Page 60 of One Kind Hand

“You got it.” Peter shuffled off with their plates.

“I’ve never left a table at a restaurant and then returned to it,” Charlie said. “I didn’t know that was allowed.”

“It’s allowed when you’re Austin Rayhill,” Adrienne said as she approached their table.

Austin cringed a bit as the people at a huge table nearby collectively turned to face him at the chef’s announcement of his name. A few more camera flashes lit the area and Adrienne’s shoulders raised up to her ears.

“Sorry, buddy. I figured everyone in this quadrant knew you were here.”

“I’ve managed to fly almost under the wire for most of the evening,” Austin said.

“This table does a pretty good job at cloaking famous people,” Adrienne said. “You know, when the chef doesn’t have a super big mouth.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway.”

Austin introduced Charlie who delighted Adrienne with her praise of the food.

“I’m glad you enjoyed your meals.” Adrienne turned to Austin. “Your sisters were in here last week. Triple threat, those three.”

“Tell me about it.” Austin puffed out a breath. “They’re always looking for trouble.”

“That’s because they know you’ll get them out of it.” Adrienne lightly punched his shoulder. “I wish my brother was as cool as you. Mine would leave me in a gutter to rot.”

“Fortunately, your cooking makes you a rockstar. No gutter for you.”

“That’s partly your doing too.” Adrienne clapped her hands together once. “Okay. I’ll let you get on with your night. You going dancing?”

“Of course. I can’t go home and say I was here but didn’t bust a move,” Charlie said.

“Indeed. Live deejay tonight. He’s sick. You’re going to love it.” Adrienne gave them a wave and stopped at a few other tables on her route back to the kitchen.

“Shall we?” Austin stood, a few more flashes sparking around their table. Ignoring them, he held out a hand to Charlie.

She took it, flinching a little as she got to her feet and more cameras snapped photos.

He leaned toward her ear. “Sometimes,” he whispered, “it’s better if you pose for them. They’ll get their fix and stop. What do you say?”

“I’ll follow your lead, Mr. Movie Star.”

Austin slid his arm around her back and faced the tables around them. “Smile.”

As soon as the other patrons nearby caught on, the flashing of phones was nearly blinding. Austin rotated them a bit so everyone in the area had a chance at a good angle. When Charlie didn’t seem to mind the attention, Austin visited a few of the tables and allowed a handful of selfies. He signed a few napkins then whisked her away to a set of stairs that led to the dance club floor.

“Thank you,” he said after pressing a kiss to her cheek.

“You have to give the people what they want.” She hooked her arm around his as they descended the stairs. “And they want you. Not fair of me to hog you all to myself.”

“But you’ll hog me later, right?”

“You can count on it.”

He squeezed her arm to his side as they walked onto the crowded dance floor. The music was too loud for conversation, but Austin pulled her up against him, planning to say everything he wanted to with his body while they danced.

Having Charlie in his arms and sliding against her as the music thumped from the speakers was a brand of foreplay Austin had never experienced. Sure, he’d gone dancing before, but never with someone who charged him up as much as Charlie did. Every wiggle of her ass, every slight grind of her hips . . . fuck, it was as if he were a grenade whose pin had been pulled. The way that dress showed off her amazing figure, the way the lights made her silky black hair shimmer, the way her gaze turned him to liquid each time it connected with his. He wouldn’t last much longer on the dance floor with her.

They had to grab that dessert and get to the alone portion of his plans.

“Ready for dessert?” he asked when he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Yes.” The word came out breathless and desire-filled.