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The end of the day couldn’t come quick enough. Claudia spent most of it answering questions like where did she get her inspiration and if she could do the outfits int he videos for a set of four children. By the time the end of the day had arrived Claudia was exhausted. when she finally closed her doors, she turned around to find herself being swept up into the arms of Austin.
“I knew you were going to be a huge success! everyone loved your fashions. The video was great. I told you, you are natural.”
“If it seems that way it's only because love you and Sasha putting so much work into this,” Claudia said
Sasha shook her head.
“You know I'm all for taking credit for everything, but I'm going to have to agree with Austin on this one. This was all you Claudia. it's true I may tell you where to put stuff or give suggestions about some things but if you didn't have the main idea none of this would be true. I think we should celebrate,” Sasha said.
Claudia looked at Austin and in a moment all of the joviality had left the room and there was this awareness they had of each other. It never really went away but they had worked on keeping things professional.
Claudia looked at Austin hoping he would come up with a polite way to back out or at the very least say this was premature. she wasn't really sure why she was so nervous. everybody would know if they saw them together why they were celebrating. It wasn't like they were in this town. Claudia had to face the idea that it wasn't Sasha who was making this uncomfortable, but it was her. Besides when was the last time she went out to dinner with a man. If she were hoping for some help from Austin, she was quickly disappointed.
“I think celebrating is a great idea. where should you go?”
Sasha clapped her hands.
“I know of a cozy place we can go to. it's right outside of the edges of town. it's nothing special so you don't have to get dressed up and I know the owner. Why don't we all go home to freshen up and I will text the address. we can all meet there.”
Claudia nodded her head, but she didn't have a good feeling about this. Austin walked out of her store and didn't even look back. Claudia was so nervous she never even made it back to her home. instead, she helped Jillian clean up and reconcile the receipts for the day. After looking at the profit she had made Claudia was definitely in a mood to celebrate.
* * *
Austin wondered ifClaudia would turn around and leave when she found out Sasha wasn't coming. when he had arrived at the restaurant he thought it was a nice Italian place for a couple. that was when he received a call from Sasha. Her sister needed her and there was no doubt that Sasha was going. She would be gone for a week at most, but she had to leave now. Ten minutes before Claudia was supposed to arrive was too late to tell her not to come. Besides Austin had already called the store and Jillian had said Claudia was already on her way.
Austin wasn't sure he was ready for this. of course, it sounded fine when he thought it was going to be a threesome. for the last couple of weeks he had seen Claudia bloom and grow and become more beautiful to him every day. It was the way that she had to lean down and look at the pattern twice. It was the moment when he passed her the shears and their fingers touched. small and growing.
Austin had dated a lot. It was impossible not to date when you were living in the world of fashion. the dates were about being seen in the public and not about who you were with. Austin knew that Claudia was forever woman. He had to admit for our disease that after all.
Move to the restaurants on him standing alone he saw her pause.
“Sasha had an emergency. please call this off I'm okay with that.”
He saw her straighten her back and clear her throat.
“No, we are both here and we are both adults. I think we can handle eating dinner by ourselves.”
Austin wasn’t so sure that was true, but he went along with her anyway. He held out his arm and she looped hers in his. The feel of her on his arm seeped into his side and made him want to pull her closer. This woman had a power over him that he had never experienced, and he wasn’t scared of.
When they made it to the booth they were both awkward. It didn’t help that the owner was expecting Sasha who had told him to put them somewhere where they wouldn’t be disturbed but could still see everyone in the restaurant. So here they both were in a cozy corner trying to find a way to talk to one another without getting too close.
“I didn’t know there was a place like this so close to Cooper’s Sand,” Claudia said.
Austin looked around and once again thought how this was the perfect place to start to court the woman you wanted to be your wife.
“It's definitely going to be a go to for me if it all pans out.”
“Come on don't be a pessimist. as soon as I got the address I looked it up and the reviews are amazing.”
And just like that the small talk was over. Claudia was looking at the menu and Austin was looking at Claudia. He had already looked at the menu before he came and now, he was glad that he had.
Claudia had her hair pulled up into some kind of feminine bun. He wasn't really sure how her hair was staying up there. What he was sure about was that her hair being up meant he could see this smooth expanse of her neck. It meant he could see the green earrings that dangled from her lobes. The lighting in the restaurant it was perfect for her skin. It made her look like some ethereal creature that was too good to be sitting with him.
When the food was ordered, and the drinks were brought to the table there was nothing but silence. He saw Claudia pick up her water glass and take several sips before shakily putting the glass back on the table.
“I know this feels awkward without Sasha,” he said wanting to address the elephant in the room.
“No really it's fine.”
