Baby for my Dad's Best Friend (Seaport Billionaires #2)

14. Austin

14

AUSTIN

I want to roll my eyes at the jackass she’s with.

He looks like the type who wears a suit to work.

He’s clean cut, preppy in his designer jeans, sneakers you can’t bend your toe in, and a fitted T-shirt that shows everyone how skinny he is.

It’s one of those professional fighting shirts that all the wannabe badasses wear—the ones that tell everyone you watch the pay-per-view fights but you’d never stand in the ring.

He’s wearing a big, flashy watch on his wrist, too.

What I hate the most about the guy is how she doesn’t seem to hate him at all.

She seems to be having fun with the guy.

My anger doubles as I watch them dance.

He whispers in her ear, and it makes her cheeks turn a light shade of pink.

His hands roam her body, squeezing her hips and splaying out across her flat stomach as she wiggles her ass against his lap.

He bites his lower lip, and his eyes move down her body and back up, slowly.

The guy is probably hard for her, and she hasn’t even touched him yet.

When he tried to get close enough to kiss her, she spun around so her back was against his chest, making me wonder if she likes this guy as much as she wants me to believe or if she is just trying to piss me off.

If she was interested, she would’ve let him kiss her, wouldn’t she?

She didn’t try to stop me the night I walked her to her car.

And she sure as shit didn’t push me away; I had her begging me to fuck her. I grab my beer and pour a large gulp into my mouth.

I should have just given her what she was asking for, consequences be damned.

No, I can’t think that way.

I’ve done good at keeping space between us this week. I’ve managed to avoid her and haven’t been left alone with her at all.

I haven’t slipped since that day in the yard.

Sure, I think about fucking her in every position while I jack off in the shower nearly every night, but nobody needs to know that.

And as long as it doesn’t really happen, there’s no harm.

She stands, stealing my attention as she moves toward the bathroom.

That little black dress she’s wearing is tight. It’s showing off way too much leg. It’s also low-cut with thin straps, so her arms and décolletage are bare.

That asshole watches his date walk away and once she’s no longer visible, he turns his attention to the redhead who’s sitting at the table beside them.

He flashes her a smile and nods her a hello.

She grins and bats her lashes, and now, I want to throw Kay over my shoulder and carry her away from him.

What if he tries sealing the deal with her tonight?

What if she lets him?

She’s obviously in need of a good fuck. I worked her up and left her wanting.

I didn’t trust myself to finish her because I knew I wouldn’t be able to pull away after watching her come on my fingers.

I knew if I got to watch her come with my fingers inside her, I’d need to watch her come on my cock, too.

He stands and moves toward the bathrooms, which are in a small hallway, hidden from the rest of the bar.

Hell, he’s probably going to try to corner her outside of the bathroom and make a move in that darkened hallway.

I could go to the restroom and interrupt them, but I don’t trust myself to not lay him out if I catch them together.

Not knowing what else to do, I finish my beer.

I’m about to stand to leave when she walks out of the restroom with that asshole still inside the men’s room.

I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that he’s not trying to seal the deal yet.

But he will.

That’s what I would do if I were him.

I need to get out of here while I still can, before I do something stupid like try to defend her honor.

I throw back a shot, toss some cash on the bar, and stand to leave.

As I do so, her eyes meet mine, and she freezes.

Her eyes are wide and sparkling, and her lips are parted.

She pulls the lower one into her mouth and bites down.

I want to march over there, wind her hair around my fist, and drag her mouth to mine.

I wish I could bend her over a table and fuck her while everyone watches, but I tear my eyes away and leave the bar even though I have to force myself to take each step away from her.

When I fall into my bed, the pride I used to feel resisting her isn’t shining as bright as it used to.

A little of that light has been taken over with darkness as the monster inside of me grows stronger.

I can hear him laughing at me, but I can’t focus on what’s to come.

All I can do is be happy that I contained him for another day.

I still have two days before I go back to work.

That’s two more days of resisting her.

Like an addict, I’ll just take this one day at a time.

Monday rolls around, and I have no choice but to return to work where I know I’ll see her.

I try taking care of my needs first thing in the morning, hoping it helps keep my head on straight.

I’m not surprised to see her car in the drive when I arrive.

I walk into the house and hear her yelp. I rush to the kitchen and throw back the plastic sheet that’s hanging in front of the archway as I step inside.

There is Chase with Kaylee in his arms.

My jaw clenches as I turn and slap at the plastic sheet, pushing it out of my way as I exit the kitchen.

I walk out the front door, marching down the steps to my truck.

I don’t even know what I’m pissed about: the fact that every other man on this planet is allowed to touch her and I’m not, or that she went for a douchebags like Chase and the asshole I saw her with at the bar.

I open the door and reach into the back seat for my toolbox.

I hear the door shut behind me and when I turn around, I find her in front of me.

“That wasn’t what it looked like.”

“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean,” I reply, setting the toolbox on the ground as I reach in for my tool belt.

“We weren’t doing anything. I was on the stepstool and missed the step. I fell, and he caught me. That’s it.” Her eyes are full of panic.

I secure the tool belt around my waist and say, “I don’t know why you’re telling me this. It’s none of my business.” I glance up at her.

She crosses her arms over her chest and tilts her head. “You know why. You just saw me at the bar with another guy, and now, you walk into the house, and it looks like I’m with one of your crew members.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, you sure do get around.” I’m an asshole, and I know it. But I’m pissed, and sometimes my anger comes out directed at people it shouldn’t.

She gasps. “Seriously?”

Her tone makes me feel bad.

I shut the door on the truck and turn to face her. “Look, I don’t care who you date or who you fuck. It’s not my concern. I’m just trying to do my job.”

I bend down and grab the toolbox, carrying it into the house to get to work.

I don’t hear her following, and it’s a relief.

I’m able to focus on my work—at least that’s what I tell myself. I snap at everyone who gets in my way, and by the end of the day, everyone is avoiding me because I’ve bit their heads off all day long.

I call it a day a little before five, leaving the crew to finish up.

When I head out to my truck, I realize that her car isn’t in the driveway and wonder if she left earlier.

It doesn’t matter.

Maybe if I make her hate me, this will get easier.

I drive home and head for the shower.

When I get out, I pull on a pair of sweatpants and go to the kitchen to find something for dinner.

I dig around in the fridge, pull out a beer, uncap it, and pour half down my throat.

I can’t remember the last time I went to the store, but it’s been a while because there isn’t anything to eat.

I’m not happy about it, but I know if I want to eat tonight, I need to go to the store or at least pick something up.

Heading to my room, I change into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

I pull on my boots and finish my beer before collecting my phone, wallet, and keys. I lock the house behind me and climb behind the wheel of my truck.

As I drive away from my house, I realize that I’m not even all that hungry, but I know I need something in my system other than alcohol.

I’m not paying much attention to where I’m going until I blink out of my daze and realize that I’m on her street.

Her house comes into view, and I realize that in my hurry to leave, I didn’t grab the batteries for my power tools.

They need to charge tonight or I won’t get much use out of them tomorrow.

I pull into the drive and kill the engine.

I’ll just run in and grab them quickly.

I have the key to the front door, and since it’s going on six, nobody should be in there. I’ll grab my batteries, lock up behind me, and head to the grocery store.

I climb out of the truck and head up the sidewalk, digging in my pocket for the keys.

I pull them out, flipping through them as I make my way up the front steps.

I stop on the porch, listening harder when I realize that someone left the radio on.

Shaking my head, I slide the key into the lock and twist.