Forgot to Tell You Something

Owen leans against the corridor wall, arms crossed over his chest, those thundering gray eyes daring me to avoid him again.

“Hi.” Aren’t I the eloquent one this evening?

“I like the hat.”

It hurts to look at him. Every cell in my body screams out for this man, but I remain rooted to the spot. “Thanks.”

Owen caves first, scrubbing his face with his hands. “Can we take down the damn wall, Tally? I hate this distance.”

I drop my gaze from those stormy eyes to the floor. “I hate it, too.”

“Can we stop?”

I still don’t know if Owen is dating/sleeping/screwing the lights out of Nicole. But in the grand scheme of things—and excluding the status of my heart—it doesn’t matter. Work colleagues need to get along. Our jobs are hard enough. 

I offer him a small smile and nod. “Sure.” I take a step toward the main restaurant, but Owen isn’t moving. Wonderful. Don’t tell me he’s about to drop a Nicole Hedges bombshell. There isn’t enough booze in the entire bar to soothe that level of pain. “Anything else I can do for you, Dr. Stevens?”

He rolls his eyes. “Tally, if you call me Dr. Stevens one more time.”

“You’ll what?” At least my sarcasm is on-point. 

He crosses the small space, caging me between the wall and his body. “Either spank your sweet ass or kiss every inch of you. Likely both. Actually, please call me Dr. Stevens again.” 

So much for presenting a strong front. His words, coupled with the heat radiating between us, light me up like a fireworks display, and the man isn’t even touching me. Time to segue to safer topics, before I rip his clothes off in the middle of the pub. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want me to come. It is your welcome party.”

Owen slides his fingers through my hair, setting off a shower of sparks. “Tally, you’d better believe I want you to come. Several times to make up for all the nights I’ve been without you.”

Is it legal to have sex in a bar? Asking for a friend. 

“I got your notes.” I’m determined to stay on neutral topics, no matter how much this hot hunk of a doctor is trying to lure me into a night of sin. 

Owen chuckles. “I wondered how many terrible jokes I’d have to tell before you broke.”

“Ten. You were halfway there.”

“You caved?”

“I told you. My pussy has no control around you.” So much for a platonic conversation. In my defense, Owen started it. Now, I just pray he makes good on his promise.

“It won’t later. I’m tying your sweet ass up and taking back what’s mine.”