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He was rendered speechless for a moment by her beauty. Austin swallowed hard, struggling to recover his voice. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said finally.
His eyes darted to hers and locked.
He cleared his throat softly.
She met the smile and the hand that was offered. “It’s a pleasure meeting you, as well. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Austin lost himself momentarily in their chocolate depths. His gaze fell to the creamy expanse of her neck. She was dressed to perfection in a teal-colored, sleeveless silk dress. Bree was tall and slender, but with an athletic build. She wore her shoulder-length hair in soft curls around her heart-shaped face. Her flawless skin was the color of a new penny.
“Dinner will be ready in a couple of minutes,” Jordin announced. “We’re still waiting on a few people to arrive.”
“Would either of you like a glass of wine?” Ethan offered.
“I’m fine,” Bree responded.
“Austin?”
“I’ll take a glass.”
Austin could feel Bree’s eyes studying him. He met her gaze, forcing her to look away. He smiled to himself.
The front door opened.
“Hey, family,” Ryker said with a grin. “Look at this...the newlyweds are hosting their first dinner party.”
His wife, Garland, gave him a playful pinch. “Leave them alone.”
There was something in the wistful turn of Bree’s lips that made Austin sense the pain beneath the surface, and he longed to make it better. She had lost her husband in a tragic way and he could only imagine that while she was truly happy for Jordin—grief still resided in her heart.
Jadin arrived with a date a few minutes later, whom she introduced as Michael.
Austin leaned over and said to Bree in a low voice, “I guess we should’ve brought a plus one.”
“I think you’re right.”
“Well, will you be my plus one for the evening?”
She turned, easing into a smile. “Sure.”
Austin glanced up and saw Jordin standing in the doorway. She gave him a quick thumbs-up, then announced, “Dinner is ready.”
He and Bree were seated beside one another.
“How do you like living in Charleston?” Bree inquired as she used her fork to slide the fettuccine noodles around her plate.
Austin smiled faintly, laid his napkin across his lap and, picking up his knife and fork, sliced into a strip of grilled chicken. “I’m enjoying it. I’ve always liked this area.”
He took a bite of his food. The delicate Alfredo sauce and chicken were cooked to perfection.
“Jordin, did you cook this?”
Ethan chuckled and was awarded a sharp glance from her. “Just so you know, I can cook. I will confess that I called Aubrie for help with ingredients and such.”
“It’s delicious,” Ethan said.
Everyone agreed.
“Does Aubrie ever hang out with the family?” Austin asked. “I think I’ve seen her maybe three times since I moved here. I’d like to get to know her better, especially since she’s my first cousin.”
“My sister spends a lot of her time in New Orleans,” Ryker announced. “She goes there to spend time with the chef who mentored her in culinary school. Each time she comes back with new entrées for her restaurant.”
Bree took a sip of her iced tea. “She must really enjoy her work.”
“I’m not so sure this is just about her work,” Jordin stated. “I think there’s another reason why she spends so much time there.”
Jadin agreed. “Aubrie isn’t talking, but I suspect she’s seeing someone.”
“She was always one to keep secrets,” Ryker said. “My parents keep hoping she’ll come to her senses and join the firm, but it’s not going to happen.”
“How’s Aunt Rochelle doing?” Jordin inquired.
“She hates being on crutches, having a cast on and not being able to drive. Mom’s driving my dad crazy. He threatened to come stay with us until she’s back on her feet.” Ryker wiped his mouth on his napkin. “I love my mom, but when she doesn’t get her way...”
“When Aunt Rochelle isn’t happy—nobody’s happy,” Jadin said.
They all agreed.
When they finished their meal, they gathered in the family room.
Austin couldn’t tear his gaze away from Bree.
Members of his family wandered in and out of his line of vision, locking Bree and him together, but nothing could shatter the connection alive and sizzling between them.
She felt it, too.
He could see it in her eyes, in the firming of her luscious lips. Just as he could see that she was trying to make sense of what she was feeling.
Their gazes connected and held.
Bree was an incredibly beautiful woman. Ravishing didn’t even come close to describing her.
Austin broke eye contact with her and stared down into his glass of wine. He bit back a satisfied smile. Good to know he wasn’t the only one being twisted into knots. However, he couldn’t help but wonder if this attraction he felt would complicate his plan to get his son.
* * *
Bree was powerless to stop staring into the most beautiful set of eyes she’d ever seen. They were a stunning chestnut brown with golden flecks throughout, large and thickly lashed. Austin DuGrandpre bore a strong resemblance to his father. They had the same honey-colored skin, a muscular build and both stood about six feet three inches.
