Page 71 of Hideaway Heart

“That is not the case tonight, I promise. I just don’t want to raise any eyebrows.” But I pulled her in closer, tightening my hold around her lower back. My forearm rested along the warm, bare strip of skin between her jeans and her top, my fingers curling automatically around her waist. I could smell her perfume, and heat surged through me.

“You think your family would care?”

“Definitely,” I said. “Austin already suspects.”

“He does?” She arched back and looked up at me, pinning her hips against mine.

“We had a conversation about you yesterday at his house.”

“Oh?” By her smile, I could tell she kind of liked that. “And what was said?”

“He bet me I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you for two weeks.”

Her head fell back as she laughed, exposing her throat. It took a lot of effort for me not to put my mouth on it. “Did you take it?”

“Fuck no.”

She laughed some more, then pressed close again, her cheek on my chest, her head tucked beneath my chin. I happened to catch Austin’s eye—he grinned wryly and shook his head. Devlin was staring at us like we were a math problem he was trying to figure out, and Mabel and Ari, also back at the table, were whispering back and forth as they observed us with keen-eyed glee.

When the song ended, the band announced they were taking a short break, and Kelly and I returned to the table. I pulled out her chair, and she sat down, fanning her face.

“Ooooh,” she breathed. “Hot out there.”

“Looked like it,” said Veronica. “Hey, Kelly, I have to use the ladies’ room. Would you like to come with me?”

“Yes.” Kelly glanced at me. “I’ll just be a few minutes. Is it okay?”

I stood up again. “I’ll walk you.”

“Xander, it’s literally twenty feet from here,” Mabel said, pointing toward the hallway next to the stage. “You can see the bathroom door.”

Kelly tugged on my arm. “Sit. I’ll be fine, I promise.”

“We’ll be with her the whole time,” Veronica said, rising to her feet. Ari and Mabel popped up too, and the four of them hurried toward the women’s bathroom. Kelly did a good job keeping her head down, but I could have sworn I saw heads turn in her direction as she made her way across the empty dance floor.

“So,” Devlin said when it was just the three guys left at the table. “What’s with you and Pixie Hart?”

“He doesn’t like when you call her that,” Austin said with a grin.

“Because it’s not her name,” I said testily.

“Sorry.” Devlin leaned back in his chair and took a pull on his beer. “What’s with you andKelly?”

I shrugged. “Nothing much.”

“Doesn’t look like nothing much from where I’m sitting,” Devlin taunted. “You can’t keep your eyes off her.”

“That’s not all he can’t keep off her,” Austin muttered, bringing his beer to his mouth. “And I’m not talking about his hoodie.”

“We’re just having fun together,” I said. “It’s not a big deal.”

“So she’s not in contention of the role of Mrs. Xander Buckley?” Austin asked.

I frowned at my older brother. “What the fuck are you talking about? I just met her three days ago.”

“I know, but I distinctly remember you saying to me earlier this summer that you were looking for a wife.”

Devlin burst out laughing. “Looking for a wife?”