Chapter 21 Owen
Owen
This was a terrible idea. I could kill Enzo for suggesting that he’d introduce Lila to the hockey players and baseball players in attendance tonight. After he mentioned it and shot me a pointed look, I could barely get through my meetings.
And then I had to sit on my couch while Lila tried on a bunch of dresses, each more gorgeous and sexy than the last. Each time she’d disappear into the guest room to change, my heart would take off in anticipation.
And each time she’d come out to ask my opinion, I’d have to hold my breath and silently tell my dick to stand down.
I swore Enzo was straight-up fucking with me.
I’d punch him, but Delia would be at the event, and I knew better than to piss her off.
And I’d be too distracted by Lila’s presence to remember anyway. After our meeting, we headed back to my building, where my doorman informed us that several garments and shopping bags had been delivered.
Lila had lit up in wonder at the selection of dresses, shoes, and purses Liv had arranged to have sent over.
She’d settled on a dark purple dress. It was long and simple, with cap sleeves, but the back plunged low, making it demure and sexy at the same time.
While Lila fixed her hair and makeup, I texted Linda with instructions to send Liv a massive bouquet of flowers tomorrow to thank her.
“You okay?” I asked as I handed her coat to the attendant.
“Yes.” She nodded, but the smile she gave me was uncertain.
I cocked a brow and waited for her to elaborate.
She worried her bottom lip and regarded me for a long moment. Finally, she smoothed the front of her dress and said, “I’m not a fancy event girl. Any time I had to go to things with Cole, he left me behind and ignored me.”
I closed my eyes and promised not to fly into a murderous rage even as fury coursed through me. Every single time she mentioned that dipshit, I disliked him more. Which was a feat because, after his mini crime spree, he was at the top of my shit list already.
“I won’t leave your side,” I said, patting her arm. “And we don’t have to stay long. We can leave before they serve dinner if you want. We could be out of here and back in my condo in sweats in fifteen minutes.”
She turned and straightened my bow tie, giving me the sweetest smile. Damn, she was gorgeous. She was always beautiful, but her shimmery eyes and glossy lips mesmerized me every time I looked at her tonight.
“Have I told you how handsome you look?” she said, brushing at my lapels.
“Only fifteen times.” I shot her a grin.
Lila had been complimenting my tux since I pulled it out of my closet. With her on my arm, I felt like James Bond striding into this party.
“And you are drop-dead gorgeous,” I said, tilting my head so I could get closer to her. “You look like a princess, but not one of those lame, helpless ones. You’re like a badass princess.”
“I did pack my hip daggers,” she joked, eyes dancing.
“I’d expect nothing less from the Maple Sugar Queen.”
I offered my arm, and she took it, and then we strode into the ballroom.
“Princess,” she corrected as we maneuvered around people. “Miss Maple Princess.”
“Nope.” I shook my head. “You’ve been promoted to queen.”
I was practically floating tonight, full of pride, as I introduced Lila to my life and showed her my home and my business. The things I’d accomplished.
In Lovewell, it was hard not to feel like a stumbling failure, but in Boston, I was someone. Not a big deal like Enzo or his rich friends, but a man who had made a place for himself in this world.
Lila wasn’t the kind of woman to be seduced by glitz and glamour, but even so, she was wide-eyed and excited.
As I steered her toward the bar, heads turned, and I’d definitely noticed a couple of photographers point their cameras in our direction. Before Amara could swoop in and steal her away, and before Enzo’s brownstone roommates found us and circled like vultures, I wanted a few minutes alone with her.
I ordered two glasses of champagne, and we toasted.
“To grad school success,” I said, clinking her glass.
“Can we talk about your success for a second?”
She licked a drop of champagne off her bottom lip, and the room spun around me. I’d probably give her my social security number and bank PIN if she asked while licking champagne off her glossy lips. Who knew I was a lip guy?
“I heard that name, GeneSphere, thrown around all day, but I don’t actually know what you’ve been doing.”
“We call it a skyline project. A building so significant that it will alter the skyline of the city.” I rubbed at the back of my neck, suddenly a little uncomfortable.
I didn’t want her to think I was bragging, but I was damn proud of this project.
