Come get me. I’m ready motherfucker.
Chapter 13
Time to Shop
Eva
I can’t wipe the smile off my face as Owen and I walk hand in hand heading for the next store. I officially need some things to wear. I’ve gone through all of the stuff I packed, and we’ll be returning to the office in another week as per Owen.
I’ve enjoyed having him to myself for a few weeks, but I know he has a company to run and we can’t stay in our little bubble. I’ve spent two weeks in this amazing man’s arms. I could truly pinch myself as reality keeps tiptoeing back in.
He squeezes my hand, causing me to look up. “What are you smiling about?” he says as he opens the store’s door and holds it for me to walk in.
“Nothing.” My face heats and I duck my head while walking through the door before him.
He keeps close, placing the hand he had used to hold mine on the small of my back. Goose bumps run over my skin. There’s something about the protective way he always hovers around me.
I always feel safe and cared for. It’s almost like the way King makes me feel, except with Owen, it’s more possessive and in an intimate sort of way. Sometimes, I catch him glaring at others around us, but I never catch why. Only the way he moves closer to me, drawing my attention to him and the secure way he makes me feel.
“Make sure you get things for home and the office,” he reminds. “It’s on me, so don’t worry about the cost or how much you get. You can get more than you did in the last store.”
My heart skips a beat. The way he says home is as if it’s my home as well, not as if I’m a guest. Not to mention, his offer to pay for my things.
“You don’t have to pay for anything. I can take care of it,” I repeat for the millionth time today.
I start for the T-shirts. He follows me, crowding my space. “But you won’t,” he says next to my ear.
The warmth in my belly threatens to spill over when he leans in and kisses my forehead absentmindedly. It’s so natural and effortless. I shake off the feeling and start to pick up a few pairs of jeans.
Owen grunts, grabbing my attention. I look up to catch him rolling his eyes at me. He plucks the jeans and T-shirts from my hands.
I stare at him in confusion as he waves the clerk over. When she eagerly comes over to attend to his needs, he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into his side.
“How can I help you?” the clerk chirps.
“This is my girlfriend, and she doesn’t always realize how sexy this body is. I need you to help her pick out everything you have that will cater to all her beauty. I’ll wait,” he commands as if he’s the king of the world.
I look up at him with my mouth open. When he turns his green eyes on me, I have to gulp from the sight of the heat within them. He gives my side a squeeze and his lips lift in the corner.
“I can do that,” the woman says adoringly. I blink to clear my thoughts and look at her. She turns to me and leans in to whisper. “I wish my boyfriend loved me like that. Just this morning, he told me I need to lose weight.”
I frown. That’s pretty awesome coming from a boyfriend. Like February 30 is the best day of the year.
Owen snorts. “Sweetheart, you need a cheeseburger and a new boyfriend,” he says gruffly before walking off.
“Oh, my God, Brick,” I call after him.
He turns and gives me a look. I can only shake my head at him and mouth, Owen. He smirks at me and shrugs his shoulders.
“You’re an attractive woman. Your boyfriend’s an asshole,” he says to the clerk, a little nicer this time.
“Thanks,” she says with a goofy laugh. She turns to me to whisper. “You two are such a beautiful couple. I can tell he loves you.”
My heart stops. For but a small moment, I let my mind hope she’s right. I know I’m in love with him, but I’m not ready to bet the farm on the feeling being mutual.
At night, when he makes love to me, I often fight not to confuse it with the feeling of love. I get sex is sex and what I’m feeling is something more. Owen looks up from his phone he has been tapping on.
A smile comes to his face and I wonder if—just maybe—she could be right. I mentally kick myself. I’m thinking too much.
“Thanks,” I whisper in reply to the clerk and allow her to lead me to a rack.
“I have some things I think would look great on you.” She lowers her voice again. “I’d kill for curves like yours. Especially your hiney. Five days a week in the gym and mine is still flat as a board.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing. She keeps talking the entire next two hours I spend in the dressing room trying on clothes. Eventually, I tune her out.
I spend most of the time in my thoughts, wondering what she saw that I didn’t. By the time she piles everything on the counter to ring me up, I realized she has half the store ready for me to purchase. I spin to face Owen.
“You can’t get all of this,” I say, startled.
He pins me with a glare before reaching for me with one hand as he holds his card out to the clerk with the other. Before I can protest any further, he dips his head and takes my lips. I completely lose track of what I had planned to say.
“Thank you,”
