Page 36 of Forsaken
“I can’t stand seeing you with him,” headmitted.
“With who?” she asked in confusion.
“Owen.”
“Oh.” She sighed as she gazed down at herhands. He had no right to know anything about her personal life,but she didn’t like seeing him like this. When she’d been lost andfloundering, he helped her get through it, and she couldn’t walkaway and leave him like this. “Owen’s not my boyfriend.”
“But I saw you two kissing last night.”
She glared at him. “And I kissed you thisafternoon. Do you really think I would do that if I had aboyfriend? Do you think so little of me?”
“No! I think you’re the most amazing personI’ve ever met.”
“The most amazing person who jumps from oneguy to the next without any care for their feelings?”
“Aida—”
“I don’t owe you an explanation for anythingin my life, buthekissedmelast night. I wasn’texpecting it, and I didn’t welcome it. You arrived at the same timeand caught it happening. We dated a few times a while ago, and itdidn’t work out. He wants more, I don’t, and that’s all you need toknow about it.”
“Okay.” He held up his hands when sheglowered at him as if she expected more. “I won’t bring it upagain.”
“Good. Why did you come here tonight if youknew it would be difficult for you?” she asked.
“To see you.”
Those words stole her anger. Before she couldreply, a loud knock sounded on the door.
“Aida, is everything okay in there?”Nicolette asked.
“Yes,” she called back. “I’ll be rightout.”
She waited for Nicolette to walk away, but ashadow remained under the door, and she suspected her boss wasn’tbudging until she left here. “I have to get back out there. Are yougoing to be okay?”
“Yes.”
She went to turn away, but he caught herwrist and tugged her back. Before she could react, he kissed hertenderly and released her. “Pick out your favorite painting,” hetold her, “and I’ll buy it.”
It took her a minute to find her voice. “Myfavorite painting was purchased; you’re on your own with thisone.”
She opened the door to find Nicolette andOwen standing on the other side. Owen craned his head to see pasther, but Aida shut the door before he could.
“Is everything okay?” Nicolette demanded.
“Everything’s fine,” Aida assured her. “Hecut his hand on some glass. He’ll be out soon.”
“Was there something wrong with the glass?Should I fire the caterers?” Nicolette asked. “I saw that waitressspill a tray earlier.”
“No, it was nothing like that,” Aida rushedto assure her before some innocent person lost their job over this.“He almost dropped the glass but caught it before it hit the floor.It broke in half when he did. It was an accident, and the cut wasso small it’s already stopped bleeding.”
“Good.”
Nicolette started to say more, but the dooropened behind Aida, and Julian stepped out. Owen bristled and threwback his shoulders; he was taller than Julian, but that was wherehis advantage ended. Next to Julian, Owen looked like a boy insteadof a man.
If Nicolette was feeling any irritationtoward Julian, it vanished when he gave her his most charmingsmile. Nicolette practically melted as she smiled in return andfluttered her lashes. Aida rolled her eyes and almost threw herhands in the air. After three years of busting her ass in thisplace, Nicolette had still looked ready to kick her to the curb.One smile from Julian and she was a flirty, teenage girl instead ofa haughty, middle-aged woman.
“I’d like to purchase that painting now,”Julian said.
Owen’s irritation vanished as the possibilityof more dollar signs brought a smile to his face. “Which one areyou interested in?”
