Billionaire Bachelors 7 ; The Billionaire's Final Stand(26)

She reached for the bag and blushed scarlet when she saw a skimpy red laced thong sitting on top. She emptied the contents and found a tight undershirt, sweater, sweat pants, socks and slippers. No bra, of course. He wouldn't know what size to get.

"I didn't know what size shoe to buy, so I figured you could wear slippers in the store. I'll carry you back to the car when we're done," Austin said as if he could read the question marks in her head. She looked at his back with suspicion. He wasn't facing the mirror so he couldn't see her, but still, she needed to cover herself.

Her need for warmth outweighed her modesty, so she stripped her bra and panties quickly, finished drying and then threw on the new clothes. She had to fight the urge to hug him. It was actually the most thoughtful  –  almost romantic  –  thing a guy had ever done for her. Yes, she'd been bought flowers, even jewelry, but Austin had thought quickly, and was …  well he was taking care of her.

She pushed the thought down, but it wouldn't go away.

"Thank you, Austin," she said, her body still cold, but much better than it had been.

"I never could resist a damsel in distress," he said as he turned and grinned at her.

She began ringing out her sodden clothes in the sink, and he quickly jumped in to help. They finished and put her wet clothes in the bag before he opened the door for them to leave. Glancing at her reflection in the bathroom mirror as they exited, she cringed when she noticed that she looked like a drowned rat with her hair plastered to her face. She decided she didn't care. She was feeling much better  –  well, besides the bruised knees, and tender elbow, so it didn't matter. 

An old couple walked by, then did a double take as they realized she and Austin had just come from the bathroom. The old man actually gave Austin a wink before they passed. Kinsey's cheeks flamed again.

"Where to?" Austin asked as he snagged a cart.

"You really don't need to hang out with me as I shop," she said as she tried to dismiss him.

"I told you, I have things to get, too. I need new razors, toothpaste  –  you know, all the good stuff," he said.

She gave up and moved forward, taking the cart from him. It helped to take some of the weight off her sore left knee.

They walked silently down the aisles and Kinsey had to smile at the lost look on Austin's face. He obviously had no idea what he was doing. She could bust him on the fact, or just accept he was doing a kind thing for her. Considering she didn't want to get soaked waiting for the bus again, she decided to keep her mouth shut.



Austin looked at what seemed like miles of products. He'd shopped before, he wasn't a complete invalid, but never in a huge market. He wouldn't admit to Kinsey, but he couldn't stand shopping and had his staff do most of it.

If he needed something simple, he'd jot down to the local store. Beef jerky, fresh donuts, a bag of chips  –  those were simple items to get. But when it came to the right brand of shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, even toilet paper, he had no clue. He'd be damned before he admitted that to Kinsey, though.

They continued walking while she grabbed an item here or there and tossed it in the cart. For good measure, he did the same. He didn't know what the heck he was buying, though. Heck, if it wasn't something he needed, he'd just donate it.

For a 'non-date' date, he was having a great time. He enjoyed being with Kinsey  –  when she was happy, mad, surprised  –  hell, any mood she was in. He just liked …  well, he liked who he was when he was around her. He liked that he felt …  energized, ready to do anything.

By the third or fourth aisle they entered, he decided that shopping was definitely for women only. He passed a couple of men trailing their wives, and they gave each other sympathetic looks. They looked just as miserable as him as they chased their kids or answered their wives with which products they liked better. If they were like him, he didn't care if the shampoo smelled like peaches or vanilla. Any scent on Kinsey was enough to harden him.

He needed to get her alone soon. If she wouldn't have been turning blue in the bathroom …

He shook his head to clear those thoughts, or the entire store would know it had been a while for him. He shifted as they walked, his wet pants were already too tight, he didn't need to add to the problem.



Kinsey couldn't seem to take her eyes off Austin. The way his jeans clung to him in all the good places, the sight of his shirt plastered across his flat stomach. She wouldn't mind helping him out of his clothes, he looked a bit uncomfortable. The thought made her giggle.

She stopped suddenly and doubled over. She was sore, cold, and exhausted and hysterical laughter consumed her. If he could read her mind, he'd probably take her right there in the produce aisle.