Page 45 of Just Business

I take a step back, letting my eyes sweep over him. If I thought he was gorgeous on that first day, it’s nothing compared to how I see him now that we’ve gotten to know each other.

“You look so good.”

A shy smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, and the tips of his ears turn pink.Is he blushing because of me?

Austin clears his throat, his eyes meeting mine and holding for longer than I expect. “Thank you,” he says. His voice is soft, sincere.

He turns toward the pile of quilts, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “Guess we better get going.”

Once we’ve gathered everything, we head outside and hop into the van. The drive-in theater is a twenty-minute drive to the next town over. The air is thick with anticipation, but finally, he clears his throat.

“So, I, um, I don’t have swim trunks.” He must see my confusion because he explains. “For Sunday. The cookout. I don’t have swim trunks. I was gonna order some, but none would arrive in time.”

“Oh! That's not a problem. Lisa has a whole drawer of trunks that people have left behind. Or you can borrow some from Liam.”

“They’re really great, ya know—Greg and Lisa. Well, all of them, really. I can see why y'all are all so close. Birds of a feather and all that,” Austin says.

“You know they all think you’re great, too.” A look passes over his face, and I study him, trying to read his expression. I’ve gathered from the stories he’s told me that he doesn’t think many people like him beyond his immediate family. “You’re pretty easy to like.” His whole demeanor changes at those words, and he turns, flashing that dimple, causing my heart to tumble around inside my ribcage.

“Yeah?” he asks, doubtful.

“Absolutely. I’ve loved every second of our time together,” I assure him.

After finding a spot with good visibility, I run and grab our food from the concession stand. When I return, we lay out a pallet of quilts in the back of the van and climb in with our feast surrounding us. You better believe in addition to our burgers, fries, popcorn, and drinks, I have a Solo cup of candy salad. Austin shakes his head, laughing, as he watches me mix it all together.

Once we’re settled in, he reaches over, lacing our hands together again.

“Take a selfie with me,” I say, grabbing my phone with my free hand.

Uncertainty flashes across Austin’s face, and I give his hand a reassuring squeeze.

“I just wanna remember this night. This picture is only for me.”

He leans in and I hold my phone up, but at the last minute I turn and press my lips to his cheek, clicking the shutter button as I do.

When I pull back, he’s smiling.

“Send me that. I wanna remember this night, too.”

I send it and his phone buzzes. He looks at the photo and then up at me.

“We look good together,” he says, winking, and I lay my head against his shoulder, threading my fingers back through his.

About halfway through the first movie, his thumb begins forming lazy circles inside my palm, and my body lights up like the summer fireflies flitting around in the distance. Up until this very moment, I had no idea that a few circles on the inside of my palm could have me so turned on that I’m wanting to straddle his lap.

When I turn my eyes toward him, his are already on me. They’re heated to match the same desire coursing through me right now.

“I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look tonight. When you opened the door, I wondered what I’ve done to deserve having you here with me. And I want you to know, these sundresses are about to be the death of me.” His voice is low and rumbly in my ear.

My neck heats at his compliment. Speared on by a sudden burst of courage, I lean in and lightly brush my lips on his. Austin is caught off guard, and it takes his lips a second to catch up. When I break the kiss, he catches my chin and puts his mouth back on mine more firmly than I dared. His hand moves to my hair, tugging just enough for all my synapses to start firing. We’re continuing where we left off last night, but this time with no doubts or questions about what we’re doing. We kiss until I’m sure both our lips are bruised and swollen. When we part he presses his forehead to mine.

"I’m trying damn hard to take things slow like we agreed, but you have no clue what you do to me.” His voice is raspy, frustrated, and full of want, matching my own battle that’s warring inside me at our current situation.

We turn, trying to focus on the movie again, but his thumb is back drawing those lazy circles on my palm. My breaths come out unevenly, and I know he hears them because his movements stall. He leans down, grazing his lips across my sun-tinged shoulder and my whole body tingles with desire.

When his thumb tugs my chin toward him again, I tangle my fingers in his hair and open to him, my mind going hazy. I want more than this, and the frustrated moan that slips from me tells him as much. Austin smiles against my lips.

“Me too, Penny. Me too.”

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