One Summer Evening - One Summer Evening Part 2
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One Summer Evening Part 2

Something had obviously clicked, and they had been best friends eversince.

In fact, Austin was almost as much a part of her life as her parents,though she never considered him a parent. A brother, perhaps, but neveranother father.

At thirty-two, fourteen years her senior, his six-foot- two,hundred-and-eighty-pound body was all muscle and brawn. But it was hisdark hair that brushed his collar and his dark lashed eyes that were thekickers.

Both gave him a sultry look that was a total turn on.

If he was aware of his sex appeal, he gave no indication. He seemed totake everything in stride, a trait she admired in him and something shecouldn't do. She didn't have a laid-back bone in her body.

"Hiya, brat," Austin said, coming straight to her and kissing her on thecheek.

Cassie pushed him away and placed both hands on her hips.

"From now on, that word is off-limits."

That brought a round of laughter.

"I'm eighteen today, in case you've forgotten."

"Who could forget?" His eyes glinted devilishly. "You've been rubbing

our noses in it for weeks now."

"You're awful."

Again, everyone laughed, and for a while, they chatted about everything

and nothing. Even Lester seemed to warm up a bit. Warm, however, was notthe word for Alicia; hot was more appropriate. When she wasn't byAustin's side, she was looking at him like a lovesick cow.

Cassie was fighting the urge to puke when her mother took charge.

"I suggest we all go to our rooms and rest," Wilma said in a tone that brooked no argument.

"It's not long till we meet again for cocktails, then dinner." She

paused and smiled her cool aristocratic smile.

"A few other friends will be joining us."

Within seconds, it seemed the deck had cleared and Cassie was alone.

But that was always the way it had been. When her mother spoke, people

obeyed, except her. She had as strong a will as Wilma; that was why they

often clashed.

Cassie peered at her watch and saw that she had ample time to take a stroll on the beach, to feel the wind tumble through her short hair one more time.

Tomorrow she would return home and begin to get ready for school, which

was both exciting and sad.

She bounded down the steps, only to stop in her tracks when she heard his voice.

"Where you headed, brat?"

L/assie flung her head around, her eyes flashing.

"I told you to stop calling me that."

"Old habits are hard to break." Austin's tone teased. "Besides, that's

what you are."

"What I am is eighteen."

"So?" Again the teasing note.

"So I'm an adult, and it's time you treated me like one."

Austin grinned.

"Ah, now is that a fact?"

"Yes, that's a fact." Cassie tipped her chin, but even though her eyescontinued to flash, she couldn't quite control the smile that hoveredover her lips.

Austin's grin widened.

"Sorry, it's going to be tough to think of you as a 'grownup."

" When you want to, you can be a real jerk."

Austin laughed out loud, then sobered.

"Let's face it, most of the time I am a jerk."

"Not to me. To me, you've always been" -- He cut her an intense look,his grin only partially intact.

"What?" She wished she hadn't said anything. She had opened a can ofworms that was better left unopened. Actually, she wasn't sure she couldanswer that question even to her own satisfaction. She just realizedthat her heart always seemed to do funny things when Austin invaded her space.

Maybe the truth was that she'd always had a itsybitsy secret crush onhim and was just now recognizing it, which was absolutely ludicrous, of course.

"I'm waiting, brat," he prodded.

Cassie gave him a look that in turn spread another grin generouslyacross his lips.

What was the matter with her? She'd never been uncomfortable or tongue-tied around him before. They had always enjoyed an easycamaraderie, able to laugh and tease and even insult one another.

Maybe it was her aunt's presence that bugged her. Austin had been seeingher for some time now, or so her daddy had said. Of course, her parentswere overjoyed, since they seemed to think Austin could walk on thewater. More to the point, they considered him family, and so did she.

"Forget it," she finally said in a sharper tone than she'd intended.

"I was just babbling."

Austin shot out a hand and mussed her hair.

"That's another thing you do well. You put your mouth in motion beforeshifting your mind in gear."

"Jerk," she muttered, slicing her eyes to him, more aware than ever ofwhat a hunk he was without being pretty-boy handsome. It was his bodythat made him stand apart from other men his age, including her ownfather.

There was no comparison between the two men. James more than looked histhirty-six years of age, while Austin, only four years younger, did not.

It was that hard-toned body, the body of an athlete. She wondered

suddenly what it would feel like to touch. Ouch!

"You never answered my question," Austin said, breaking into her forbidden thoughts.

Cassie rebounded and gave him a sassy grin.

"That's because I don't remember what it was."

"I asked where you were headed."

"Oh, right. I'm going for a walk on the beach."

His dark eyebrows shot up.

"You serious?"

"Yep. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. I just figured you'd go to your room and start getting dolled

up for tonight."

"Dolled up?" Sarcasm lowered her voice.

"Well, whatever."

"I still have time for the 'whatever," as you put it. Besides, I don't

have that much to do to myself."

"I agree." His gaze seemed to burn into her. "You're pretty damn perfect the way you are, brat."

Even though she wanted to hit him for his continued use of that word,

she didn't. She was too busy battling another emotion. Her heart was betraying her again, doing those funny things that left her feeling somewhat breathless and confused. And frightened.

"Uh, thanks," she said, not looking at him.

"You want some company?"

"That'd be nice."

But he didn't move. His gaze continued to burn into hers. She couldn't

read a damn thing in those eyes, and time was a wasting.