Chapter 4 Elizabeth #2
“You know, for a woman you doesn’t shop a whole bunch, you sure like to browse,” he noted. I had no idea how I stopped myself from smiling.
“See? Stalking.”
“No, that’s just being observant. The youngest in families usually are.”
“Stalkers?”
“No, good observers of their surroundings.” The man had a great poker face. Too bad for him I did, too.
“Hmm,” I muttered, loving the way his arms felt around my body as he swayed us to the beat of the song.
“So, what finally got you here?”
“A hot date,” I answered without thinking. Austin’s footsteps faltered a little. My lips twitched upward, but I hid my face in his chest, resting my cheek against the softness of his dark black shirt.
“Hot date, huh?” His voice sounded deeper. “With whom?”
“Why do you care?” My hand moved to rest against his chest, and I was unable to stop my fingers that seemed to have a mind of their own as they doodled on his strong pec.
“Elizabeth,” he rumbled my name with a warning that made me wetter.
I really need to get laid. “I don’t want to have a fight on my hands,” he muttered.
I glanced up at him, almost positive he was kidding, but the look on his face said otherwise.
The thought of Austin Hart even contemplating fighting someone for me made me tingly.
“Relax, Austin.” I pulled back, our eyes locked on one another.
Even with me in heels and dressed up, Austin towered over me, making me feel tiny, delicate, and feminine.
“No one would fight over me. Not for a simple, innocent dance with you. I was going to meet with a nurse friend of mine to catch up since I’m on vacation.
” Something flickered in his gaze, but before I could ask, he spoke.
“Nurse friend,” he repeated. “Male or female?”
“Does it matter?” I challenged. It was crazy.
We hadn’t talked a whole lot when we had that moment a few weeks ago, but there was something seriously sexy about seeing Austin get jealous.
Not to mention the fact he was looking at me like I was all he could see.
Like I was the only woman in the room when I knew for a fact there were probably a least two handfuls of women watching us, ready to drop anything to be in my shoes.
And that is exactly why you should finish your dance and head home, the voice in my head quipped.
“It matters when you’re dressed like that.” It was a stupid comment and enough for me to snap back into reality.
Men like Austin Hart were players.
Ones who were overgrown toddlers who still hadn’t learned how to share.
They reminded me of what Jackie had been like as a kindergartener, wanting all the toys even if she got bored with them and never wanting to share.
Not that I wanted Austin to share me exactly.
I just was not the kind of woman to be one of many.
Even if I had my own commitment issues.
“Thank you.” I smiled warmly. Confusion marred his azure gaze.
“For?”
“Reminding me why men like you only look for tourists, one of which I am still not, no matter how much fun it is to… dance with you.”
“Eliz—“
“This was fun.” I stopped dancing and let my arms drop to my side, ignoring just how wrong it felt. How much my body yelled at me to wrap myself right back in his embrace. But I didn’t. His hand rose and reached for my wrist.
“Liz, I didn’t—“ he started to say, but I shook it away. God, I loved how he touched me. Familiar and warm. Like he had been doing it for lifetimes. But I couldn’t let this drop.
“For future reference, Austin, a woman can dress however she wants to hang out with any of her friends. Male or female. Not that it was any of your business, but it was a woman friend I was meeting with. She got caught up at work and unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to cancel until I was already here,” I stupidly explained, taking a step back.
“It was nice seeing you, Hart,” I sarcastically added before I turned around and headed straight towards the exit.
All the while feeling his eyes on the back of me. And I wasn’t ashamed to admit I added a little more sway to my hips as I left.
Cool air hit my face as I stepped out, reminding me of just how stupid it was to leave home without a heavy coat.
Moonlit Pines weather in the winter had a lot of highs and lows.
My place was less than a mile away, and not only was it a safe town, it was still pretty early.
It would take longer to stand around and wait for a ride than to walk back home.
My feet were going to hate me in the morning, but at least their aching would remind me of why pining after a man like Austin Hart was a bad idea.
Not that I got far. Five minutes into my walk, I heard heavy footsteps start to slow down, and I knew it was him. I had no idea how, but I knew it down to my bones that Austin had run after me.
Chasing me.
And for some reason, I didn’t turn around.
I liked the thought of him pursuing me.
A minute later, his deep voice cut through the chilly mountain air. “Elizabeth.” My name rang in the air, close enough I knew he wasn’t directly behind me but close. But I still ignored him. “Liz, will you please slow down?”
This time, his hand reached for me, and my feet did as he asked. I stopped and glanced over him shoulder as I tried to hold on to indifference.
“What?” I asked.
