She only smiled, then sat on the boulder and turned her face up toward the sun, closing her eyes.
He had to drag his gaze away from her and wade back through the water, then hike the short incline.
Returning, he handed over the shirt. “Here, change shirts, and we’ll lay yours out to dry.”
He turned around so he didn’t see her change, but that didn’t stop his imagination, which he needed to get firm control over again.
“Thanks, Austin,” she said. “Your shirt fits great.”
He chuckled and turned around. His shirt was definitely baggy on her, but that was probably a good thing right now. He took her wet shirt and laid it across a nearby boulder. Then he sat next to her where she’d laid back on the rock, her eyes closed.
There wasn’t a lot of room, but he laid back too, his arm and body only inches from her.
The warm sun was intoxicating, and he kept his eyes closed, letting the rays dry his skin and hair. His shorts would take a lot longer, but he didn’t mind. And he was pretty sure he could fall asleep right here and now, next to Everly, with a smile on his face.
“I still think you’re preppy,” she murmured.
He cracked an eye open to see that she was smiling. So, he leaned up on one elbow, then bent down and kissed her. She didn’t move, just let him kiss her, slowly, and deliberately. He didn’t need to touch her anywhere else for Austin to feel every other part of him burning up.
And he was pretty sure his heart wasn’t far behind.
11
Everly
Kissing Austin was like the stuff of romance novels. Not only did he smell great, but he was an excellent kisser and definitely a gentleman. When things had gotten a little heated by the waterfall, he’d backed off. Which of course made her want to tell him not to, while all the same, she was grateful.
Because she needed to figure out what was going on. Between them.
As they drove back into town after their hike, Austin kept her hand in his. Holding his hand felt surprisingly comfortable, natural. Yes, she was freaking out inside a little—because Austin Hayes was a charming, generous, kind, and beautiful man, and she was liking him more and more by the hour—but she was trying to play it cool.
She’d had boyfriends before, most significantly Brock, so it wasn’t like she was a recluse. But she hadn’t let her heart open to anyone she’d dated since Brock. And she could feel it already cracking open now. Once they were out of the hills, her phone downloaded a bunch of texts, and they buzzed in rapid succession.
“Everything okay?” Austin asked, squeezing her hand.
She pulled her phone from her bag and glanced at her screen. Texts from her sister flashed—all with questions about Austin. Everly set her phone back in her bag. “Looks like my mom told Brandy that I was out with a guy who isn’t Tom Middleston.”
“Your sister knows Tom isn’t real, right?”
“Right,” she said. “And now she’s wondering if you’re real.”
Austin slowed his truck at a light, then looked over at her, his brown eyes intense. “Do you want me to be real, Everly?”
Warmth bloomed in her chest, spreading to other parts of her body. The answer was a simple yes, but the outcome wasn’t. Austin had a life outside of Hidden Hollows. A daughter who was waiting to see her daddy again.
Everly’s life was here.
“I for one am glad you’re real,” she said, knowing that was probably the cheesiest line in all of history.
But Austin’s mouth curved, and he leaned toward her. Then he kissed her. It was soft, yet lingering, and so . . . public.
A car honked behind them.
Austin straightened, and sure enough, the traffic light had turned green. She was gratified to see a blush creeping up his neck.
“I thought small town drivers were more patient,” he said with a laugh.
Everly didn’t speak for a moment. She couldn’t. The simple, spontaneous kiss had left her wondering where all this was going. Because she was feeling things that went beyond a casual date.
“Hungry?” Austin asked, glancing over at her with a smile she was quickly becoming attached to.
“I look like a mess,” she said. “That is, if you’re thinking of going to one of the cafés or restaurants.”
Austin’s gaze raked over her as he slowed at a stop sign to make a turn. “You look great.”
Everly scoffed. “It looks like we’ve been up to no good.”
“I have no problem with that because it’s true,” he said with a grin.
She was positive she was bright red. “Sorry, but even though I told my mom and now my sister knows, I’m not ready for the interrogations.”
He didn’t seem bothered by her putting him off. “Take out, then? We can go eat at my place, or yours, or hit the park.”
The park would still be too public, and since she hadn’t been to Austin’s, she said, “Let’s go to your place.”
He’d still have to take her home later, but that was okay too. Spending time with Austin had been an unexpected delight. And the kissing was . . . well, she had to figure that out because she wasn’t about to set herself up for heartbreak. But as Austin pulled through a drive-thru, she wondered if it was already too late.
Once they had their orders, Austin drove to an older condo complex where he was renting a place for the duration of his stay. They packed the food inside, and Austin set it on the kitchen table.
The place wasn’t much to speak of, and it made Everly curious about his place back home. Did he have a house? A condo? One he had shared with his wife and kid?
“I’m going to change,” Austin said. “Do you want me to get you something to change into?”
Her shirt was dry, but her shorts still had a dampness to them. “Sure, if you have some sweats or something, that would be great.”
“Be right back.”
While he was gone, Everly sent a quick text to her sister.
Austin is real. And we’re still on our date. I’ll call you later tonight. She buried the phone back in her bag.
