Page 41 of Austin

I stomp my foot. Yes, it’s childish, but what other reaction do you have when someone you’re mad at says they did an incredibly decent thing? “That was my lunch.”

“That was barely rabbit food.” He grabs his keys and wallet off the desk. “Come on. I know a great burger place right around the corner.”

My mouth salivates at the thought of wrapping my lips around a greasy burger that I’m sure is to die for if he’s recommending it. I haven’t had a good burger in a while. Unfortunately, my budget only calls for the fast food variety, and they don’t hold a candle to a real, stacked, delicious restaurant version.

Damn him.

He hands me my purse, opens the door, and gives a gentlemanly gesture as he says, “Ladies first.”

“I’m ordering dessert, too.”

His eyes light up as if he just remembered something. He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a bar of Godiva chocolate.

I curve a brow. “What’s that for?”

“My mother said to always buy a lady candy.”

I suspiciously eye him but take the candy anyway. I mean, it is Godiva.

His deep laugh vibrates as he closes the door behind us. “Stefanie, I’m taking a long lunch.”

I turn to him. “Not long. I have to be back at my desk in thirty minutes.”

He groans and looks at his assistant. “Stefanie, I’m taking a short lunch.”

I look at her, and she’s grinning from ear to ear.

“Good luck,” she whispers to me.

I don’t want to tell her that I think I’ll need it.

We wait for the elevator, and I pray someone will be in there when it opens. To my dismay, it’s empty. We enter, and he presses the button for the ground floor without looking at me.

My heart pounds as we stand side by side. I look at our reflection in the steel doors. His wavy, dark hair and tan skin is similar to my own, but that’s where the comparison ends. His features are squared with sharp angles. I’m daintier with soft curves. He’s the freeway, jetting through the mountains, and I’m like a scenic drive along the coast.

Still, it has me wondering what it would be like to be up against this hard mountain of a man, feeling every ridge of his body and claiming it as my own. I’m not one to have such racy thoughts in the middle of the day, but that kiss has left me feeling insatiable.

My hand rises to my mouth as my finger skims my lips at the memory.

“I’m not going to kiss you again until you’re ready,” he says.

My head pops up, and our eyes meet in the reflection of the steel. “Why kiss me at all?”

“I had to see if you were worth the chase.”

The elevator dings, and the doors slide open. He turns to me, winking before he exits. I’m stuck in my place, and it’s not until the doors start to close that I step out and catch up to him, trying to ignore his statement but having it on repeat in my head.

The extremely fancy restaurant is only a few blocks away. We make our way through the afternoon crowd, and he opens the door, holding it for me to walk through.

“Hello, Mr. Sexton. Your usual table today?” the hostess asks with the batting of her lashes.

“Two, please,” he responds, placing his hand on the small of my back to bring me forward.

The girl’s eyes widen, and her smile falls when she realizes I’m standing here. She recovers quickly and goes back to hostess mode. “This way, please.”

We’re led to a corner table covered in a white tablecloth that leaves just enough room for our plates, cups, and nothing else.

The hostess hands me a menu but doesn’t hand one to him. “I’ll be right out with your drink,” she says, making sure all her attention is fixed on Austin while I get her backside.