“I have great grips on my boots,” he shared. I frowned, looking out towards the city street, totally not leaning my head against his chest to enjoy the steady thrumming of his heartbeat.
True to his word, Austin carried me, literally, through town all the way to my place. I didn’t pretend to ask how he knew where I lived. When you lived in a place like ours, you kinda knew where everyone lived.
He walked us right to my door, and I hated the disappointment I felt at knowing that whatever this little interaction we’d had, this moment was closing in on being over. Slowly, with the utmost care, Austin set my feet down carefully on the ground. How the man wasn’t sweating or even out of breath after carrying me, I’d never know.
“Home sweet home,” he muttered, his blue eyes laser-focused on my gaze.
“Looks that way, doesn’t it?” I whispered.
“Key?” he asked, and for some reason, I opened my purse, reached for my keychain, and handed them right over to him. My fingers brushed against his strong wide-opened palm and shook.
“Good girl,” he praised in such a low, grumbly tone I almost wondered if I had imagined it. I watched as he opened the door and stepped inside. Turning on the lights, he looked around before stepping out and tipping his head, silently letting me know it was safe for me to enter. I started to walk in, brushing my body against his as I passed him, before I stopped and turned around to look up at him.
“Austin,” I whispered, unsure of what I wanted to say.
Everything inside of me was yelling at me to invite him in, offer to scratch an itch that we had both been feeling, but something stopped me. Maybe it was the fact he’d chased after me? Or the fact he’d admitted he’d have no problem getting his knuckles bloody for me? Or the fact he smelled so good, it did things to my head and made thinking straight close to impossible.
“Good night, Lizzy.” He winked, and I felt all the air in my lungs seized. He bent forward. Disappointment and something like hope lit up all at the same time when his lips didn’t meet mine but my temple instead. They lingered there for a moment. “Just so you know, any dance between us? There is nothing simple or innocent about it.”
And with the last word, I watched him walk away without turning once to look at me. When I stepped inside and locked the door behind me, I sighed and shut my eyes as my head rested against the old wooden door.
“What the hell was that?” I asked the empty living room as my heart tried to catch up with the rest of my body.
I wanted him, and there was no doubt he wanted me. Not when I felt the reaction his body had to mine. I wasn’t sure what game Austin was playing, but damn Austin Hart having the last word tonight.
With that thought, I pushed off my door and walked straight into my kitchen, where I made myself a pitcher of margaritas and something to eat before plopping myself in front of the TV to watch a movie and try to get tipsy enough to forget exactly how alive I’d felt in his arms.
Alive and safe and seen.
5
austin
Walking awayfrom her had cost me. Big time.
I was supposed to be at work, not chasing after a woman who I still wasn’t sure liked me. Shit, she’d called me her stalker to my face. Fuck, I loved that fire in her. But that was exactly what I’d done. And when I’d returned? I’d completely ignored the questions in my best friends’ eyes. Onyx had shot me a look like we were going to have a chat soon, and Bash just smirked and shook his head when he walked out of the brewery an hour ago. The place was quiet now, and other than Brett, our cook, who was in the back, finishing cleaning up the kitchen, I was alone with my Elizabeth-filled mind.
The way she’d filled that dress.
The way she’d looked when she’d received a text.
Alone.
Like she was about to float out into sea without anyone noticing.As if I would ever let that happen.I’d literally hopped over the bar and made my way right over to her as everything inside of me yelled to let her know just how not alone she really was.
“You heading home soon?” Brett asked as he stepped out of the kitchen and stretched. The guy was massive. Built and muscular. I would bet money he might even be a little taller than my older brothers Boyd and Shep.
“Maybe.” I shrugged, rolling my head as I stroked the cool glass of the drink I’d been pretending to drink since the doors had closed two hours ago.
“Place was filled tonight,” he noted, making small talk.
“It was.”
“Heard you chased after someone. Everything okay?” He looked like he wanted to take the seat next to me but was unsure if he’d be welcome. And it made me a dick, but I liked being alone. I answered with a shrug because I honestly didn’t know if it was.
Would anything ever be okay now that I’d found the woman of my dreams?
One I was cursed to eventually lose?
