Love So Perfect (The Lawson Brothers #5) Read online

  “Else what?”

  “Or else, I’ll never let you in my bed.” There. Let’s see how he handles that.

  “Try again.”

  “You think you’re that good?”

  “I think you think I’m that good, and you would be right.”

  She threw her hands up in the air. “You seriously have to stop this.”

  “Flirting with you?”

  “Yes. It’s... how will we work together on Tuesday if we can’t go longer than five seconds without teasing one another?”

  “It’s called flirting, Harper. Say it with me. Flir-ting.”

  “Flirting,” she said softly.

  “Good girl.” He dusted her bottom lip with his thumb. Her heart slammed against her chest. She wanted to suck on his thumb, take it between her teeth, and nibble it. “Flirting is what a man and a woman do when they’re attracted to one another.”

  There was a sharp crack. A trio of women spilled out of the shadows of the trees, laughing and holding up their cell phones while taking selfies.

  Abruptly, Austin stopped touching her and stepped back, the playful light in his eyes dimming. “I brought a couple of tennis balls for Libby to play with, if you don’t mind.”

  The wind gusted, sending a bone-chilling breeze through her clothing. It was almost as effective at extinguishing her desire as a cold shower. “I’m sure she’d love it.”

  Austin whistled for Libby, and the dog came bounded over. He rubbed her head and showed her the tennis ball in his hand before he gave it a good throw. Libby ran after it, barking like mad.

  Harper sat down on a nearby bench and watched the two of them. A scene like this should have gotten to her in a good way, but she couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen if everyone did find out about her and Austin.

  Except... she and Austin weren’t doing anything. Sure, they’d kissed and been on two dates, but that was hardly an endorsement for a dating label. All she knew was what he told her, what he claimed to feel for her, and what he didn’t care about.

  Like their age difference.

  Geez Louise.

  She felt foolish for even admitting it to him in the first place, but the old habit of wanting to belong to that exclusive club of McCoy women hadn’t died out completely yet. She still cared about what they thought. It was stupid and she knew it, yet she couldn’t escape it.

  There was nothing she could do except become completely professional with Austin. No more flirting. No more kisses. No more—

  Austin stretched, his t-shirt riding up to expose rock-hard abs and a thin, dark trail of hair that disappeared under the waistband of his athletic pants.

  Dear Lord. How was she supposed to become professional when she got a glimpse of what he looked like under his clothes?

  She lifted her gaze skyward, muttering, “Not fair, God. Totally not fair.”

  Apparently, God was in an exceptionally humorous frame of mind because when she brought her gaze back to Austin, he’d taken off his shirt.

  Her world tilted.

  Slamming a hand down on the bench, she attempted to keep herself upright and succeeded for the most part.

  “Hope you don’t mind,” he said, muscles flexing. He had tattoos on his biceps, clear down to his elbows. How in the world had she missed that?

  Oh, right, he’d been wearing long sleeves and had only pushed them up.

  “Don’t mind at all,” she managed to say, once she unglued her tongue from the top of her mouth.

  He flashed a grin at her, and then went back to throwing tennis balls for Libby. His back muscles flexed with each throw, his narrow waist turning so that she could see those deep vees in the front that made her feel downright stupid. He was finer than any statue ever carved.

  Why in the world should she care about what anyone thought?

  New year, new you.

  That’s what you said last year.

  Last year, I didn’t have proper incentive.

  But now she did.

  Austin raised his arms above his head and did some stretching move that left her breathless.

  She really did have the best incentive ever.

  ***

  Later that afternoon, Austin ran around his neighborhood, hoping to blow off some steam and get rid of the sexual tension building in his body. He had Harper to thank for that. Never in his life had he wanted a woman so badly, not even the coach’s daughter in high school... and he’d been a horny teenager then.

  No, this kind of wanting went much deeper. The kind that he was afraid meant more or would mean more if he continued to see her.

