Chapter 6 #2
Austin laughs, a low, rumbling sound as he wraps an arm around my waist and tries to pull me back while diving for the dessert with his other hand.
“Just let him take a freaking bite!” Hunter shoves the plate toward both of us, and somehow, it ends up rammed into my chest.
The entire table falls into stunned silence. I stare down at myself in dismay. It’s a dry-clean-only dress, and it’s now coated with bread pudding, extra sauce, and whipped cream.
Hunter stares. “Olivia—I—”
“Shut up, Hunter.” Lou cuts her cousin off with a narrowing of her eyes. “If you ruined her dress, you have to buy her a replacement.”
“Of course,” is his immediate reply.
“Here, try this.” Austin has soaked his napkin in water. “Get the worst of it out, at least.”
I take the napkin gratefully and pull the dress down and out to try to wipe off as much of the mess as possible.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Austin stiffen, and when I glance up, I realize he’s staring at my chest. There’s a split second when I think it’s because I’m displaying some cleavage.
But then I remember.
I quickly yank the neckline back up, but the damage is done. When I finish wiping off as much as I can and set the napkin down, I look up to see Austin examining my face with a question in his eyes. He doesn’t seem repulsed, but he does look . . . concerned. A crease has formed between his brows.
I sigh. “I had a heart transplant when I was eighteen,” I say without preamble. “I’m guessing Talia didn’t tell you?”
“No, she didn’t.” His voice lowers. “Are you . . . are you okay?”
“I’m fine now. As good as new.” I’m acutely aware of Hunter’s burning gaze from across the table. The heat of it singes the side of my face and neck, as if his focus is a palpable thing.
“Really? So that’s it? You got a new heart, and you’re good to go?”
“Well . . . it’s not quite that simple. There are, uh, risks. Potential complications that could come up at any time. I have to get testing done every year and . . . and—”
“You don’t owe him any answers, Liv. You just met the guy.” Hunter’s sudden interjection silences me—as does the first time I’ve ever heard him use a nickname. My mouth opens and closes once as I glance between the two men.
“Seriously? You wanna go down this road?” Austin levels Hunter with a cool glare.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hunter returns with every bit as much ice.
Every pulse of my heart is a drumbeat, pounding out a cadence of increasing anxiety that turns my hands clammy. I’m desperate to make this . . . whatever it is stop. But I have no idea how.
“I think you do.” Austin drums his fingers on the table, the picture of nonchalance. But tension hovers around him like the intake of breath after a flash of lightning, that moment of waiting, wondering when the thunder will crash all around us.
“Oh, I see our waiter. Should we get a to-go box for the brownie?” Lou tries to redirect them, but the men are in a standoff. I don’t think either of them even heard her.
“I’m just pointing out how inappropriate it is to ask such a personal question when you barely met her—and I’m reminding her that she doesn’t have to answer it.” Hunter leans back against the booth, folding his arms across his chest.
Lou literally waves our waiter over, her cheeks tinged pink.
“It’s fine, Hunter. I get asked all the time. It’s no big deal.”
“It is a big deal. It’s not like he’s asking if you liked the brownie or the bread pudding better or whether or not you work out. He’s asking if you’re going to live or die!”
“I said it’s fine.” I slam my hands down on the table, shocking all of us. I don’t know if Hunter thinks he’s trying to protect me or something, but I’m humiliated and exhausted, and all I want to do is go home and climb into bed.
And then pray that this disastrous date doesn’t lead to Talia losing her job.
Hunter’s eyes lock on to mine and hold. The intensity of his gaze makes my heart stutter, a deep ache forming in my belly as his eyes hold me captive.
“All set here?” Mark’s voice has never been more welcome. Hunter looks away as Austin hands Mark the bill with his card. We all sit in stony silence as the server runs it and hands Austin the portable card reader so he can fill out a tip.
It shows how truly terrible the night has gone that neither Lou nor I ask for a box for the uneaten desserts. We get up the moment Mark leaves and head for the door. Austin’s fingertips graze my lower back, guiding me out of the restaurant ahead of Hunter and Lou.
“I’m sorry if I was out of line,” he says, leaning forward to speak softly into my ear. “I didn’t intend to make you uncomfortable.”
I shake my head. “He was out of line. Those aren’t easy questions to answer, but he had no right to get in our business like that. I’m really sorry.” I choose to ignore the fact that Hunter is behind us. Hopefully he and Lou are keeping their distance.
Austin chuckles. “Oh, I know what his problem is. But I don’t care about him. I want to make sure I didn’t upset you.”
His words spark an agitating skirmish of emotions within me—confusion, curiosity, even embarrassment. I smother the curiosity and say, flustered, “I’m okay. But maybe let’s drop it for tonight. That might be a second- or third-date conversation.”
Austin’s hand slides across my back to my waist so his arm wraps around me. The alluring spice of his cologne envelopes me. “Will there be a second or third date?”
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 mean great. You’re great.” I’m flustered and babbling. 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 do not want 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, thank you.”
“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.”
I jolt and whirl to glare at Hunter, who stands by the window. “Were you spying on me?”
“He’s a complete tool. Anyone can see that.” Hunter’s gaze is dark, his hands shoved into his jeans pockets, his powerful shoulders tight; he reminds me of a snake, coiled, ready to strike.
“He was funny and nice. And I don’t see how any of this is your business.
” I move to brush past him to where I can hear Lou loudly doing dishes in the kitchen, probably trying to act like she’s not eavesdropping, but Hunter reaches out and snatches my arm, pulling me to a stop.
I stare down at where his fingers wrap around my forearm, branding my skin with heat, then up to his face.
My heart thuds. Our eyes meet and hold in the semidarkness. My breath catches in my lungs.
“I know guys like him,” Hunter says, low and urgent. “He’s not a good idea.”
“It takes one to know one, right?” I snap back, angry at him for watching us, angry at my body for reacting to his touch like this. “At least he didn’t tell me he has no interest in me—in any way.”
Hunter flinches but doesn’t back down. “I’m trying to protect you.”
I scowl. “That’s something friends do. And you’ve made it very clear that we’re never going to be anything close to friends.” I yank my arm free. “So why don’t you keep your opinions to yourself and leave me alone.”
“If that’s what you want.” Hunter’s voice is cold. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I ignore the quiver that runs down my spine as I storm away from him, heading for the stairs instead of the kitchen. I just want to be alone—and as far away from him as possible in this suddenly far-too-small foyer.
Once I’m in the safety of my room, with the door slammed shut behind me, I rip off the possibly ruined dress as fast as I can, leaving it in a heap on the floor.
I have to take my immunosuppressant meds, but as soon as I swallow them, I curl up under my covers, not even bothering to remove my makeup.
The moment my head hits the pillow, the tears come, and I curl into a ball, trying to cry as quietly as possible because I’m not even sure why I’m so upset.
All I know is that I felt more of a physical reaction when Hunter held my arm for ten seconds—in anger—than the entire encounter with Austin on the porch, including his kiss.
There’s no reason for Hunter to warn me about Austin.
The only person I need protection from being hurt by is him.