Chapter 16

Brandon walked Brinley and Austin to the door after dinner, his expression stern as he clapped Austin on the shoulder. "Take good care of my daughter."

Austin met his gaze steadily and said with quiet sincerity, "You have my word."

The ride back carried a different air-lighter, free of the earlier tension.

As streetlights and buildings blurred past the window,Brinley leaned against the glass, her heart still holding the warmth her father had left there moments before.

Breaking the silence, Austin's voice cut in, teasing."Tell me,have you been avoiding me lately?"

Brinley's stomach lurched, but she forced a calm smile."Why would I? I've been drowning in work-l can hardly breathe, let alone make time to avoid you."

Tilting his head, Austin leaned in, closing the space between them in an instant.

The subtle scent of cedar clung to him, warm and clean, while his eyes glimmered with amusement. "Is that so?" he murmured. "Funny, though-every time I'm in the living room, you suddenly remember urgent overtime. And on the stairs, you always bolt past me with your head down. Doesn't that sound a little suspicious?"

His breath skimmed across her cheek, sending her pulse racing.

Up close, his appeal was almost disarming-the sharp line of his nose, the curve of his mouth, and those fathomless eyes that seemed intent on unraveling every secret she tried to hide.

She tore her gaze aside, struggling for composure."You're reading too much into it. I've just been..really busy."

"Really?" His voice dropped, husky with an edge that pulled at her. "Because I can't shake the feeling it's about what happened in the study..."

"No!" she blurted, cutting him off, heat rushing to her cheeks.

Refusing to linger on the subject, she fumbled for an escape. "We're home-let's get out!"

Without waiting, she all but bolted from the car,retreating into the villa.

Austin's eyes lingered on her retreating figure as he let out a quiet chuckle, his gaze softening with unmistakabletenderness.

Back within the villa's walls, Brinley still felt frustrated about her hasty escape.

Why did he always manage to keep the upper hand?The more she dwelled on it, the more her irritation grew, until she silently swore she'd seize the upper hand at the very next chance.

From behind her came his calm, unhurried voice. "The pool is freshly maintained. Want to give it a try?"

She spun around to find him leaning lazily against the stair railing, a knowing smile playing at his lips, as if he'd caught her thoughts.

A flicker of determination surged through her chest."Fine," she answered, her tone brisk."Let's go."

Minutes later, dressed in her swimsuit, Brinley stepped out to the poolside.

Austin was already there, running a towel through his damp hair.

A loose white towel clung precariously at his hips,showing the sculpted lines of his back and the hard ridges of his abdomen.

Beads of water traced the dips of his muscles,sliding downward until they vanished at the towel's edge,sketching an outline that was almost too enticing.

Her pulse quickened despite her effort to remain composed.Determined not to let his presence rattle her,she walked steadily toward the pool's edge.

"You've been watching me for three minutes straight,"Austin drawled suddenly, his voice laced with playful tease.

Brinley blinked at the sudden remark but kept her face serene. Rising on her toes, she let her fingertips skim across his hard abdomen, her voice lilting with playful provocation."With a body like this, you could easily walk a runway."

Her hand lingered at his Apollo's belt, brushing the taut warmth there before she added with a sly smile,"Though I have to say-touching it feels even better."

Austin's Adam's apple shifted with a swallow, his gaze sharpening.

He reached for her wrist, only for Brinley to slip away with a quick flick

Arching a brow, she tilted her head at him. "Isn't this exactly what you like? Then why the sudden blush?"

Without giving him a chance to respond, she turned sharply, her silhouette trailing like a final stroke of elegance.

Austin stayed where he was, watching her retreat with a shake of his head.

His gaze dropped to the towel drawn taut across his hips, and he let out a low, self-mocking laugh before striding to the poolside shower and twisting the knob to unleash a rush of icy water.

Upstairs, Brinley pressed her back to the closed door of her room, her heartbeat racing as if she'd just run a mile.

Even she hadn't expected her daring move at the pool.

Her fingertips brushed the heat in her cheeks, the image of Austin's sculpted body and the ripple of his muscles beneath her touch replaying vividly in her mind.

A muffled cry slipped past her lips, and she quickly clapped her hands to her burning face.

Why the hell was she so easily tempted by Austin's looks?

Her breathing gradually evened out. The flustered gleam in her eyes hardened into determination.

She gave herself a stern reminder not to falter. Colin had once been the same-lavishing her with affection, making her feel as if she'd discovered love that would last.

Yet in the end,his half-hearted wavering between her and Milly destroyed everything, leaving only misery behind.

Austin seemed more reliable than Colin, but who Ccould say what schemes hid behind his calm exterior?

It was a marriage of convenience, a fact she could never allow herself to forget.

Brinley shook her head as if to scatter the jumble of doubts.

She drifted to the window, where the last light drained from the sky, her feelings a tangled knot she couldn't quite name.

Meanwhile, Austin stepped from the cold shower,droplets clinging to his skin as he faced the mirror. His cheeks still carried a faint flush.

With a helpless smile tugging at his lips, he muttered under his breath, "Brinley, you really know how to turn me on."