Page 34 of Spies without a Face
Austin glanced at me briefly. “What about you? Did someone hurt you?”
My muscles tensed, and I pursed my lips. This conversation was one I was trying to avoid, but I guess I’d been the one to start it. I took a deep breath and admitted, “I was engaged once. It was a long time ago. We were in our mid-twenties.”
Austin winced, as if I’d caused him pain.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yes.” He released a nervous-sounding laugh. “What happened?”
I tapped my fingers on my thigh. “We were young, somewhat foolish. But ultimately, we wanted different things in life, and we drifted apart.”
That covered it with an umbrella explanation, leaving out the painful details of our breakup.
“What about now?”
My lip curled. “There’s no one.” Marius was back, but that didn’t mean anything—except maybe to serve as a reminder as to how painful relationships could be.
“What about you, Austin? Do you have someone special in your life somewhere in the world?”
“If I did, I shouldn’t be at a speed dating event and hoping to go out with my neighbor,” he said with a wry grin.
A shiver of delight ran through me. I tipped my head. “I’m glad to hear that you’re not a cad.”
Cad? Where did that come from? No one used that word in the twenty-first century.
“No, not at all,” he said. “I’ve dated but have never been in anything serious or long-term.”
“So, you’re a commitment-phobe?” I teased with a raised brow.
“No.” He shook his head. “Maybe I just haven’t met the right woman.” His gaze drifted over and lingered on me.
If he kept looking at me that way, I’d turn as soft as a piece of fresh sage cut for a protection spell.
Lights ahead caught my attention. “Look out!”
A car drifted into our lane, and we were headed right for it.
I braced myself for impact.
CHAPTER13
AUSTIN
Iwinced as I slammed on the brakes. My heart thundered in my skull, and my car appeared to move in slow motion as I desperately tried to avoid a crash.
Somehow, some way, we avoided colliding. My breath came in rough bursts as I regained control of the vehicle.
I clutched the steering wheel. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she replied in a breathy voice. “You?”
“Fine.” After a pause, I muttered, “Sorry.”
Knock it off, I scolded my bear.You almost caused a car crash.
He’d been wrapped up in Pandora being so close. Hell, I was as well. Her fragrance filled the car, overcoming me like some kind of enchantment.
“I won’t distract you and will let you drive,” she said.
