “Stupidly, I thought something special happened between us, but clearly you don’t like me as much as I like you.” The cadence of his voice is now filled with notes of impatience. “Last night, with you, was different. It was great, incredible. Kissing you felt right. It’s never felt right with anyone else. With you, it was fuc—” Aware of Poppy in my arms, he seems to reconsider his choice of words, then melts my heart when he says, “Utterly perfect.”

He stops himself from saying any more. “Bollocks, I’ve said too much. Anyway, hope your mom’s feeling better soon. See you around.”

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