Page 101 of Tumbleweed Temptation
“I could go get some. We usually used syrup. You want powdered sugar?”
“I’ve never had it any other way.”
He was already moving out of the kitchen to round up his pants and a t-shirt. He shoved his feet in flip-flops while he pulled the shirt over his head.
Ginny pivoted in the chair to watch him. “You don’t have to go on my account.”
“I’ll be back in five minutes.” He walked over to kiss her, allowing himself only a brush of her lips, lest he give into the temptation of a deeper kiss. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“Powdered sugar?” Mrs. Lopez demanded when he dropped the single item on the conveyor belt at the grocery store. “I don’t think this is part of your healthy eating plan, is it?”
“No, ma’am, this is part of my ‘I’m hungry for French toast’ plan.”
“Oh?” Mrs. Crowley in line behind him drew the word out. “Who’s making you French toast?”
“I’m making my own French toast,” he said, scooping up the bag after paying. “I used to make it for my mom all the time. Just been thinking about her.”
As he expected, that shut them up.
When he walked into the apartment, Ginny was bending over to look into his refrigerator. He had no idea what she could be looking for, didn’t care because, man. That view.
She straightened when she heard him close the door, but the die was cast. He crossed the room in three steps and swept her into his arms.
An hour later, they finally got their French toast.
“Are we going to The Wheel House tomorrow?” he asked, leaning on the counter to eat, because he wanted to be across from her, not beside her.
“Oh. I don’t now. I have work to do, and I’m a little behind my schedule.” She blushed and kept her focus on her breakfast. Brunch. Okay, lunch.
“It’ll be nice to get out, though, hang out with our friends.”
She looked up at him warily. “Are you talking about us going out as a couple?”
Something in her tone had him backtracking. “Would there be something wrong with that?”
“I mean, I work for you.” She set her fork down.
He straightened, bracing his palms on the counter. Sex aside, they’d shared more intimacy than he’d shared with anyone last night. “I mean, yeah, you work for me, but that’s not—it’s not like a regular place, a regular job. We work together is more the way I see it. I mean.” He didn’t like what he saw in her face, the doubt, the reluctance. “Is that the only thing?”
She picked up her fork again. “It’s just—this is pretty new, and I’m not sure I want to go out and declare that we’re together to everyone. I mean, what if we decide it doesn’t work after all, and then everyone will just feel awkward.”
“I guess?” Maybe she was right. Maybe it was too soon to announce themselves as a couple. But he found himself feeling a little bruised that she was the one to think like that. Did she regret her confession? He didn’t want to, you know, be hanging all over her when they went out, but he would like to be able to hold her hand, smile at her, without people speculating. He’d had enough of that to last the rest of his life. But if she wanted to keep it quiet, sure. He could do that. For a while.
*****
GINNY’S PULSE PICKEDup when she walked to work Monday morning. She had taken a little more time on her appearance, had debated over which blouse to wear, had picked her favorite jeans. She was feeling pretty good when she walked into the office, and couldn’t hide her blush when Austin, bent over the reception desk booting up the computer, looked up and smiled at her, his eyes warm.
Everything in her tingled at just that look. But before she could cross to him, the door behind her opened and their first patient, Mrs. Jaquez, walked in.
Ginny dipped her head so the woman couldn’t see her reaction, and Austin moved away, toward his office.
“I’ve got a couple of things to do before I get started,” Austin said to both of the women, then stepped inside. “I’ll be with you in just a few minutes.”
Ginny got Mrs. Jaquez situated in the exam room, and anticipated Austin stepping out of his office, maybe giving her a good morning kiss, before attending the older woman.
But when he stepped out of the office again, his expression was closed, his demeanor distracted. He didn’t even glance her way before he closed the door to the exam room.
Her anticipation shriveled into tension when he walked Mrs. Jaquez out, only to greet their next patient, Sandra Medina and her little boy Matt. Austin had a smile for the kid, but the warmth she’d seen earlier in his eyes was gone. What had happened when he was in his office?
