Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Daisy
Tucked away in a corner booth, away from prying eyes, Mark lifts his glass of wine, and I clink mine against it.
“Cheers to getting you back to my place where I can thank you properly for flying down for the weekend.” He quirks an eyebrow playfully.
I smile, taking a sip of my wine instead of agreeing.
Fortunately, our server interrupts when he drops off the oysters Mark ordered.
He didn’t bother to ask whether I liked them.
If he had, he would have known I don’t. Owen would know this, and it infuriates me that he crosses my mind as I sit in this expensive restaurant with a smart, handsome man across from me.
I’ll admit that after last weekend, I almost didn’t get on the plane. But the stubborn side of me refused to prove Owen right. In the bedroom, I have no problem letting him boss me around, but outside of that, he doesn’t get to tell me what to do.
Nobody does.
Mark isn’t the man for me. I know this. However, no matter how involved my heart has been since our moonlit dance, neither is Owen. Even if he is all I’ve thought about since leaving his bed Sunday morning.
His parting words as we stood at the front door of his Mr. Angel rental have continued to play on repeat in my head all week.
“Cut him loose, Clover. He’s not me. And as much as it sickens me to say this, if you have to sleep with him to realize that, so be it. As long as this is your last trip to L.A. and you come to your senses, the misery on my end will be worth it.”
He kissed my forehead and sent me on my way, knowing exactly what he was doing. He wanted not only my body, but my mind consumed with only him.
There is nothing unintentional about Owen Swift.
Unfortunately for me, his plan worked.
Looking at the man across the table from me, I know if I sleep with him, it won’t feel anywhere near as perfect as it does with Owen. Sex with Mark is good. I wouldn’t have booked a ticket three months ago if it weren’t. But I’m not sure I want his good anymore.
I’ve always been a woman who dates freely and rarely commits to relationships.
I’m the fun girl men have a good time with, and once the fun wears off, they inevitably end things.
I’m not ashamed that I’ve had a decent amount of uncommitted sex in my day.
Contrary to what my friends may think, I don’t sleep with men on the first date. And I’m actually pretty picky.
My problem tonight is that I was just with Owen six days ago.
I can still feel his hands on my skin. I can still smell him.
The thought of Mark erasing those things is almost as unappealing as the oysters he’s devouring.
The sound of his slurping spreads irritation throughout my body as knots twist in my stomach.
Why the hell did I get on the plane this afternoon?
I don’t want to sleep with him. I spent the entire flight thinking of what I would say to him when I ended things on Sunday. So, why am I here?
Owen may think I need to sleep with Mark to realize he doesn’t compare, but for once he’s wrong.
Waiting until his third oyster is down and his disgusting sounds have ceased; I take a hefty chug of my wine. “Mark, I don’t think I’m going home with you tonight.”
“Excuse me?” His head is on a swivel as he looks around the restaurant, making sure we aren’t being watched.
“I know what we have is casual, and there’s no breakup happening here, but I think I’m done with whatever this is. You’re a great guy, but after dinner, I’m gonna call a car and head to a hotel.”
“Did I do something?”
Besides the oysters, no. You just aren’t the guy for me.
“No. I’m just gonna take these two days to myself.”
“Did you know this before you got on the plane this afternoon?”
“Maybe?” I shrug.
“Then why did you come?” He sounds confused and maybe disappointed, but his tone is gentle.
“I’m not sure, if I’m being honest.”
“Let’s have dinner and see how you feel after. Don’t decide right now.”
But my mind doesn’t change. After dinner, I take a car to the Sunset Marquis.
By some stroke of dumb luck, Villa forty-four is available. I book it for two nights and have sweet dreams full of memories made in this very suite two and a half years ago.