Tell the Stars to Shine (Summer Lake Seasons Book 6)

by SJ McCoy

  Austin smiled. “That’s good. I remember the days when you were here twenty-four-seven, and even suggesting that you should take a break earned me an earful.”

  Ben chuckled. “So do I. That seems like a different lifetime now. Now, I worry about you working all the hours that you do. You should do something about that.”

  “I’ve been thinking about it. You know Dallas is back? Well, I’m thinking about bringing him on board.”

  Ben raised an eyebrow. “You think he’d do okay?”

  “Yeah. He’s grown up a lot.”

  “Then I reckon that’ll be awesome—for both of you. But when I said you should do something about working all the time, I meant do the kind of something that involves a woman. Find someone who makes you want to do things other than work.”

  Austin made a face.

  “What?”

  If he could tell anyone, it’d be Ben. “I thought I might have.”

  “Amber?”

  He nodded.

  “That’s great—isn’t it? I’ve been waiting to hear about you and her getting together ever since you and Nadia broke up. I heard you were in here with her on Friday night.”

  “I was, and I was supposed to see her again last night.”

  “But you didn’t?”

  “No.”

  They both turned at the sound of someone clearing their throat.

  Diego gave them a half apologetic smile. “I’m sorry to interrupt. But I can’t help myself.”

  Ben laughed. “I’ve heard that about you a few times now.”

  Diego laughed. “I am curious, but perhaps it is better that I don’t ask.” He turned his gaze on Austin. “I came to check on you, my friend.”

  Austin smiled. “I’m good, thanks. How are you settling in?”

  “I am wonderful, but I do not believe that you are good. You are sad, no?”

  How did he even know? Austin blew out a sigh. This was Summer Lake; everyone got to know everything at some point, and usually sooner than you’d expect. “Yeah. I am,” he admitted.

  Ben raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Same thing you were asking about. I was out with Amber on Friday night. I was supposed to see her again last night, but she canceled on me.”

  Diego frowned. “Why?”

  “She said she had some stuff to deal with.”

  “What stuff?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Is it something to do with her parents and her ex?” asked Ben.

  Austin nodded slowly. That would make sense. “Probably.”

  “What’s the story there?” asked Diego.

  “I don’t really know. It sounds like he was controlling. But he works for her parents, and they like him.”

  “And he wants her back?” Diego’s eyebrows knit together.

  “Yeah. She said she’s not interested, but she also said she’d have dinner with me last night.”

  “I think she’s the kind of girl who puts other people’s needs before her own,” said Ben. “I know Lenny worries about her.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she doesn’t want her to go home.”

  Diego grinned at Austin. “Then you must persuade her to stay—help her do what’s best for herself.”

  Austin let out a short laugh. “I’d love to, but how am I supposed to do that?”

  “Easy, you want a woman, you just let her know that you want her, that you’d be good for her, and you show her that you’ll be good to her.”

  “That’s easy for you to say.”

  “It’ll be easy for you to do. If you have a little faith in yourself.”

  Ben smiled at him. “He’s right. Most of us mere mortals get caught up in our own stuff—in our own self-doubt. Diego is living proof that when you believe in yourself, you leave no room for anyone else to doubt you.”

  “It’s true,” said Diego with a grin. “You want a woman, you have to believe that you’d be good for her. If she has a reason to not want to be with you, you have to find out what it is. Then you can figure out if it’s a valid reason—if you have to accept her choice—or if it’s simply something you have to be patient with and help her to work her way past.”

  Austin met his gaze. “Is that what you did with Izzy?”

  He nodded happily. “It is. And I can tell you without any hesitation that not giving up on her was the best decision I ever made.”

  Ben smiled. “Sounds to me like you have a plan to follow, if you want to.”

  Austin looked at them both. “I do.”

  Diego held his gaze. “And you also have the balls to follow it through. Don’t doubt yourself.”

  Austin smiled. “Thanks. I’ll do my best.”

  “Don’t just say it, do it, mi amigo.”

  “I’d like to, but I don’t know where to start.”

  “It is simple.” Diego smiled. “Where is she this afternoon?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You have her number, no?”

  “I do.”

  “Then you call her. You ask if you can see her—now.”

  Austin swallowed. “She said she’d call me.”

  Diego cocked his head to one side but didn’t say anything.

  Austin’s heart was racing now. He didn’t think of himself as the pushy kind. He looked at Ben.

  Ben chuckled. “I’m the wrong person to ask. I wasted half my life respecting what I thought Charlie wanted. If I’d had Diego around to tell me to try it his way, we’d probably have been back together years ago.”

  Diego smiled at him. “Isn’t she worth at least trying for? Do you want doubt and fear to be more powerful forces in your life than hope and love?”

  Austin frowned. Who said anything about love? He didn’t ask the question out loud. He’d guess that they could both hear him think it.

  Ben smiled. “Right now, you have hope. You’ll never know if love could have been in the cards if you let doubt and fear win.”

  “Call her.” Diego nodded at him.

  “Right now?”

  They both nodded this time.

