Tell Me You Want Me (18 page)

Jane blushed when she realized Jack was right. Austin stirred her sexual nature, and she couldn't resist that. "Yeah, I like it."

"But Austin isn't relationship material, so every girl thinks she's gonna be the one to change him."

"I don't want to change him," she insisted.
Or do I?
She'd told Austin she wanted to change how he felt about love, but would that change him? "I like him just the way he is."

"That's one reason you're still around."

"Really? Tell me more."

Jack laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back in his chair. "You have something he wants."

"Which is?"

A slow easy smile touched his lips. "When Austin figures that out, you'll be the first to know."

She rolled her eyes. "You don't know, either."

"I have a pretty good idea. His parents' divorce really hurt him, and his father's many marriages and affairs gave Austin a twisted view of relationships."

"Tell me something I don't know. He mentioned a girl in high school."

"What about her?"

"I don't know. That's all he said. I thought you might know more."

"I do, but obviously he's not ready to tell you."

"She hurt him." Jane searched for confirmation in Jack's eyes, but he gave away nothing, so she tossed the bait out again. "She still hurts him. Does he want her back?"

"No."

He didn't volunteer any more information, so she let it drop. "There must be something you can share with me."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Austin doesn't know how to deal with pain. He can handle physical pain. I've seen him get hit by linebackers all day long, and he always comes back for more. But he can't handle emotional pain—or emotions—at all. He'll run away every time."

"Running away doesn't solve problems."

"You and I know that, but Austin grew up watching his father do the same damn thing."

"Why doesn't Austin talk to his father? They might be able to help each other."

"Austin doesn't talk to his father—or anyone—about anything. Sometimes I can get him to open up, but not until he wants to."

"But you must know something."

"I know plenty, and I know that Austin wants me to keep his secrets."

She scowled at him.

Jack chuckled. "I see why Austin calls you stubborn, but I think it's your inner strength that draws him to you."

She didn't know she had any inner strength. Sometimes she struggled to make it through the day—arguing with her mother, grieving for her father, studying for exams, writing papers, and now fighting with Sara and dating Austin on top of all that. It took all her willpower to get out of bed in the morning, but she didn't know any other way. "Stubborn, huh?"

"Drives him crazy, but he loves it." Jack laughed. "I love watching him fight his feelings for you. It's very entertaining."

Austin had feelings.... Austin had feelings... for her? This from the man who'd just told her that Austin didn't know how to deal with his feelings. That explained a lot, but it made her head spin, so she deliberately set that new information aside.

Jack finished off his French fries and eyed her half-full plate. "Are you gonna eat those?"

She pushed her plate over to him.

"Can't let good fries go to waste."

"I see why you and Austin get along so well. You both indulge your guilty pleasures without a second thought."

"Men don't have guilty pleasures. If we like something—or someone—we enjoy it. Guilt is wasted energy."

"Where did you learn that?"

He shrugged. "That's just the way it is."

"I wish it was that simple."

Jack made sure no fries escaped him. "Why do you find Austin so appealing?"

She bit her lower lip. "He's just so sexy."

"So I've heard."

"He's fun, charming, a little bit bad...."
More than a little bit.
Her cheeks flushed hot as she struggled to meet Jack's eyes. "You probably know all that."

His easy smile lit up his eyes. "I've heard it all before." He focused on her, as if trying to look deep inside to see what she was holding back. "Somehow I don't think that's enough for you."

"You're right. It isn't." She didn't know how to explain it.

"You know what I think?"

"I'd like to."

"Austin has something you want."

"And that is?"

"Freedom. He does what he wants, when he wants, and he doesn't give a damn what anyone else thinks about it."

"Except when his father is around."

He chuckled. "Except when his father is around. Other than that, Austin enjoys life without guilt. I think you envy that." Then he shrugged. "But I could be completely wrong. Just ignore me."

"No, you're more right than you know."

