by SJ McCoy
He threw his head back and laughed. “And you are adorable.”
~ ~ ~
Amber wasn’t surprised to find her sister standing by the sinks when she came out of the bathroom stall.
“Well?” Jade asked eagerly. “It looks like it’s going amazingly! I thought maybe he’d walk you home and kiss you goodnight—I thought that’d be a good result. I did not expect to see the two of you out there smooching your way through the erection section!”
Amber had to laugh. “The what?”
“Oh, my God! Don’t tell me you’ve never heard the guys call it that?”
“The erection section? I haven’t. What …?”
Jade groaned. “The slow songs, at the end of the night. When the couples get up and dance. When he gets to hold you against his boner for a while and let you know what he wants to do later.”
“Oh, my God! I had no idea!”
“But … he did, right?”
“Partially.”
Jade looked horrified. “He was only partially?”
Amber laughed out loud. “No! I mean yes, I felt it, but no he wasn’t letting me know what he wants to do later. Well, he’d like to, but he’s not in a hurry and neither am I.”
“Aww. And he already said so?”
“Not in so many words, but yeah.”
“So, will it be the walk you home and kiss on the doorstep? I can stay at Ally’s.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. I’m not going to ask him in, and I don’t think he’d come if I did. So, I’d rather you came home so we can talk afterward.”
Jade grinned. “Okay. I can hang out here. Text when you’re home and he’s gone. Or if you change your mind let me know that he’s not gone, so I don’t walk in on you.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Okay. You’d better get back out there. He’ll be wondering what happened to you.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later.”
“Have fun.”
Amber made her way back out through the bar. She stopped when she saw a woman with dark hair standing beside the booth talking to Austin. Crap! It was Nadia.
She didn’t know what to do. She should go and sit back down and see her off. But she didn’t want to cause a problem—or a scene. It looked like Nadia had a lot to say for herself.
Amber jumped when someone slipped her arm through hers. It was Kenzie. “Come on, sugar. No way am I going to let her spoil your night.” She strode toward the booth and towed Amber with her—whether she was ready to go or not.
Austin shot Amber an apologetic look, and Nadia turned to follow his gaze. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Amber.
“Hey, Nadia!” Kenzie let go of Amber. “I haven’t seen you in here in ages. How’ve you been?”
Nadia looked taken aback but apparently, wasn’t so hell-bent on making trouble that she didn’t reply. “Fine, thank you.”
“That’s good to hear. You should come sit at the bar with me and have a drink. I was just coming to tell Austin that their cab’s here.”
Austin didn’t miss a beat. He smiled gratefully at Kenzie and got to his feet. “Thanks, Kenz.” He edged past Nadia and came to take Amber’s hand. “Are you ready?”
She nodded.
Nadia shot Amber a venomous look, but Kenzie took her arm and started leading her toward the bar.
Austin gave Amber another apologetic smile. “I’m sorry about that. It seems she was pissed to see me out with you, though it’s none of her business anymore.”
She squeezed his hand. “It’s all right. I understand. I’ve been there myself, but I didn’t have a Kenzie to ride to the rescue. I didn’t know she and Nadia were friendly.”
He laughed. “They’re not. Kenzie can’t stand the sight of her. That was just for our benefit.”
“Aww. She makes out she’s a tough nut, but she’s a sweetheart, isn’t she?”
“She is.” He gripped her hand a little tighter as they got closer to where the gang was sitting. “Do you want to stop and …?”
“No.” She squeezed his hand right back. “Let’s just go.”
When they reached the door, he held it open for her and a rush of warm night air swept over her. It felt good.
“I’m sorry about Nadia.”
“There’s no need. Really. I understand.”
“Thanks.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and dropped a kiss on her lips. It was no big deal, just a casual gesture, but it felt special. It reinforced the feeling she’d had earlier that they were in this together. That was new to Amber. She’d only dated a few guys before Milo, but whenever she had, and especially with him, it’d felt like a minefield. As though a relationship was somehow adversarial. With Milo especially, she’d felt as though she was pitted against him with him looking to come out victorious and her just hoping to survive with her sense of self intact. With Austin it felt as though they were going in together and were helping each other figure out how it was supposed to work.
“I guess it was almost time to call it a night, but I wish she hadn’t cut it short.”
Amber nodded. She did, too. She didn’t want this night to be over.
He hugged her closer into his side. “Do you want to take a cab, or should we walk?”
“I’d rather walk.” At least, that way she’d get to enjoy his company for a little while longer. The apartment wasn’t too far out of town. She frowned when she thought about it, though. “But then you’ll have to walk back here again for a cab.”
“It’s okay. I’ll call one when we get to your place.”
“Oh. Of course.”
They walked across the square, and she was surprised when he guided her toward the path that led down by the river.
He chuckled when he saw her face. “Don’t worry. I’m not taking you down a dark lane—well, I am, but only because it’s the prettiest way to get to your place.”
“Aww. I wouldn’t have thought to come this way.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want you to walk down here by yourself after dark.”
