Page 73 of Austin

The thought of letting her in on my entire past has me raising a hand and running it down my face. I could use a shave and a shot of tequila. I’ll have to settle for just the shave and a pot of coffee.

I’ve gotten used to not sleeping and running my days on booze and adrenaline. If I keep it up, I’ll have a heart attack by the time I’m thirty. That will have to change if I want a future with Jalynn. The thought of my life with her is the only thing that makes me want to slow down.

Maybe last night was the cooldown. The ultimate slow your brakes if you want to do a victory lap with this girl.

Jalynn’s hand slowly falls as she lifts her head up. Her lips are swollen, and she’s looking at me through lazy eyelids. “Morning, handsome. You didn’t sleep, did you?”

“I’m used to it.” I kiss her nose to wipe the worry off her face.

She rises up on her elbow, and the sheet falls, exposing her breasts. “That’s not good, Austin. You can’t be up half the night like that. You’ll burn out.”

I run my thumb over her nipple and feel it harden with my touch. “Having you next to me makes it more manageable.”

She lets out a moan, closing her lids in ecstasy. “Hmm … that feels good.”

“While I’d love to spend the entire day in bed with you, we have to take a rain check because I have to be at work in a half hour, and I’m taking you with me.”

Her eyes pop open. “I can’t go to the office with you.”

“You’re that worried about what people think?”

“Gee, kettle, black? Where’s your hoodie, Falcon?” She playfully hits me and swings her legs around the side of the bed, taking all of the sheets and blankets with her.

I motion toward my erection peeking out of my boxers. “I’m a little exposed here.”

Her eyes light up at the sight, and I watch as her tongue sneaks out her mouth to skim her lip. Despite the obvious look of desire, she raises her chin and stands up. “‘Rain check,’” she says, using air quotes. “We have to be at work.”

God, I love it when she’s a pain in the ass. “You’ll be happy to know, we’re not going to the office. We’re headed to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel.”

“The Sergeant Miller interview is being conducted there today,” she says in realization. “You’re going?”

“And so are you.”

“No. I don’t want stories being told about me around the office. I like working there.”

“I’m sorry to break it to you, but they’re gonna talk.” I rise from the bed and walk over to her side where she’s standing, clutching on to the sheets. Running my fingers up and down her arms, I look directly at her and declare, “You and I are together. I won’t hide that. From anyone.”

She suspiciously eyes me. “Bryce said it’s okay for me to leave for the day?”

I nod with a Cheshire cat grin.

“With you?” she asks curtly.

I lean in to kiss her nose. “He’s still in Tahoe. And, if he weren’t, I’d demand he let me take you. I want you there with me.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re the only one I’m willing to share my secrets with.”

Her chest stutters with a breath. She turns to grab her clothes faster than I thought possible.

Note to self: if you want Jalynn to cooperate with you, promise her a piece of your past.

* * *

Jalynn and I pull up front of the landmark San Francisco hotel. I don’t usually go to these things, but this one is too personal. My stomach turns. I have to loosen the tie around my neck as we exit the car and walk through the entrance and up the elevator to the penthouse suite where Stefanie is waiting.

“The production crew knows this is going to be used on multiple platforms?” I ask, eyeing up the set of two chairs facing each other with three cameras and lights positioned on each. “There should be a fourth camera.”