Life without guilt. That's what Jane craved. Austin didn't feel guilty about anything, especially when he should, according to her mother's rules. And yes, Jane did want that freedom. Could Austin show her how to achieve it?

"So how do I get Austin to give me what I want?"

Jack laughed and his deep blue eyes sparkled, just as Austin's did whenever he thought something naughty.

"You know what I mean," she grumbled.

"Sorry, couldn't help it. That's for you to figure out. I can't help you there."

"Can't or won't?"

"You're very perceptive. If I told you how to figure out Austin, you'd get bored with him."

"I don't think that'll ever happen."

"Yeah, that's one thing I've never heard girls complain about. Austin's never dull."

She wanted to get more information about Austin, but Jack wouldn't cooperate, so she changed the subject. "Tell me something I don't know about you."

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. "What do you want to know?"

"How did you meet Austin?" She cringed. Even though she'd asked about Jack, she couldn't stay away from Austin.

He relaxed and leaned across the table. "Third grade recess. Austin and another kid were picking football teams. I was the new kid in school, kinda shy—"

"
You
were shy?"

"Yeah, can you believe that? Scrawny too—looked like a stiff breeze would knock me over—so he picked me last. We fell behind by a touchdown, and I told Austin to give me the ball. He looked at me like I was crazy, but I plowed through the defense and scored. We've been pretty much inseparable ever since."

"I knew it would involve football."

"Football is our life. Always has been."

"Are you guys interested in anything else?"

"Girls." He winked.

She rolled her eyes and Jack laughed.

"We do have other interests."

She had to ask, because he certainly wouldn't volunteer information. "Such as?"

"After Austin got hurt, he suddenly got interested in helping other people. I'd never seen that in him before."

"And you? What's your major?"

"Secondary education with a minor in psychology."

"What will you do with that?"

"Guidance counselor or maybe a coach. I haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up."

Odd.
"But Austin has. I expected the opposite."

"Austin isn't as superficial as he appears."

"I've noticed that." And that, too, was very appealing.

Jack looked over his shoulder, and then leaned close, speaking in a low voice. "He needs to know he's good enough."

"Good enough? Does he think his reputation scares me?"

"No. Never mind. I've said too much." He sat back, a closed book again.

She raised an eyebrow, puzzling over the secrets these two men shared. She couldn't resist a good mystery.

Oh, and speaking of appealing....
"Have you ever noticed that he hums when he's happy?"

"Noticed? It drives me up the freaking wall. He's been doing it constantly since he met you."

"It's so cute. He even sings a few words."

"Badly."

"They don't make any sense at all, but that's why it's so cute."

"Are you kidding me?" Jack slapped his hand over his eyes.

Jane knew she was babbling like a giddy teenager with her first crush, but she couldn't help it. Happy to have someone share her interest in Austin instead of judging her, she would enjoy it as long as Jack listened.

Austin picked at his food. Usually a good steak and a good beer made him happy, but happiness was pretty much impossible in his father's company. He'd much rather be with Janie. Hell, he'd much rather be with anyone than with his father.

Charles picked up his knife and fork and attacked his steak. "Where did you meet this... Jean?"

"Jane, Dad, her name is Jane." Austin's baked potato let out a steamy hiss when he stabbed it. "I met her...." He remembered that first encounter in the locker room. "I met her at school... after practice."

"What happened to that cute little cheerleader you were seeing?"

Which one?
"I'm not interested in her anymore." That covered all of them.

Charles frowned. "I think this steak might be overdone." He winked at Austin but kept eating it like a starving man. "Who else are you interested in?"

"Only Janie." Austin took a deep drink of his beer. He didn't like the direction this conversation was taking.

"All right, who's next?"

"Maybe you keep a backup on the sidelines, but I don't."
Anymore.
Austin decided not to think about that too much. He just wanted to enjoy being with Janie.

