Free Rescue Breathing by Zoe Norman Page B

doesn't
see me. If he notices that I'm here, I' m done for.
    The bartender brings me my drink and I
give it a stir before taking a sip. It's delicious, and the slight
warmth from the alcohol soothes me almost instantly. I check my
phone one more time and then put it down when I realize that
Charley hasn't texted me back.
    I look carefully toward the other side of
the room, trying to avoid Rob 's area. As I sweep my eyes over the crowd, I am
immediately drawn to the rowdy boys' club at the end of the bar. I
turn slightly to observe them. They seem to be a bunch of men who
know each other well—and a hoard of women trying to get to know
them better. I love watching human nature in action like this. It's
entertaining if nothing else.
    One blonde, with what can only be
described as an ample bosom, is fawning over what looks to be a
very handsome, very tall man. He seems to be physically trying to scoot out of her way,
but he isn't making much progress. She's like a magnet. It's funny
because he looks familiar somehow. I haven't seen his face yet, but
there's something about him. Is it the voice? No….who would I know
here? Maybe it's someone from the conference?
    As I 'm racking my brain for who it could be, he angles himself
slightly toward me as he talks to the blonde. Oh. My. God.
It' s Owen.

CHAPTER NINE
     
    Owen
     
    I put my empty glass on the bar and
attempt to get the bartender 's attention for a refill. He acknowledges me but continues
to work on the drink he's concocting. As I wait, I look around the
busy bar. Most of the patrons are coupled up, and my group clearly
dominates the small space. The bartender hands me my drink, and
when I raise my head to thank him, my eyes fall
on…Olivia?
    “ Olivia…” I murmur to no one
specific.
    My God, she looks hot. Like, really hot. Her hair is down in soft
curls and her eye makeup is done in such a way that accentuates her
beautiful blue eyes. And her lips… Mmmm, those lips. I start to
salivate when I remember how she tastes, and I definitely want
more.
    Olivia casually looks around the room, and
moments later, her eyes settle on me. Our eyes lock, and I' m mesmerized. Smiling wide, I quickly excuse myself from my group and
walk up behind her. I pull out the barstool next to her and take a
seat. Leaning in next to Olivia, I touch my shoulder to
hers.
    “ I saw you checking me out,” I
smirk.
    Olivia chuckles softly and blushes; I
melt.
    She smiles up at me and bats her long
eyelashes. “Who, me?
Checking you out? I was just looking for the bartender.” she
teases.
    “ Hmm, I see.” I grin. “It's nice to see
you, beautiful.”
    Olivia starts to fiddle with the stir
stick in her drink and turns a bit in her seat, crossing her legs.
“It's nice to see you too, Owen. Are those your friends?” she asks,
gesturing toward my party at the end of the bar, which is now
watching us intently, including a none-too-happy Monica.
    “ Yeah. We're kicking off the weekend here
tonight. I know most of them, but the blonde...Well…I think she's
looking to be the entertainment for one of them tonight,” I say as
Olivia focuses in on me.
    I eye Olivia up and down, drinking in her
features—her sexy black dress that clings to her perfectly, her
flawless skin, and her striking blue eyes that contrast with her
long brunette hair. I want to reach out and touch it.
    I lean in close to her. “You look
downright fuckable. Please tell me you came down here looking for
me. I couldn't take it if you dressed like this for someone else,”
I tease, grabbing my chest and feigning heartbreak.
    “ Fuckable, you say? I'm assuming that's a
compliment?” She raises an eyebrow at me.
    I chuckle and nod.
    “ I actually came down here to meet my
girlfriend for a drink, but unfortunately she doesn't seem to be
able to make it. So instead, I'm just being that lonely girl at the
bar everyone else feels sorry for.” Olivia makes an exaggerated
pouty face at me and sticks out her bottom lip. I want