“What? You just walked out of the brewery. It’s the middle of the night, and you’re not wearing a coat,” he accused, shrugging off his own and pulling it over my shoulders. The gesture was so sweet and unexpected, and his scent made me almost dizzy with desire.
“What?” I whispered. The stubborn fight I always held on to somehow melted outside in these frigid temps.
“It’s cold, baby. It feels like it’s going to snow soon, and you can’t walk all the way home dressed like that.”
“Dressed like—“ I glanced down at myself and the pretty, black dress I had put on with the very man in front of me in mind.
“Not to mention you’re lucky you haven’t slipped on black ice in those shoes you got on.” It felt like the two of us dropped our gazes down to the black patent leather stiletto heels on my feet.
“They’re pretty,” I explained. We simultaneously looked up at one another, and when his eyes connected with mine, my heart flipped on its side.
“They’re sexy as hell, Elizabeth,” he corrected, moving in a little closer. The heat of his body brushed against mine slightly, leaving me wanting for more. One of his hands touched my hip. “But I don’t want you to break your pretty little neck if you slip on ice.”.
“I’m very good with heels,” I started to say but gasped when he suddenly swooped in and picked me up, carrying me like a groom would his bride. “What are—“
“Shh…” he hushed. “I got you.” He hefted me up in his arms. I hadn’t been carried by anyone since I was a little girl. Yet right here, in the middle of the darkened Main Street of our hometown, he made me feel safe. Like he indeed had me, and not just to take me home.
“Cozy?” he asked as he started to walk.
“Austin.”
“I like when you say my name.”
“You can’t carry me all the way home,” I argued halfheartedly.
“Why not?”
“You’re not wearing a coat.”
“I’d much rather know you’re nice and warm,” he argued sweetly, and something in my lower belly heated.
“But…”
“Just let me do this, Elizabeth.”
“Okay, fine,” I muttered, trying to look away from him and not get too snuggled up in his embrace. “Why should I argue with you? If you wanna carry me home, I mean, you could drop both of us if you slip on ice.
“I won’t slip on ice,” Austin said adamantly.
“Why? Because you’re a man and—“
“I have great grips on my boots,” he shared. I frowned, looking out towards the city street, totally not leaning my head against his chest to enjoy the steady thrumming of his heartbeat.
True to his word, Austin carried me, literally, through town all the way to my place. I didn’t pretend to ask how he knew where I lived. When you lived in a place like ours, you kinda knew where everyone lived.
He walked us right to my door, and I hated the disappointment I felt at knowing that whatever this little interaction we’d had, this moment was closing in on being over.
Slowly, with the utmost care, Austin set my feet down carefully on the ground.
How the man wasn’t sweating or even out of breath after carrying me, I’d never know.
“Home sweet home,” he muttered, his blue eyes laser-focused on my gaze.
“Looks that way, doesn’t it?” I whispered.
“Key?” he asked, and for some reason, I opened my purse, reached for my keychain, and handed them right over to him. My fingers brushed against his strong wide-opened palm and shook.
“Good girl,” he praised in such a low, grumbly tone I almost wondered if I had imagined it.
I watched as he opened the door and stepped inside.
Turning on the lights, he looked around before stepping out and tipping his head, silently letting me know it was safe for me to enter.
I started to walk in, brushing my body against his as I passed him, before I stopped and turned around to look up at him.
“Austin,” I whispered, unsure of what I wanted to say.
Everything inside of me was yelling at me to invite him in, offer to scratch an itch that we had both been feeling, but something stopped me.
Maybe it was the fact he’d chased after me?
Or the fact he’d admitted he’d have no problem getting his knuckles bloody for me?
Or the fact he smelled so good, it did things to my head and made thinking straight close to impossible.
“Good night, Lizzy.” He winked, and I felt all the air in my lungs seized.
He bent forward. Disappointment and something like hope lit up all at the same time when his lips didn’t meet mine but my temple instead.
They lingered there for a moment. “Just so you know, any dance between us? There is nothing simple or innocent about it.”
And with the last word, I watched him walk away without turning once to look at me. When I stepped inside and locked the door behind me, I sighed and shut my eyes as my head rested against the old wooden door.
“What the hell was that?” I asked the empty living room as my heart tried to catch up with the rest of my body.
I wanted him, and there was no doubt he wanted me. Not when I felt the reaction his body had to mine. I wasn’t sure what game Austin was playing, but damn Austin Hart having the last word tonight.
With that thought, I pushed off my door and walked straight into my kitchen, where I made myself a pitcher of margaritas and something to eat before plopping myself in front of the TV to watch a movie and try to get tipsy enough to forget exactly how alive I’d felt in his arms.
Alive and safe and seen.