Paige cleared her throat. “I used to ride a lot when I was growing up, but unfortunately I don’t have the time anymore.”
Asquith peered more closely at her. “You look familiar to me. Have we met before?”
Owen frowned. Was the guy genuine, or was he just using the oldest pickup line in history?
Paige didn’t seem fazed. “I used to work for Focus Marketing. I organized a product launch where you were the guest of honor.”
“When was that?”
“About two and a half years ago.”
“Hmm.” Asquith looked her up and down. “Yes, that must be it.” As his gaze lingered on her, Owen’s frown deepened. He didn’t like the way the man was studying Paige. There was something wolfish about it.
Paige smiled politely. “It’s a lovely day outside. Why don’t we take a stroll around the gardens before we have lunch?”
“I’ll have to change first. Can’t go walking in these shoes.”
Paige nodded. “Let me show you to your suite.”
She disappeared with Asquith and returned a couple of minutes later. Owen lifted his eyebrows at her. “Is that guy for real? He’s going to change just to take a stroll?”
Paige’s lips twitched. “I told you he was particular.”
“Glad I’m not his butler. Where’s he going to sleep?”
“I made up a bed in the room next to the master suite.” She leaned into Owen, lowering her voice. “It’s important to keep on the right side of Cranston, too. He’s Asquith’s secret weapon. He sees and hears things below stairs, so to speak.”
“Got it.” And Paige was his not-so-secret weapon. She was standing close enough for him to catch a hint of her perfume. He longed to dip his head, press his face against her neck, and inhale deeply. Their relationship constantly swung between hot and cold, but the urge to hold her, to kiss her, was always there, a chronic hunger. Today they were allies, and watching her deal so easily with Asquith sharpened his craving.
He lifted a hand to stroke her cheek but remembered himself and forced it to drop. “I’m glad you’re here. I haven’t spent one hour with the guy and already it feels like five. He likes talking about himself, I’ve noticed.”
“Men like that are focused on themselves and their own interests.” She shrugged. “Just like my dad.” She glanced toward the doorway. “Come on, I can hear him walking down the stairs.”
Owen followed her automatically. Had Paige never had a decent man in her life? Her dad, her husband, her boss—none of them had ever really appreciated her.
He didn’t have time to contemplate as Asquith reappeared in fresh clothes.
They walked out into the garden. The weather was mild, and the trees were putting on a show of autumn color. Asquith was a self-important bore. He couldn’t stop giving Owen advice on how to improve the garden, constantly comparing it to his various estates. Owen lost count of how many properties the business mogul owned. He nodded and tried to make interesting comments as Asquith went on about espaliered trees, knot gardens, and outdoor sculptures. The doer in Owen hankered to broach the subject of Bandicoot Creek. He itched to get down to business, but knew he had to bide his time, as frustrating as that was. All this seemingly irrelevant chitchat about horses and gardens was necessary to make Asquith feel comfortable—the magnate’s ego had to be stroked.
“Not a bad little place you’ve got here,” Asquith commented as they stood at a lookout and admired the view of the rolling hills in the distance.
Owen tensed at the patronizing remark, but Paige caught his eye. “Thanks. I like it,” he said, but he could hear how gruff he sounded. Asquith lifted one eyebrow as he’d done several times already, a gesture that was beginning to grate on Owen’s nerves.
“I brought my golf clubs with me,” Asquith said. “Think we could have a game tomorrow?”
Owen hesitated. He was a terrible golfer. Also, he wasn’t a member of the country club, and hell had a better chance of freezing over than him booking a game for tomorrow. Finally, he had no golfing clothes or equipment.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Paige answered for him. “It’s short notice, but there might be a cancellation or something.”
Asquith smirked at her. “Perfect.”
Owen buried his fists in his trouser pockets. God, how he hated Asquith’s smarmy smile, especially when it was directed at Paige. Worse, she didn’t seem to mind. She even smiled back at the pompous ass as she said, “Why don’t we head back to the house for lunch?”