"I know a girl who's perfect for you. She's beautiful, thin, knows her place...."

"Not interested, thanks."

"...not too bright, but she'll look good on your arm."

Austin picked up his glass, frowning when he found it empty. "Jane is beautiful. She's strong and smart—a challenge. She wouldn't go out with me until I found out her name. I can talk to her and... she listens to me."

"Uh-huh. Her glasses are hideous."

"I love her glasses. They're intelligent sexy."

"Stay away from that girl." Charles signaled the waitress. "Let me fix you up."

"No."

The waitress smiled at them. "May I help you, sir?"

Charles scowled. "I hope so. This steak is overcooked, the potato is undercooked and the bread is stale. I want a new plate, and I'm not paying for either one."

"Yes, sir." The waitress barley held on to her smile. "How is your dinner, sir?" she asked Austin.

Austin looked her over: beautiful, polished, professional—and close to tears. "Perfect." Austin ignored his father's glare. "May I have another beer, please?"

She smiled a little more easily. "Certainly, sir. I'm happy to help."

"Keep 'em coming," said Austin.

"I understand." She took his empty glass and Charles's nearly empty plate back to the kitchen.

"Thank you."

"Would it kill you to help me out a little?" Charles demanded.

"Would it kill you to be nice to her? Your dinner was fine."

"She didn't need to know that."

Austin shook his head.

"Anyway, this Jean—"

"Jane."

"—is no good for you. You need to be with someone who will improve your image."

"What's wrong with my image?" Wait, his father had managed to insult them both! "What's wrong with Janie?"

His father raised his eyebrows.

"Forget I asked."

"What I mean is, you need to go out with a woman better suited to your... future social status."

"Are you saying Janie's beneath me?"

"I didn't say that. You did."

"You asshole." Austin lowered his voice as the waitress appeared with his beer. "Jane has more class than both of us put together."

"I doubt that. Did you see the bruise on her knee? What kind of girl gets beat up like that?"

"A tough one." He loved how she looked after a hard practice—scruffy and tired. She looked like that after she'd spent the night with him, too. Just beautiful. "She plays soccer, Dad. She gets kicked sometimes."

He wondered what his father would think of Austin's 'social status' if he heard that Austin had treated her knee. He wasn't in the mood to find out.

"She's not good enough for you."

"Why are you being such a snob? You don't know anything about Janie."

"Do you?"

"I know enough. I know I—"
What? Love her?
He couldn't love her. He couldn't take that risk. Not again. "I know I care about her, and I won't let you treat her like trash."

"Fine. How many games have you won this season?"

Austin knew the subject was far from finished, but he went along with the temporary interruption. "If you made it to some of my games, you wouldn't have to ask me that."

"How many?"

"All of them."

The waitress brought Charles another plate, waiting for an opportunity to put it down, but he didn't acknowledge her. "Good. Have you talked to any sports agents?"

"A few."

"And?"

Only a few people knew the whole story: his mother, Jack, his coaches, and now Jane. Austin's father didn't know, and he wasn't ready for that conversation. It took all his strength to defend Jane, and he saved what he had left to continue that battle.

The waitress set Charles's plate on the table and waited for his approval.

"Aren't you going to thank her?"

Charles waved her away. "What did the agents say?"

"Not much."

"I'm surprised they're not showing more interest in you." He dug into his fresh meal. "I love the steaks here. Perfect every time."

He winked at his son, but Austin just rolled his eyes.

"Are you sure you're playing well enough? Are your wins solid or are they lucky?"

"They're solid wins, Dad. We have a good team this year."

"I hope so. They need to make you look good."

"I
am
good."

Charles sighed and put down his fork. "I know. I'm sorry. I'm just concerned about your future, Son. I want what's best for you, and will do whatever it takes to make sure you get it."

After listening to his father lie all his life, Austin knew when he was telling the truth. "I know, Dad."

"That includes finding a good woman for you. This Jean—"