Austin
Page 23
I drop my head to my chest, knowing he means it. He had ten dozen roses delivered to my desk my first day back after his accident. On his first day back, he hired a barbershop quartet to serenade me merely for the joy of watching me squirm with embarrassment. Any person who had questioned our relationship didn’t after that day.
“Fine. Fifteen minutes.” I hang up and push my chair away from my desk.
When I turn the corner leading to the stairwell, I see Austin standing against the door with a shit-eating grin on his face. No matter how many times I’ve seen him, my heart still thumps like this is my first. I wonder if he’ll ever stop affecting me this way.
Just as I reach him, a little boy with curly red hair and a Superman t-shirt runs by us. I’ve never seen a child at Sexton Media so I turn to Austin to question, “Do we know who he’s with?”
Austin shrugs, like it’s not a big deal that a five-year-old boy is running through the halls of a media conglomerate. “I think I heard that Rosie’s son was getting dropped off. Her office is right over there. Come on. I only have fourteen minutes left.”
He leans in, kissing my neck, sending shivers down my spine, before pulling my hand through the doorway and up the stairs.
After we climb the ladder, Austin leaves the roof latch propped open, and we head toward the lounge area.
I barely make it halfway there when his arms wrap around me, pulling my back to his front, before he spins me around and places his lips to mine. My head leans back as his hands press the small of my back forward.
Placing my fingers on his chest, I push him away. “I told you, not here.” I laugh and turn toward the sofas, only to see a table dressed in white silk set with dinner for two. There are battery operated candles scattered about and an electric candelabra sitting in the middle of the table alongside a floral centerpiece and a bottle of wine. I cover my mouth in surprise as I glance back at him.
“How about dinner instead?” he asks, stepping up so that his body is covering mine.
“How in the world did you get all of this up here?”
“Didn’t we already have this conversation?” He questions. “I’m a Sexton, remember?”
I shake my head. “I can’t. Bryce asked me to—”
He silences me with a kiss. A deep, passionate, toe-curling kiss. “I called him to ask if I can romance my girl.”
I lift a brow. “And he said okay?”
Austin’s lips trace tiny kisses along my cheek, my jaw and settling on my neck. “I think you were right. Maybe he is a romantic.”
He escorts me to the table and my mouth waters as the aroma of American Wagyu steak and garlic mashed potatoes fill my senses. When I take my seat, Austin dramatically lifts the napkin in the air before laying it in my lap. “For you, madam,” he says in a fancy voice.
I chuckle to myself before picking up my fork as Austin pours some wine. “What’s the occasion?” I ask before taking a bite.
“One, we don’t need an occasion to be up here or to have dinner together. And two, it’s Friday. Why wouldn’t we have dinner delivered by helicopter to celebrate the weekend?”
“As only a Sexton would say.” I shake my head.
“And as you’ll say one day, too.”
I roll my eyes. I don’t care how rich I might be if I stay with Austin; I would never even think of having my food brought in by helicopter. The idea of marrying him someday has definitely been crossing my mind lately though.
We’re halfway into our meal when Austin’s phone rings, and he reaches for it from his coat pocket. When his eyes meet mine in irritation, he sighs. “It’s Bryce.”
“Why do you always act that way when he calls?”
“Because he’s constantly riding my ass.”
“He’s not that bad of a guy. You two just need to get over whatever tiff you have going on and move on as brothers. I thought you squashed everything after the hospital?”
“So did I. He gave me a few days to recover and then started right back again.”
“Just answer. I’m sure it’s fine.”
He swipes his phone, holding it up to his ear. “What can I do for you, sweetheart?”
I wait, and Austin’s eyebrows pinch together.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down. What boy?” His voice is shouting, making me instantly wonder what’s going on.
I can hear Bryce’s frantic voice on the other end but can’t make out what he’s saying.
“Wait, yes, we did see a little boy. He ran by us in the hall about ten minutes ago,” Austin says to Bryce.
“What’s going on?” I whisper, leaning into Austin.
“He’s what?” Austin asks into the phone, shaking his head. “Who is this kid?”
Austin falls back into his chair. It looks like he’s trying to hold back a laugh and look concerned at the same time, leaving me even more confused.
I put my hand on his, and he takes the napkin off his lap, placing it on the table.
“Don’t worry; we’ll come help you look. He couldn’t have gone far.” He hangs up the phone, finally turning his attention back to me. “You’re never going to believe this …”
THE END…FOR NOW
Bryce Sexton has a hardened exterior, but beneath the surface is a true romantic. While Austin and Jalynn were falling in love, Bryce was busy getting the girl of his dreams to date him, only to find out she comes as a packaged deal.
BRYCE: A Sexton Brothers Novel
Coming November 29, 2018
Pre-order your copy now! https://amzn.to/2CA5pui
Add it to you TBR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41742052-bryce
About the Authors
Jeannine Colette
Jeannine Colette is the author of the Abandon Collection – a series of stand-alone novels featuring dynamic heroines who have to abandon their reality in order to discover themselves . . . and love along the way. Each book features a new couple, exciting new city and a rose of a different color.
A graduate of Wagner College and the New York Film Academy, Jeannine went on to become a Segment Producer for television shows on CBS and NBC. She left the television industry to focus on her children and pursue a full-time writing career. She lives in New York with her husband, the three tiny people she adores more than life itself, and a rescue pup named Wrigley.
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Lauren Runow
Lauren Runow is the author of multiple Adult Contemporary Romance novels, some more dirty than others. When Lauren isn't writing, you'll find her listening to music, at her local CrossFit, reading, or at the baseball field with her boys. Her only vice is coffee, and she swears it makes her a better mom!
Lauren is a graduate from the Academy of Art in San Francisco and is the founder and co-owner of the community magazine she and her husband publish. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons.
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Acknowledgments
In 2015, we started our writing journeys on separate paths, unaware and a bit dazed. Autumn Gantz not only launched our careers but introduced us to one another. Because of her, we became book besties and now writing partners. Thank you Autumn for your guidance, service and, most of all, your friendship. You’ve been with us from the beginning and are forever grateful.
A special thank you to Wilmari Delgado for being the developmental beta for Austin. Your insight into plot and suggestions were spot on. Because of you, Austin and Jalynn’s story is explosive!
Thank you to Jovana Shirley of Unforeseen Editing for your impeccable copy edit.
Shout out to our beta readers Stacey Spence, Cole Robitaille, Giovanna Bovenzi Cruz, Laurie Breitsprecher, Lyndsay Carlock and Grey Ditto.
As always, love to our fellow authors, bloggers, readers and fans.
And finally, to our husbands, Bryan and Chris, The suit and the racer! You’re the inspiration for the Sexton brothers.