Page 55 of Austin

I bite my lip. “Why, Austin Sexton, I thought you liked it fast.”

“It seems like my tastes have been changing quite a bit lately.”

He leans in and kisses me. It’s a kiss so powerful that I feel it right down to my toes.

A rush of cold air swooshes up my body as he pulls his warmth away. His hand stays intertwined with mine until his steps take him further down the sidewalk, making my hand drop by my side.

“Night, Pyle,” he says just before he turns around to walk toward his car.

“Good night, Austin.”

He waits until I am inside my building, and I step into the vestibule.

I try to remain as quiet as a mouse when I open my apartment door. To my surprise, the lights are on, and Eva is wide awake.

“Ho-ly shit. Lucy, you got some ’splainin’ to do!” she says the latter in her best Ricky Ricardo accent.

“What?” I ask, not sure if I want to know what she’s talking about.

“Ha. You know exactly what I mean. Who were you with tonight, Jalynn?” She points to the window that overlooks the door Austin walked me to.

“Fine, I was with Austin,” I say, defeated and admitting who I was with.

“I already knew that when you snuck out of here hours ago. I’m talking about the LUNATIC hat he was wearing just now. The one you described to me a few weeks ago …”

“Crap. Eva, he doesn’t want anyone to know.”

“I knew it! I knew there was something going with you that was more than just a guy. You’ve been too secretive lately! Start from the beginning. Did you know him before he pulled you in the car?”

While I still feel awkward about spilling Austin’s secrets, it finally feels okay to talk to Eva. “No. I didn’t know anything until I walked into Bryce’s office the next day.”

“Girrrlll,” she drawls out. “You’d better watch it. I’ve heard stories about that guy.”

“Who? Austin or Falcon?”

“Both. And I can’t believe they’re the same person. I’m not sure if you’re the luckiest girl alive for bagging the most eligible bachelor or if I should be scared since you bagged the craziest.”

I freeze for a moment and let out a great big belly laugh. “Both,” I say.

And, just like that, I start telling Eva the entire saga of how I met Austin Sexton.

13

AUSTIN

I’m sitting at my desk when Stefanie buzzes through the intercom.

“Yes, honey bunch?” I drawl into the speaker.

“Bryce is here to see you.”

I knock my head back against my chair. “What the hell does he want?”

“Good to see you, too, brother,” Bryce says as he opens my office door.

Before he closes it, I see Stefanie’s sorry shrug. I give her a salute to let her know it’s okay.

I’m about to make a sarcastic comment about his unwanted visit when I notice his attire—jeans and a navy-blue Lacoste T-shirt. “Are you wearing sneakers?”