Part 7 (1/2)
”Florida State.”
”Rivals. Figures.” She practically smirked at him. ”Keep digging that hole.”
”We both like animals.”
”Really?” She glanced around. ”Where's your dog?”
”Don't have one.” He narrowed his eyes. ”I was raised on a farm.”
”Raised in the city.”
He made a noise. ”Holland Spring is a larger small town at best.”
”Why are you arguing with me?” she asked, staring at him in confusion. ”I'm only doing you a favor.”
”By blitzing a play that hasn't even been executed?” He crossed his muscular arms over his chest. ”C'mon, Harper, I don't give a d.a.m.n about how old you are, and you shouldn't either.”
”Easy to say when you don't have to worry about people calling you a cougar.”
”You're not forty,” he pointed out.
”And you're not thirty.” She tossed her head. ”Why are you being so stubborn?”
”h.e.l.lo, pot.”
”Oooh. You are infuriating.”
He bowed a little. ”I think you need some livening up.”
”Is that another shot at my lack of a personal life?”
”Nope. I only said that because you're d.a.m.n gorgeous when you're all riled up.” This time, he smirked. Except on him, it was s.e.xy and not stupid or c.o.c.ky.
”There is no way this is going to work,” she said, stepping away from him.
He grabbed her arm, pulling her to him. ”Hey... don't be that way. I was only teasing you to get your mind off... things.”
”Like that I'm a cougar?”
”So you do want me in your bed.” He winked.
She lightly punched at his chest. ”That's not helping.”
”Would it help if I kiss you again?” He dipped his head, bringing his lips dangerously close to hers. All she had to do was stand on her tiptoes, and she could- ”No.” Pulling away from him, she gave him her best teacher look and shook a finger at him. ”Behave, or else.”
”Else what?”
”Or else, I'll never let you in my bed.” There. Let's see how he handles that.
”Try again.”
”You think you're that good?”
”I think you think I'm that good, and you would be right.”
She threw her hands up in the air. ”You seriously have to stop this.”
”Flirting with you?”
”Yes. It's... how will we work together on Tuesday if we can't go longer than five seconds without teasing one another?”
”It's called flirting, Harper. Say it with me. Flir-ting.”
”Flirting,” she said softly.
”Good girl.” He dusted her bottom lip with his thumb. Her heart slammed against her chest. She wanted to suck on his thumb, take it between her teeth, and nibble it. ”Flirting is what a man and a woman do when they're attracted to one another.”
There was a sharp crack. A trio of women spilled out of the shadows of the trees, laughing and holding up their cell phones while taking selfies.
Abruptly, Austin stopped touching her and stepped back, the playful light in his eyes dimming. ”I brought a couple of tennis b.a.l.l.s for Libby to play with, if you don't mind.”
The wind gusted, sending a bone-chilling breeze through her clothing. It was almost as effective at extinguis.h.i.+ng her desire as a cold shower. ”I'm sure she'd love it.”
Austin whistled for Libby, and the dog came bounded over. He rubbed her head and showed her the tennis ball in his hand before he gave it a good throw. Libby ran after it, barking like mad.
Harper sat down on a nearby bench and watched the two of them. A scene like this should have gotten to her in a good way, but she couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if everyone did find out about her and Austin.
Except... she and Austin weren't doing anything. Sure, they'd kissed and been on two dates, but that was hardly an endors.e.m.e.nt for a dating label. All she knew was what he told her, what he claimed to feel for her, and what he didn't care about.
Like their age difference.
Geez Louise.
She felt foolish for even admitting it to him in the first place, but the old habit of wanting to belong to that exclusive club of McCoy women hadn't died out completely yet. She still cared about what they thought. It was stupid and she knew it, yet she couldn't escape it.
There was nothing she could do except become completely professional with Austin. No more flirting. No more kisses. No more- Austin stretched, his t-s.h.i.+rt riding up to expose rock-hard abs and a thin, dark trail of hair that disappeared under the waistband of his athletic pants.
Dear Lord. How was she supposed to become professional when she got a glimpse of what he looked like under his clothes?
She lifted her gaze skyward, muttering, ”Not fair, G.o.d. Totally not fair.”
Apparently, G.o.d was in an exceptionally humorous frame of mind because when she brought her gaze back to Austin, he'd taken off his s.h.i.+rt.
Her world tilted.