  He pulled his phone out of his pocket. He didn’t want to call her with them both standing there watching him.

  Diego grasped Ben’s shoulder. “We should go. We’ve said enough. What you do with our words is your choice.”

  “Thanks, guys.” He watched them walk away then looked down at his phone. Maybe he’d go sit in the SUV and call her from there.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come?” asked Jade.

  Amber shook her head.

  “You might have fun. It’d do you good to get out in the sunshine at least.”

  “I know. But I don’t want to. And besides, you’ll have more fun if I don’t go. You can have a laugh with Ally and the guys and not have to worry about keeping an eye on me. I’m fine. I think I’m going to read. I might just sit out in the yard.”

  Jade made a face. “I’m not going to keep harassing you. But you need to snap out of it soon, sis.”

  “I know. And I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be difficult. I just want a little time to work things out. I was doing so well. I really was thinking about staying here. But he got to me with what he said last night—about them needing me.”

  “They don’t! Ugh! I’m not going to argue with you because I’m on the verge of losing my temper. I’m going to go and enjoy the afternoon, even if you refuse to. But I’m telling you, Amber. He’s messing with your head—and you’re letting him.”

  She nodded sadly. “The stupid thing is, I know it. I know you’re right, but I don’t know how to get past the feeling that I’m wrong, bad somehow to want to put myself first.”

  Jade threw her hands up. “I sure as hell don’t know how to help you with that one. I’m going.”

  “I’ll see you later.”

  Jade closed the apartment door with a bang. It made Amber feel even worse. Her sister was only trying to help her. She went to the fridge and filled a gl
ass with ice before she poured a soda. Maybe she should try to lose herself in a book.

  She went to get her phone from the counter when it rang. She froze halfway there. What if it was Milo again? She didn’t think she could handle that. It’d be better to let it go to voicemail. She approached cautiously, and her heart leaped into her mouth when she saw Austin’s name on the display. She’d half expected that she’d screwed things up between them last night. He’d wanted to know what was wrong. It’d felt like he was on her side—just like it had on Friday night—that they were in it together. But she’d had to remind herself that they weren’t. She shouldn’t get into anything with him if she was going to leave. And if they were going to start seeing each other, she shouldn’t start it off by burdening him with her ex troubles.

  She stared at the phone so long that it stopped ringing. She blew out a sigh. It seemed she was messing everything up when it came to Austin. Maybe he’d leave her a voicemail?

  The message notification didn’t beep, but a few moments later, the phone started to ring again. This time she snatched it up when she saw his name.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Amber. It’s me, Austin.”

  “Hi.” She couldn’t help bouncing up and down on her toes. Just hearing his voice speak those few words brought her smile back.

  “Listen …”

  Her heart sank. He sounded serious. He was probably going to tell her that he’d changed his mind after she’d messed him around last night—that he didn’t want to see her again.

  “What are you doing this afternoon?”

  She bounced again. “Nothing. Jade’s gone out with Ally and Brayden and some other friends. I’m … well, I’m at home.”

  “Do you want to get together?”

  Her heart raced. Of course, she did. But she shouldn’t. She chewed her bottom lip. “I’d like to, but …” Last night, he’d accepted easily enough that she didn’t want to see him. It made her sad, but it was easier that way. She’d said that she’d call him but wasn’t sure whether she really would. She hadn’t thought he’d call her—hadn’t thought he’d make the effort.

  “But what?” It seemed that today he was feeling more persistent.

  “I’m sorry about last night. I really am. I was looking forward to it. But … honestly … Milo called me, and he made me think about going home and …”

  “But you don’t want to go back do you? Not home and not to him?”

  “No, but …”

  “There don’t have to be any buts. How about I come pick you up in half an hour? Roscoe would love to see you again.”

  She had to smile at that. He was making it easy for her to say yes—and she did want to. “Okay, then.”

  She could hear the relief in his voice. “Great. I’ll see you in half an hour.”

  As soon as she hung up, she wondered if it had been a mistake. None of her reasons for not wanting to see him last night had changed. She smiled. But her reasons for wanting to see him were winning out now. She’d expected him to bow out. She hadn’t thought that he’d persist. She ran into the bathroom to check herself over in the mirror. She was okay, but she could maybe put a sundress on instead of her shorts. And she should tie her hair up; it was a mess.

  It felt like a lot less than half an hour before the buzzer sounded, and she went to answer it.

  “Hey, it’s me.” His voice sent shivers down her spine.

  “Hi. Do you want to come up, or should I come straight down?”

  “Come on down. We can get going. I left Roscoe at home.”

  She smiled to herself. They were going to his place? She liked that idea. “I’ll be right there.” She ran down the stairs but stopped to compose herself before she opened the front door. She needed to be careful about what she was doing here. She shouldn’t get caught up in the excitement of it. That wouldn’t be fair to him.

  She sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly before she stepped outside. When she saw him, her next breath caught in her chest. He was gorgeous! He was leaning against his SUV, wearing a denim shirt and shorts. Phew! She wanted to fan herself as a rush of heat hit her.

