More Than I Wanted(8)

He hung up the phone; just stared. Did that just happen?

“Problem solved.”

I didn’t know what to say. I just looked at him.

“I’m not interested in you sharing those kisses with him any longer,” he smiled. “I’ll take a few more if they’re available.”

I was stunned. Happy and confused, but stunned.





Chapter 5





“So he calls Nick right then, like it’s no big deal!”

“Get out, really?”

“Yes!”

“What did Nick say?”

“I don’t know, I only heard one side, but Austin goes, “She’s not available any longer”, and told him there was no need to call back. I couldn’t believe he was doing that. I didn’t know how to react; I just stood there completely and utterly shocked.”

“Score one for Austin,” Heather said.

“I about died,” I whispered. “I have to go; he’s almost out of the shower.”

“Okay, call me after he leaves.”

I heard him whistling when the water stopped. Coming around the corner, “Thanks again for the use of your shower. I feel like a new person.”

“No problem.”

“Maybe we could do dinner tonight? A nap may be in order, since I kept you up half of the night,” he said, his hands running through his short, cropped hair.

“Dinner sounds nice,” I said, unable to wipe the grin off of my face. He still hadn’t put his shirt back on. It was thrown over his shoulder like a hand towel. He stood barefoot, and in jeans zipped up, but not yet buttoned. I tried not to stare. Hell, who am I kidding, I couldn’t not stare. He was gorgeous.

I watched him finish dressing, and made small talk as he headed for the door. Following him to it, I stood against the door frame. Leaning in, Austin cupped my face gently and gave me a sweet, gentle kiss.

As he walked to his car, I closed the door and leaned in behind it, my heart beating fast. I waited for him to pull away before calling Heather back on her cell. I was careful not to call her work line, since I’d called out earlier.

“He just left,” I said, “and he wants to go out to dinner tonight.”

“That’s great, Kate. I can’t talk right now, but I’ll call you back later,” she said, before letting me go.

I was floating, and I’m pretty sure this smile was now permanently pasted to my face. I hadn’t felt this way in awhile, and knew I had it pretty bad for him. I was smitten!

Curling up on the sofa, I smiled thinking about that first kiss and Austin pressing me to the wall, his lips brushing against my own. Mmm, and then the second kiss, he was deliciously sexy. I wasn’t sure what I thought about the Nick incident, but the final result is that Austin and I are going out for dinner tonight. I took it as a win, and then after a leisurely nap on the sofa, I found my way to the shower.

Humming in the shower, I thought about this seemingly perfect guy, okay, incredibly sexy guy I haven’t gotten to know well enough yet, but regardless, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was the first time in a long time and it felt nice. I wasn’t exactly planning a picket fence and babies yet, but lingerie and hot sexual encounters were high on my list of things to do with Austin.

My humming turned to off-key singing as I planned my outfit for the evening. I was amazed we were even going out, after our first encounter at the barbecue seemed to have left him flat. Whatever happened between now and that time, I was grateful for.

Sifting through my underwear drawer, I found a lacy red bra and panty set to slip on, just in case things got spicy later. I felt a little naughty thinking such racy thoughts about him all ready, and knew I’d probably halt things before they went to far, but it made me feel saucy and happy getting ready, so I stuck with my original choice and continued to my closet.

I stood there consumed with dissatisfaction. I didn’t have anything to wear, well nothing sexy anyway. I realized how bland my closet had gotten over the last year or two, with a mix of sensible work garb, running gear, and a dress or two that were way too dressy for a simple night out. Crap, now what? I didn’t want to go through the process of trying to buy something last minute, so I stood staring at my mix of clothing.

We were going to a local pub, just a low key night of sandwiches and beer. He said it was one of his regular haunts, but he hadn’t had a chance to go back since he’d come home. Austin raved they had the best roast beef sandwiches around, and the beer always seemed a few degrees colder than other places. He promised a more romantic dinner out later.

In all honestly, we were still finding out exactly what we were together, if anything. I knew what I hoped the outcome would be, but I was getting ahead of myself. It seemed pretty apparent in the kitchen earlier that he was on the same page as I was, but it’s always awkward early on, wondering if you’re both thinking of being monogamous or dating others. I hate the early dance of a new relationship, trying to figure out where the other person stood.