The Girl With Diamonds (Midtown Brotherhood Book 2) (17 page)

He exhaled with her. She was right. They didn’t have time for games right now, but he wanted to make sure they had an understanding. “So we have an agreement, then? About tonight?”

She unwound her fingers from his shirt, smoothing it back out. “Add it to the list.”

Austin chuckled and reached in his back pocket to pull out the white slip of paper from the plane. “Maybe I will.”

Magnolia’s eyes widened. “Wait. You actually kept that?”

Austin snorted. “Of course I kept it. How can I hold you to this without proof?”

Magnolia grabbed for the paper, but he held it up out of her reach. He backed away, sticking the paper back safely in his pocket. “Too slow, baby.”

“You’ll think slow when I don’t come down there and save you from him.”

Austin blew her a kiss, smiling at the scowl on her face as he backed out of the room. He would never throw away that paper.

***

The light in the den was dim. The built-in bar in the corner was made with rustic wood and faded tin. Austin recognized Magnolia’s dad, Jack, from Scarlett’s wedding pictures in the hallway. He sat on a stool in the middle, two younger men at his side. Jack’s dark tuft of hair was peppered with gray. He held up a glass of something gold, a silent greeting as Austin walked in. “It’s about time you showed up.”

“Sorry, sir. I—” Austin stopped. He couldn’t exactly say he was held up because he was busy hitting on his daughter in the bathroom.

Jack didn’t notice his hesitation. “Come, get a drink. You’re lagging behind.”

The guy on his left handed Austin a glass. “I’m Gage. Ophelia’s husband.” Then he nodded to the dark-headed guy on the other side. “That’s Dave. Scarlett’s husband.”

Austin held up the glass and took a drink. Bourbon.

Jack cocked his head to the side, studying him. “I’ve heard a lot of things about you in the past four hours, son.”

Austin nodded. “Good things, I hope.”

“I don’t know. I don’t really give a shit, so I wasn’t paying attention.”

Austin took the remainder of the shot of bourbon. “Fair enough.”

“I trust Maggie’s judgment. She brought you here. That’s good enough for me.”

Jack held up a bottle of bourbon, and Austin immediately held his glass out for a refill.

“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Tweedledee and Tweedledum here when they showed up at my door.”

Dave stifled laughter, and Gage turned away to keep from smiling. Austin kept his eyes on Jack, though. “Yes, sir?”

“If you break my daughter’s heart, you won’t have to worry about me coming to look for you. I raised those girls. They’re tough as nails and meaner than a cornered pit bull if the situation calls for it. They get their looks from their momma, but everything else, that spark inside them—they get that from me. Trust me. You don’t want to piss that part of them off.”

Austin stared at the glass in his hand. That sounded about right.

“Now—” Jack held up his drink “—if you’re the kind of man who thinks Magnolia is going to play second fiddle to you, I can save you a lot of time and buy you a plane ticket back to the city tonight. If you’re not, then down that shot and let’s go.”

Austin took the shot. Of course he took the damn shot. “Where are we going?”

“My party,” Jack announced, standing up with his glass in the air. “An old bastard like me doesn’t turn sixty every day. Now let’s go. You’re driving. We’re drunk as shit.”

Jack stumbled past him, throwing him a set of keys. Austin looked down at the empty glass, thinking about the shots he’d just taken. “But—”

Dave laughed behind him, patting him on the shoulder. “He’s only joking.” Dave reached over and took the keys. “I’m designated driver tonight.”

Austin looked back, watching as Jack slung his arm around Gage’s shoulder on the way out the door. “Is he always like that?”

Dave smiled, twirling the keys around his fingers. “Pretty much, yeah.”

Austin followed cautiously behind Dave, scratching his head. He didn’t know exactly what he expected the first meeting with Magnolia’s dad to be like, but it definitely wasn’t that. If nothing else, tonight would be interesting.

Chapter Twenty

AUSTIN’S PARTY

The winery was packed. Judging by the number of people crammed into the small space, Jack Cross was a popular man. Austin sat at the bar between Magnolia’s brothers-in-law. They turned out to be pretty cool guys, except for the whole ‘forgetting hockey was an actual sport’ thing. Gage seemed legitimately interested in hearing about his team’s chances in the playoffs this year, though. He was pretty sure he could turn them into fans if he could get them to a game.

Magnolia showed up with her sisters and mother about thirty minutes later. Her black skirt highlighted her long legs that tonight were bare and glowing. She looked so damn good in heels. She ditched her glasses again, but he could handle it, because she still wore them from time to time. She gave him a tiny wave, glancing over her shoulder before coming over to throw her arms around him. “You should go hide somewhere,” she said against his ear. “Right now.”

