saw it in his eyes and the part of his lips, the cock of his
hip as he leaned against the doorway with one hand up
high and the other hooked in his belt loop. He wanted me
to kiss him, but I knew about him what he didn't know
about me.
I knew he wanted to be told what to do.
'Good night, Eric,' I said.
And I didn't give him what he wanted.
Chapter 19
There was an actual voice-mail message waiting for me on
my cel when I got home.
'Paige. It's me. I'm bored. Why don't you come over? Cal
me.'
The cal had come in only ten minutes ago, and I wasn't
sure if I wanted to laugh or curse at Austin. It was after
10:00 p.m. on a work night.
'Your booty-cal skils need improving,' I said before he
could do more than say helo.
'I knew you'd cal.'
'You know shit, Austin.'
'What were you doing?' He sounded sleepy, and I hoped
I'd woken him.
'I was on a date.' It was only half a lie. It hadn't been an official date, but it had been with another man. It would
infuriate him to hear it. He didn't have to know we hadn't
even kissed.
even kissed.
'Couldn't have been a very good date if you're home
already.'
He had a point. 'How do you know I'm home? Maybe I'm
just only now answering my phone.'
'Couldn't be a very good date if you're talking to me.'
He had another point, but I wasn't going to concede it.
'Why do you want me to come over? It's late.'
'Is it?' He yawned. 'I hadn't noticed. Anyway, you're stil awake. And I'm up. Come over.'
'I'm not coming over.'
'You're not hanging up, either.'
I gave him enough silence to make him think otherwise, but
damn him, Austin knew me too wel. He'd discovered
patience, it seemed, whereas I'd lost mine. 'If you were
realy that interested, you should've caled me before now.'
'I was giving you your space.'
Phone clamped to my ear, I was halfway to my bedroom
when his words brought me up short. He sounded sincere,
and it kiled me that without being able to read his face, I
couldn't tel if he was putting me on. 'How very Lifetime
Channel of you.'
'What are you wearing?'
'How very Playboy Channel,' I said, and my breath
hitched.