Hearing him say that gave her the warm and fuzzies. But then she couldn’t help comparing him to Milo again.
He gave her a puzzled look. “Was I wrong to say that? I know you’re independent; you can do your own thing. I didn’t mean to—”
“No!” She shook her head rapidly. “I don’t mind. I like that you care.”
“You looked as though you were mad at me.”
“Not mad at you.” She pursed her lips. They’d had the end of their evening cut short because of his ex, did she really want to spoil their walk home by talking about hers? She looked up at him, and the expression on his face told her that she probably should. She needed him to know.
“If I got a funny look on my face it was because I couldn’t help comparing you to …” She hesitated.
“Your ex?”
“Yeah. Except I don’t like to call him that. He’s not my anything. He’s just the guy I used to be with.”
He gave her a half smile.
“His name’s Milo. And far from being mad at you for not wanting me to walk alone at night, I kind of liked it—a lot. And I couldn’t help comparing you to him. Don’t worry—you win hands down. There were a couple of nights when he sent me back for the cash box by myself.”
Austin frowned.
“Yeah. You wouldn’t want me walking around little old Summer Lake by myself. He sent me out at midnight to pick up the cash box that he’d forgotten—from the store in the worst part of Bakersfield …”
Austin shook his head and his arm tightened around her shoulders. “I’m not going to say anything, but there’s a lot I’d like to say.”
She looked up at him. His jaw was clenched. “Say it if you like. I’ve heard worse from Jade.”
“No. I will ask you something, though, if you don’t mind.”
“What?”
“You said he
wants you back?”
She nodded, wondering what was coming.
He stopped walking and slid his arms around her waist as he looked down into her eyes. “I don’t know what’s going to happen between you and me—I don’t want to say too much about that, it’s too soon—but even if it’s nothing. Even if you don’t want to see me again, please promise me you won’t go back to him, Amber? You deserve so much better than that.”
Her heart felt as though it was melting in her chest as she looked back into his eyes. She put her hands on his shoulders. “I promise you. I won’t. I know better now.” She smiled. “And besides, I do want to see you again.”
He smiled back at her. “You do?”
“If you do?”
He nodded happily. “I do. Very much.” He lowered his head and she lifted her lips to meet his. The way he kissed her left her sagging against him. When he’d kissed her earlier, out on the dance floor, it had been good, but she’d been aware of where they were and of the fact that people were watching. This was different. She stood in the warm circle of his arms, his soft lips brushed over hers, parting them, and then his tongue slid inside her mouth and started to explore. She clung to him and kissed him back hungrily. Her body heated up with desire, and she pressed herself against him, her hands roving over his back and shoulders. He made her want to take him home and not let him leave till morning!
When he finally lifted his head, he looked as dazed as she felt.
“Are you sure you’re such a gentleman?” she asked with a half laugh.
The heat in the look he gave her sent arrows of excitement shooting through her veins. “Don’t tempt me.”
She wanted to.
He dropped a peck on her lips. “Please?”
She sighed. “Okay.”
He took her hand, and they continued their walk back to her place.
~ ~ ~
As soon as they reached her building, Austin pulled his phone out of his back pocket. She gave him a puzzled look. He chuckled and dialed the cab company. He had to do it straightaway. He couldn’t risk what would otherwise become inevitable when he kissed her again.
“Summer Lake Cabs.”
“Hi, Bev. It’s Austin. Can you send someone to pick me up out at 511 Hangar Lane?”
“Sure. Straight away?”
He glanced at Amber and nodded sadly. “Yeah.”
“Okay, it’ll be about ten minutes. Are you going home?”
“I am.”
“Okay. It’ll probably be Keith.”
“Thanks.”
He hung up and gave Amber a rueful smile.
“How long will they be?”
“She said about ten minutes.”
Amber chuckled. “You think I’m a wicked woman who’s going to try to seduce you, so you have to plan your escape?”
He slid his arms around her and looked down into her eyes. Hers widened when he held her closer. “No, I know I’m a wicked man who wants to seduce you. I’m planning my exit because I don’t want to rush things between us.”
“Would you think less of me if I said I wouldn’t mind rushing?”
He chuckled. “Please don’t tempt me.”
“I had to try.”
“I can’t promise I’ll have this much willpower tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow?” Her eyes widened, and she pressed against him eagerly, making him close his eyes and want to call Bev back to cancel the cab.
He opened his eyes and nodded. “If you want to see me again that soon?”
“I’d love to.”
“Good. I’ll come and pick you up this time. Now that I’ve got my act together.”
She smiled. “I’d like that. What time?”
“Seven?”
She nodded happily. “Where do you want to go?”
He couldn’t resist holding her a little closer still. But he did manage to stop himself from saying, to bed. “There aren’t too many options around here. We could go for dinner at Giuseppe’s. We could go back to the Boathouse.” He wanted to add the option of her coming over to his place, but that probably wasn’t a good idea, not if the last of his willpower was to stand any chance at all.
“Maybe Giuseppe’s?”
“Okay. It’s a date.”
