“Stalking?” He chuckled darkly. “Me? Stalk you? Man, Lizzy, you have a really high opinion of yourself.”
“Elizabeth,” I corrected. “So, you’re telling me it’s just a coincidence? That we have a similar schedule?”
“Sure.”
“You don’t follow me around Main Street after running behind me every morning?”
“You know, for a woman you doesn’t shop a whole bunch, you sure like to browse,” he noted. I had no idea how I stopped myself from smiling.
“See? Stalking.”
“No, that’s just being observant. The youngest in families usually are.”
“Stalkers?”
“No, good observers of their surroundings.” The man had a great poker face. Too bad for him I did, too.
“Hmm,” I muttered, loving the way his arms felt around my body as he swayed us to the beat of the song.
“So, what finally got you here?”
“A hot date,” I answered without thinking. Austin’s footsteps faltered a little. My lips twitched upward, but I hid my face in his chest, resting my cheek against the softness of his dark black shirt.
“Hot date, huh?” His voice sounded deeper. “With whom?”
“Why do you care?” My hand moved to rest against his chest, and I was unable to stop my fingers that seemed to have a mind of their own as they doodled on his strong pec.
“Elizabeth,” he rumbled my name with a warning that made me wetter.I really need to get laid.“I don’t want to have a fight on my hands,” he muttered. I glanced up at him, almost positive he was kidding, but the look on his face said otherwise. The thought of Austin Hart even contemplating fighting someone for me made me tingly.
“Relax, Austin.” I pulled back, our eyes locked on one another. Even with me in heels and dressed up, Austin towered over me, making me feel tiny, delicate, and feminine. “No one would fight over me. Not for a simple, innocent dance with you. I was going to meet with a nurse friend of mine to catch up since I’m on vacation.” Something flickered in his gaze, but before I could ask, he spoke.
“Nurse friend,” he repeated. “Male or female?”
“Does it matter?” I challenged. It was crazy.
We hadn’t talked a whole lot when we had that moment a few weeks ago, but there was something seriously sexy about seeing Austin get jealous. Not to mention the fact he was looking at me like I was all he could see. Like I was the only woman in the room when I knew for a fact there were probably a least two handfuls of women watching us, ready to drop anything to be in my shoes. And that is exactly why you should finish your dance and head home, the voice in my head quipped.
“It matters when you’re dressed like that.” It was a stupid comment and enough for me to snap back into reality.
Men like Austin Hart were players.
Ones who were overgrown toddlers who still hadn’t learned how to share. They reminded me of what Jackie had been like as a kindergartener, wanting all the toys even if she got bored with them and never wanting to share. Not that I wanted Austin to share me exactly. I just was not the kind of woman to be one of many.
Even if I had my own commitment issues.
“Thank you.” I smiled warmly. Confusion marred his azure gaze.
“For?”
“Reminding me why men like you only look for tourists, one of which I am still not, no matter how much fun it is to… dance with you.”
“Eliz—“
“This was fun.” I stopped dancing and let my arms drop to my side, ignoring just how wrong it felt. How much my body yelled at me to wrap myself right back in his embrace. But I didn’t. His hand rose and reached for my wrist.
“Liz, I didn’t—“ he started to say, but I shook it away. God, I loved how he touched me. Familiar and warm. Like he had been doing it for lifetimes. But I couldn’t let this drop.
“For future reference, Austin, a woman can dress however she wants to hang out with any of her friends. Male or female. Not that it was any of your business, but it was a woman friend I was meeting with. She got caught up at work and unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to cancel until I was already here,” I stupidly explained, taking a step back. “It was nice seeing you, Hart,” I sarcastically added before I turned around and headed straight towards the exit.
