If only I thought that, this might work out for us.
I walked up to the station to make sure he was still in the same room. They told me he was. Mel was a well-loved man in North Reed, and the concern for him warmed my heart, reminding me why I wanted to stay here. I couldn’t stand the idea of living in a city where I was just another face and a stranger to most people.
I knew that everyone made friends eventually if they moved, but I didn’t think that I would care for Austin’s friends. The girls who he’d been photographed with in the past were beautiful, but in a cold way, as if they weren’t genuine or nice to anybody. The pictures looked staged and nothing like the pictures I had on my walls of times with friends around town.
I made my way to the room and pushed the door open slowly. I only saw Sally and Ned, the police chief, sitting by the bed, but the sight of Mel’s eyes open made me smile. “Hello there. How are you feeling?” I asked. He met my eyes and tried to adjust himself. “No, you stay right where you are. I’ll come to you.” I hugged him from the side of the bed where Sally sat, kissing his cheek warmly. I felt how difficult it was for him to sit up. Looking at him, Mel seemed weak and tired. Was he better at all?
“I am a bit worn out, but nothing a good night’s sleep can’t fix. I think they want to keep me here for a few days. No faith.”
Sally shot him a dark glance before smiling too brightly at me. “He needs a little observation is all. They know what they’re doing.” Sally patted Mel’s hand, and I saw something in her face that showed how upset she was. “He’s much better than I thought he would be this morning.”
We made some small talk, and she apologized for not being able to serve Christmas dinner tonight.
I smiled at her. “It’s fine. This is much that is more important than that. We’ll make up for it.” I didn’t add that it would be without Austin, more than likely. I didn’t even want to think about that.
“Is it?” Sally asked in a low voice. “I’m glad that some people feel that way.” Ned was talking to Mel at that moment, and the men missed it, but I shared a long look with her.
“Where is he?” I asked softly.
She narrowed her eyes. “I have no idea, but maybe you can find him and knock some sense into him,” Sally told me.
She stood up and told Mel she’d be right back. I followed her into the hallway, and Sally explained that Austin had some crazy idea that he was going to fly off to save some business deal. She went on to say that she felt like Austin was a stranger. She didn’t even know who this man was who was staying in her house. I calmed her down as we walked, causing her to lower her voice until we were outside.
“What do you mean, Austin is leaving?” I asked as she stood beside me, shivering in the cool but welcome air. “Where is he going?”
“He didn’t say, but what does it matter? He’s not staying here to support any of his family.” Her drawl was thick when Sally was angry.
I frowned. “You know that there are so many people here for you and that Mel is going to be just fine. Didn’t Austin have a doctor coming to see him? Have you met him?”
She shook her head bitterly. “No, I haven’t. Is he some kind of magician, just because he’s from New York? That’s not enough, Rebecca.”
I hugged Sally and calmed her down as she cried against my shoulder. My feelings toward Austin were all mixed up right now. He should be here, not me. Or at least, he should be here with me. I had some things to tell him once I was out of here, but I’d take care of his mom and dad first.
She calmed down and got a fresh cup of coffee before going back to the room, where I spent some real time with Mel. I could see by the look in his eyes that he knew something was up, but he didn’t ask before I left. I told him I’d be back in the morning and left to go over to Austin’s house. I was keyed up by this time and had a lot to say. I parked in the driveway and grabbed my phone to send Kim a text that I was going to be a little late.
Getting out of the car, I stomped up to the door and pounded on it. It took a minute for Austin to open the door, and when he did, I noticed how tired and disturbed he looked. It was no wonder with what he was trying to pull, but I waited for him to invite me in before I entered the house. It felt so empty without his family here, mostly dark apart from the kitchen and a room down the hallway.
“What are you doing here?” Austin asked me, running a hand through his messy hair.
“I went to the hospital and didn’t see you there. I wanted to stop by and see how you were doing.” I looked closely at him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I talked to Mel. He looked like he was doing better.” It was a bit of a white lie, but my anger was fading at the sight of his handsome, distressed face. “Why are you here alone?”
“I just don’t like seeing him like that. I needed a break.”
“You don’t look like you’re taking a break,” I said.
He stepped toward me and pulled me against him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and breathed Austin in as I closed my eyes. God, I loved him.
“I need you,” Austin murmured.
He reached for my hand to lead me to his room. I went willingly, putting aside my frustration with him. Desire flowed through my body. Austin led me to his room and pulled me inside before he kissed me hard. I felt all his emotions in the kiss. His tongue plunged into my mouth.
“God, I needed to feel your kiss right now,” he said, before claiming my lips again and pushing me against the door as it closed.
I moaned into him, wrapping my arms around him to pull him closer to me. My nipples ached for his touch. I knew I was going to give in to him tonight. He kissed me and slid his hands into the waistband of my jeans.
Austin unbuttoned them and slid the zipper down in a fluid motion. I felt the cool air hit my bare legs.
“I need to feel you around me,” he said. “I need you to ground me, Rebecca.” There was a desperation to his tone, and in the way his mouth tasted mine. He needed this as much as I did, no matter how it might break our hearts.