Page 81 of Love on Tour
“Childbearing hips?” Her mom had always teased that the women in their family came with good childbearing hips, and she should be glad because giving birth would be less painful.
“Sexy hips. Hips that would give me an orgasm to last a week.”
“Austin!”
“I’m telling it like it is, Chrissy.”
“You date girls like Phoebe who have no hips.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with that. But, Chrissy, God made women in all shapes, and that’s the beauty of it.”
“Okay, but—”
“I’m not finished.” He slowly moved his hands up to her waist. Then around to her tummy. Her stomach wasn’t big, but it was soft. She hated sit-ups and crunches. Despised them. She’d never have a six-pack. She flinched when he touched it and tried to pull his hands away.
“Don’t touch me there.”
“Why?”
“’Cause I’m flabby.” He pushed her hands away and reached around her again.
“You are not. And it’s nice to touch a woman’s stomach and not feel like my fingers might break.”
Christine giggled. You could bounce a coin off Phoebe’s body.
Christine looked up and saw Alicia pass by. She’d forgotten the door was wide open. Alicia made eye contact before quickly looking away.
“You’re a beautiful woman,” Austin said. “You can choose to believe what you read on social media, or you can believe me and friends like Julianna. But eventually, you just have to believe in yourself.”
In the mirror, she made eye contact with Austin and felt her heart miss a beat at the sensuality of the moment. Then she caught movement in the hall and briefly saw Matt as he looked at them while closing the door.
“No!” she yelled, upset Matt had caught her in a compromising position with Austin. She headed for the door, wanting to explain, but Austin reached out for her arm, pulling her back.
“Yes. Now enough beating yourself up. If my fans, groupies, stalkers, or whatever they are want to bash you, let them. But no more bashing yourself. Okay?”
Christine didn’t hear him. She was thinking about what she could say to Matt to fix what he’d just seen.
“Okay?” Austin said again.
“Huh? Yes, Okay.”
“I’m not kidding, Chrissy. Tell me that from now on you’ll believe in yourself.”
She focused on Austin. “From now on, I’ll believe in myself.”
He nodded. “Bring it in for a hug, girl.”
She turned around and hugged Austin. If any other guy had touched her the way Austin just had, she’d have slapped him. But this was Austin. A man who cared about her. And he’d accomplished what no male ever had. The hottest guy in country music had just convinced her she was attractive.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome.” He pulled back and looked at her. Then he kissed her cheek. His mouth moved to her neck and started to trail down to her chest.
Her mind ran to Matt and then started its endless circle:Matt has a girlfriend, and Austin is right here, and I really likeAustin, and if I can’t have Matt, why not have a fling with Austin? But if Matt ends up single, will I have a chance with him if I sleep with Austin? And will sleeping with Austin make it awkward to work together, thus messing up my career? And. . . The same old record was spinning and spinning through her brain. No, this was a bad idea. It could ruin everything.
“You’re dating Phoebe.”
“We aren’t exclusive.”
