Page 24 of My Real Love Affair

“Are you finished?” I asked, my voice cold.

The three women exchanged glances. Then Dark-hair shrugged. “For now. Though you should probably get used to this. Nobody likes a sell-out.”

They swept past me, their perfume a cloud of expensive floral notes, and disappeared into the stalls.

I stood there for a moment, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My makeup was still perfect. Cleo had taught me well. But my eyes looked haunted. I would not cry. Not here. Not in front of them.

I lifted my chin, squared my shoulders, and walked out of the bathroom with as much dignity as I could muster.

And nearly ran straight into Austin.

He was leaning against the wall across from the bathroom entrance, one ankle crossed over the other, hands in his pockets. His suit jacket was gone, discarded somewhere during the evening. His tie hung loose around his neck, the top few buttons of his white shirt undone. His dark hair looked like he’d run his hands through it multiple times.

He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen in my life.

And this was absolutely the worst possible time. Our eyes met, and he held my gaze. Something in his expression shifted. Concern, maybe, or understanding. Like he could see right through the brave face I was wearing.

The bathroom door opened behind me, and the three women emerged, their conversation dissolving into giggles the moment they spotted Austin.

“Oh my god,” one of them whispered, not quietly enough.

“Austin Bancroft,” another breathed.

They stopped in their tracks, practically preening. One of them actually adjusted her cleavage. Austin’s eyes never left mine.

Then he pushed off the wall and walked straight to me, ignoring the other women completely. He stopped so close I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.

“Hey,” he said softly. “You okay?”

The gentleness in his voice nearly undid me. I nodded, not trusting my voice.

“Liar.” But he said it with a small smile. “Ready to get out of here, baby?” He said it loud enough for the women to hear.

I could practically feel the three women deflating behind me. And something shifted in my chest. Something fierce and reckless. These women thought I was pathetic. But right now? Right now, Austin Bancroft was looking at me like I was the only person on the entire estate. And those women were watching with barely concealed jealousy.

I decided to lean into it. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down to me. “More than ready.”

I kissed him. For half a second, he seemed surprised. His body went still, like he hadn’t expected me to make the first move. But then his hands found my waist. He pulled my body against his. To my shock, his tongue forced my lips open and then was inside my mouth.

His mouth moved against mine with a hunger that made my knees weak. One of his hands slid up my back, the other tightened on my hip, pulling me flush against him. I heard one of the women make a strangled sound behind us.

Perfect.

When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Austin’s eyes were dark. “What was that for?” he asked, his voice rough.

“For them,” I whispered, glancing behind me.

The three women stood frozen, watching us with expressions ranging from shock to envy to pure hatred.

Austin’s mouth curved into a wicked grin. He glanced at them, then back at me. “In that case?—”

He kissed me again, deeper this time. I forgot all about the women. Forgot about the bathroom confrontation. Forgot about everything except the way Austin’s hands felt on my body and the way he kissed like he was trying to make me his main course.

When we broke apart the second time, the women had scurried away.

“Nice performance,” Austin said, but something in his voice suggested he wasn’t entirely sure it had been just a performance.

Neither was I. He very purposely wiped his mouth with a grin. Yes, there had been a bit of my lipstick there. And now it was on his thumb. And holy shit, why was that so sexy? It was like I branded him. He was wearing my brand.