Page 38 of Worth the Risk

Even the elevator ride is silent.

When we reach her door, she slides the key into the lock, glancing back over her shoulder at me. Gone is the frustration that knit her brows earlier, replaced with something else. Her lips part and I’m not sure if she’s about to invite me in or apologize for saying the kiss was a mistake, but either way, it’s not going to fix the situation.

“Austin.” My name sounds like a plea.

Instead of letting her say something I know she might regret, I lift my finger and press it to her lips with a soft smile.

“Good night, Taylor.”

CHAPTER 13

Taylor

My heart thuds so loud against my chest I’m confident Austin can hear it through my apartment door. I let out a shaky breath, lifting my palms from the door behind me where they’ve left a sweaty palm print.

“What the hell?” I finally manage to get the words out that have been running through my brain on repeat.

This was never supposed to happen. I lift my finger to my lips, dragging them slowly back and forth where Austin’s lips nipped, sucked, and kissed. I could play off the first kiss, convincing myself it was all for show for the silly account I’d made, but that all changed tonight.

The way he growled into my mouth and grabbed a handful of my ass so mercilessly. I’m not okay and I’m not sure I ever will be again.

I try to push it all from my mind, scrambling to find the Tylenol and washing it down with a bottle of water. I rummage through my pantry, finding a long-forgotten pack of blueberry Pop-Tarts that I’m sure are very near or even past their expiration date. I don’t have the energy to care. I take a bite ofthe dry, sugary breakfast pastry, closing my eyes and letting the sugar and carbs do their work.

I already know I’m going to have a headache tomorrow from overindulging on drinks tonight, but that’s the least of my worries. Somehow, I have to manage to forget what happened tonight between Austin and me before work on Monday. With Miguel starting this week, I don’t have the mental bandwidth to try and deal with any awkward glances or moments alone with Austin in offices and elevators.

“Just take a shower and get to bed,” I tell myself, finishing off the rest of my midnight snack and making my way toward my bathroom.

The heat of the almost scalding water and thick lotion I lather on afterward do help to release a bit of the tension in my muscles, but by the time my head hits the pillow, a knot has formed in my stomach. My eyes squeeze tightly closed as his words come back to me.

“Just because I want to bend you over this back seat and make you forget your fucking name…”

“We both want to do it again.”

“Five years later and we’re both still attracted to each other.”

The knot burns when I think about how this could change things. How this could destroy everything we’ve built if we let it go any further.

Because I won’t be able to handle just being another notch in Austin’s belt. I don’t want just a whirlwind rebound romance or one night of what I know would be the most mind-blowing, life-altering sex that would permanently curl my toes.

But I’m far too self-aware to know that jumping into another relationship this quickly isn’t what I want right now. I want time to finally figure myself out and falling into bed with the manwhom I kept half of my heart on a shelf for all throughout my last relationship is a terrible idea.

An idea that I can’t seem to stop myself from entertaining.

An idea that I know will take control of me if I taste his lips again.

“You made it!” Becca waves at me enthusiastically as I yawn for the fourth time since arriving at the pickleball courts.

“I can’t believe I gave up sleeping in to play pickleball. Which, to remind you, I still have no idea how to play.”

“Don’t worry, it’s just like mini tennis; you’ll be fine.” She hands me an iced coffee which I immediately chug. “Oh, thank the gods.” I groan.

“That martini hit you that hard?” She laughs as we make our way over to Hector and Miguel on the other side of the court.

“The first one didn’t but the second one and partial third one sure did.”

“Wait, did you and that bartender hook up?” She shimmies her shoulders with a little squeal.

“No, shhh, and let’s not talk about mehooking upwith anyone in front of my new employee,” I say through an exaggerated smile as we approach the guys. “Hey, boys.” I wave, taking another long sip of my coffee.

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