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Michelle observed the crowd as she leaned back against the bar, her eyes catching sight of her former colleagues as they milled around the open outdoor space.
Tommy was attempting to corral the girls, the smile never leaving her face despite the obvious frustration in her voice as she tried to get them to settle down at their table.
Judd had an arm around Grace, not that that surprised her in one bit, his eyes softening as the little girl in his wife’s arms giggled at something he said.
Nancy and Paul were laughing mercissely at Mateo, his face reddening in embarrassment at whatever the pair had been muttering about.
She spotted Marjan attempting to fix what looked like a bow tie collar, the item now hanging loosely around Buttercup’s neck instead of in it’s intended spot.
And then there was TK and Carlos, their eyes all sparkly and full of love and dammit did they make her want to be sick sometimes.
“Being so in love should be illegal.” She couldn’t help herself from whispering the words as she turned back toward the bartender, watching as the woman chuckled at her before refilling her glass of champagne
“You know,” The sound of Owen’s voice from behind her clued her into the fact that she had yet to see him that evening, “I really didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Really?” She didn’t bother to turn around though, because he was beside her in an instant, his hand on her arm as he stepped well into her personal space. “It’s my best friend’s wedding. You really think I would miss that?”
“Never in a million years.” He whispered, taking the fresh beer that the woman behind the counter handed him. “Still shocked you stuck around long enough for me to catch you.”
“I’m not hiding, Owen.” Except, maybe she was, just a little.
“Really?” This time it was his turn to sound a little shocked. “Because I hear you’ve been back in Austin for three weeks and yet, we keep mysteriously missing each other.”
“That’s weird.” She gave him a soft, flirtatious smile, and he simply shook his head. “I guess our timing is just… off.”
“Or, you’re avoiding me.” This time she did turn toward him, her body relaxing back against the edge of the wooden counter, her eyes locking with his as she searched for something, what she didn’t exactly know.
“Now why would I be avoiding you, Captain Strand?” She hadn’t meant for that question to come out so, sexy, but damn there was something about him that just got to her.
“Oh, I don’t know…” He stepped further into her space, his hand reaching out to rest against her hip as he smiled down at her playfully. “I was kinda hoping you weren’t. My feelings have been kinda hurt, ya know?”
“I’m sorry.” And she was sorry, but she had her reasons. “I promise, it was not done with the intent of hurting you.”
“So you were avoiding me?” He had a pout on his face that mirrored that of a toddler and she wondered just what he was learning from having little Harlow running around the firehouse all the time.
“I was… being cautious.” That made no sense and as soon as the words left her mouth she knew it.
“Cautious?” His eyes were wide and she couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction. “I’m not radioactive, Michelle.”
“I never said you were.” She couldn’t help but lean into his touch a little, her head turning to the side to make sure that they hadn’t become the focal point of the evening. “I um… I’m moving back.”
“To Austin?” Rolling her eyes she simply nodded her head, watching as the realization set in and he smiled. “When?”
“I signed the lease on my townhouse this morning.” She couldn’t remember ever seeing Owen look so damn happy before and it made her want to cry. “I didn’t say anything to you because I was worried that it wouldn’t work out.”
“Work out?” He was getting closer to her and she swore to God it was almost like he was getting ready to kiss her.
“I wanted to make sure that it was a done deal.” Oh yeah, he was totally going to kiss her, she could see it in his eyes. “I got a job, the townhouse, settled Iris back in with mom. I just wanted to make sure of things…”
And then his lips were on hers and all coherent thought went out the window.
She had been dreaming about this moment since the last time she had seen him, a whole nine months ago at Harlow’s first birthday.
He had kissed her then, in fact, he had spent all night kissing her, amongst other things, and she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it.
The whole flight back to Detroit.
Every night since then, while she layed alone in her tiny little apartment on her piece of shit bed.
She thought about him and this kiss and what it would be like to finally come home and have it all, again.
Which is why when he pulled back, his forehead falling to hers with a contented sigh, she couldn’t help but chuckle.
“How much of a ration of shit do you think they’d give us if we dipped out right now?” Owen’s question was so very, him, and she felt her heart flutter in her chest.
“They haven’t even sealed the deal yet, Owen.” In fact, she didn’t even know when they were planning to do so.
Carlos had just told her to be here and that had been the end of it.
Owen muttered out a curse under his breath before he reached out and grabbed her hand, dragging her away from the bar with a huff.
“Where are we going?” Not that she minded, because this was actually kind of fun.
“Somewhere more private.” He hissed out as they turned the corner of the building and he gently pushed her back against the wall, his lips falling to hers softly.
“We are not having sex against this wall right now.” She muttered as she pushed him back, watching as he raised an eyebrow at her. “Owen, your son is about to marry my best friend, we are not, under any circumstances, missing that because you can’t control your hormones.”
“I never said anything about sex.” He whispered, his lips crashing against hers once again.
When he finally pulled back for air she reached up and cupped his cheeks between her palms, scowling at him for a minute as she watched his eyes attempt to stay locked with hers.
“After, Owen, after.” That seemed to satisfy him enough, because he simply smiled and leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek before pulling back. “Now, let’s go before people start to wonder where we are.”
“Let them wonder.” She raised an eyebrow at him and shook her head.
“Have you met our friends?” Because really, it was a wonder that they hadn’t all come around the corner and started heckling them yet. “They are not the kind of people that we should let use their imaginations.”
“True.” He leaned down and pressed one last kiss to her lips before finally pulling back, his hands smoothing down the front of his tuxedo jacket. “How do I look?”
“Like you just got busted making out with your son-in-law’s best friend in a dark corner.” If Michelle had been able to vanish, she would have, because Judson Ryder had always had the worst timing, and this was no different. “TK’s looking for you guys.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Owen straightened up and walked past the other man, offering him a nod when Judd gave him a look of death, causing Michelle to simply chuckle.
“You’ve got some explaining to do missy.” She rolled her eyes as she pushed herself off the wall and headed toward him, stopping in front of him as she reached out and straightened his tie.
“You really want details, because I’ve got them.” He swallowed and she simply smiled, her hands patting his chest softly before stepping around him.
She found Owen waiting for her just on the other side of the corner and she smiled.
“Ready my dear?” He extended his elbow in her direction and she felt her heart flutter.
“Always my love.” Linking her arm through his she simply fell into step beside him like absolutely nothing had changed.