  Slowing to a walk, he placed his hands on his hips and breathed deeply.

  If he were an asshole, he’d hit and quit it, get her out of his system and move on. Tell Finley that she could put on her big-girl panties and save her own damn job. But that wasn’t him, that had never been him, and he wasn’t about to start now.

  Plus, he wanted to see Harper again. “Damn it,” he breathed.

  By the time he made it back to his house, his body was cooled down, but his mind was restless.

  Grabbing his phone, he texted a few buddies, asking them to come over Sunday night. Right away, they each replied with a firm yes.

  Smiling, he strode to the bathroom and cut on the shower, then tossed his phone on the counter. Sure, it would take a while for everyone to get here, but late nights were nothing in the off-season. Besides, he needed the distraction from Harper.

  He needed to be able to go into her classroom on Tuesday and act normally, not like some infatuated fool.

  As steam began to rise, he toed out of his running shoes and stripped off his clothes, then stepped under the stream of water. He leaned against the cool tiles and let it run over him.

  Immediately, his mind went to Harper. He started to picture her hands on his body, her sweet mouth licking at the water. His cock started to harden at the thought.

  Worse, his mind now had her on her knees in front of him, her hands wrapped around his erection while she licked the tip of—

  Austin groaned, and his cock jumped.

  With a frustrated growl, he grabbed a bar of soap and lathered up, trying in vain to ignore his aching balls as he washed his body. But his erection wasn’t going down any time soon.

  “Son of a bitch,” he growled.

  Finally, he took matters into his own hands.

  Chapter Six

  “You want to explain to me again why you’re so upset with the images on your Instagram?” Finley asked Austin over the phone.

  He took a deep breath and leaned against the countertop of the bar. “Because Harper didn’t consent to them, that’s why.” Plus, they hadn’t been taken by him, but by those random women in the park. As soon as he’d seen them, he’d backed off, but it was too late.

  “Does she have Instagram?” Finley asked.

  “Shouldn’t you already know that?” he countered, grabbing his phone and searching for Harper’s name on the site.

  “Honestly, I was too excited about her lack of stalker tendencies and criminal record that I didn’t bother with social media beyond Facebook. That account is on lockdown by the way. Settings are way private.”

  “That’s because she likes her privacy¸” he said. Coming up empty with his search, he put the phone down and took another drink of scotch. “How in the hell am I going to explain this to her?”

  “Try the truth.”

  “I asked her to not look me up on the Internet,” he said. “While I can’t control what the media says or speculates, I can keep the reason away from her.”

  “You mean to tell me that she still hasn’t seen the video?” Finley asked, her voice incredulous.

  Austin pulled at the collar of his shirt. “Not that I’m aware of. Damn, it’s hot in here.”

  “Look, I think you’re making a mountain out of a molehill. So what if images of the two of you show up on the Internet, or on any of your social media accounts? She has to know that in so
me circles, you’re pretty damn famous,” Finley said. “It’s not like you lied about who you are—oh Good Lord, Austin, please tell me she knows who you are.”

  “How stupid do you think I am—wait, don’t answer that. Yes, she knows who I am. We’re from the same town. Our families are from the same town. Kinda hard to hide out here.” Except today at church and again at lunch, he’d avoided answering every single question his mother had thrown his way when it came to his love life. Fortunately, it was rather easy to distract his momma with news of how long he planned on being back home. Both of his parents loved having everyone home. Well, not everyone was home with Elijah gone, but he traveled with their blessings, and that did help... a little.

  “Exactly,” Finley said, pulling him out of his head. “Which is why it should come as no shock to Harper Bell—don’t you just love that name?—that people want to know what you’re up to. You’re the all-American dream. The hometown guy who made it big, yet who didn’t forget about the little people. Get the byline?”

  “Yeah, I get it.” Didn’t mean he liked it though. “I’m worried that she’ll get hurt.”

  “Then make sure she doesn’t.”

