“These are tears of happiness and gratitude, I just never thought you would make anyone a partner that wasn’t one of the brothers.”
I just shrug and pick up my menu as the waiter approaches, “You are like family Harper.”
“Can we get a bottle of your best champagne, we are celebrating?” The waiter grins and looks from Harperand then back to me.
“Newlyweds Yes? Rome is the city of love after all, you have made a good choice for your honeymoon.”
Chapter 5
Harper
Ican hardly catch my breath. Owen just offered to make me a partner at Slade Outdoors. This is something I haven’t even dared dream about. I always thought that one day I would have to leave for another company if I wanted to grow. There had been more than a few over the years that had come calling with offers of a bigger salary and a fancy title. I’d turned down every one of them because I knew that I would never find a working relationship like I have with Owen. Those other places wouldn’t have Liv just one floor up, and I wouldn’t be able to get with her for drinks after work and talk work gossip. Now he is offering me a partnership. The feeling of his hand on mine and the concern in his eyes when I started to cry made my heart pound in my chest. I spent all day with one of the most gorgeous men on planet earth and all I could think about was what Owen might think of this or that. I needed to get my head back on straight. Maybe it was Liv and Ryker getting together that’s made me pay more attention to this feeling I have for Owen, but whatever it is I need to stuff it back in the black box that it came from.
“Newlyweds, yes? Rome is the city of love after all. You have made a good choice for your honeymoon.” The waiter winks at me and my mouth falls open.
“Are you ready to order?” Owen asks with a cocky smile. He’s not going to correct the waiter. That smile is daring me to play along.
“I will have the chicken scallopini please.” I hand the waiter my menu and give Owen a triumphant smile.
He orders a truffle pasta and the waiter leaves to get the wine.
“Why didn’t you correct him?” I ask immediately after the waiter is out of earshot.
Owen shrugs, “I don’t know.” He changes the subject, asking if Antonio is any closer to closing the deal. I let it go for now, but it is definitely something we are going to have to come back to.
Owen and I would never be able to make it as a couple. We would kill each other. Unless we funneled all that passion into a different activity.
The waiter is back with the champagne, filling our glasses with the gold-colored liquid. I watch the bubbles for a moment.
Owen waits for the waiter to leave before lifting his glass.
“To a long and fruitful partnership,” he says. We clink our glasses together and I take a long sip of champagne. I’m going to be the joint CFO of Slade Outdoors. Liv is totally going to freak.
???
“You know what Owen you aren’t so bad. Actually, you’re kind of cute when you let loose a little,” I say, my words a bit slurred as I wrap an arm around his waist for support while we wobble down the cobblestone streets.
“You aren’t so bad yourself when you’re drunk. And that dress is a killer,” Owen slurs out before hiccupping loudly.
I giggle a little and grin at the people who are giving us fond looks. I know they think we are two lovers that have imbibed just a little too much.
“I think we are going to make great partners. That is if you aren’t sassy,” Owen says, opening the door to our hotel and letting me walk through first.
“You like that I’m sassy, it keeps your life interesting.” I turn to grin at him after pushing the button for the top floor.
“I do love your sassiness. I don’t know what I would do without you in my life Harper.” Owen reaches up and brushes my hair off of my face, taking a piece of it and sliding it through his fingers.
“Your hair, is like liquid fire. So silky and smooth.” His voice drops an octave and I feel heat gather between my thighs. He has never looked at me the way he’s looking now.
“Owen I…” The elevator dings and the doors slide open to reveal an empty carriage.
“Good I get you all to myself,” he says, tugging on my hand to get me to follow him in.
He swipes his card to take us to the penthouse floor. We are sharing a two-bedroom suite, something we have done on many other trips, although this time it feels different.
The doors close, and he turns to me with his hands sliding into my hair.
“I’ve wanted to do this for so long, but I kept denying myself. We work well together, and I don’t want to ruin that, but seeing you with the Italian guy woke me up Harper.”