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The bus stopped behind an ee tinted , surprised by the controlled madness shown by the road crew as they e semi-truck was nearly empty They’d obviously been at it for hours before the band’s arrival

As the other guys filtered off the bus, chatting, Owen pulled Caitlyn aside

"Are you glad you came?" he asked

"So far I haven’t been subjected to your eardru music yet"

"You’ll enjoy it," he said

She wasn’t so sure, but she knew the guys in the band, so like the dutiful aunt of a school kid, she’d go to their reat no uys stepped off the bus, Owen leaned in to steal a kiss "I’ve wanted to do that for hours," he said

"Then why didn’t you?"

"I have to live with these guys," he said "And they can be pretty iirl"

"But you’re not like that, right?"

He grinned, and she guessed he was the ringleader of the teasing

"Of course not"

He backed her into the square dining table where she and Gabe had been playing backgammon and lifted her to sit on its surface His hands cupped her brsts, and he ently

"I’ve wanted to do this for hours too"

She wrapped her legs around his hips and urged hi you here with uys didn’t see you along, but they seemed to like the idea"

She turned her face into his neck and inhaled Mmm What was it about this man that drove her to distraction?

"I knoe haven’t known each other long," he said

"That’s true," she murmured

"But you fit here so words she was not ready to hear

"So anyti out with us, you’re welcoain

"Because I really like you and I’d hate to think ouldn’t get to see each other again"

"I’d hate that too," she adht to Beaumont," he said "And then after that we’re in New Orleans I could take you to another sex club, if you like There’s an interesting one there"

Her lips brushed his throat "Too soon, Owen," she said She didn’t want to say no, but she did need him to slon He was like a bullet train, and she was only prepared for freight

"Oh," he said, the disappoint I don’t want to be with you," she whispered in his ear "I just have a lot of responsibilities, and I need to take things slowly" She leaned back and cupped his face in both hands "I’ you" She knew that hat he really feared

"Feels like it," he said