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scrape across the hardwood floor and draw the attention of all the other patrons in the room. The man was a couple inches shorter than him, but no less powerful. For the second time in less than forty-eight hours, he was prepared to fight if necessary.
    “If she’s your mate, why doesn’t she bear your mark?” the man accused. “Why is she with me on Valentine’s Day instead of you?”
    He looked down to see Fiona staring up at him, her green eyes wide, waiting for his response. She was so beautiful. He ignored the man and spoke directly to her.
    “Fiona, I’m not married. Heather is my cousin and I hired her, and two other people, so I would have time to be the kind of man you deserve, not some stressed out workaholic who can only see you every few months. You’re my heart, and the most important thing to me. Please give me a chance to show you how much I love you.”
    As he waited for her response, he glanced at her date and the man stared at her with an eyebrow raised, asking a silent question. It seemed as if the man’s next move would be decided by her words, and it was only then that he noticed their similarities.
    “It’s okay, Caleb,” she sighed. “Owen this is my brother, Caleb. Caleb, this is Owen Waverly.”
    Caleb stuck out his hand, and Owen grabbed it.
    “It’s nice to finally meet you,” Caleb said, his face still hard as granite. “You break her heart, and I won’t be so nice the next time we’re in the same room together.”
    “It’s nice you meet you, too, and you don’t need to worry,” Owen replied. “I don’t plan on breaking her heart.”
    “Caleb,” Fiona said, “I think you should go now. Owen and I have a lot to talk about and you need to fix things with Marianne.”
    “Call me,” her brother said, looking at her pointedly.
    “I will. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
    “Happy Valentine’s Day, sister. I love you.” Caleb kissed her on the cheek, and then turned back to Owen. He smiled, and patted him on the back. “Hopefully the next time we meet it will be less eventful.”
    “Hopefully. Good luck, tonight,” Owen said.
    “Thanks,” Caleb called over his shoulder. “I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”
    They both watched him leave, and then Owen spoke again.
    “Do you want to stay and finish your lunch?”
    “No,” she said, quietly.
    “Do you want to go upstairs?”
    “Yes,” she said.
    He waved over the waiter and paid the bill, and then he stood and offered her his hand.
    Thankfully, she took it.

Chapter Five
     
    Owen is here! Oh my god!
    The same two sentences had filtered through Fiona’s mind at least a thousand times since Owen showed up and interrupted her lunch with Caleb. She remembered what the Matchmaker had said about things changing for the Montgomery siblings and she wondered if the woman had known more than she let on.
    She tried to remain calm and casual, but inside her stomach flip-flopped. Owen had shown up, on his busiest day of the year, and announced that he hadn’t been married, and more importantly, he’d said she was his mate.
    They rode the elevator in silence, and then he followed her down the hall equally quiet. He didn’t say a word until he closed the room door, successfully blocking out the rest of the world.
    “Fiona—”
    “You’re sure you’re not married?”
    She’d believed him, and yet, it was all too surreal. She needed to hear him say the words again.
    “I’m sure. Why don’t we sit down? Would you like some water?”
    “Yes, please.”
    She sat at the tiny table and waited for him to join her. He brought over two bottles of water, and gulped his halfway down before he started talking. His hand shook slightly and she realized it was the first time she’d ever seen him nervous.
    “I think I’d better start at the beginning…”
    The beginning had been when he’d taken over his father’s store. He told her about falling deep into the business, his plans for success, and how easy it had been to