  “Hi.” He pushed away from the SUV and came toward her with a big smile on his face.

  She smiled back. She couldn’t do anything else. “Hi.”

  He came straight to her and put his hands on her hips as he dropped a kiss on her lips.

  Wow! And she thought she’d set them back by telling him she couldn’t see him last night. She felt unsteady on her feet.

  He didn’t let go of her and she rested her hands on his arms—yep, his muscular arms! She looked up into his eyes, and they were doing the gold and green shimmery thing again. She could quite happily get lost in them and forget all about reality for a while.

  He smiled, and when he did, she relaxed. It felt like he was her best friend somehow. “I know you said you’d call me, but I didn’t want to wait.”

  “I’m glad.”

  He slid his arms around her and hugged her to his chest. She couldn’t help snuggling against him. He rested his chin on top of her head and she felt him relax, too. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that.”

  She leaned back to look up at him.

  “Last night, I thought you were dumping me before we got started,” he explained.

  She tightened her arms around his waist. “I don’t want to.”

  His smile faded. “But you’re still thinking about it?”

  She sighed. “Maybe you should come in, and I should explain. You might want to dump me when you know.”

  He held her closer. “How about we go to my place, and you can explain? I wasn’t kidding; Roscoe wants to see you.”

  “Okay, then. As long as you know that you might want to bring me straight back home after we talk—and we have to talk.”

  He didn’t answer. He just opened the door for her with a smile that said he didn’t plan on bringing her straight home.

  Chapter Eight

  Austin was feeling pretty good by the time he pulled off East Shore Road and into his driveway. Amber raised her eyebrows as they waited for the gates to roll back.

  He smiled. “I sold so many houses that had these gates, and I think they’re cool, so I got myself some, too.”

  She nodded. “They’re very cool. I like it.”

  As he started up the driveway, it occurred to him for the first time to wonder what she might think of the place. He loved this house. He’d bought it several years back and had spent a couple years remodeling it. It’d been way out of his price range when he bought it—at least it would have been if it were in the shape it was now. But it had stood empty for years since the previous owner had died. It had needed a lot of work, and he’d done it. At first, he’d done the work himself whenever time and money allowed. Then as his business had grown, he’d hired people. He smiled when the SUV emerged from the trees that lined the driveway and the house appeared in the clearing.

  “Wow!” She looked shocked.

  He didn’t know what to say. Dallas had told him that he should make the most of the place—that he should bring women back here to impress them. He was more of the school of thought that if a woman was impressed by his house, she probably wouldn’t be impressed with him. Nadia had proved him right about that.

  He cut the ignition and turned to look at her. He didn’t know what to say, so he waited for her.

  Her eyes were wide. “It’s lovely!”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  “Did you grow up here? Is this your family home?”

  He had to laugh at that. “No. We lived in town.”

  “I see.”

  He didn’t know what she thought she saw, but she didn’t seem like she was about to explain it.

  “Come on. Let’s go get Roscoe. He’s no doubt scrabbling at the door to get out.”

  She smiled and followed him to the front door, where Roscoe was indeed bouncing up and down scratching at the door and barking. Austi
n wondered if he shouldn’t have had Amber wait in the car. Roscoe didn’t always do well with strangers.

  She tapped on the glass pane in the door and called. “Roscoe! Hey, Roscoe, it’s me. Do you remember me?”

  To Austin’s amazement. Roscoe calmed right down. He pressed his paw against the glass and let out a happy-sounding little yip.

  She looked up at him and laughed. “I think he might!”

  He unlocked the door and opened it with a smile. “He sure does.”

  Roscoe came out and bounced around him for a few moments before turning his attention to Amber. Of course, he had to stick his nose in her crotch! Her cheeks colored up as she tried to push him away. “Roscoe! I’m happy to see you, too, but we don’t know each other that well yet.”

  Austin couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I’m taking notes here. How long will it take before that’s an acceptable greeting?”

  Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of red as she looked at him, but she laughed.

  Luckily, Roscoe wasn’t too determined to explore her. He sat down beside her and rested his head against her leg. Austin was thrilled to see it. It’d taken him a good few days to stop growling at Dallas when he came to stay—and he’d known him for years.

  “Come on in. Would you like something to drink?”

  “I’d love a soda.”

  He’d wondered if she might want to have a glass of wine with him—or whether offering one might seem like he wanted to get her more relaxed.

  He took hold of her hand and led her through to the kitchen. It was probably overkill just to walk that short distance, but he was taking what Diego had said very seriously. He wanted her to know that he wanted to be with her—and that he’d be good to her if he was.

  Nadia had always bitched at him that he didn’t hold her hand. It was true, he rarely did, but that had been about the way she was, not the way he was. He’d held her hand in the beginning, but to him it was a natural thing to do, because he felt it. Nadia had expected it—as some kind of required demonstration of affection. She didn’t just expect it; in the end, she’d demanded it.

  Amber looked up at him and he had to wonder why in hell he was thinking about Nadia when she was here. He knew the answer straight away. He was appreciating just how different Amber was.