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She swallowed, and her hands gripped his tie, forcing his gaze to return to her own. “Chicago,” she muttered. “Casey?”
Austin sighed and shifted, scooping up her bag from the table. He draped it over her shoulder and frowned. “My secret’s safe with you, right?”
She nodded, and Austin turned, pulling her behind him as they walked toward the parking lot in silence, the ghost of forbidden love resting in a grave beneath the sand.
Chapter TWENTY-ONE
Casey
“More wine?” The metalbottom of the chair grated against the brick patio as Austin stood. He reached forward and gripped her empty glass as his lips pecked her forehead.
“Sure, thanks.” Casey eyed his retreating figure as he slid the glass door open and disappeared into the house, leaving her alone in the Millennium Park-sized backyard of his home. The crickets chirped in the quiet evening as a summer breeze ruffled the skirt of her pink sundress. She sighed, the pit in her stomach intensifying.
What’s wrong with you, Austin?
She frowned and pulled forth from her memory the stoic expression he wore all throughout the rehearsal and dinner. With a swallow, she re-tasted the dry wine clinging to her lips as Austin reappeared. He slid the patio door closed with his foot, each step forward echoing the nameMavis... Mavis... Mavisin her mind.
It has to be her. It has to be the wedding that’s bugging him.
“Here you go, Casey girl.” He set the wine down in front of her and brought his glass to his lips. With a sigh, his gaze fell to the floor as he swallowed.
“All right. Clearly, you’re not going to tell me willingly, so I have to pry. What’s wrong with you?” She leaned forward and propped herself up on her elbows, her chin dropping into each open palm.
He snorted and rested his hands behind his neck. “Nothing. Just been a long day, that’s all.” He winked.
“You’re a lot of things, Austin Templeton, but a liar you are not.” She returned his wink and tilted her head, a curl falling free from her pin.
A grin appeared as he leaned forward and snagged her hand, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist. “You belong in a courtroom, Attorney McDaniels. Using my own words against me is one hell of a closing argument.”
A shiver raced along her skin, inciting goosebumps to appear on her forearms. “Who said anything about closing?”
Austin smiled and tugged her hand. “Come here.”
Gladly.
Casey fell into his lap, breathing out the raw anxiety fueling every heartbeat in her chest. She snuggled into his embrace and rested her head beside his. Pressing her lips to his cheek, she closed her eyes.
