CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Danielle

Austin stood in front of me and unzipped my jacket, grinning as he removed it from my body as gently as he would a child. I couldn’t stop looking at the way the clouds played off the water, and was amazed that boats would be out on such a chilly day.

My phone pealed in the quiet and I grabbed my purse and slid out my phone to answer it. “Hello?”

“Hey, hon,” Emily said.

“Well, hi. How’s my favorite sister?”

She chuckled. “Doing well. You got a minute?”

“Of course.”

“Got info back on Austin.”

I glanced at him in the kitchen pulling down cooking utensils. “What did you find?”

“He was arrested when he was nineteen.”

“Yep.” I nodded. “I know.”

“Well, that’s it, sis. Nothing else is flagging. He’s a model citizen, doesn’t even have a speeding ticket.”

I don’t know why, but this news relieved me. I didn’t even realize I’d been concerned until now. “Awesome.”

“Okay, gotta help Amelia with her homework. Love you.”

“Love you too. ’Bye.” I hung up and tapped the phone against my palm.

“Wine?” Austin asked.

I glanced at him and then back out at the water. “Yes, please.”

I heard the pop of the cork and turned toward the sound, equally as impressed with his kitchen with top of the line stainless steel appliances. He’d removed his jacket and cut and stood in just a tight thermal shirt and his signature jeans. “Who was on the phone?”

“My sister.”

“Everything okay?” he asked, and grabbed a glass from an upper cabinet, pouring my favorite wine into it.

I grimaced. “Full disclosure…she kind of did a background check on you.”

He chuckled. “I’d have been disappointed if she didn’t. I like that they watch out for you.”

I grinned. “She only found your arrest.”

He nodded. “Told ya, babe. The club’s clean. Individually and collectively.”

“Yes you did.”

“Were you worried?”

“Not really,” I said, and walked toward him. “But it’s still nice to know my family isn’t going to be.”

He leaned down to kiss me quickly. “I’ve got you, baby.”

“I know.” I set my wine down. “Can I help?”

“Nah, I’m all set. Just make yourself at home.”

“Are you always going to serve me like this?”

“Sure. We’ll go with that.”

I chuckled and walked back to the window. “This place is amazing.”

“I like it.”

“How long have you lived here?”

He scrubbed a couple of potatoes. “I bought it three years ago.”

“You own it?” I asked, surprised.

He chuckled. “Yeah, babe. I own it.”

“Sorry. I shouldn’t sound so surprised.”

Austin handed me the wine glass I’d left on the counter and then grabbed a beer for himself. He took my hand and led me to the huge sectional in the great room, pulling me down beside him. “I get why you’re surprised, babe.”

“You do?”

He nodded. “I have a pretty chaotic life, Dani, so when I come home, I want some form of order. I’ve always been like this. I like nice things and Annie helped me put a little bit of a feminine touch on it, mostly so she could feel comfortable here. Or so she said.”

I giggled. “I must meet her.”

“She’ll be here for Thanksgiving. She’s threatened her old man if he doesn’t make it happen, she’s coming alone.”

I craned my neck to look up at him. “Is that allowed? Threatening your biker badass man into doing your bidding?”

“It won’t work for you, but it sometimes works for others.”

I snorted. “Oh, I see how it is.”

He gave me a gentle squeeze. “Hope you’re in the mood for steaks.”

“I’m a vegetarian,” I said, and bit my lip to keep from giggling.

“Fuck me,” he snapped. “You are?”

“Nope.” I glanced at him again. “But thanks for being so easy.”

Now, this is where I finally figured out that I had to stop shock bombing him because every time I did, I ended up on my back, his hands on my waist, and the very real threat of peeing my pants way too close a reality.

Then, before I actually did soil my drawers, I was kissed to the point of breathlessness, and left wanting more and more. I smiled against his lips and ran my fingers through his hair. “This is really hard.”

“Ya think?” he said with a groan. “We can take care of that right now, baby. My bed’s incredible.”

“It’s been a week,” I said.

“So?”

“So, it’s too soon, Austin. I need to know this is going to last before we jump into bed. I’m not like Kim. I can’t have sex and move on.”

