Page 38 of Tumbleweed Temptation
“She likes to lead,” Austin warned before he turned and smiled at Ginny.
“I don’t dance as well as Poppy,” she apologized when he placed his hand on her waist. “I mean, I used to, but it’s been a while. “
“We went out a few times a week when I was undergrad. But when I went to med school we didn’t have much time to go. I didn’t think I missed it, but I kinda do.” He adjusted his hand on her waist, pulling her just a little closer.
Her breath caught in her throat as her tummy bumped against his flat belly, and her fingers flexed on his surprisingly muscular shoulder.
“But you found time to work out then?”
“Ah.” He smiled, a little shyly, as he dropped his gaze. “It was a great stress reliever, and there was a gym onsite at the hospital. I went a lot between shifts. I liked it. I do kind of wish there was a gym around town, or at least that I had some exercise equipment.”
“Why don’t you order a machine or something for your apartment?
“Have you seen my apartment? There’s not a lot of space for me in there, much less gym equipment.”
“You could rent one of the storefronts that’s empty, put something in there.”
“With all the money I’m raking in as the town doctor?” He lifted his head to meet her gaze, his eyes twinkling.
“Well, just offering a solution, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t cost all that much. Maybe you could offer a membership to help pay for it.”
“Huh. Doctor and gym manager. I don’t know if I’d have a lot of takers with people who do a lot of physical labor anyway.”
“Well you could do that, or go to work on the McKay place.” Realizing what she’d said, she brought her gaze to his. “Sorry. Bad idea. I meant it to be a joke, not a poke.”
He turned her to avoid another couple, his hand moving to the small of her back to guide her. “I got it. Don’t worry about it.”
“But it would be really good if you could make peace with the family.”
“Gin, I don’t want to talk about it now.”
“No, no, of course not. We’re here to have fun.”
The song ended and she thought he would release her, but the next song was slower, much more her speed, and she shifted her hands on his shoulders, moving a little closer. She didn’t know if that was why he didn’t release her, or if he wanted to keep dancing, but his other hand went around her as well, and she was able to block out everything but the smell of him, beer, shaving cream and the slightest hint of sweat. She couldn’t look him in the eye, not when they were this close, so she found herself looking at the dark stubble of his chin. It was...sexy.
Austin Driscoll. Strong. Sexy. This was a mistake. But she couldn’t make herself step away. In fact she seemed to be more aware of the heat of his body, the strength of it beneath his shirt, the strength of his hand at the small of her back. She took in a breath, filled herself with the smell of him, and his hand moved up higher on her back, his thumb resting just above her zipper.
She lifted her head to see him looking down at her, his lips curved a little, his eyes warm, and she felt herself move a little closer, lifting her chin, feeling his breath on her lips.
And then the song changed, and that flipped a switch in her brain. She jumped back, lifting her hands from his shoulders and used them to smooth her hair back, anything to keep herself from touching him and losing her mind.
“Thanks. For the dance. I think—maybe I think I’m going to go now. You know, maybe you and Javi can take the girls home?”
“You don’t want to drive back to Broken Wheel by yourself,” he said, following her off the dance floor.
“I’ll be fine. I go a lot of places by myself. I just don’t think the others are ready to leave.”
“No, they’re not. Why are you?”
He touched her arm, and she forced herself to turn and look at him. “It’s just been a really long day, and I have to be at the diner early.”
“And you just decided that when we were out there on the dance floor?”
“Yeah, I just...” Couldn’t trust my judgment. “Got really tired.”
“All the more reason you shouldn’t drive back by yourself.”
“Really, I’ll be okay, if you don’t mind staying and taking the others home. I never should have agreed to drive them out here.”
