Page 62 of Caught in the Axe
Enzo dug his phone out of his pocket, set his own coffee down again, and tapped at the screen furiously.
Still at a loss, I sat back and watched both men. “I’m confused.”
Enzo held up a finger and stared at his phone, as if waiting for a response. Then he nodded so vigorously I worried he’d give himself a headache. “We’ve got a guy,” hesaid, still texting. “At Saks. Gabriel.” He looked up, his brows raised high. “What’s your number?”
I rattled it off, worried about what I might be agreeing to by doing so.
“All set. Liv is going to contact you shortly. She’ll make sure everything is taken care of.”
“Sorry,” I said, unease officially settling in my stomach. “I don’t follow.”
He shook his head and laughed at his phone. Shit, he was even better looking when he laughed.
I could only imagine how women would line up just to watch these two men if they discovered them in the wild.
A pang of jealousy joined the unease brewing inside me.
Owen wasn’t mine. He wouldn’t ever be.
I swallowed thickly at the thought. “I can’t.”
He pocketed his phone and leaned down, bracing his strong arms on the table across from me. “Delia really wants to meet you,” he said. “Trust me, you’re doing me a favor. Because generally, I do everything I can to give her whatever she wants.”
Owen laughed and sat back. “How is Medusa these days?”
Enzo’s eyes twinkled. “So fucking good, man.”
Owen’s brows rose, but his only response was a half smile and a nod.
“Career-wise,” Enzo said, homing in on me again, “it’s great for you. Plus, you’d be helping me out. My mother insisted we buy two tables. One would have been sufficient, but she wouldn’t listen to reason. Now she’s freaking out about filling them. She doesn’t want to be embarrassed in front of Monroe Langfield.” He waved a hand, as if I shouldknow who he was talking about and understand. “It’s a whole thing. And the last thing I need is my mom teaming up with my girlfriend to kick my ass.”
“Owen?” I peered over at him, hoping he’d inject some reality into this conversation.
But he was busy typing away. “It’s fine,” he said without looking up. “I’ve got to attend anyway. Just gotta run home and change into my tux.”
I turned to him and let out a huff of disbelief. “I’m sorry. Youowna tuxedo?”
He shrugged, glancing at me, then went back to typing. “This job comes with some obligations.”
Enzo laughed and stood up straight. “That’s putting it lightly. You really should come along, Lila.” He rapped his knuckles on the table. “The food is usually mediocre, but the booze will be top shelf, and it’ll give you a chance to rub elbows with the most influential people in Boston. If what Owen’s told me about you is true, then I have no doubt that once they meet you, they’ll be lining up to offer you jobs.”
He was so kind and confident that I should be there. It was hard to argue with him. My stomach twisted into knots at the idea, but I couldn’t deny that I was curious. I’d probably never get another opportunity like this, so it would be silly to waste it, right?
Plus, I was dying to see Owen in his tuxedo. I’d need that image to get me through long, lonely nights.
So I pulled my shoulders back and nodded. “Thank you for the invitation,” I said in my best pageant queen voice. “I’d love to attend.”
Enzo’s face lit up. “We’ll have a great time. The girls are gonna love you.” Snatching up his coffeeagain, he headed to the door. “I’ll let you guys get ready for your meeting. This is so great. Oh, and Lila,” he said from the doorway. “Do you prefer baseball or hockey?”
“Not sure,” I said, tilting my head in confusion. “Why?”
“So I know who to introduce you to. I’d be shocked if all the pro athletes in attendance weren’t lining up to ask you out tonight.”
With that, he shot me a grin and closed the door.
Mind spinning, I looked at Owen, who was violently typing away on his computer, his face red with anger.
Huh. This trip was about to get a lot more interesting.
