Chapter 424
“When?” Aria asked, cutting right to the chase.
Dexter replied, “Can you meet now?”
“Sure.” Aria sent him the name of the cafe. “Come by yourself.”
As she hung up, she caught the sound of someone crying in the background. “Dexter, please save Hannah.”
Dexter was about to leave when his mother grabbed his arm.
“Mom, I have no way out. She deserves it.”
“Dexter, you have to try again! Ask Zander, beg them to help Hannah. She’s my only daughter–your only sister. If we don’t help her, who will?”
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Dexter looked at his mother, voice cold. “Mom, after everything Hannah did to Collin, you really think we should? If it weren’t for her, Jazmin would never have cut us off.
“You know how much Jazmin adored Collin, and thanks to Hannah’s lies and manipulation, Collin almost ruined his career. The whole art scene’s laughing at him now.”
Relations between the families had gone cold because of Hannah–Zander was still supporting Dexter, but Hannah had burned bridges everywhere.
Penelope grew desperate, her voice trembling. “What about Aria? You were just on the phone with her, right if she drops the charges, we’ll give her anything she wants.”
Dexter rubbed his temples, exasperated. “You think I haven’t tried? Everything that could be done has been done. Hannah even stole the National
Doctor’s Seal.
“Now that Culver’s the new head of Todd School, if we keep pushing, Hannah will only get a harsher sentence. I need to return the Seal to Aria, and settle
this now.”
He comforted his mother for a few moments, then left.
Penelope stayed where she was, seething. ‘If it weren’t for Aria and Owen using their power, Hannah wouldn’t be in this mess for something so minor. And Zander pretends to be so generous, but look how quickly he turned on us. When my son’s in charge, I’ll make sure every slight is paid back.‘
She forced herself to calm down and dialed a number. “Keep an eye on Aria and Owen. Get me proof that the two of them are together.”
At six, Aria got a message from Owen, inviting her over for dinner. She psyched herself up for a few minutes, then went.
Other than a little awkwardness, being around him felt almost normal.
After Owen finished washing the dishes, Aria pulled out the seal and set it on the table. “Dexter gave this back.”
Owen stared at it for a long time. “Are you giving it back to me?”
It felt odd, passing it back after so many people had handled it.
Just as Aria reached out to take it, Owen suddenly picked it up himself. “It doesn’t really mean anything anymore. Might as well take it back.”
The seal had passed through so many hands, he figured it was better not to leave it with her.
Aria stood up, “I’ll head out then.”
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Chapter 424
Owen nodded and started walking toward his bedroom. “I’m gonna shower. I’ll come over to your place after.”
Aria froze, staring at his back as he disappeared down the hall. ‘Come over to my place? After a shower? What’s he planning?‘
Owen, realizing how that sounded, stopped and turned back, explaining, “I smell like cooking oil.”
Aria let out a silent breath of relief, but still asked, “Why are you coming over to mine?”
Usually she came to him, rarely the other way around.
Owen didn’t answer directly, just smiled mysteriously. “You’ll see.”
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Aria opened it to find Owen standing there in pale blue loungewear–coincidentally the same color as her own.
She hesitated, gripping the door a little too tight. “Did you need something?”
Owen looked her straight in the eye. “Would you go to the movies with me this Saturday?”
She wanted to ask why, then remembered the contract and her heart jumped. “Sure,” she managed.
Owen’s mouth curled into a smile. “Can I hug you?”
Before she could react, he gently pulled her into his arms.
It was a soft embrace, their bodies almost touching.
Owen didn’t let go; he just held her there.
Time seemed to stretch until Aria relaxed into him, her muscles unclenching, the awkwardness melting away.
She finally asked, “Are you done?”
He slowly let her go, but before stepping back, he reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “You’ll need to get used to this–hugs, kisses, living together…”
Aria’s expression froze, but Owen just smiled and patted her head, “Take your time. No rush.”
She looked up and saw his ears–bright red, almost glowing
Owen tried to play it cool, gave her a little smile, then backed toward the door. “Get some sleep. Goodnight.”
Just as he reached for the doorknob, a hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.
He looked up, surprised, as Aria pulled him back inside and slammed the door.
Before he could process, she backed him up against it, pressed her body close, and–just like that–kissed him.
Owen’s mind went totally blank.
It was only the second time she’d kissed him, just like the first–soft, unmoving, her lips pressed to his.
One arm looped around his neck, the other pressed to the wall, trapping him between her and the door.
For a second, Owen was lost. Then, just as Aria was about to pull away, he wrapped one arrp around her waist, his other hand sliding up to cradle the back of her neck, and kissed her back.
It was different this time–no more shyness.
His kiss was a little rough, a little clumsy, but it was all him.
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Chapter 424
His big hand tangled in her hair, and suddenly, he was leading and she was following.
Aria opened her eyes and met his dark and intense, not closed at all. Their breath mingled, hot and close.
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Her arm was still hooked around his neck. If this had been anyone else, she might have considered snapping their neck instead of kissing them, but this was Owen.
The instant he grabbed her nape, something deep in her relaxed.
She acted on instinct, like always. Last night it had been the atmosphere, but tonight?
Maybe it was the warmth of his hug, or maybe she just got a kick out of seeing how red his ears got. Whatever it was, she wanted him.
They stood there, lips pressed together, gazes locked, saying nothing.
Then Aria reached up and covered Owen’s eyes with her hand.
He took it as a sign, parting his lips and gently biting down on hers, a little tentative, but eager to explore.
He tried to nudge her lips open, and for a second, it seemed like nothing else existed, until the doorbell rang, loud and jarring.
Both of them jerked apart, startled.
Owen felt a sharp sting on his lip, and suddenly Aria was gone, stepping back, dazed and breathless, lips still red from his kiss.
Owen glanced at her, eyes darkening with want.
The doorbell rang again, followed by frantic knocking.
“Aria, open up! Hurry!”
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