Everly moved to the fridge where a few drawings were taped to the door. They were obviously the handiwork of his daughter. Everly smiled at the childlike art of flowers and trees, and the bold script that read “I love you, Dad.”
“This is sweet,” she said when Austin came back into the room.
She looked over at him. He was wearing a dark brown shirt and well-worn jeans. His feet were bare. Austin looked good in everything he wore, she decided, and at the memory of what his bare torso looked like, she felt a flash of heat.
She swallowed and looked back at the drawings.
“Jessica loves to draw,” Austin said, walking toward her and handing her a folded pair of sweats. But he didn’t step away so that she could move past him to go change in the bathroom. Instead, he slid his arms around her waist from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder.
“Is that how you got started with your art?” he asked. “As a little girl?”
She smiled as his breath feathered her exposed neck.
“Sort of,” she said. “I was more into things like dirt and rocks. I used to play outside as much as possible. My mom bought me a paint set to try and keep me home more—keep me cleaner.”
Austin chuckled, and his chest vibrated against her back. She relaxed into him. “I loved the way I could make paint into any shape I wanted to.”
“Hmmm,” he murmured.
Austin was making it hard to remember that she’d come over to his place to eat. “I’m going to go change,” she said, moving out of his arms. “Where’s the bathroom?”
“On the left side of the hall,” he said, his gaze trailing over her. “Or you can use my bedroom on the right side. More room to change.”
“Okay, thanks,” she said. And that’s how she ended up in his bedroom. It definitely looked like a temporary residence. Nothing on the walls. And he had two suitcases stacked in the corner. A single framed photo was on his
nightstand, one of Austin, a woman, and a little girl who looked about three or four.
Everly couldn’t stop herself from picking up the picture and examining it. She knew his wife’s name was Rachel, and now that Everly was actually looking at a picture of her, it made her seem all the more real. The little girl was adorable, not surprising, and she took after Austin more than her mom. Jessica’s eyes were brown, and her hair a medium brown. Her smile was impish, and she looked like the most content and loved little girl.
Rachel’s dark hair was nearly black, and she looked like she’d been part of a magazine shoot. She was tall, willowy, and her eyes beautiful. She looked right into the camera as if she owned it, and while she leaned against Austin, she had an arm possessively about her little girl. As she should.
Because she was Jessica’s mom.
Suddenly, Everly felt dowdy, and short, and pudgy. She’d been curvy since her early teens, and mostly she was good with it. But looking at Rachel, Everly wondered if she was even Austin’s type.
Did this mean what was going on between them was only temporary? A fling?
Of course, it was. They both knew he was leaving in a few weeks. But that didn’t make her feel better about anything.
Everly set the photo down, then quickly changed into the sweats. They bunched at her ankles, but at least they were completely dry, which was a nice change. She headed back into the kitchen where Austin had set out his food.
“Your phone’s going nuts,” he said as she sat down. He’d filled a couple of glasses with water.
Everly took a drink. “My sister is impatient, you know, and she wants details about this date.”
Austin only smiled and unwrapped the sandwich he’d ordered. “What will you tell her?”
Everly didn’t want to put a damper on the day spent with him, but seeing the picture of his wife had kind of already done that, at least for her. She looked down at the chicken salad she wasn’t hungry for anymore. “I don’t know, truthfully. I mean . . .” She raised her gaze to meet his. “I’m not sure what’s happening between us. You’re a great guy, Austin, really . . . great. But I live here. You’re here for only a few weeks. And . . . I’m not really into flings, I guess. At least anymore. I mean, I’m twenty-seven, and well, I’m done playing games.”
“Do you think I’m a player?” His brown eyes flashed dark, intense.
She felt like she’d swallowed a mouthful of sand, and she reached for her glass, not able to hold his gaze.
Austin placed his hand over her wrist, his fingers warm and gentle. “Everly. I’m not a player.”
She swallowed, then gave a little nod.
“Everly, look at me.”
She did, and what she saw in his eyes was what she wanted to believe was true. That he wasn’t a player. That he liked her, and he wasn’t looking for a fling either. That he was with her because he couldn’t stay away from her. That they’d figure out things as they went.
“I’m not a player, okay?” he said again.
“Okay.” It came out as a whisper.
“After Rachel died, things were hard,” he said slowly. “I mean, everything was hard. My daughter had lost her mom. I’d lost my wife. It’s impossible to explain the emptiness I felt. It felt never-ending. About six months after Rachel was gone, it seemed that some sort of alarm had gone off. Everyone thought it was okay to talk to me about dating again. About finding another woman. But no one knew the truth.”
Everly couldn’t move. She didn’t know if she wanted to hear all of this personal stuff about Austin. They’d had a fun, carefree day together, but this . . . this was real life. He’d gone through a major tragedy.
“Before Rachel was diagnosed with cancer,” he continued, “things between us were fragile.”
Everly wasn’t sure what he meant, and when he paused, as if considering what he might say next, only the ticking of the kitchen clock sounded between them.
