Chapter 6
SIX
Owen
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The hard raps coming from the front door do nothing to pull our gazes apart.
Meadow’s eyes are blown wide from what I just said.
Keep doing it.
Because it’s beautiful.
And by the way my heart is slamming against my ribs, I’m sure my expression looks just as stunned as hers.
The knock comes a fourth time—louder and sharper than before—causing us to flinch and finally break our trance.
“I’ll get it,” I manage, clearing the roughness from my throat as I drag my fingers through my hair.
“Yeah,” Meadow replies breathlessly, still frozen by the railing. I can tell she’s digesting my words as her chest rises and falls with labored breaths.
I’m sure I’ve told Meadow she looked pretty before. I know I have.
But beautiful?
That’s new. It’s a simple term that’s said a million times a day, but still, it feels much more meaningful than 'pretty.'
I flash Meadow a half-smile before turning and walking toward the door. When she finally finds her feet, I hear her follow behind me.
When I open the door, a familiar voice explodes through the suite like a grenade.
“ OWENNNN! You fucking made it, man!”
I have no time to brace myself before Tyler Greenwood, my friend who’s getting married, slams into me with a full-body hug that knocks me back half a step. He’s six-three and built like a damn bulldozer, but is also the biggest golden retriever you’ll ever meet.
“Jesus Christ, Ty,” I chuckle, trying to catch my breath as he smacks me on the back hard enough to realign my spine. “You trying to break my back before the wedding?”
“Dude, you traveled here all the way from Chicago,” he beams, already pushing past me into the living area. “I had to give you a proper welcome, Brooks.”
I glance at Meadow, who’s standing beside me and looking at Tyler like she’s trying to figure him out. His vibrant personality definitely does not match his tattooed, tough-guy exterior.
When Tyler’s gaze shifts to Meadow, his eyes give her an assessing sweep. His stare is harmless, but it lingers a second too long.
I know it means nothing. He’s getting married, for fuck’s sake. We’re literally here for his wedding.
Still, why does this possessive surge flare through me as he takes her in?
“Who’s this?” Tyler asks, arching a brow.
Easy, Owen.
I clench my jaw, biting back the urge to rip his fucking head off for no reason other than the fact that his eyes are on her.
The worst part is that Tyler isn’t even trying to piss me off. The guy flirts just by breathing. He has no idea he’s doing it. Besides, he’s head over heels in love with his fiancée.
Meadow looks at me hesitantly, unsure if she should introduce herself or wait for me to do it. I can practically see the debate going on in her head.
Does she introduce herself as my friend?
Coworker?
Office buddy?
Fuck. I hate that I’ve put her in this position—standing here, cheeks still flushed from me calling her beautiful, and silently trying to figure out what title won’t make this weird.
I still don’t know what possessed me to say it out loud.
The words slipped out before I could shove them back down. Like something I’d been choking on for years and finally let loose. Like I desperately needed her to hear it.
Meadow shifts her weight from one foot to the other, the subtle movement snapping me back to reality. Tyler’s gaze darts between us, his brow rising with curiosity. He’s the nosiest person I’ve ever met, so if I introduce Meadow as just a friend , he’ll read me like a damn book.
He knows me well enough to know that Meadow is not just anything to me.
Fuck it.
“This is Meadow,” I say with my whole chest. “My date to the wedding.”
My words come out smooth and casual, like I didn’t just blow up the whole “we’re not fake dating” thing we had going.
I think I hear Meadow choke on air at me referring to her as my date, but I’m too chicken-shit to look at her right now.
Tyler’s entire face lights up like he’s surprised, pointing his finger between us like he’s solving a murder.
“ Your date?” he repeats in a tone that implies she’s way out of my league.
Fucker.
“Yup,” I nod, doubling down. “My date, Tyler.”
He claps his hands together and lets out an obnoxious chuckle.
“Holy shit, Brooks!” He thunders and slaps me on the shoulder. “You dirty dog. Already moving on, huh? Good for you.”
