Page 10 of Just Business

She gives a throaty laugh that sends all the blood in my body rushing to my cock, and suddenly, my pants are a little too tight around the zipper.

Her head tilts sideways, and two divots appear between her brows.

“Well, Mr. Mysterious, I didn’t take you for a van-driving man.” She smirks at me, and I can’t decide if she knows who I am or not. But I can’t be sure with my favorite Texas Longhorns hat pulled down low.

“Mr. Mysterious, huh?” Smirking back at her, an idea forms and I decide to shoot my shot. “That right there is a story for another day. Seeing how I’m new in town, maybe you could show me around. I could tell you how I ended up here, van and all.” I give my best self-deprecating shrug. “I’ll be around for a bit. You could give me your number.” Something tells me this spit-fire of a woman doesn’t freely hand out her number to total strangers. But then she shocks the hell out of me, proving me completely wrong.

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip in the cutest gesture, eyes narrowing. After a moment’s hesitation, she steps even closer and holds out her hand for my phone. After I unlock it, I hand it to her, catching a whiff of something floral and earthy when I do. She types her number into my contacts, holding it up to take a selfie for the contact photo before handing it back to me. And for the third time tonight, that foreign feeling hits me and a ghost of a smile curves my mouth at the unexpected turn this night has taken.

“What’s your name?” she asks. Either she truly has no clue who I am, or she’s one hell of an actress.

Humming out a low laugh, I decide to go with honesty. “My name’s Austin. You got a name?”

“I’m Penny.” Her voice is soft and kind now, a juxtaposition to her earlier tone.

“You got a last name?” I ask.

“Just Penny. How ’bout you? You got a last name?”

Shaking my head, I say, “Just Austin.”

She takes a step backward, like she’s suddenly realized how close we’re now standing.

“Maybe I’ll see you around Austin, just Austin.”

I give her a wink and a dip of my chin before climbing into my van. “Penny, just Penny, I sure hope so.”

Maybe this trip’ll turn out all right after all.

“What in the actual hell was I thinking last night?” I ask Honey, who is curled up on my chest, purring contentedly. At the sound of my voice, she raises her head, cocking it to one side, and lets out a loudmeowin response.

I’m lying in bed, the glaringly bright beams of the early morning sun streaming through the slats in my blinds. My mind is still whirring from everything that happened last night. What was supposed to be a night out to escape from reality turned into so much more. Never in my wildest dreams could I have predicted Austin freaking James would be at the bar. I guess the drinks he ordered explain his shift in demeanor, because he went from a total mystery to hopping on the karaoke stage and totally owning it.

I mean, of course he owned it, Penny. That’s his job.

But what on God’s green earth possessed me to chase him down in the parking lot and hand over my number? Who was that carefree girl last night, and what did she do with responsible Penny? I don’t chase men, especially not tall, handsome men with rumbly laughs and a deep voice that makes my toes curl. And that look! No, I do not chase after men who have my heart hiccuping in my chest with just one look. Oh, and did I mention famous? I’m a pretty smart girl, and I know that’s usually a recipe for disaster. Maybe I can blame it on that delicious drink lowering my inhibitions.

In the music industry, we face a double standard. It’s common knowledge that men can hook up with female musicians, but if women do it, we’re called whores and accused of sleeping our way to the top. I’ve seen it happen countless times. I constantly have to go above and beyond to be taken seriously, which means not even one little pinky toe can step out of line. From everything I’ve read online about Austin James, spending time with him wouldn’t be a toe out of line; it would be my whole damn leg. Yet, for the first time in a long while, I threw caution to the wind and did something completely out of character simply because I wanted to.

Honey finally gets up, stretching her paws out in front of her, and hops to the floor, probably heading to her food bowl. Propping up on one elbow, I reach under my pillow for my phone to text Josie for proof of life.

How do you feel today?

Josie

Like I got run over by an eighteen wheeler. Jay and Abby seem better, though.

Well that’s good news! Maybe you’ll be better by this evening. Those things usually only last twenty-four hours.

Josie

Hopefully. Sorry about last night. What did you end up doing?

Take a wild guess.

Josie

If I know you like I think I do, you changed into your jammies, worked on spreadsheets, and then read a book.

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