“Why?”

She glanced over her shoulder again. “My mother wants us to meet all her society friends.” Magnolia placed finger quotes around the word “friends.” Then she rolled her eyes in that overly dramatic way he loved. It must be a southern thing. He’d seen Scarlett do the same thing earlier.

“It can’t be that bad.”

She groaned. “It’s horrible.”

Her mother Martha, who he met briefly as soon as they got out of the car from the airport, waved them over. She grabbed his hand. “I’ll lie and tell her you need to go to the bathroom.”

“Magnolia, that isn’t necessary.”

“Trust me. It is. I’m saving you, here.” She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You owe me.”

They exchanged a look. Magnolia’s eyes were smoldering. Did she mean—?

She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and leaned into him. She touched the buttons on the front of his shirt with her fingertips, tugging them slightly. “I was sort of hoping you liked to do other things than just spoon when you get drunk.”

His jaw unhinged, and she smiled, but not before running those mind-numbing little fingers all the way down his chest to his belt. “I’ll be back to get you in thirty minutes.”

He nodded.

His mouth still wouldn’t close.

He sat there like that, wide-eyed in awe on the stool, and waited for her. The minutes passed slowly. Dave offered him another drink, but he turned it down. No more drinks for him. He wasn’t about to miss a minute of whatever Magnolia had in mind that wasn’t spooning.

The crowd somehow got thicker, the music louder, until finally he found himself standing up and looking for her. She should have been back ten minutes ago. Music played in the back room. He wanted to whisk her away someplace quiet, or dance with her. He wanted to finish what they started in the bathroom, or rather what he started that first night he flirted with her.

Magnolia was right. He was definitely impatient.

He scooted his empty glass toward the bartender and gave Gage an appreciative nod. He made his way through the crowd, alert for the sound of Magnolia’s voice or a glimpse of her shiny hair cascading down her back. He checked every unfamiliar face, one by one.

Someone shuffled next to him, bumping into his elbow. “You look out of place.”

Austin turned around to find a set of giant white teeth above a bowtie staring back at him.

Felix. That ridiculous haircut was unmistakable.

Perfect. Just fucking perfect.

The idiot stuck out his hand like he would actually shake it. “I’m Felix Hayworth.”

“Like the cat?” Austin stuck his hands in his pockets.

The guy faked a smile. “Yes. There is a cartoon cat with the same name.”

Austin pursed his lips and then smiled. “You must really hate your parents.”

The guy cleared his throat and tried again. If Felix was trying to hide his annoyance, he was doing a horrible job at it. “Who are you, exactly?”

Felix already knew. There was no way he would have picked him out of this crowd if someone hadn’t already tipped him off. That was a bad choice on his part. “Austin Blakely. I’m here with Magnolia.”

“Oh, yes.” The liar nodded like he was surprised. “I heard Maggie let one of her stories tag along.”

That was brave. Stupid. But brave.

“How do you know
my
Magnolia?”

“Maggie isn’t one to kiss and tell, so I’m not surprised she didn’t mention our history.”

He had to give the cocky bastard credit. It took nerve to waltz up to a man his size and intentionally be an ass. Not to mention a fucking lair.

Austin leaned in, looming over the little douche bag with his stupid haircut. “Maybe it wasn’t worth repeating.”

They eyed each other. The exchange was personal now.

“Let Maggie know I have an offer for her I’d like to discuss.”

Austin crossed his arms over his chest. “What kind of offer?”

Now Felix smirked. “Time Warner is looking to hire another field reporter.”

Austin’s stomach dropped. A job offer was the last thing he’d expected him to say.

“Tell her I’m willing to pay to get her back in Atlanta.”

He strolled away, too smug to even smile.

A hand touched his elbow, but Austin didn’t turn around. He couldn’t. The thought of Magnolia leaving New York hurt. He thought about the promise. That sheet of paper she signed. What it said. What it meant for them.

Magnolia pushed by him. He expected her to stop, but all he saw was the hem of that black skirt flash past him. Then he heard her scream. “You better run, you two-faced dipshit.”

She held a shoe by the heel, shaking it in Felix’s direction. Austin darted forward and grabbed her. “What are you doing?”

“After I stick this stiletto up his ass?” She chucked the shoe over his head toward Felix, her face flushed.

Magnolia struggled to get around him, but he held her in place. People at the bar started to stare as Magnolia screamed over his shoulder again. “Hiding behind your mother’s skirt won’t save you this time, Hayworth.”