  His brother’s words hit him hard in that moment. “Brother, as much as I think you’re a good man who would rather die than break his word, there are some things in life you cannot guarantee.”

  “I start volunteering at Jessamine Elementary on Tuesday.”

  Finley seized on that like a dog after a bone. “Excellent. That will be just what the image booster doctor ordered.”

  “Thought you’d like that.” He glanced up as the first of his teammates and their dates walked into the massive living room that doubled as an entertainment room. “Gotta go. Spending time with my boys tonight.”

  Finley groaned. “Promise me you’ll stay out of trouble.”

  “I can promise you that we’re staying in tonight.”

  “Better than nothing,” Finley grumbled. “Please text me if something goes wrong.”

  “Will do.” He ended their call, then turned his attention to Jackson and Kellogg—two of the Avengers’ starting defensive linemen. “Fellas and company, make yourself at home.”

  “Your idea to ride solo?” Kellogg asked before a sly smile spread across his mouth. “Or did B’s video scare off all the honeys?”

  Jackson slung his arm around a tall brunette. “Instagram says otherwise. Where’s your girl?”

  “She’s busy.” Or so he presumed. Didn’t teachers have to prepare for the next day the night before? “Besides, you meatheads would scare her off.”

  Kellogg flipped him off. “We’re not that bad.”

  They weren’t, but he knew how intimidating a group of football players could be to someone not familiar with the game. Harper was anything but familiar.

  And he was anything but a standup guy for not inviting her.

  “Not to worry. You’ll meet her... eventually.” That seemed to pacify Kellogg, who had turned his attention to his dates.

  Jackson turned up the music and Austin began pouring drinks, something he enjoyed doing at parties. In college, he’d bartended in order to save money because it was a real fear that he’d get hurt at any time and blow his chances for an NFL career. And if he was too hurt in college for the NFL to notice him, then he was too hurt to play, which meant he would no longer have a scholarship. His family couldn’t afford out-of-state tuition. He couldn’t afford to come home a loser.

  As the party went on, more guys showed up with guests. Pretty soon, the women outnumbered the men, but Austin didn’t stop keeping an eye on their drinks. Well, as much as he could keep track of them.

  The last thing he wanted was a woman getting assaulted, and that had nothing to with his or his team’s reputation... except for the fact that he didn’t know some of the newer guys all that well and until he did, then he couldn’t be too careful.

  In his mind, it was man’s job to protect a woman from danger, especially when danger came in the form of a guy two-to-three times her size.

  A curvy woman with blonde and pink hair approached him. Wearing a white, spandex dress that barely reached mid-thigh, she was a head turner. Austin didn’t think it made him an asshole just to notice.

  “Hi, I’m Serena, and you’re hot as fuck,” she said, loud enough for him to hear her above the music and hum of conversation. “Bianca’s stupid for letting you go.”

  He eyed her, keeping his gaze on her face. “Not a fan, I see.”

  She shrugged. “You could say that.”

  He had said that. Gesturing to the bar, he asked, “What can I get you?”

  “I was hoping for some alone time.”

  “There’s three guests rooms upstairs. All have locks. Have at ‘em.”

  Serena made a face. “I meant I wanted alone time with you.”

  “I’m really flattered, but—”

  “And I really can’t believe you’re turning this,” she swept her hand up and down her body, “down.”

  Austin crossed his arms over his chest. “Look, I don’t want to come across as a dick—”

  “Too late”

  “But I’m... involved with someone.”

  “Involved? What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Serena asked.

  Jackson joined them at the bar, and Austin breathed out a sigh of relief. “It means that my man is taken... but I’m clearly available.”

  Serena ran her gaze up and down Jackson, obviously liking what she saw. “Now that I think about it, I really like my men... bigger, if you know what I mean.”

  Although her comment was meant to be an insult, Austin was more than happy to let her rake him over the coals. Besides, he was firmly confident in his size and what he could do with it. Not even his ex could claim that he sucked in bed. She never had either.

