“I’d say for our first real date, this isn’t too bad,” Austin said with a wink.
Kinsey stopped and looked at him like he was insane.
“This isn’t a date.”
“I carried you inside, helped undress you, and am now shopping. I choose to believe it’s a date,” he countered.
“Fine, but then you’re a cheap date. I didn’t even get flowers.”
“You want flowers? I’ll buy you a room full,” he said with a gleam in his eyes that worried her. She knew he would indeed buy them if she didn’t put a stop to it.
“I was just kidding. I have no room for flowers,” she warned.
“There’s always room for flowers.”
She quickly changed the subject, hoping to distract him.
“Why aren’t you married like the rest of your family?” That stopped him in his tracks.
“I don’t know. I just never found someone I could see myself spending the rest of my life with,” he hedged.
“What about kids? You do so great with your nieces and nephews.”
“I love those little rugrats. I can’t believe how amazing they are. A few years ago I would’ve been convinced I wasn’t father material, but now…” he trailed off.
Kinsey was shocked by his answer. She’d been trying to make him uncomfortable so he’d drop the whole dating thing, not find more reasons to like him. She could easily picture him with a baby girl in his arms, his face beaming with pride. Her imagination took over and she could see herself beside him.
No!
She couldn’t afford to go there. He already told her he wasn’t planning on getting married, that he hadn’t found anyone worth making that commitment. He wanted to sleep with her, sure, but he didn’t want to put a ring on her finger. Besides, she didn’t want that, either. Right? Oh, she was so confused. She just needed a good night’s rest. That was all.
Their gazes locked. She could practically feel the steam rising from their damp bodies. One word, that’s all it would take for her to have the most fantastic night of her life, but she didn’t want that… She really didn’t, she reminded herself.
Finally, she managed to tear her gaze away. She took a step forward, grabbing random items as she tried distracting herself. Without realizing what she was doing, she grabbed a box of condoms, tossing it in the cart.
I’m stronger than this. A way-too-sexy-for-his-own-good guy isn’t what I need right now. He’s the brother-in-law of my best friend. An affair with him would be awkward. I can’t even go there. She repeated those sentences over and over in her head. She couldn’t fight him, and herself, too. She’d cave – she knew she would.
Austin had stopped and was staring at her with fire burning in his eyes. She looked at him, wondering what was going on. Then he reached into the cart and pulled out the condoms, a confident grin on his face.
“Thank you,” he practically purred. Then, he laughed, pleasure obvious as he went on and on.
Kinsey looked at the box of extra-large condoms and her face flamed. She quickly pushed ahead, too mortified to comment. She was hoping the floor would just go ahead and swallow her up right there.
He quickly caught up to her, and they were silent as they strolled through the store over the next twenty minutes. She grabbed a few more items, but she wanted to be done. Once she had everything she needed, they started making their way to the checkout stands. The sooner the trip was over, the faster she could regain her sanity. She knew once she was away from him, she’d remember all the reasons not to date – or sleep with – the very confident and gorgeous Austin.
Austin insisted on loading the belt, then paid for the entire purchase. She wasn’t going to argue with him in front of the cashier, but she’d have words for him once they got inside his car. It wasn’t a lot of money, but still…
They were nearing the front door when they were interrupted.
“Austin?” An annoying female voice called.
She seemed surprised to see him in a discount store. Kinsey was surprised anyone he knew would be in the store. She didn’t picture the kind of ladies he normally associated with, shopping in a discount warehouse, especially late at night.
They both turned and saw a stunning woman, wearing a tight skirt, a shirt with her cle**age on display, and her hair and make-up done to perfection.
She squealed before rushing to them and throwing her arms around Austin’s neck, smashing her huge br**sts against his chest.
They have to be fake, Kinsey thought.
Austin pushed the woman away, but he didn’t look to be in too big a hurry to do it, Kinsey thought snidely.
She had to catch her errant thoughts. He wasn’t hers and he could do what he wanted. She’d told him several times that she didn’t want anything to do with him. She knew he wasn’t a monk, and had plenty women at his disposal, but it was awkward standing next to him while another woman clung on tight. Kinsey felt like scratching the Barbie’s eyes out.
“It’s good to see you, Candy,” Austin said.
Kinsey was surprised by the stiffness in his voice. He didn’t sound pleased to see her. She decided to give them privacy, because three was definitely a crowd.
She turned and took a step, trying to move away, when Austin’s arm snaked out and gripped her around the waste. He pulled her snugly against his body, and the woman turned, seeming to notice her for the first time. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she returned her full attention to Austin.
“I can’t believe you’re shopping. You used to always complain that there was never a reason to grocery shop with all the available restaurants around town,” she said with a pout.
“Well, things change,” he said shortly.
She giggled an annoying sound and Kinsey wondered if she’d sounded that terrible when she’d had her laughing fit earlier. She really hoped not. She tugged against Austin, really, really wanting to get away from them.
“I’ve been trying to reach you for a couple of weeks. I heard about your father, and figured you’d need comforting,” she said in a husky tone. Kinsey knew exactly what kind of comforting the woman was offering.
Slut!
“Thanks for your concern, Candy, but Kinsey’s been with me the entire time. I wouldn’t have made it through without her.”
Candy barely glanced in Kinsey’s direction, as if she wasn’t in the least concerned about the frumpy woman his arm was around.