Austin grabbed her up by the waist and threw her over his shoulder. Another shoe flew across the room. Magnolia was on a roll. “I’m going to show you what happens to people who sell out their friends!”

Jack was right. There was a piece of Magnolia you did not want to piss off, and Felix Hayworth pulled the trigger. Austin quickly took Magnolia outside, shoving through the crowd, and set her down on the sidewalk. “What’s got into you?”

Magnolia cheeks were scalding red and her eyes wild. “I’m going to knock that smirk off his face. It’s overdue.”

Austin smiled. A small amount of that fear of her leaving faded. Magnolia tried to move past him to go back inside. Her perfectly manicured nails already balled into a fist. He’d been in enough fights to know she meant business, and he needed to calm her down. “Okay. Wait. Let’s not get arrested tonight, all right?”

“He shouldn’t be here.”

Austin wasn’t sure if Felix was a misogynist, a sleazeball, or just stupid. “He said he had an offer for you. A job offer.”

She crossed her arms, her entire body trembling from the adrenaline. “I’ll show him where he can put his offers. I can’t believe he had the nerve to show up here.”

The door behind Magnolia squeaked open. Scarlett stepped out, carrying Magnolia’s heels and a half glass of wine. “I thought you might need these.”

“Thank you.” Magnolia reached past the shoes and took Scarlett’s wine. Then she downed it. “I’m just sorry I missed his dumb head.”

Scarlett grinned.

Magnolia took a labored breath. “I know you came out here to talk me out of saying something to him, but Felix needs to learn he can’t just show up.” She handed Scarlett the wine glass and finally took her shoes and slipped them on. “He definitely can’t show up and treat my boyfriend like shit and think I won’t retaliate.”

“Boyfriend?” Scarlett said in unison with him, but Magnolia only looked at him.

“You wanted an answer tonight, right?”

The hurt vanished. It was replaced by something deeper. Something stronger. It sank to the very core of him. The wind whipped the long strands of hair around her face, and she smiled. It was her genuine ‘I can’t hold it back’ smile. He loved that smile. He loved Magnolia.

“Fair warning, Scarlett. I’m about to kiss your sister.”

Scarlett started bouncing on her toes. “Wait. Give me a second. I need my camera. Mom won’t believe me.”

Magnolia huffed at her sister, but Austin was already there, his hands in her hair. Soft painted lips. He kissed Magnolia like he was falling. Free, yet scared out of his mind. Her fingers wrapped around his collar, pulling him closer. He smiled against her lips when the camera flashed.

Magnolia flipped her sister the finger and they both laughed. It felt so right. Everything with her felt right. He knew he would have to apologize to Henrik. He never believed him when he said falling for his sister had never been a choice. Now he understood. There was no stopping the way Magnolia made him feel.

Scarlett took a quick step in their direction “We’ve got company.”

Austin looked up in time to see Felix standing in the window, his face a pale, more defeated version of itself. Felix glanced down at the death grip he had on Magnolia’s waist. He felt her lips against his neck. The kiss she placed there was short, but powerful. Felix made a disgusted face, jerking away from the window, back into the sea of people. It sent fire up the back of his neck. Then he remembered this wasn’t his fight. Magnolia could handle herself. He gazed down at her, that smoky look back in her eyes again. “Do you need to take care of that?”

Magnolia smirked. “I just did.”

She kissed him again.
Really
kissed him. Her fingers clenched in the hair at the nape of his neck. Her tongue parted his lips, and he obeyed with a sigh. He needed this. He needed more of her and whatever else she wanted to take. She pulled back a fraction of an inch, smiling against his lips that begged her to return. She held his face between her palms, her breath choppy but light. She glanced at her sister and then stuck out her hand. “Keys.”

Scarlett paused. “But—”

“Spring formal my freshman year. You and Gage on my bed. I slept in the hallway. You still owe me. Now give me your keys.”

Scarlett, who he could tell wracked her brain to find some kind of reasonable retort, huffed before pulling a set of keys out of her jacket pocket. She held the keys out, but then pulled them back tight to her chest. “Don’t hurt my baby.”

Magnolia smiled and snatched the keys from her.

“I’m serious, Magnolia Ann. Do not hurt my car.”

Magnolia took his hand and started pulling him across the parking lot. “I’ll treat it with the same respect you showed my poor Care Bear,” she yelled back at her sister.

Scarlett followed them halfway into the parking lot, but it was too late. Magnolia ran, and he chased her. He’d follow her anywhere. Neither of them looked back.