Page 16 of Second Down Scrooge

“How was the date?” he asks, and I hear the caution in his tone.

I walk over and plop down onto the couch beside him, and I set my feet on the table in front of me before I answer. “Safe to say there won’t be another.”

“Because he ruined your favorite dress?”

How’d he know it’s my favorite?

Because I couldn’t stop thinking about you.

I shake my head. “No chemistry.”

He reaches over and squeezes my thigh a little. “Sorry. But honestly…yeah, no. I’m not sorry.” He doesn’t remove his hand, and the spot on my leg where his hand rests burns, as if all the nerves in my body are reacting to his touch and all the blood is rushing to the spot where his hand is.

I lean my head over onto his shoulder as I huff out a chuckle. “Plus, his last name is Cockshot.”

“Deal-breaker.”

“At least if I plan to change my name, it is.”

“Are you?” he asks. “When you get married someday, I mean.”

I lift a shoulder. “Probably.”

Kelly Graham has a nice ring to it, not that I’ve thought about it. Or I did, I guess. Back when we were dating.

I straighten and glance over at him, and his eyes are burning into mine.

What changed?

It’s like suddenly he’s irresistible to me. I mean, sure, I’ve always liked him. I’ve always been interested. But I have the strangest urge to lean over and kiss him.

“Are you ready to give this another chance yet?” he asks quietly.

Heat burns between us.

I’m getting closer, but I’m too scared to admit that to him.

I give him my standard answer. “Not yet.”

“It’s getting late. I guess I should head home,” he says, finally moving his hand from my leg and leaving a cold chill in its wake. He moves to stand, and I stand, too, so I can walk him out.

We head down the front hall, and I keep thinking I should come up with something—anything—to get him to stay, but I’m coming up short.

He stops when we get to the front door, and he sets his hand on the handle. Before he pushes it down to open the door, though, he turns back around to face me. “I had some news I wanted to share with you earlier.”

My heart skips a beat at his words. Is he about to tell me he’s seeing someone?

It surprises me that’s the first thought that runs through my head, but there it is.

“What is it?” I ask, my voice hoarse as I wait with a bit of anxiety.

“I’m starting on Sunday,” he blurts.

“Oh my God, Austin! Congratulations!” I squeal, and I toss my arms around his neck. I know how much he’s wanted this. I know he’s been working for it.

He laces an arm around my waist as I hug him, and I pull back but not out of his arms.

“And before you say anything, I want you to know I worked my ass off to make it happen. I didn’t sabotage anyone, didn’t bribe anyone. Just good, old-fashioned, hard work.”

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