Page 59 of The Perfect Melody

“Oh, did he now?”

Ignoring Daphne’s suggestive tone, Phoebe continues, “Not the point. The point is Austin felt the need to talk to his friends about you. That says something.”

“I’m sure my name only came up in passing. Austin isn’t interested in starting anything with me.” Erin, Phoebe, and Gem’s eyes go wide. Confused, I look to Daphne and Mei on either side of me, but neither of them seems bothered. “What? Come on, this isn’t exactly news. He’s super busy with Bowman’s. Besides, I’m supposed to be figuring out my life, not dating. Plus, he and I still barely know each other.”

“Maybe we should change that.”

I freeze.Well, shit. Suddenly my new friends’ strange reaction makes more sense. The three of them are the ones facing the door.

“Can we have a word?” Austin asks.

It’s uncomfortably quiet as I place my mug back on the table. I’m torn between being grateful there aren’t more customers here to witness this and wishing the place were busier so there would be more background noise to distract from the awkwardness. “Sure.” The forced nonchalance in my voice is painful even to my own ears, and the group give me sympathetic looks as I stand.

Austin leads me to the back corner, and despite my embarrassment, I feel my lips curving up in a slight smile. He’s chosen the spot that I’d gravitate towards if I came in on my own.

“Listen, I didn’t mean anything by?—”

“Are you free on Thursday?”

“Sorry, what?” I ask, hovering beside the table for two without taking a seat. Surely I misheard him.

Austin leans against the back of the chair closest to us, crossing his long legs at the ankles. “Thursday. Are you free?”

“Um, yes?” Does he want me to pick up an extra shift or something?

His lips twitch in amusement as if he can read the question in my eyes. Hell, maybe he can—I’m too flustered to maintainany sort of poker face. “I heard you talking to Mum the other day about wanting to do some more local walks. Would you like to join me for one on Thursday afternoon?”

“I um… sure. That sounds like fun.”

This time Austin smiles for real, and my breath catches.Damn. The whole stern and stoic thing he’s got going on really works for him, but his smile? It should come with a warning label. For the sake of the cardiac health of all the locals who are attracted to men, it’s probably a good thing he doesn’t whip that smile out often. It’s sure as hell giving me heart palpitations.

“Great, I’ll meet you at the B&B at one-thirty.” Austin looks over my head, and I follow his gaze to see my new friends all scramble to pretend they’ve not been watching us. His smile is already gone, but Austin’s emerald-green eyes twinkle with mirth when they lock onto mine. “I’ll let you get back to your coffee.”

He straightens up and takes a step closer. Like a sunflower chasing the sun, I naturally tilt my head back so I can keep looking at him. Austin’s fingers lightly graze my wrist where my arm hangs at my side when he leans down. “See you Thursday, Trouble.” The low rumble of his voice is full of promise. My mind is still struggling to catch up to whatever the fuck just happened as he walks away to order at the counter.

In a state of disbelief and confusion, I woodenly make my way back to the girls who are now openly staring with expressions ranging from surprise to excitement.

“Thanks for the warning.” I give those of the group who’d been aware of Austin’s presence a droll look as I take my seat. The three of them look sheepish, but Mei doesn’t give any of them the opportunity to apologise.

“Never mind that, what did he say?” Mei asks, practically bouncing in her seat.

“He invited me to go walking with him.”

“He asked you out?” she whisper-shouts.

“In the sense that he asked me to join him for an outdoor activity? Yes. On a date? No.” Well… possibly. He was even more intense than usual, but I’m still not entirely convinced he was flirting. OK, so the hand graze felt like flirting, but it could have been an accident. Maybe. I don’t want to get my hopes up only to find out Austin was just being friendly. He said he heard me talking to his mum, but what if sheaskedhim to take me on a walk like she asked him to give me a job? God, I hope not. That would be mortifying.

“It looked like he was asking you out,” Gem volunteers. The others nod in agreement, and I glance over at where Austin’s waiting for his order, praying that he doesn’t hear us. At least they’re all making an effort to keep their voices down.

“It’s only a walk. He knows I still don’t know many people in town. He’s being friendly.”

Phoebe scoffs. “Sure, because he’s the welcoming committee type.”

“Don’t be mean,” I say, feeling oddly protective.

She holds up her hands. “I’m only teasing. Austin’s a great friend once he’s let someone in, but he’s not friendly. Dev’s the eager puppy of their group. Austin’s more like a trained police dog, always on guard and sniffing new people out to make sure they’re not trouble.”

Erin raises her dark brows. “Sniffing, really?”