As they walked back, Owen sneaked a glance at his phone. The visit was only two hours in. He bit back a groan. This weekend was going to feel like a month.
“I swear I’m going to punch him before the weekend is over,” Owen muttered as he walked into the kitchen after lunch.
Paige glanced up from the dishwasher, where she was stacking the dirty lunch dishes. “No punching. Smile and play nice.”
“I’m beginning to think that’s impossible with this guy. Everything he does grates on me.” He frowned at her. “Didn’t it bother you how nitpicky he was over lunch? Nothing was right. The mineral water was the wrong brand, the butter was too chilly, the asparagus was too soggy. Christ, I don’t know how I kept my cool in there.”
Paige had noticed him getting antsy. A vein had started pulsing in his temple, his knuckles had whitened as he clenched his fork, and the waves of frustration rolling off him had been palpable. She’d never realized how attuned she was to Owen’s moods until today. As she’d sat through lunch, she’d sensed him ticking like a time bomb, set to explode at something Asquith said. She’d felt like a lion tamer losing control of the beast.
“Remember why you’re doing this,” she said. “When you sign him on as a major investor, all the aggravation will be worth it.”
“Hmm. Glad you said ‘when,’ not ‘if.’”
“I’m confident you can pull it off.”
She was, too. Owen was intelligent and determined. He might not be slick and superficially charming, but his honesty was plain to see. He’d get Gordon Asquith on board eventually. Asquith might be an inveterate snob, but he was also a shrewd businessman, and he’d soon see the advantages of investing in Owen’s project.
“I hope so.” Owen rested hands on hips, his gaze moving to the view out the window. “I really want Bandicoot Creek to happen, not just for me, but for Jim and Heidi, too.”
At the mention of Heidi’s name, Paige’s chest panged. She looked at Owen, but he was still staring out the window, a contemplative expression on his face. Was he thinking about Heidi? Missing her?
“I owe them a lot,” he continued. “Jim made me a partner in the business when he didn’t have to. He’s like a second father to me.”
And Heidi? Was she like a sister to him, or something more? Her fingers cramped around the dishcloth she was holding.
“And Heidi is so” He rubbed his jaw. “She’s so sweet and caring. She’d give her last dollar away if she thought it’d help someone.”
The dishcloth shook in her clenched fists. Sweet, caring Heidi. She was such a saint. And I’m definitely not.
“I want to get Bandicoot Creek up and running for her, too. She’s been doing scut work for too long. She deserves to take on some real responsibilities.”
Oh, great. Owen and Heidi would make such a perfect team. And such a cute couple. Damn, why did that hurt so much? She wasn’t jealous of Heidi. She didn’t want Owen calling her sweet and caring. But the sick cramp in her stomach told her she was a liar.
She was lying if she said she didn’t want Owen. She did want him, but not on a permanent basis; she just wanted him for a short while—to exorcise once and for all the dark, secret fantasies she’d nursed for him for ages. He was an itch buried deep into her skin, and if she could just get at it and scratch it, then she could let go of the past completely and get on with her life.
Her reverie was broken by Owen jingling the keys in his pocket. “I came to tell you that Asquith and I are going for a drive. We’re going to inspect the site.”
“Oh.” Her eyebrows shot up. “So you have been talking business.”
“In a way. I mentioned the site was next to the golf course, so he was interested in taking a look at both.” He paused, shooting her an inquiring look. “About golf tomorrow”
“My parents are old friends with the secretary. I’ll ring him up and see if I can swing a few favors.”
“Don’t know if it would be a favor, given how crappy I am at golf. Plus I don’t have any clubs or clothes.”
“You can get all your kit at the pro shop. And Asquith will love it if you’re bad. It’ll make him feel superior.”
“Then he’s going to love me after the first hole.” He grinned at her. “Thanks again. You’re a real lifesaver this weekend.”
His unexpected smile made her tingle with pleasure, but as soon as she realized it, she caught her breath in dismay. She didn’t want to become another Heidi, gazing at him like a lovesick puppy.