Page 58 of Fragile Hearts

“You ready?” Owen asks me, and as nervous as I am to attend this dinner, I want to be there with him. I want to support him and all his family has accomplished. It’s a huge deal, this hotel and this dinner, and all the time and effort they’ve put in.

“I am, but seriously, Owen, thank you. You didn’t have to do this. The dress, the shoes, the suite, all of it,” I say, cradling his cheek as I push up to kiss him. Even in these heels, he’s still taller than me, and he leans down to meet my lips.

I give him a few gentle kisses, my eyes falling closed as I let out a soft sigh. Nothing could be more perfect than being here with him. He’s made dreams come true; dreams I didn’t even know I had. I never once thought I’d be staying in a hotel like this, with a guy like this.

“Let’s go before I lose the courage and hide out in our massive suite. It would be like a game of hide and seek, you trying to find me,” I tease, and he takes my hand, pressing a kiss to the inside of my palm.

“It wouldn’t take me long to find you,” he responds, heading out of the room and down the hall.

“Why’s that?”

“Because I can feel your heartbeat from across the room,” he tells me, and I stop him, looking up into his green eyes.

“Owen,” I say, his words making my stomach flutter, and I don’t even know what to say to that. I do feel connected to him like no one else. And as ridiculous as it sounds, I know what he means.

I can feel him too. Even if he’s not standing next to me. His scent is constantly surrounding me, the warmth of his skin, the steady beat of his heart thumping in time with mine. All of it.

“Tell me you feel it too,” he whispers, his fingers slipping under the thin straps of my dress. My eyes close at his touch, leaning into him, I bask in the feeling.

“Yes,” I murmur, my hands resting on his chest. “I feel all of it.”

Taking me in his arms, he holds me, our unspoken I love you floating between us. We’ve been dancing around it, saying everything but it, and as much as I want to, I’m scared. It’s early, so early, and I’m not one to jump into things, afraid of what the future might bring, afraid of losing him the way I’ve lost everyone else in my life.

“How many people will be here tonight?” I ask, needing the subject change, but also fearful of what he might say. My nervousness over the night returns full force at just my simple question.

“I don’t know,” Owen says, leading me down the hall now and through the open-air lobby. “Like a few hundred,” he adds, and I freeze, stopping him in his tracks too.

“Owen, a few hundred?”

“Yeah. I told you it’ll be the media and influencers and people who just want to be around my parents. Don’t worry. No one gives a fuck about me.”

I swallow hard, hoping I have the strength not to embarrass him or myself. I don’t know what I have to contribute to a conversation with the wealthy. Actually, yes, I do: nothing.

“Stop, it’ll be fine,” Owen says, squeezing my hand. “My sister and her fiancé will be there. You’ll like her.”

I take in the lobby as we walk through it. My shoes clapping against the marble floor with such gusto that feel like I sound like a horse. The lobby is spotless, and that’s where my mind goes.

How the hell do they keep it so clean?

There’s not a speck of dirt, a stray leaf or a bug anywhere to be seen, and I’m starting to wonder if I’m in some sort of dream and I haven’t woken up.

“I think I need you to pinch me,” I say just as we exit the lobby, but that’s the last thing I need when I see the crowd of people gathered on the massive lawn for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. “Never mind,” I quickly add. “I think I might just need a drink and an oxygen tank.”

“You’re good, babe. You look gorgeous. You’re going to be the most beautiful woman here.” He slips his arm around my waist, holding me to his side. “And I’m here if you need me. Just say the word, and we can leave whenever you want.”

I take a deep breath, readying myself for this just as a gorgeous brunette comes running up to us, letting out a loud squeal.

“Oh my god, where the hell have you been? I’ve been entertaining Mom and Dad’s friends for the last thirty minutes.” She lets out an exasperated sigh before turning to look at me.

“You must be Sloane,” she says, beaming at me. As I take her in, I see the resemblance to Owen and to their mother. The green eyes, the muted brown hair, the perfectly sloped nose. She’s stunning. “I’m Cara, Owen’s sister.”

I reach out to shake her hand, but instead, she pulls me in for a hug. Holding me close, she smells of coconut and something citrusy, and when she pulls back, she’s smiling.

“You look gorgeous. Your dress, your shoes. Where are they from?”

“Actually, I don’t know. Owen picked them out for me,” I say, and for a second, I wonder if it’s weird that I’ve admitted that.

“Owen, shit, bro, you’ve got great taste,” Cara says, and a guy dressed in a linen suit walks up behind her.

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