She hated to leave, but what other choice did she have? For a few brief weeks, she’d been on top of the world, finally in the arms of the only man she’d ever loved, but now she and Owen were over. She’d meant every word she’d told him last week—she was done fighting for him. He was so caught up in comparing himself to his father that he refused to see what was right in front of his eyes, and she had no intention of being background scenery again. She couldn’t, not after everything they’d shared.
Sighing, Maddie tackled the D section, shoving her Die Hard collector’s set into the cardboard box. She was moving on to the Es when she heard a knock at the door. Probably her brother Jim. He was supposed to come over and help her disassemble some of the furniture, which she was throwing in storage until she found an apartment.
“It’s open,” she called out.
Footsteps sounded from the narrow front hall.
“I’m just packing these DVDs and then we can take apart the bed,” she said without turning around.
“You’re really going.”
The familiar male voice had her spinning around so fast she dropped the DVD cases in her hand. They clattered to the floor, some of them smashing into her bare toes, but the jolt of pain went unnoticed as she stared at Owen’s gorgeous face.
His eyes were awash with dismay as he said, “I didn’t think you were actually going to do it.”
She found her voice. “Well, I am. My flight leaves in two days.” Grudgingly, she added, “I’m sorry I didn’t give you two weeks’ notice. Obviously I won’t ask you for a reference.”
“I wouldn’t give you one.”
Her jaw stiffened. “Good thing I’m not asking then,” she shot back.
“Because you won’t need one,” he clarified, seeing the insult on her face. “I’m not letting you leave, Maddie.”
“Wow,” she said with the raise of her eyebrows. “I didn’t realize you ran my life, Owen.”
His gray eyes swept up and down her body. “You’re not wearing your new clothes.”
The change of subject caught her off guard. She glanced at her ratty denim shorts and the oversized Broncos jersey she wore, both items from her premakeover wardrobe. “I don’t exactly need to dress up in order to pack,” she said dryly.
Owen’s heated gaze continued to roam over her body. “I like seeing you in those. I think I like you better without the tight tops and skirts.”
“Uh-huh,” she said warily. “I’m sure my baggy jersey is a real turn-on.”
“It is.”
She studied his face, beginning to grow annoyed with this exchange. “What are you doing here, Owen? I’m busy.”
“No, you’re not.” He sounded a bit smug. “I told you, you’re not leaving town.”
Okay, now she was really annoyed. Breaking eye contact, she bent down to pick up the fallen DVDs. A shadow loomed over her, and she looked up to see Owen standing right there in front of her. Without a word, he took the movies from her hands, threw them in the box, and tugged on her hands to bring her to her feet.
“You can’t go,” he said in a hoarse voice.
She sighed, trying to take a step back, but he only drew her closer, so that their chests were nearly touching. He cupped her chin with his hands, and an involuntary shiver skittered up her body. “What are you doing?” she whispered, avoiding his eyes.
He angled her head so that she had no choice but to look at him. “I’m telling you how I feel.”
Her heart did a little flip, which she ignored. “Really? Because it sounds like you’re just telling me what I can’t do.”
He let out a groan. “I’m totally fucking this up, aren’t I?”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Fucking what up? I still don’t know what’s happening.”
“I’m an idiot,” he burst out.
Her smile widened. “That’s what’s happening? I thought we already established that you’re an idiot.”
“Would you just shut up?” he ground out. “You’re not helping.”
Though it went against her very nature, she closed her mouth and waited for him to continue.
“I messed up,” he said roughly. “You were right—I pushed you away because I was scared. See, I got a hard-on at the wedding when I was talking to one of Charlotte’s friends—”
“What?”
“I know, it’s awful,” he mumbled, looking utterly miserable. “She was really hot, and…it just happened…I reacted. And afterwards, I felt so damn guilty, and then I got all panicked about it and…” He trailed off with a helpless shrug.
Maddie stared at him for a moment. Unable to stop herself, she began to laugh. “Wow. You really are an idiot.”
He frowned. “I—”
“You saw a hot chick and reacted. Big deal.” She shook her head in amazement. “You’re human, Owen. You’re bound to find other women attractive—hell, I find other men attractive. It happens all the time, and it means nothing.”
“I was scared I might hurt you one day,” he confessed. “Meet someone I found attractive and do something stupid, like give in to temptation.”
She sighed. “When you were talking with that woman, did you want to carry her off and fuck her brains out?”
“Well, no, but—”
“But nothing.” She studied his face, then shook her head in resolve. “No matter what you think, you’re an honorable man. You wouldn’t cheat on someone you cared about.”
“You sound so sure of that.”
“Because I know you. You’re nothing like your father.”