Page 30 of I Wish He Would

“Yeah, sorry.” He runs a hand over the back of his neck before extending it to me. “Austin Bradford.”

“There wasn’t much time for introductions when I was coercing you into helping me at the dessert table.” I laugh and shake his hand. “Alyssa Cartwright.”

“Eh, it was more of a gentle request.”

I raise a brow. “My eyes were probably bugging out when I asked you to help me.”

“Nah, they were only slightly buggy.”

I release my grip on his hand and hold mine to my chest in mock offense. “Glad to know I only looked slightly like an insect.”

He shakes his head, wearing a teasing smile. “Maybe one-sixteenth. That hardly even counts.”

I laugh. “That makes me feel so much better.”

Austin smiles, and his dimple makes another guest appearance. “Glad I could help.” He gestures to the doors. “Let me walk you out.”

“That’s really kind of you, but I still have to grab my stuff from the back.”

He shrugs casually. “I’m good at grabbing stuff.”

There’s no stopping the smile that pulls at my lips. “I’ll be the judge of that.” I lead him to the back room that my stuff is in and slide my cooled curling iron into a holder before putting it in my large bag.

Austin looks down at the bag with wide eyes. “Do you always show up to events with an entire arsenal of hair-care products?”

“You never know when there might be a hair emergency,” I joke. “I was helping one of the guests fix her hair, and she told me to grab some food before I left.” I zip the bag shut. “Obviously, I wouldn’t have gone out there if I’d known the B’s were going to be out there.”

I move to pick up the heavy bag, but Austin grabs it before I can, slinging the strap over his shoulder like it weighs nothing. We head back through the hall and out the front doors, but Austin stops me on the curb. “But then you’d never have met me.”

“What are the odds we’d run into you two again?” Bradley’s booming voice comes from behind us. From the sound of his slurred voice, he’s had a few too many of the complimentary drinks.

Austin slides his hand down my arm until our fingers are intertwined. “Since we’re at the same event, I’d say highly likely.”

“Ha!” Bradley laughs way too loud. “You’re funny, man.” He turns to Bianca, who winces at the volume of his voice. “He’s funny.”

“We should go get some water.” She pulls at his arm, but he shakes her off.

“I don’t want water.” He points accusingly at us. “I don’t think they’re a real couple.”

I internally panic, but Austin’s face doesn’t reveal anything. “Why’s that?”

“It just doesn’t seem believable. I mean, you with her?” He chortles. “It’s comical, really.”

“Well, I guess I should thank you for fumbling her.” Austin squeezes my hand. “Otherwise I would never have had the chance to do this.” He drops my bag to the sidewalk and cups my face in both hands, looking into my eyes for any sign of hesitation. I give Austin a barely perceptible nod before he kisses me.

And I mean kisses me. Full throttle, no brakes. He kisses me like there’s no tomorrow. Like the world is ending and his final wish is to savor my lips one last time.

His hands move to my hips, tugging me closer as I slide my hands around his neck. Austin’s mouth moves against mine with enough fervor and passion to steal my breath away. I thought he was gentle before, but there’s nothing gentle about the way he kisses. He’s all-consuming, breathing me in until I don’t know where I end and he begins.

I’ve kissed a few guys in my life, but none of them compare to this.

And it isn’t even real.

He pulls back slightly, breathing hard. “Do you think that convinced them?” he whispers into my ear. The light scruff on his face tickles my cheek, making me want more of him.

I turn and glance over, but Bianca and Bradley are nowhere to be found. “They’re gone.”

“What?” Austin turns and looks around, then takes a step back and rubs his chin. “I guess that showed them.”