I try to think of anything to shift the conversation away from my ex, but Tyler beats me to it with his next question.
“Wait…” he whips his head toward Meadow. “You’re Meadow? The Meadow that Owen never shuts up about?”
Jesus Christ.
I am going to fucking kill him. I’m going to strangle him with a fancy resort towel and toss him out into the ocean in the dead of night.
“Ty,” I warn under my breath.
“Is that right?” Meadow cuts in. A smug smile curves her lips. “Didn’t realize I was such a hot topic between you and your friends, Owen.”
“Oh, you have no idea,” Tyler says with a devilish grin. “You’re like the—”
“Ty,” I repeat louder, through my teeth. “Shut. The fuck. Up.”
“Okay, okay,” he chuckles, holding his hands up in surrender.
Before I know it, he takes two giant steps toward us and wraps one arm around Meadow’s neck and the other around mine, yanking us into a group hug.
What the actual fuck.
“I’m stoked you guys are here,” he says, our cheeks smashed against his. “I know that destination weddings can be a pain in the ass. Seriously, it means a lot that you rearranged your lives to be here. I’ll never forget it.”
He releases us, stepping back with a big, sincere grin.
I didn’t think it was possible, but the air between Meadow and me feels a thousand times thicker than before.
I roll my shoulders back, trying to pull myself together.
“No problem, man,” I grin, doing my best to sound unaffected. “You know I wouldn't miss it.”
“You’re the best, Brooks. And Meadow, it’s nice to finally meet you.” Tyler shoots her a playful salute. “Gotta give you major kudos for agreeing to travel with this guy. Brutal.”
I narrow my eyes at him and shake my head, fighting the smile tugging at my mouth.
“Oh, trust me,” she smirks, “after four years of working with Owen, I think I can handle him,” she chuckles, her tone warming. “It’s great to meet you, Tyler. Congrats on the wedding.”
Handle me?
Fuck, I wish she would.
Hell, I would let her manhandle me if she wanted to.
“Good, someone’s gotta keep him in line,” he quips. “And thank you, I can’t believe it’s finally here.”
He shakes his head as a dazed, lovesick grin curves his lips.
“Alright,” he claps his hands once and backs toward the door, “I’ll leave you two lovebirds to settle in. Let’s meet up later this week for drinks, yeah?”
Lovebirds.
Of course he had to squeeze that in before leaving.
“Yeah,” I nod, avoiding his comment altogether. “Sounds good. Just text me.”
“Yup!” He waves a hand and walks through the door, closing it behind him.
The moment the door clicks shut, Meadow spins around to face me. A cute line forms between her brows as she locks her dark eyes on me.
“You introduced me as your date ?”
“What else was I supposed to say?” I reply. “Technically, you are my date. My plus one.”
“I don’t know,” she shrugs, throwing her arms up like it’s obvious. “Your friend? I thought you made that pretty clear when you asked me to come.”
“Yeah,” I snort, “but that was before you got upgraded to Mrs. Brooks today. How could I possibly introduce you as my friend after that? That would be rude.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and levels me with an eye roll that should not be as sexy as it is.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I smirk.
“Like what?” she challenges, trying to look intimidating as she lifts her brows.
“Like you’re going to handle me or something.”
She bites down on her bottom lip, holding back a smile. She tries to hide it, but the heat in her eyes is impossible to miss. The way she chews on her plump lip has me salivating like a damn dog.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she mutters, turning for the master bedroom. “I need a break from you,” she quips before disappearing inside.
God, what I would give to follow her in there. To press her up against the shower wall—warm water running down our bodies as my hands map every inch of her smooth skin.
Just knowing she’s on the other side of the wall from me, undressing and…
Fucking hell.
My jaw flexes as I force myself not to picture Meadow naked in the shower, her hands sliding over her silky skin.
God help me.
I didn’t think this through at all.
This is going to be the longest seven days of my life.