“Why?”
“Girls’ night with Kim.”
Austin frowned. “Blow her off.”
“Um, no way. I only get one Saturday every other month when she blows off working at her very lucrative bartending gig to spend more than an hour here and there with me.”
He shook his head. “Babe, I can’t see you over the next few Sundays. I might be able to break away for a bit on Wednesday, but if I can’t, I’m not waitin’ an entire week to see you.”
I grimaced.
“What?”
“I can’t do Sundays either.”
“Why the hell not?”
“It’s dinner at my parents’ place.” I bit my lip. “It’s a standing date for all of us every week.”
“Shit!” He dragged his hands over his face. “Work with me here, Dani.”
I chuckled. “Austin.”
He cocked his head. “You think this is funny?”
I bit my lip and shook my head, but couldn’t hold back a snort at his expression of incredulity. “Okay, it’s a little bit funny.”
He smiled slowly and I realized I’d possibly pushed him a little further than I was prepared for. I backed out of the kitchen, him stalking me. I turned and made a run for my bedroom, attempting to close the door before he reached me, but failing miserably.
He bent at the waist and gently shoved his shoulder into my middle, tackling me onto the bed, and tickling me until I was sure I would pee. “Stop,” I squealed.
“You gonna make it up to me?” he asked.
“How exactly am I supposed to do that?”
He kissed my neck. “I can think of a few ways,” he whispered.
I had no idea what the hell was wrong with me, but this struck me as funny and I chortled, trying to squirm away from him as he gripped my hips and held me to the bed.
“That’s funny to you?” he asked.
I pressed my lips into a thin line and shook my head, but it was useless, I couldn’t stop giggling. Chalk it up to my lack of sleep, but I totally lost it. What I wasn’t entirely expecting was him to laugh as well. He didn’t stop tickling me, but he did laugh while he was doing it.
“Stop, stop,” I said, breathless. “I’m going to pee.”
He kept going.
“Stop, honey. Please.”
He did. Immediately. “What did you say?”
“Stop, I’m going to pee?”
Austin shook his head. “No after that.”
“Please?”
He squeezed my sides again and I squeaked in surprise, giggling again. I bit my lip and reached up to stroke his cheek. “Honey,” I whispered.