Men shouldn’t have eyes this pretty, she thought.
He wore a light blue dress shirt that fit snugly over wide shoulders, then tapered, tucked into slim-waist navy trousers.
Austin smiled, revealing two small dimples Bree hadn’t noticed before. She tried to throttle the dizzying current racing through her. He radiated a vitality that drew Bree like a magnet. Whenever he laughed, his full-throated masculine sound sent strange waves through her stomach.
Girl, you need to focus.
It wasn’t easy, though. Austin made Bree feel things she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Not since Caleb.
At least I still have those feelings, she reasoned silently. For a while she worried that they had died with her husband.
“Jordin told me that you’re a psychologist.”
“I am,” Bree confirmed.
“I think it’s cool. I’ve always been fascinated with human behavior, especially when it comes to the criminal mind.”
“Okay, you know I’m going to ask the question. Why do you defend criminals?”
He chuckled. “I’ve come to expect it. All criminal defense lawyers are asked this question. It’s part of the criminal defense experience.”
“I’d like to hear your response, as well,” Garland said. “I don’t think it’s something I could ever do, especially if I knew my client was guilty.”
“Innocence is not the chief driver for me,” Austin stated. “You all may find this strange but I enjoy working with guilty people. I have an interest in the causes of human conduct. I search to find the humanity in the people I represent, no matter what they may have done. I started out practicing family law, but I didn’t find it as fulfilling,” Austin said. “Nobody knows this, but I once considered studying forensic psychology. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology.”
Bree reached for her glass. “Really?”
He nodded. “I love law and psychology—pursuing law just seemed the natural way to go for me.”
There was something in his manner that she found soothing. It was easy to talk to him. “That’s because you’re a DuGrandpre,” Bree responded. “It’s in your blood.”
“I suppose so,” Austin said with a smile.
She felt a lurch of excitement within her. “It seems we have something in common,” Bree told him. “I briefly considered going into law, but decided that I loved psychology more.”
“Do you have any regrets?”
She shook her head. “I know that I’m exactly where I should be.”
“I feel the same way.”
Bree felt there was some type of deeper significance to the visual interchange between them.
The thought struck a vibrant chord in her.
She contributed to the conversation going on among everyone, but found herself studying his profile.
Bree had to deliberately shut out any awareness of Austin just to focus on Jordin’s words.
“What do you think about a girls’ night next weekend?”
“That’s fine,” she responded.
Jadin agreed, then asked, “What about you, Garland? Can you join us?”
“She can,” Ryker answered for her. “It’ll do her some good to get away from the children.”
Garland pointed to him and replied, “What my husband said...”
At the end of the evening, she bid everyone a good night. As she gathered her purse, Austin volunteered to walk her down to her car.
“Bree, travel safe,” he told her.
She tingled as he said her name and a quiver surged through her veins. “You do the same.”
Bree unlocked the door and got into her car. She was soon pulling out of the driveway and traveling toward the freeway.
It had been a long time since a man had struck her interest, filling Bree with a strange inner delight.
* * *
Two days later Bree walked out of Marbelle’s Children’s Boutique, juggling her tote and a couple of shopping bags in her hands as she neared her car.
“Hey, are you following me?”
She glanced over her shoulder, her steps slowing. “Austin...what are you doing on my side of town?” Her heart danced with eagerness over seeing him again.
“I have a client who lives over here. Hey, thank you for being my plus one the other night. Everyone was coupled up...it could’ve been a little awkward if you hadn’t been so gracious.”
“I didn’t mind. I enjoyed talking to you,” she responded. “You’re a very interesting man.”
He grinned. “Do you have some time for lunch?”
“Sure.” Bree looped her purse over her shoulder while her insides jangled with eagerness. She felt the blood surge from her fingertips to her toes. “So, where are we off to, Austin DuGrandpre?” She was thrilled that he wanted to continue their conversation.
“There’s a little place around the corner.”
She chuckled a little. “You use that line often?” she asked playfully, glancing at him.
Austin laughed, full-throated and sexy. “I don’t believe I’ve ever used it before, as a matter of fact.” He adjusted his long stride to her much shorter one.
“I wouldn’t recommend using it again,” she remarked with a chuckle. “The only thing around the corner is a bank.”
He laughed. “I’m still learning my way around.”
“There’s a sandwich shop that’s two blocks away. It’s walkable.”
“Perfect. Let me help you with your bags,” he offered.
* * *
