Read Tell Me You Want Me for Free Online

taunted her. Austin is not the guy you take a chance with. Sara's warning rang in her ears. He would show up, right? Maybe he'd played her, and would leave her waiting while he laughed at his cruel joke. No, he wouldn't kiss her like that and not finish what he'd started. If nothing else, Austin Sinclair never left a girl wanting.
    ***
    Austin turned on the water and swore when the cold blast hit him in the face. He needed it, though. Having spent the whole day thinking about where to take Janie—and what to do with her—a cold shower would do him some good. The water slowly turned warm as he stood under it, letting it run though his hair, dripping down his back, and flowing over his chest. He closed his eyes and imagined that, instead of water, Janie's fingers were sliding over his naked skin, caressing his shoulders and his arms, stroking his thighs.
    Why couldn't he stop thinking about his Janie? His Janie. Austin smiled. He could picture the look she would give him for that—disapproving eyes but a tiny smile. That was one of the things he liked about her. She didn't let him get away with his usual tricks. He wouldn't know her name if she hadn't forced him to find out. He could've seduced her in the locker room or the library if she hadn't made him take her out on a real date.
    He liked that too.
    He enjoyed spoiling women and did it with pleasure. Some girls jumped into his bed without much pursuit or persuasion. Not that he complained, but he appreciated a good chase every now and then. The only question was how long he should let the pursuit go on. Should he capture her tonight or let her tease him a bit longer? He wanted to enjoy this girl as long as he could, and right now he was having too much fun to let it climax—Austin grinned—so soon.
    A drop of water trickled into his ear, and he shook his head. Call it off now before you get hurt again.
    What? He poked his head out of the shower. The empty bathroom remained silent, and the locked door gave no clues. Where had that voice come from? He pounded the side of his head with his palm, making sure no more bubbles lingered.
    "She's not Natalie," he reminded himself, and anyone else who might be listening. By the time he got out of the shower and got dressed, Jack had breakfast burned beyond recognition, along with the kitchen stove.
    Jack took one look at dressed-up Austin and groaned. "Is your date tonight with the same girl you met the other day?"
    Austin gave him a blank look.
    "The girl whose name you couldn't remember?"
    "That narrows it down."
    "Good point." Jack laughed. "The one from the girls' soccer team."
    "Yeah. You owe me a six-pack."
    "It's in the fridge."
    Austin laughed and picked up a football, tossing it between his hands. It would have been an easy move any other day, but now it bounced off his fingers and hit Jack's arm. "Damn it. Sorry."
    "Nervous?"
    "Why the hell would I be nervous?" The football somehow bounced away from Austin and rolled across the floor. He grabbed it and slapped it on the table. "Stay."
    "She's not Natalie."
    "Huh?" The ball rolled off the table and smacked Austin's foot. "Were you listening...?"
    "To what?"
    "Never mind." Austin shook his head and fished the ball out from under the table.
    "And you're not the same guy anymore. You have goals and direction now."
    "Yeah, but is it good enough?"
    Jack looked straight at him. "For her or for you?"
    "What the hell does that mean?"
    "Natalie dumped you because she thought you had no ambition."
    "Thank you so much for reminding me."
    "She thought you'd get injured playing football and have nothing to fall back on."
    "She was right. I got hurt." Austin rubbed his knee.
    "She was wrong. You have a new dream now."
    "Yeah, funny how that works."
    "The only question is: is it enough to get you over those bad memories?" Jack grinned. "Or do you need help from someone else?"
    "What the hell are you talking about?"
    Jack laughed. "I've watched you get ready for more dates than I can