He dropped his forehead to mine. “We might need to stick to public outings then.” He sounded mad.

“Whatever you need,” I said.

Austin climbed off me and left me lying on the sofa. I stayed put, listening to him opening cabinets, and then slamming them closed. This lasted for a little while… until I felt like I could talk to him without yelling or crying. I sat up and unzipped my boots, removing them before padding into the kitchen.

“Can we talk?” I asked, leaning against the island.

“Nothin’ to talk about, Dani.” Austin opened the fridge and pulled out steaks.

“I disagree. I feel like wanting to wait has made you feel like I don’t want you.”

He smirked. “Not even close.”

“So we’re okay?”

“Yeah, babe, we’re okay.”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

He sighed, pausing his chore of seasoning the meat, and studied me. “We’re okay, baby. That’s part of the problem. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met and I’m having to wait to taste every part of you. The more I know you, the harder it gets… literally. I go to sleep hard, I wake up hard, I jack off in the shower and I’m still fuckin’ hard. I hear your voice, I’m hard, I see you smile or hear you laugh, and I’m fuckin’ hard. It’s becoming a problem, Dani.”

I forced myself not to squeal in glee. “I’m the sexiest woman you’ve ever met?”

He shook his head. “I’m standing here talking about my very real medical issue, and you pull that from the conversation.”

I bit my lip. “Sorry. No one’s ever said that about me before.”

“Then you’ve been hangin’ around assholes.”

I smiled. “You’re probably not wrong.”

Austin wiped his hands on a towel and pulled me close, slipping his hands to my bottom and spreading his legs a bit to get down to my level. “You need to be patient with me. I’m gonna get pissed, and I’m probably gonna growl or say somethin’ stupid, but it’s only because waiting for you is killing me.”

“What have you done with other girlfriends?”

He dropped his head back and then focused on me again. “Never had to wait, Dani.”

“What? Never? They’ve just jumped into bed with you?”

“Pretty much.”

“Wow. I don’t really know what to say to that.”

“Different worlds, baby.” He smiled. “And you finding your way to mine just rocked it.”

I chuckled. “You have such a way with words.”

He kissed my nose. “Now, I’m gonna rock yours with these steaks.”

“Rock away, honey.”

He let me go and true to his word, rocked my world before he took me home and kissed me chastely on my porch. That part had pretty much sucked my world, but I had to stick to my guns or I’d be pregnant the second he touched me.

***

The Saturday morning of girls’ night out, I was awoken by the shrill, annoying ring of my burner phone. It was just over a week since I’d figured out I was in trouble and, although I hadn’t seen Austin as often as I would have liked, it was enough to confirm my doom. I was falling hard and fast for the man.

“Hello?” I answered, sleepily.

“Did I wake you?” Austin asked.

I smiled. “Yeah, you did.”

“You sound sexy as hell in the morning.”

“Charmer,” I retorted. “What time is it?”

“Ten.”

“Honey,” I said with a groan. “It’s too early.”

“So, if I’m at your door with breakfast, you’d tell me to piss off?”

I yawned, snuggling further into my mattress. “You’re not really at my door with breakfast, are you?”

“I’m really at your door with breakfast.”

I sat up, my hair falling around my face. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, babe, I’m here.”

“Crap, honey, I’m a mess. I have bed head and haven’t brushed my teeth.”

He laughed. “I don’t care. Come let me in.”

“I will unlock the door, but you have to give me time to get back to my room so I can at least clean up.”

“Jesus, Dani, I don’t care what you look like.”

“But I do. Promise me,” I pressed.

“I will give you ten seconds.”

I groaned.

“Baby, I got hot coffee and fresh bagels. How long you gonna make me wait?”

I threw the covers off and slid from the mattress. “Poppy seed?”

“You like poppy seed?”

“I love poppy seed.”

“Well, shit. I have one of those and a plain. I was kinda hoping you’d go for the plain.”

I pulled on a pair of sweats… hard to do with one hand, then made my way to the front door. “You can have the poppy seed,” I said.

“Gorgeous and generous,” he said.

“Okay, I’m unlocking. Count to ten and then come in.”