He pops his head up and his eyes widen. “Ashamed? Carly, I’m not ashamed. I…” He snaps his mouth shut as he runs a hand over the back of his neck.

Is he nervous? Confused? Well, so am I.

“What?”

“I like you, a lot. I just…”

“Oh, for God’s sake.” I brush past him because he sounds like a thirteen-year-old. I don’t want that. I want a man. The guy who had me pressed against the side of the bar, his fingers inside me. Pointing out how wet I was for him. How eager. “I’m going to lunch.”

His long strides overtake me in an instant, and he stands between me and the office door. He’s so big he practically fills the space. I can’t get around him and I should feel threatened, but instead, I just feel small. Feminine.

“Please. Talk to me.”

I have to tip my chin up to look into his dark eyes so he can see the annoyance in mine. I set my arms across my chest and fortify myself for the same old argument. I only hoped I wouldn’t have to do it with him. “About what? About how broken I am and why I shouldn’t be letting strange men into my pants outside a bar at night? Thanks, but no.”

“Carly…” My name comes out of him like a groan.

I purse my lips and tap my toe on the floor. “I only have an hour for lunch. Now get out of my way.”

He grins. “You can have as long as you want for lunch. Seems I’m your boss.”

I shake my head. “Lexie’s my boss. And I will only take an hour. I take this position seriously. I need it.”

I’m not going to tell him it’s for more than money. I need the experience…and the independence. The freedom.

He relaxes, his demeanor changing to something more confident. “Then let me join you. Please. I want to talk.”

“I told you—”

“It doesn’t have to be about that.”

“Then about what?”

He shrugs those broad shoulders. I remember how hard and sculpted his muscles were beneath my palms the night before.

“Anything. I want to know you.”

I cock my head, debating if he’s being sincere. “I’m sure your brother told you all about me, after he warned you to keep your distance.”

Austin laughs then, sounding more like a cowboy than a city boy from Seattle. “I don’t take orders from Chance. I figure you’re the only one who can tell me to stay away. I’ll respect your wishes, but fuck anyone else who keeps me from you.”

A smile edges to my lips. He said just the right thing, and I’m betting Austin Bridger doesn’t take orders from anyone.

“That bruise on your jaw says otherwise,” I remind him.

He absently glides his fingers over the contusion. “It’ll take more than that.”

And that right there makes him all the more attractive. He makes the walls I build to protect myself start to crumble. I’ll be cautious, but I like how it feels to let him in, even if it’s only a little bit.