  “That’s right, girl.” Jackson flashed one of his trademark smiles. “In fact, I say we leave this place.”

  “Yeah, any place is better than this.” Serena shot Austin a triumphant look.

  He supposed he should attempt to be upset, but he didn’t have it in him. Instead, he gave her a little wave. Her eyes narrowed before she flounced away on Jackson’s arm. Since Austin knew Jackson hadn’t had a drop of alcohol to drink, he didn’t try to stop them.

  However, he did shoot off a text to Finley. While he didn’t normally rat out his teammates, Jackson might need some help. The guy was one of the good ones, even if his taste in women sucked. Besides, he would hate for him to get in trouble with Serena. And she seemed like trouble with a capital T.

  Austin: Houston, we might have a problem.

  Finley: What did you do?

  Austin: Not me. Jackson. Left with a Serena. No last name.

  Finley: Please tell me she’s not the same Serena who went crazytown on her ex-boyfriend’s house by setting it on fire for kissing another woman in a movie.

  He blinked, and then re-read Finley’s text. Serena had set her ex’s house on fire? Maybe he’d gotten off easy with Bianca.

  Austin: I don’t know. Sorry.

  Finley: Thanks for the head’s up. I’ll text Jackson.

  Austin shoved his phone into his pocket and surveyed the two-story room. All around him, his teammates were living it up and having a good time. Some were starting to pair off and head upstairs. As long as they stayed out of his bedroom, he didn’t give a damn where they ended up.

  Picking up his glass of Gentleman Jack, he joined the guys at the pool table. While he’d been the one to invite his teammates and their dates over, he did have to keep his nose clean. Avoiding women like Serena was high on his priority list, but not being caught up in drama was just as high.

  “You’re up, Lawson.” Davidson handed him a pool stick.

  Austin set his glass down, that familiar feeling of winning at all costs surging through him as he surveyed the guys standing around the billiard table. “Who wants to lose first?”

  ***

  Harper walked Libby back down
Poplar Street, her favorite Pandora station playing on her headphones as they headed home. She’d had a long day at school and needed more time than usual to clear her head.

  Instead of relaxing with a good book, she had decided to get some fresh air. However, she wasn’t sure the long walk had done her much good. For one, she couldn’t get Austin out of her head. And two, she’d felt off at work.

  There had been lots of whispering going on when she arrived that morning. But whenever Harper tried to get in on the conversations, they’d abruptly stopped. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think those conversations were about her, but she wasn’t gossip material.

  Except, she had gone out on two dates with Austin, not to mention that he’d kissed her in broad daylight. Plus, he’d played fetch with Libby for a long time. Maybe they were whispering about that, wondering why a guy like Austin would go for Plain-Jane McCoy when he could have his pick of beauties.

  “Stop it,” she muttered. No good would come of her turning over-anxious and assuming the worst. None of her colleagues had treated her any differently at work. She still met with Penny for their weekly planning time. She still ate lunch with Lucy while they pulled double lunch duty. And hadn’t she gotten an invitation to Janice’s bridal shower in her school mailbox today?

  Glancing up in time to see a familiar red truck slowing down beside, she turned down the volume of the music.

  The window rolled down, and her heart sped up.

  “Going my way?” Austin asked. He looked sexy and handsome as usual in yet another thermal t-shirt.

  “I’m fine. Just walking Libby back home.”

  One of his dark brows rose. “Your lips are turning blue.”

  Automatically, she touched her mouth. “It’s not that cold.”

  “Tell that to those sweet lips of yours.”

  A flush began to work its way up her neck. “Austin, I don’t think—”

  “That wasn’t a compliment.”

  She frowned, taken aback by his statement. “It wasn’t?”

  “Nope. It’s a fact,” he finished with a wink. “Your lips do taste sweet.”

  “That’s because I was wearing lip gloss when you—when we kissed.”