No, it was time to let him go. Bria might be able to fall in love at first sight and completely change everything in her life, but she wasn’t Bria. Even if shehadgiven him her number, even if hehadcalled, and even if shehadbeen able to pluck up the courage to meet with him again during the twenty-four hours they were in Sydney before heading to Owen’s hometown, what then?
She wasn’t staying in Australia for any longer than ten days, and she wasn’t going to throw herself into any kind of long-distance relationship.
God, how would her anxiety handlethatkind of stressful situation? She’d never sleep waiting for a text from the southern hemis—
“Lis!” A hand whacked her on the shoulder, and she blinked, jerking her stare from the passing cars.
Zeta stood in front of her, eyes narrowed.
“What?” Elisa asked, frowning. “What did I miss?”
Bria chuckled. “I asked if you and Zet wanted Owen to drive or if you’re brave enough to experience my driving over here?”
“Oh God, no.” Elisa shook her head. “Owen needs to drive. You were bad enough when you knew which side of the road to drive on. I guarantee you’re worse over here.”
“Ouch.” Bria grinned. “But fair.” She suddenly launched herself at Elisa, enveloping her in a bear hug. “Missed you, sis.”
Elisa squeezed her back. “Missed you too.”
Bria let her go, grin growing wider. “Now, to fill in time before dinner tonight, we thought we’d take you to the—”
“Hey!” Zeta burst out, grabbing at Elisa’s arm. “Hey, Lis! There he is!” She pointed at a shiny black Lexus driving passed them, eyes wide. “There he is!”
“Who?” Bria asked, confusion filling her face.
“Who?” Owen swung around to frown at the traffic, pompom bouncing.
Elisa’s heart jumped up into her throat and she looked at the expensive car as it went passed. Too late, it seemed. All she’d glimpsed was a possible shoulder covered in maybe gray material at the front passenger window.
“Quick!” Zeta shoved at Owen’s chest and jabbed her finger at the Lexus. “Quick, follow that car!”
Bria burst out laughing. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“Follow that car, Owen,” Zeta ordered again, almost vibrating. “We’re on a mission to save Lis’s love life.”
“Oh my God, Zet.” Elisa yanked her stare from the back of the Lexus—was its number plate really C00K 1?—and rolled her eyes at her sister. “We arenotfollowing a car.”
“We’re not?” Owen frowned. “Bugger.”
Bria raised her eyebrows at him.
He shrugged, adjusting his pompom again. “Not gonna lie. I was game.”
“Damn it,” Zeta grumbled. “He’s getting away.”
“Okay,” Bria said, fixing Zeta and then Elisa in a level stare. “I need an explanation. Now.”
“Actually now we need to get moving ourselves, gorgeous,” Owen said, giving Bria an apologetic look. “We’re about five minutes away from needing to mortgage the house to pay for the short time we’ve been parked here. How ‘bout we get the explanation over brunch? Or on the drive there? It’s going to take us almost an hour to get to Angus’s restaurant, after all.” A scowl twisted his lips. “Bloody horrid Sydney traffic. I don’t know how people can live in a big city like this.”
Bria chuckled. “God, I love you, Owen Blackthorne.”
He beamed. “Love you too, Bria De Luca. Now let’s move.”
“Who’s Angus?” Zeta climbed into the back seat of Owen’s SUV. “Is he cute?”
“Seriously, Zet?” Bria rolled her eyes before depositing herself in the front passenger seat.
“Hey,” Zeta said as Elisa settled into the back seat beside her. “You got your hot Aussie—that’s you, Owen—and Lis has her mystery hottie in the suit.”