Page 21 of Date with a Devil
Austen’s jaw dropped and she gave him a look of outrage. Without the camera filming her, she was starting to resemble the girl from the locker room that he remembered.
“You can’t do that, Dane! Anywhere I go, my crew has to go, too.”
“I don’t want them filming my house. It’s private. God knows I can’t trust you guys not to go snooping around my house while I’m in the shower, and air whatever dirty laundry you find.”
She rolled her eyes. “Youreallythink we’d do that? You are beyond paranoid, dude.”
“Just saying. Nothing would surprise me anymore.” He smiled and took her to the living room, directing her to sit on the enormous leather sofa. “Make yourself at home. Remote’s in front of you if you wanna watch something on the big screen. And take your jacket off, why don’t you? You’re gonna burn up in that thing.”
“I’ll be fine. Just be quick, alright? We’re on a schedule.” She sat with her arms folded. Her foot anxiously tapped, the sole of her brown boot making aclick-click-clickon the hardwood floor.
Dane stood and watched her for a moment, secretly admiring her tight navy jeans.
Nice legs.
He wondered what the rest of her looked like beneath that winter jacket.
She caught him staring.
“What?” she asked, annoyed.
“You’re sort of adorable, all overdressed for this weather, you know that?”
She tutted. “Sort ofadorable. Gee, thanks for the all-time compliment.”
“Well, I don’t want your ego to get toobig.”
She gestured at the expanse of his house. “Because this palace only has enough room to fit yours, right?”
He laughed. “Cuteandfunny. I had no idea you were so talented, Austen Marlowe.”
“I can’t tell if you’re insulting me or flirting with me. Whichever one it is, I wish you’d save it for the camera.”
“Well, the camerasaren’there.” Dane smiled. “So is there anything you wanna ask me while we’re alone?”
Her eyes met his.
And for a split second, Dane could’ve sworn he saw a spark of interest—before she quickly snuffed it out.
“Yeah, actually. Apparently, you told poor, sweet Robbie Thomas to ask for my number. What did youthinkwas going to happen?”
Dane groaned. “He told you about that?”
“Of course he did. He’s sweet and honest, unlike you. It’s too bad you’re trying so hard to turn him into a womanizing sleaze like yourself.”
“Oh, please. Matchbox is just a kid who’s too afraid to approach a girl. He needs some training wheels. That’s why I told him to do it.”
She reared back. “You thought I’d be his ‘training wheels?’ ”
Dane chuckled. “I didn’t think he’d succeed. I just want him toget over his fear of rejection.”
She gave him the stink-eye. “Well, I hope you’re not expecting to try anything like that with me tonight. Because it won’t work.”
“I don’t know what kind of guy you think I am, but whatever. You don’t have anything to worry about.”
“I think you’re the kind of guy who still gets hickeys.” She pointed at his neck. “So are you hoping to graduate middle school this year, or …?”
Dane covered the bruise with his palm. “Eh … it’s unfortunate, isn’t it?”
