“No,” he replies after a long moment. “Are you close to your parents?”

I want to keep asking questions, but I don’t want to pry. If he wants to talk, he’ll talk.

“I love my parents,” I begin, and sip his coffee, trying to find the right words. “They gave me many advantages when I was young, and I think they love me the best way they can.”

“What does that mean?” he asks with a smile.

“It means that they’re awesome, but they are consumed with their work and charities and their life.” I shrug. “And I’m okay with that because I have the same things going on.”

“Do you see them often?”

“A couple times a year,” I reply, and kiss Mac’s cheek. “Mom calls me every Sunday evening, and we talk for about ten minutes. They keep a town house here in Portland, but they’re based out of L.A. That’s where their lab is. They’re good people. Highly intelligent. And if I ever needed anything, they’d be here. I just haven’t needed anything.”

“You’re incredibly independent.” He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear.

“I always have been. I don’t have siblings. I have always been able to entertain myself, and to solve my own problems.”

“Doesn’t that get exhausting?” he asks quietly. I bite my lip.

“I’ve never thought of it that way.”

“Hmm.” He kisses my temple again, then Mac takes my Kindle out of my hands and wakes it up. “What are we reading?”

“One of my favorites,” I reply with a yawn. “I reread it all the time.”

And then, to my utter surprise, he begins to read aloud and it could be the sexiest thing that I’ve ever seen. His voice is deep and smooth; as he reads the words effortlessly his free hand glides gently up and down my back, soothing me.

He’s really very good at soothing me.

I tuck my forehead against his neck. I can hear the words. I can feel the words. I’m wrapped in a thick blanket of my favorite story and I’ve never been so content in my life.

Mac reaches the first sexy part of the story and he pauses as he reads silently ahead, then continues. The hand on my back tightens, just a bit, and it’s the only indication he gives that the words are affecting him.

But suddenly he stands with me in his arms, and still reading, carries me back to the bedroom.

“You like this part?” I ask.

“I like this part.” He sets the Kindle aside and proceeds to show me just how much he likes it.

“Hey Owen.” I smile at him as he takes a seat at my bar. “How was your weekend?”

“We had a great weekend,” he says, nodding when I pass him his favorite drink. “I took Jen out of town for a couple of days.”

“Where did you go?”

“Just to the beach,” he replies, and wiggles his eyebrows. “It’s a good thing we had a great view of the water from our room because we didn’t leave the room much, if you know what I mean.”

“Good for you.” I offer him my fist to bump. “I’m so happy that you did that for the two of you. I’m sure Jen appreciated it.”

“Oh, trust me, she did. She couldn’t keep her hands off of me.”

I grin. “Good job. Where on the beach did you go?”

“Cannon Beach.”

“That’s my favorite,” I reply happily. It’s less than two hours from Portland, but when you’re there it feels like you’re in a completely different world. “I should go over there sometime soon. It’s been a while.”

“You definitely should,” Owen says with a nod.

Mac walks into the bar, and I feel my whole face light up.

“I guess I’m not the only one who had a good weekend,” Owen mutters, and I roll my eyes, then join Mac at the other end of the bar.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hello, beautiful,” he replies, and reaches over the bar to tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear. “How are you?”

“I’m great. Not much has changed since I saw you this morning.” I look closely now and see that despite his smile, his eyes look a little sad. “What’s wrong?”

He simply shakes his head. “How late will you be working tonight?”

“We close at eleven on Mondays,” I reply. “But I could probably get out of here around nine.”

“No hurry,” he says. “Just text me when you get home. I’d like to show you something.”

“Really.” I bat my eyelashes, trying to make him smile. “I believe you showed that to me this morning.”

“Well, I wasn’t thinking of that, but yes. That. And something else too.”

“I don’t love surprises,” I reply, but then immediately feel like an ungrateful brat. “But thank you.”

“You’ll like this one.” He winks and backs away to leave.

“That’s the only thing you came in here for?”

“I was in the neighborhood. And I wanted to see you.”

“Those both sound like good reasons.”

He smiles now, and I want to ask him again what’s wrong, but I don’t. This is my job, and it’s not my place to try to pull emotions out of him that he isn’t ready to share.

I’ll prod a bit more this evening.

“So I take it things are working out for you and Mr. Sexcation,” Owen says after Mac has left.