“Oh yes, I have needs.” Austin looked up atme with a heated expression, making sure I knew his needs were wicked.
I gave him a pointed look. “And one ofthose is dinner. I heard that stomach rumble.”
He blushed.
Austin Johnson actually blushed.
“My stomach does not rumble. You heard traffic.”He rolled his eyes but reached out and took my hand, starting to drag me to therestaurant. “Come on, you’ve kept me waiting long enough. Mama likes me so much,she gives me extra dessert.”
I snorted. “I get bigger servings.”
He gave me a dirty look. “How?”
I grinned. “I found a lawyer for her nephewwhen he got arrested last year.”
Austin waved his hand. “I paid for thelawyer. That means I should get the bigger servings.”
“I bet you told her dessert was yourfavorite part of the meal.” I tugged Austin closer so his arm brushed mine aswe headed toward the building. “I was smarter. I told her I liked everythingand made sure she knew I loved her place because I never walk away hungry.”
Austin gasped. “That’s devious.” Then hegrinned. “I knew we’d get along great the moment I met you.”
I barked out a laugh. “Liar. When I walkedin, you told Tanner you wanted to climb all over me like a sexed-up squirrel.”
He really had no idea how well soundcarried in that warehouse…or maybe my little troublemaker just didn’t care.Either way was fine with me.
Brats did everything better and he knew it.
****
“Oh no, see, sheloves me best.” Austin grinned when a huge plate of cheesecake was placed infront of him. The server must have been used to him because he just snorted andshook his head before setting a still-substantial piece in front of me.
The magazines and entertainment showsalways made it sound like he was followed everywhere, but aside from what wouldprobably turn out to be a fuzzy camera phone photo shot in the dark restaurant,we’d been left pretty much alone.
I rolled my eyes and dug into my dessert.He’d gone for strawberries and chocolate on his cheesecake, but I’d picked theplain one. “You’re delusional. My dinner was twice the size of yours and mydessert is still bigger than the regular pieces.”
Austin made a face like I was the one whowas crazy. “Yes, size is important.” He gave me an appraising look that made itclear what he was thinking. “However, there are other things to consider. Likethe fact that you’re eating that plain. Nothing fabulous about it at all.”
He put one elbow on the table and restedhis chin in his hand. “I’m very concerned about what kind of signals you'resending.”
Chuckling quietly, I gave him a teasing grin.“I don’t think you have to worry about my signals. Vanilla is the last thingI’d use to describe myself.”
Austin smirked. “You might just have toprove that to me later.” His eyes sparkled. “You don’t want me to worry, doyou?”
We’d steered clear of most sexual topicswhile we were in the restaurant, both of us realizing we needed to actually getto know one another. So I wasn’t sure exactly what he was itching for, but Icould probably guess.
Before I could respond, however, his phonewent off again. Austin let out a huff but pretended he didn’t hear it. In adifferent situation I’d have appreciated it, but his phone had been going offabout every thirty seconds for the past ten minutes. He hadn’t even peeked athis phone until after almost five straight minutes of texting, so I couldn'tcomplain, but it was still odd.
“Is everything okay?” Lifting the fork tomy mouth, I ate while he apparently mentally debated how to explain the texts.
He finally pouted and seemed to decide totell me the truth. “They’re fromeveryone. Wade keeps telling me to getto know you first and not rush into anything before we talk. Tanner is pointingout how difficult it will be to find someone else to work with if things don’tgo well. Jonah and Dakota are egging me on, and Bradley keeps texting mefinancial questions, which is his way of checking up on me. Oh, and myhousekeeper messaged me saying I’m out of milk and is trying to send me to thestore. I don’t know who called her, but I’m going to kill them.”
He had the oddest circle of friends.
Swallowing, I wasn’t sure what to think.“So is this their way of chasing me off or just telling you to be careful?”
Austin shrugged, not seeming worried in theleast. “They’re all just as interesting as me in their own ways. Tanner washead-over-heels for his man for probably years before he even hinted at it, sohe’s not a good example. He’s an obsessive planner and worrier.”
Then he grinned. “Jonah and Dakota arefabulous and are dying to live vicariously through whatever naughty fun we getup to.”
