Page 31 of Austin

The fire was put out quickly, but the aftereffects lasted for years. My father gave Beckett his first beating that night. I can still hear his cries and the slap of leather on his bare skin. You’d think that’d have been enough to make Beckett run the straight and narrow. It had the opposite effect. It was almost like he wanted to be punished.

For thirteen years, I’ve been following in his shadow, trailing behind to make sure he doesn’t veer too far off course of what I think is the right path he needs to be on. That’s why I begged him to take me to the race that first night. He didn’t want me to go, but I stole his keys and bullied my way into the passenger seat. I had to see with my own eyes just how he was going to self-destruct next.

Him losing his car is not a surprise. Hell, I half-expected it. I can’t blame Austin for something Beckett did willingly. If it wasn’t Austin, it would have been some other driver.

As I enter the lobby of Sexton Media, I pray Austin keeps his distance from me today. I’m still mad at him. I’m still hurt. I’m still … I don’t know.

Bryce’s office door is closed when I get in, so I take the time to put my lunch in the refrigerator in the break room and grab Bryce’s mail from the postal center. Before heading back, I run to the restroom to look myself over, making sure my face isn’t an open book of emotions.

At my desk, I busy myself with reading the dailies and printing a cross line comparison of all the papers Sexton Media owns in the fashion that Bryce likes the information to be presented. My mind is laser-focused on the task, but when the door to Bryce’s office opens, I don’t have to look up to know that the person who is exiting is Austin. All my attention is fixated on those steely-blue eyes as he slowly closes the door behind him.

His look is disarming, so different from when he’s Falcon. When he’s in disguise, I feel more empowered, knowing that I have him at his most vulnerable. But, when he’s in his corporate stance in his dark gray suit and blue tie, standing like a man of power and promise, I could easily let myself be the vulnerable one. Especially when he gazes down at me through dark lashes and lifts that square jaw—like he is right now—as if appraising me, searching my soul to decipher my every sin and solace. It’s bewitching, to say the least.

He stands there with a vague expression. His eyes look like he wants to speak, but his mouth is unmoving. Whatever it is he must want to say will go untold because he releases the doorknob and turns toward his own office.

My heart sinks a bit, and I bite my bottom lip, wondering why his retreat bothers me so.

I’m watching him walk down the hall when, suddenly, his feet halt on the carpet. Since he’s not facing me, he can’t see the confused expression all over my face.

He asks over his shoulder, “Can you keep a secret?”

It only takes a second for me to reply, “I already have so many of yours. So, the question is, do you trust me?”

His head lowers, and I can see his shoulders tense with his fists clenched at his sides. He takes a deep inhale, making his back rise. When he exhales, he turns to face me, and I’m floored by what I’m seeing. I might have only known him a short time, but his gaze is laced with remorse.

“Take a walk with me,” he demands. Yes, it’s a demand, not a request.

Any nerves I thought I had when I saw him fly out the window, and frustration sets right back in. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“I have something I want to show you.” He looks away and then back at me. “Somewhere actually.”

“Here at Sexton?” I swirl my finger in the air. “HR showed me everything I needed to see.”

He takes a step forward. “They didn’t show you … everything.”

“What, like your office? No, thanks. I’ll pass.” I look back at my computer and focus on the screen even though it’s the least interesting thing to me right now.

“I have no doubt you’ll see it one day soon, but no, that’s not what I meant. Come with me.”

He holds out his hand, and I stare at it.

“Look, I’m not really wanting to start my new job as the office slut. So, if you don’t mind, I’d rather just focus on what I have to do here and stick to myself. You’ve already caused enough drama in my life.”

He takes a step forward and places two hands on my desk. “I do mind.” He smells amazing, and the way his words tickle my ear sends chills down my spine. “And don’t worry. Kristen, on the fifth floor, is the office slut. At the rate she’s going, you’ll have to be here awhile to gain that title.” His mouth quirks up to the side with the little joke.

I laugh even though I know I shouldn’t. I don’t know anything about this girl, and a part of me is sad to hear she’s gained such a reputation. But I can’t help but be surprised by this lighter side of him.

“Let’s take a walk,” he says.

And, like the fool I am for getting into his car that night, I take his hand and allow him to lead me on another adventure.

* * *

“Really?” I pause, folding my arms over my chest and shaking my head. “If you think something’s going to happen in the stairwell, you have surely lost your mind.”

After leaving my desk and following Austin down Executive Row, he leads me through a corridor and into the back stairwell. When the steel door closes behind me, I find the space cold and eerie—an odd place to find yourself alone with your boss. And, being that we’re on the top floor, I can easily assume that we’re not walking down twenty-two floors.

He laughs at my comment, and I make a mental note that I have to stop making him do that because my stomach flutters every time.