Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Faye
Did he murder you in his murder cabin yet?
Ilaugh when I see my sister’s text.
No, he’s actually really sweet. I kinda like him.
I knew it!
We had sex.
WHAT?!?
Gotta go. Talk soon.
Don’t you dare go anywhere! I want details!!
I turn my phone off and laugh as Owen walks into the room. He’s fresh out of the shower with messy damp hair and a white towel wrapped around his waist. I swallow hard when I see that glistening torso with all of those shredded abs.
“Is this okay?” he asks, suddenly looking unsure of himself. “Is it appropriate to be walking around our shared room in a towel?”
I smile as I walk up to him, placing my fingertips on his tight stomach as I rise onto my tiptoes and tilt my chin up. “I think we’ve blown way past what’s appropriate.”
His hands find my waist and he leans down and kisses me softly.
“It appears that appropriateness is overrated.”
“Mmmmmm,” I moan as I lick my lips. “I agree.”
We get dressed and head into the kitchen for breakfast. Cassandra is in a foul mood as she makes herself a kale smoothie. She barely looks at us when we walk in.
“Cassandra, is there something I can help you with?” I ask as she bangs around the kitchen, slamming cupboards and tossing things into the sink.
“It’s not your help I want,” she grumbles.
I fight down the anger bubbling up inside. I keep having to remind myself that I’m here to help Owen and his brothers get a deal done. I wasn’t invited to start a beef with the rich investor’s wife who’s been trying to seduce my pretend husband all weekend.
“Do we have any plans today?” I ask, putting on my best fake smile.
She pours her dark green smoothie into a giant glass and turns around with a dramatic huff. “I need some alone time.”
I watch her black ponytail bouncing on her toned back as she storms out of the kitchen.
Tristan is in the family room, scrolling on his phone while sprawled out on the couch. Women’s volleyball is playing on the TV.
“Hey, Tristan,” I say, popping my head into the room. “Do you know where Edward and Amber are?”
“They went fishing,” he says, not looking up from the screen.
“They did?” I say. “That’s great.”
He finally looks at me, but he’s looking at me like I’m crazy. “Why? It’s fishing.”
“But they haven’t done it for years,” I say, looking out the huge windows to try and spot them. “And it’s been a source of...”
Why am I even bothering? He’s not even listening and if he hasn’t noticed that his dad and his sister haven’t been talking for years, he’s not going to care now.
I spot their rowboat in the distance and my heart gets a warm, cozy feeling when I see them talking. They look like they’re talking about more than just rods and fishing lures. They look like they’re working through some of their issues.
I let out an audible ‘aww’ when I see them hug.
The dark clouds are closer than they were this morning, but they’re still a ways off.
With Cassandra in timeout, Edward and Amber making up, and Tristan as useless as ever, it appears we have a few hours to ourselves.
“What should we do?” Owen asks.
“There’s only one thing I want to do right now,” I say with a grin. “I want to curl up in that giant bed with you and Newton, lock the door, and watch a movie.”
“Which movie?” he asks. “I have a documentary I’ve been meaning to watch about microbiomes.”
“Veto,” I say with a grin. “I have the perfect movie for you.”
We grab some fruit and croissants, and head back to the room.
I rent the movie on my laptop and am trying to hook it up to the TV while Owen tries to feed Newton. The dog is a picky eater and Owen ends up feeding him by hand, one kibble at a time. I laugh as I watch the adorable dog leaving Owen’s palm full of slobber after every bite.
I knew they’d be fast friends. No one can hate a golden retriever.
After Newton’s done and I have the movie set up, the three of us curl up in the big comfy bed.
Owen turns to me with a warm smile that reaches his beautiful blue eyes. “I can see this in my future.”
I go still. “See what in your future?”
He looks at me and then at Newton lying at our feet and then at the gorgeous lake outside. “I can see myself having all of this. A nice cottage with a wife and a dog. I never saw this for myself before.”
I smile, hoping I’m in that fantasy of his. “It suits you.”
He smiles back at me and then grabs some blueberries as he turns to the TV. “What movie are we watching?”
“Legally Blonde,” I say with a grin as I hit play.
“Is this a documentary on our legal system?” he asks as the MGM lion roars. Newton tilts his head as he looks at the TV.
“Not even close,” I say as neon pink writing flashes across the screen. “You’re about to watch the movie that made Reese Witherspoon, Reese Witherspoon.”
“Who?”
I just grin. “You’ll see.”
The rain finally arrives when Elle meets Brooke in prison.
I’m curled up with Owen while Newton snores at our feet.
The rain and wind are pounding the windows, but it’s safe and dry in here with Owen’s big arm wrapped around my shoulders.
I sink into his embrace and smell his alluring scent, glad I’m inside with this sexy man.
I can see more of this in my future too.
“Are you enjoying the movie?”
I hope he says yes. Either way, I’m going to force him to watch Reese Witherspoon’s entire catalog of work, but I’d rather do it without him kicking and screaming.
“I’m enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would.”
I grin, thrilled to hear it.
I’m about to push play when I hear my name being called.
“Did you hear that?” I ask, my blood going cold.
“Faye,” Cassandra shrieks from somewhere in the house. “Come here, now.”
“They’re calling you,” Owen says, popping a strawberry into his mouth.
I grab his wrist and squeeze it in panic. “You don’t see the problem?”
He stares at me blankly.
“They’re using my real name.”