From the Inside Out: The Compilation (Scorned, Jealousy, Dylan, Austin) by S. L. Scott Read Free Book Online Page B

“…this in a while.”
    “ This? Oh.” He understands I’m referring to us, being together much like a date. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. If you want to go, you can tell me and Henry will take you home. There’s no pressure. Just two friends having a drink together for the first time.”
    His sweet nature makes me smile, putting me at ease. “Thank you, but I’m just being silly. I want to be here, with you. Anyway, it’s not our first date. It’s about our seventh, I would say.”
    The car pulls to the curb and he opens the door before the driver has a chance. Leaning down, he offers me a hand as I slide across the slick leather. When I set my hand in his, his hold tightens and our eyes meet. His are stunning, an innocence of hope residing there. Maybe that’s what happy looks like. It’s been too long since I’ve seen happy this close. His hand goes to my lower back, gentle guidance, care. Laughing so effortlessly, he says, “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Just treat this like, like when we’re at the gallery. Now, let’s get that drink.”
    It’s a pub. The man who is more than well-off financially takes me to a pub. “A pub?” I question.
    “Not just any pub,” he starts, holding the door open for me. “McKeown’s. It’s an institution and holds its own amongst the trendy bars that have overtaken the City.”
    We enter and I immediately realize it’s also a sports bar. The walls are light, the furnishings are wood, not pretentious, TV’s all around. A different game is showing on each, but I don’t look twice to find out which ones or even the sport they’re highlighting. Austin takes the lead, weaving through the tables. It’s crowded and loud and not where I expected to be taken, but I think I might like him even better for picking this place. After finding a small table in the back corner, he starts to loosen his tie. “Do you mind if I take this noose off?”
    With a laugh, I reply, “Of course not.”
    Leaving it to hang down loosely around his neck, he then undoes the two top buttons of his shirt. Staring, I find the dip at the base of his neck strangely erotic. I swallow hard, forcing myself to look away before I start to fixate on the smooth skin of his collarbone that I just got a peek off. Too late. I’m totally staring until we’re rudely interrupted… A waitress approaches. She eyes him with a smile.
    He looks to me. “What would you like to drink?”
    “Maybe a beer since the place kind of calls for it.”
    “I love a girl who’ll drink a beer,” he says, eyes twinkling.
    “You choose which kind though. I’m not a beer connoisseur.”
    “Two Guinness.” He swivels in his chair toward me. “It’s a solid beer, heavy. Too much?”
    “I think I’ll manage.” I lean back in the chair, feeling the weight of the day start to lift away.
    “I’m glad I ran into you.”
    Our drinks arrive, wordlessly. The waitress has set her sights on someone else, Austin not reciprocating the way she wants. I like that he doesn’t. I shouldn’t like it as much as I do, but I do.
    We both take a sip, our eyes meeting once over the edge of the pint glass. My cheeks heat and I try to play it off by saying, “I’m glad we did too.”
    “Cheers.” He leans forward on his elbows tapping his glass against mine.
     

     
    AUSTIN HAS ME in stitches and it feels good to laugh this hard. We continue on a second beer as he tells me about some crazy deals he’s had to sort out in other countries when he didn’t speak the same language. There’s a lot of hand gesturing and facial expressions. He’s completely captivating. I giggle, feeling much like a schoolgirl when her crush says hi for the first time.
    “You’re beautiful when you laugh.” He slaps his forehead. “I mean you’re always beautiful but especially when you laugh. I think I should stop drinking. Your lovely company mixed with alcohol is going to my head, jumbling my words. I hate to cut the night