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Outside, the weather was balmy, and my skin started to mist. I was using the company car service since my car was garaged at home. I was thankful the driver had the air conditioner blasting. I shifted in my seat as we pulled onto the highway. I was already anticipating and could feel my nipples harden at the thought of the sex we had on Monday night. I had to be strong.
Friday traffic in downtown Los Angeles was miserable. Austin only lived seven miles away, and it took forty-five minutes to get there. I thanked the driver, and he left me at the front door. Austin answered wearing only a pair of navy-blue shorts. He looked tired and had at least three days growth of dark beard on his face. He immediately reached for me and pulled me into his arms, pressing his lips against the crown of my head.
“I missed you. I missed you so much.”
“What’s wrong?”
He used his foot to kick the door closed. “Come to the kitchen. Can I offer you a drink?”
He let me go and took my hand, leading me to the breakfast bar. The kitchen was huge with mahogany colored cabinets and a square granite island the color of caramel.
“What happened in New York?”
“My grandfather died.”
I covered my hand with my mouth. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Austin shook his head. “It happened so quickly. Early Tuesday morning, I received a call from my grandmother that he’d been taken to the hospital. He had a stroke and was gone before I could get there. We made funeral arrangements, and he was buried yesterday. I flew back on the red-eye last night.”
I reached out to stroke his bare arm. “What about your grandmother?”
“My brother Roman is with her. He lives in New Jersey.”
“Your parents?”
“I lost them when I was a teenager. Car accident. My grandparents brought us up after that.”
I dropped my hand from his arm. “How come you didn’t tell me this when we were together?”
“I didn’t want to spoil our time. The last thing you want to do on vacation was bring someone’s good time down by telling them about some horrible event in your life.”
I frowned and raised my voice. “That’s ridiculous. You could’ve told me.”
“I’m telling you now.”
I went to sit on the stool next to the breakfast bar. “How are you doing?”
“I’m okay. My grandfather wasn’t well. He had a stroke a couple of years ago. I’m just worried about my grandmother. Roman said he would take her to his home in Jersey. She’s stubborn, and I doubt she’ll go.”
“Can she be alone?”
“She’s tough as nails, but I think losing my grandfather took something out of her even though she acts like it didn’t. They were married for fifty-two years. That’s a long time to spend with someone and then have them leave you.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Just be with me.”
“I’m here for you. I’m curious. I thought you said you were from Los Angeles.”
He cleared his throat. “For the past sixteen years, I’ve lived here. I received a scholarship to USC. I took it because I didn’t have access to my trust fund yet.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Trust fund?”
“It’s how I afford this house and my car. My professor’s salary would never pay for a place like this.”
“I didn’t think so.”
“Obviously your salary pays for the home you live in. It’s huge.”