She laughed. “And this time I know it for certain.”
He smiled. “And just so you don’t have any remaining doubts that tonight was a date, we should probably end it with a kiss on your doorstep.”
Her full soft breasts pressed against his chest as she lifted her lips to him. She kissed him back hungrily. He couldn’t help filling his hands with her rounded ass—and as he did, he couldn’t help wishing he were less of a gentleman.
Chapter Six
Amber felt as though she floated through Saturday morning. She couldn’t remember feeling this happy after a first date. In fact, she couldn’t remember feeling this happy ever.
She was supposed to have had the morning off, but she’d woken up early and full of energy. She’d told Jade to sleep in while she went to help Lenny at the post office. It was only a half day on a Saturday anyway.
Once Amber had locked the front door after the last customer left, Lenny put her hands on her hips. “Don’t think I’m going to let you leave here before you tell me all about it, young lady. I’ve been expecting you to bubble over with it all morning. You’ve held out on me so far, but I’m not letting you go until you tell me.”
Amber laughed. “Is it that obvious?”
“To anyone with eyes in their head! You’re all smiley and walking on air. I take it that it was a date?”
Amber nodded happily. “The best date I’ve been on in … well, maybe ever.”
Lenny smirked. “And I know you won’t want to admit this to your grandmother, but is the silly grin due to the fact that it wasn’t just a date?”
Amber raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t make me spell it out. Did the date not end when he took you home?”
“Oh!” She felt the heat in her cheeks. “No! I mean, yes! It did end. He didn’t … we didn’t …”
Lenny held her hand up. “Okay. You’ve answered. There’s no need to say the words. And I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have asked. But I thought that must be the only explanation. So, I had to ask because I was surprised at you—and at him.”
Amber chuckled. “He’s a gentleman.”
“I believe so.”
Her cheeks were burning now, but she had to say it. She gave Lenny a shamefaced grin. “But neither of us wanted him to be.”
Lenny laughed. “Well, that’s good news on both fronts. That the chemistry’s there and that you both have enough sense not to act on it immediately.”
“I know, right?”
“So, when are you seeing him again?”
“Tonight.”
“Wonderful. And are you going to tell your parents that you’ve met someone?”
Amber’s smile faded. “Not yet.”
Lenny gave her a stern look. “You know, I’m half-tempted to tell them that I need you to stay.”
Amber’s heart leaped in her chest. “Would you? That’d make everything so much easier.”
“No. It wouldn’t be right, Amber. It’d make life easier, but easier isn’t always better. In fact, it rarely ever is. You need to step up. Tell them the truth. Tell them you don’t want to go back.”
“I don’t want to let them down.”
Lenny sighed. “You won’t. If anything, you’re stringing everyone along by leaving the door open. They still hope that you’ll go back to him, you know.”
“Of course, I know. They’d be happier if I did, wouldn’t they?”
Lenny blew out a sigh. “Right now, they would. But only because they don’t know the whole story, do they?”
“I didn’t want them to worry or be upset. They like Milo. And he’s good for the business. Since he’s been there, they’ve been able to step back. They’re so much better together now. And that’s thanks to him.”
/>
“That’s a maybe. He took some of the burden off your father. But from what Jade tells me, he landed much of it back on you anyway.”
Amber shrugged. “He must have figured it out by now. I’ve been here for months.”
“You’re talking yourself in circles. If he’s figured it out, then he doesn’t need your help anymore. So, you can tell them all that you’re not going back. Let them hire someone permanent to do the books. Let them all know that there’s no hope of you going back to Milo. That way, they can move on. And more importantly, so can you.”
“I know you’re right.”
“So why not just do it?”
“I should. They said they might come up and visit soon. I should sit down with them when they do. I want to figure out what I could do here first. You’ve made it clear you don’t want me forever.”
Lenny chuckled. “I’ve made it clear I don’t need you. If you want to stay, you can have a job. I’ve been thinking I should hire someone. I’m ready to admit that I’ve enjoyed taking it easier. I wouldn’t mind going part time and bringing someone in full time.”
Amber raised an eyebrow. “Do you mean that? Or are you just saying it to make me feel better about staying?”
Lenny laughed. “Unlike you, I’ve never put feelings above practicalities. Of course, I’d love you to stay. I wouldn’t mind if you want to work here. But I don’t need you. And I’m not trying to influence your decision. You have to figure it out for yourself, and what I’d love to see you do is decide what you actually want and go after it.”
Amber smiled. “I’m trying. I can tell you that what I want right now is for seven o’clock to roll around.”
Lenny laughed. “Where’s he taking you?”
“We’re going to Giuseppe’s for dinner.”
“Have you ever been out to his place?”
“No.”
“You should get him to take you.”
“Why’s that?”
Lenny laughed. “Apart from the obvious. You should see where he lives. It’ll tell you a lot about him. Help you get to know him better.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see when you go.”
~ ~ ~
“Come here, Roscoe.”
Roscoe came bounding over to where Austin was sitting on the sofa and stuck his head in his crotch.