“I knew things weren’t perfect between us, but I hadn’t realized how much our marriage had been derailed.” Austin exhaled, then scrubbed a hand through his hair. “She’d been staying a few nights in the city—closer to her job at the salon—to save on commuting late at night. She kept late hours for her clients who worked fulltime jobs. I didn’t like it, but I thought it made sense on one level.”
Everly didn’t move, didn’t respond, just let him talk.
“About a month after her passing, I got an email from Taylor. I recognized the name of one of her coworkers. Expecting condolences, I opened the email. I quickly realized that the woman named Taylor was actually a man. Rachel had been living with him, and he wasn’t gay.”
Austin closed his eyes.
“What did you do?” Everly whispered.
“I called Taylor,” Austin said. “I asked him point blank what the nature of his relationship had been with my wife.” He paused as he rubbed his temples with both hands. His next words were etched with pain. “Taylor expressed condolences for my loss, but said he’d lost her too. He’d been in love with her, and he believed she’d been in love with him too. Taylor said that Rachel had promised more than once to divorce me, but it clearly hadn’t happened yet. Then the cancer came and ended everything.”
Everly had no idea what to say, how to respond. The pain in his voice made her eyes burn with tears. He’d not only lost a wife, but had found out that he’d really lost her in every way possible.
“Austin,” she said, her voice catching. “I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine what you went through.”
He nodded, looking past her, as if he were remembering back. “When my mom and some of her friends started to talk to me about dating again, do you know what I thought?”
Everly shook her head.
“It was the last thing I wanted to do,” he said. “To set myself up for another failure. To fall in love with a woman who had the power to betray me so horribly. I wanted nothing to do with dating. I only wanted to focus on my daughter. Jessica fulfilled everything I needed in life. I loved my career, and my daughter needed every bit of time that I could give her. I had nothing extra left to give, so I couldn’t invest emotionally in another relationship. Plus, Jessica was still doing her own healing.”
Everly’s throat was thick. She drank some water, but it felt like she’d swallowed a rock.
Austin stared at the table top for a long moment, then he lifted his brown gaze to hers again. “From the moment I met you, or the moment you woke me up in the empty theater, I’ve been drawn to you, Everly.”
She blinked. “You have?” she whispered.
“I can’t explain it, but you fascinate me.” His mouth curved. “You’re so opposite of Rachel, so I thought maybe that was part of it. Maybe I was intrigued because you’re so different.”
She nodded, although her heart felt heavy. “That makes sense,” she said in a small voice.
“But then I realized something else on our hike.”
“What?” Could her heart pound any harder?
“I realized that you make me feel alive again.” He brushed his fingers against her hand. “You make me feel like I’ve stepped into the light after sitting in a dark movie theater for months, possibly years.”
Everly’s eyes stung, and she blinked against the burning.
“I don’t know what the future will bring,” he said. “I’m only here for a short time, so I can’t tell you what tomorrow will bring. But I’m not a player, Everly, and I really hope this isn’t a fling.”
It took approximately one point five seconds for Everly to pop out of her seat and throw her arms about his neck.
Austin laughed and tugged her onto his lap.
Then he kissed her. And she, of course, kissed him back. “I’m so glad,” she whispered after about a dozen kisses. “I didn’t want you to be a fling either.”
12
Austin
“Hi, sweetie,” Austin answered his phone.
“Hi, Daddy.”
Jessica’s voice sounded peppy, a
nd that relieved Austin. Jessica calling him in the middle of the day was unusual, and he’d wondered if something was the matter.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“I was sick, but now I’m better.”
Austin walked away from the concessions at the movie theater where he’d been reviewing the plans with Jimmy. “Wait, what? You’re sick?”
“I threw up,” Jessica stated matter-of-factly. “So, Grandma picked me up early from camp. I don’t know if I’ll go tomorrow because I might be contagion.”
“Contagious?”
“Yeah, that.”
Austin paced the lobby. “How are you feeling now?”
“I’m bored.”
Austin smiled at that, although he hated that his daughter had been sick at camp. “I’m sure Grandma will keep you busy.” His mother was the epitome of a busy body. If she wasn’t cooking up a storm for the school bake sale, she was volunteering at the library, or running the girls scout group that Jessica was a part of.
“Grandma’s craft fair is tomorrow, so she told me to watch the Disney Channel.”
Austin grimaced. His mom was the organizer of the bi-annual craft fair, and he knew that would take up the entire weekend. No wonder she didn’t have time to entertain her granddaughter. She’d been a nurse her entire career, and when she retired, she stayed busy in the community. Always volunteering for things. “What about Grandpa?”
“Grandma’s making him do chores.”
Austin chuckled at this. In his mind, he could hear his dad’s good-natured grumble. “I’ll bet. So, you’re feeling better, but you can’t go to camp tomorrow?”
Jessica sighed. “Yeah.”
Austin glanced over at Jimmy, who was measuring everything for a second time before starting the official install. So far, things were on schedule, and Austin had planned on taking a half-day on Saturday to spend time with Everly. They had spent time together every night the past week, except for last night, and that was a long phone call. Tonight, they were going out to eat.
Loving Her Fling Page 8