I realize too late how he took my words. Honestly, I’m not sure. Do I want to go out with Austin again if he asks? He’s not what I expected—in a good way. It might be worth getting to know him when Hunter isn’t sitting five feet away. “You never know. I might be convinced,” I say after a pause that was probably a touch too long.
“I can work with that,” he says as we exit the restaurant into the cool evening air. I shiver, and he pulls me in even closer to his warm body. Talia’s warnings are still fresh in my mind, but I’m not complaining about feeling safe and protected tucked into his very-good-smelling side.
We must have parked farther away because Hunter’s silver BMW pulls out in front of us as we exit the parking lot; we end up following them all the way back to the condo. For this drive, Austin and I stay on safer topics, like number of siblings (he has one older sister, and I tell him about my two younger brothers, who are both in college now) and plans for the summer.
When we pull up and park behind Hunter, Austin puts the car in park but doesn’t get out yet. “Should we let them go in first, to avoid any more arguments over proper date-night conversations?”
Despite my misgivings, he does make me laugh. “Sure. We can wait a minute.”
We watch as Lou and Hunter get out and head for the duplex. Hunter stops on the porch and says something to Lou, and she shakes her head in response. Then she literally grabs his arm and pulls him into our half of the building.
“Hmm,” is all Austin says as he finally opens his door and comes around to get mine.
We walk up to the porch in silence, his hand on my back again. When we reach the door, I turn to face him.
His gaze travels over my face, lingering on my lips as he says, “This has been an ... interesting night. Talia wasn’t wrong when she said this date was guaranteed to at least be entertaining.”
I don’t know whether I should laugh or grimace. “Yeah. I’m ... sorry? Or you’re welcome. Take your pick, I guess.”
Austin pretends to deliberate, then, with his eyes glimmering, says, “I’ll go with option two.” His generous mouth curves into a half-smile. “I enjoy being entertained, especially when it involves a gorgeous, smart woman like yourself.”
“Now you’re just flattering me so you can get a good-night kiss.” My cheeks heat with a blush, but I don’t break our gaze.
“Is it working?” His smile grows, and he moves a step closer.
“I’m not sure yet.” I didn’t plan on actually liking Austin; he was merely a tool I was using for my own purposes. But other than the one awkward moment when he saw my scar, he’s been funny, attentive, and intelligent—not to mention insanely hot. It’s no wonder why he has so many different women on his Instagram page.
He slides one hand to my lower back, pulling me closer, while the other cups the back of my neck. His thumb strokes my jaw. “I have to be honest, you took me by surprise, Olivia.”
“You’re pretty much exactly what I expected, based on your highly curated Instagram page,” I reply.
He laughs, a low thrum that makes my stomach tighten. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”
“Take your pick,” I repeat, arching my eyebrows. Somehow, our mouths are inches apart.
“I hope it’s the first,” he murmurs. His warm breath brushes over my lips; I can smell the mint from his gum along with that heady cologne.
Before I can answer, his mouth touches mine. My arms are still at my sides. His hand slides to the middle of my back, pressing our bodies together as he kisses me again, firm and smooth. He’s an expert at this, and my body reacts appreciatively. I slide my hands up his biceps, to his shoulders. But for some reason, just as he deepens the kiss, Hunter’s face at dinner flashes through my mind—the dark glare he shot at Austin when Austin asked about my heart, the way our eyes met and held, sending a shiver straight to my core.
I break away with a gasp, and Austin immediately releases me.
“Everything okay?” he asks, a flicker of concern crossing his face.
“Yes! Fine. I meangreat.You’regreat.” I’m flustered andbabbling. Nothing like the polished women he’s used to, I’m sure. “I just remembered it’s my morning to get up early to bake tomorrow. You donotwant to see me without enough sleep.”
“That scary, huh?” He quirks a smile, kindly not calling me out for my obvious freak-out.
“You have no idea.”
“Well, far be it from me to keep you from your beauty sleep.” He walks down the steps but then pauses. “Thanks for the date, Olivia.”
“No, thankyou.”
“I hope we can do it again. But maybe this time, you’ll let me plan it.”
I laugh quietly and wave him off. Once he’s in his car, I let myself into the condo, shutting the door behind me and leaning against it.
“I can’t believe you let him kiss you.”