“Long after we’re gone, this building will be part of Boston, the fabric and the visual of our city and what it represents. ”
Her eyes were wide and full of honest excitement. “Wow.”
“We’ve been working on it for almost three years. When we first bid, we were underdogs. Enzo had just taken over the company, and it was a big swing. A brand-new multi-building research facility and campus for one of the world’s largest biotech companies. It was a dream come true.”
She grasped my forearm. “It’s incredible. And you guys did it.”
I laughed. “Sort of. We’re mid-build right now, which is when the shit usually hits the fan.
We’ve encountered so many setbacks, permit issues, weather, a couple of strikes.
You name it, and we’ve faced it. But we’re close to the finish line.
And then these buildings will be there for generations to come, and all our hard work will have been worth it. ”
“You know, deep down, I think you’re a romantic, Owen Hebert.”
A surprised huff escaped me. “Me?”
“Yup. Maybe not in the cheesy, stereotypical way, but no one could do what you do and not be. Putting in years of hard work and sacrifice for the skyline of the city you love?” She splayed a hand over her heart. “It’s beautiful.”
Her words ricocheted through me, lighting me up. Lila found the beauty and the good in everyone and everything. Even me, a grumpy thirty-eight-year-old accountant.
I surveyed her, memorizing the lines of her gorgeous face, racking my brain for a response. But words escaped me. All I could think was that I was so happy to be standing here with her. This tiny moment in the grand scheme of my life somehow felt significant.
“There you are.”
Amara’s words jolted me out of my stupor. I sucked in a breath and blinked, only then realizing she was standing beside us.
“Lila.” She threw her arms around her and gushed. “I have been waiting to meet you.”
God, she had the worst timing. This woman lived to mess with me. I didn’t have an annoying little sister, but with her around, I didn’t need one.
“Lila, this is Amara DiLuca, our general counsel and Enzo’s sister.”
She elbowed me. “And one of Owen’s closest friends. You’re so pretty. Let me introduce you to everyone.” She looped her arm through Lila’s. “My mother is dying to meet you.”
My stomach bottomed out. Mama DiLuca was a force to be reckoned with. She’d probably have Lila and me married by dessert.
Without giving either of us a chance to object, Amara dragged Lila away. As I watched them go, that dread morphed into something like hope or anticipation. Because it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if I got to keep her.
Only Lila did not want to be kept. My brother had learned that lesson the hard way, but I was determined to protect myself. It was one more reason to resent Cole. He’d had so many years with her, years he wasted and didn’t appreciate, while I would likely only get tonight.
Lila working the room at a Boston charity fundraiser like a professional socialite was a sight to behold. She charmed every person I introduced her to, asked thoughtful questions, and left an incredible impression each time.
My chest was so filled with pride I thought I might burst.
She didn’t have the first clue how spectacular she was. How smart and capable she was. Hopefully being here, even if only for a couple of days, could remind her of that.
My heart sank. A couple of days. That was all we had here. Soon, she’d be headed to New York, where she’d no doubt kick ass and have a line of young, successful guys desperate for a chance with her.
I clenched my fists at my sides and choked back the jealousy clawing its way up my insides. I couldn’t logic myself out of this, no matter how hard I tried.
Lila wasn’t mine. And I had no right to even consider the possibility.
I should be grateful to have this night with her. To be the one standing by her side as she blossomed.
This woman was going to take over the world, and I’d hold on to the knowledge that I played the smallest role in her journey. She’d do anything she strived for. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was running the Boston Cares Foundation someday.
It was a relief to be the one smiling and supporting tonight. All I had to do was stand by her side and let her shine. Funny enough, I’d be very happy doing that for the rest of my damn life.
Enzo and Delia had been placed at our table, along with two of Enzo’s sisters and their husbands.
She bonded with Delia over their mutual love of old houses and charmed Amara with her encyclopedic knowledge of some television show I’d never heard of about teenagers in Southern California.
She even suffered through thirty minutes of Enzo showing her photos of a robot he was building with Delia’s twins.
At one point, she had the DiLuca sisters taking silly selfies and texting them to their kids.
We danced, we laughed, and we suffered through the speeches together. As Delia entertained us with a story about her brilliant twin daughters, Lila reached under the table and squeezed my hand.