Chapter 30

Dallas

I wake up with Austin next to me and smile. This is the most content I have ever been. How did I think I’d fall back into my old habits with her? Old me with other women would have pushed her away, as soon as sex was over, but with her, I couldn’t get her close enough.

Old me wouldn’t have wanted them to look me in the eye, but with Austin, I didn’t want her eyes to ever leave mine.

I lean up on my elbow and watch her sleep. The sheet is around her waist, leaving her beautiful breasts on display. They’re round and perfect with red marks from my loving on them all night.

One time wasn’t enough. She had barely gotten to sleep when I was waking her up and needing her again. I would have felt guilty if it wasn’t for her doing the same to me a few hours later.

Pulling the sheet back over her, because I don’t want her to get cold. I simply watch her sleep, thanking whoever is listening that she’s mine.

When she rolls over and opens her eyes, the world instantly seems warmer, brighter, and perfect.

“Good morning, baby girl,” I say, as I lean down to kiss her forehead.

“Mmm, any morning I wake up next to you is a good morning. But I love it when I wake up to that huge smile on your face.”

I hadn’t even realized I was smiling. I tuck some hair behind her ear and cup her cheek.

“I love you, Austin. The soul crushing, once in a lifetime love, that I’ll write songs about, until the day I die.”

Her eyes mist over, and I rub my thumb gently over the corner, catching her tears.

“I love you too, Dallas. I think I’ve loved you from the time you saved me from the giant spider in my bedroom.” She smiles.

I remember that. She was about twelve, and Landon and I were hanging out at the house, and she came home to get her math book she forgot, before going to a friend’s house to study. Landon went outside for something, and I heard her scream. My heart stopped.

I raced to her room, finding her frozen with an enormous spider on her math book. I killed it and checked her whole room to make sure he didn’t have any friends.

I chuckle. “I remember that day. You let me hug you for the first time, and I think that was the day you stole my heart, too.”

I pull her into me and kiss her. This girl loves me! I will do everything I can to make her happy. Always.

We are interrupted by her phone ringing. I get out of bed and find it for her on the kitchen counter.

“It’s Landon,” I say.

“Ugh! Just turn my phone off.” She calls back.

I send him to voice mail and turn her phone off, and then my phone rings. I write a quick text telling him we’re fine and will talk to him in a few days. Then, I turn off my phone as well, before heading back into the bedroom.

Austin just slipped one of my shirts on and smiles at me.

“Let’s get breakfast, I’m starving.” She takes my hand and pulls me into the kitchen.

I push her back up against the kitchen counter because I need to hear her say it again.

“I love you,” I whisper against her lips.

“I love you, too.” She whispers back, and then her lips land on mine. I suck her bottom lip into my mouth and run my tongue along it, before pulling back.

“I want to take you again, but I’m going to feed you first. Because I’m going to prove that I’ll always take care of you.” I tell her.

Her hand comes to rest on my chest, right on my Texas tattoo over my heart.

“You have proven time and time again you’ll take care of me and not just since we have been together, but before then. I think I knew it when you dropped everything to make sure I went to prom and had an amazing night. You proved it again and again every time I’d visit, or I’d need someone to talk to. I want to take care of you too, Dallas.”

“You do, baby girl. Just being here and talking to me is all I’ll ever need. Now, it’s simple things like your touch.” I place my hand over hers. “It steadies me, grounds me. On my worst days, just being in the same room as you, always helps.”

With a soft kiss, we pull apart and make breakfast.

“What do you want to do today?” I ask.

“Besides you?” She asks with a smirk.

“I can easily spend all day in bed making you cum over and over again, but I think we should spend some time outside, too,” I say, as I look out of the window at the mountain view.

“Well, the lady at the office said there’s a path out the back door that leads to a river, and then if we go to right around the bend, there’s a waterfall. Maybe, we can check that out?”

“Sounds good.”

After breakfast, it takes us twice as long to get dressed, because we can’t keep our hands off each other.

We head out in search of the waterfall, and the hike is pretty easy.

“Was I why you didn’t date in school?” She shocks me by asking.

I chuckle and shake my head. “Pretty much. I had it in my head if I dated the wrong girl, I’d ruin my chances with you.”

“Well, if it had been Chelsea Milton, I don’t think I’d have talked to you again.” She cringes.

“Oh, Lord no. She may have been pretty, but I couldn’t stand to be around her. She was a horrible person and still is, by the way. She came to a show about three years ago, and she’s even trashier now if you can believe it.”

Austin gives me the side eye, and I know what’s running through her mind.

“No, I didn’t sleep with her. I told her off and actually had security keep her away from me. I was never into trashy girls.”

As we round the corner, the waterfall is right in front of us.

“Wow!” She gasps. The waterfall isn’t very tall, so the surrounding water is relatively calm and perfect for swimming.

By the water’s edge, there’s a fallen tree ideal for sitting on and being able to get your feet in the water. Austin must have the same idea because she’s taking her shoes off and heading that way.

We spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying our secret oasis and the sun, before going back to the cabin.

Each day at the cabin is spent almost the same way. Breakfast together before leaving to explore. On day two, we went into the small town nearby, and it was charming. Either they had no clue who I was, or they were being respectful because we weren’t approached once.

The town is small and built around a square park. We had fun taking in the shops, eating lunch, and catching a movie. One day, we came into town for brunch. We made another trip out to the waterfall, before we left, too.

Every night, we’d come back to the cabin and have dinner. I’d feed her, while she sat on my lap, and then we head to bed, where I’d make love to her until we both passed out. If only we could stay in our bubble.

Today, we head home. We had finished packing up the cars and doing the final sweep of the cabin to make sure we didn’t leave anything.

“Do we need to stop at the office on the way out?” I ask her.

“Nope, she said to leave the key on the counter and call, if we aren’t gone by eleven.” She says.

It’s just after ten, so we are good.

“We’ll take it slow, and I’ll follow behind you,” I say.

I hate the idea of having to drive back in separate cars, but it will be a good chance to call Landon, give him a heads up we are coming home, and take any anger he has for turning our phones off before he lashes out at Austin.

As soon as we hit the road, I turn my phone back on and let it load. The most recent text from Landon catches my eye.

Landon: Austin’s ex was outside the house. When I confronted him, he said he was waiting to talk to Austin. Cops can’t do anything, because he was on the street.

Fuck. I hit the button to call Landon, as his voice fills the car over blue tooth.

“Took you long enough to call me back.” He sounds irritated, but I can’t blame him.

“We both turned off our phones. I just turned mine back on and saw your text. We’re on our way home now.” I tell him. “What happened with Branden?”

“I saw him standing outside the gate on the camera, so I went to confront him. He keeps saying he wants to talk to Austin. I said she wasn’t here, and that she left a few days ago after we had a fight. He hasn’t been back, and I’m hoping he thinks she won’t be back.”

“Okay, well when we get closer, I’m going to call you and make sure he isn’t there because the last thing we need is for him to see her get home.”

“Yeah, I thought he could be watching from a side street or the neighborhood gate. No way of telling. I almost debated having you guys stay away longer, but I think it’s safest to get her home.” Landon admits.

“You know we have to tell her. I don’t want to scare her, but she has to know. She needs to be on alert.”

“I agree,” Landon says.

“Listen, I know we need to talk, and you’re probably still mad at me. That’s fine. But can we agree to put this aside for right now for Austin’s sake and work on making sure she’s okay?” I ask him.

He’s quiet a moment before he sighs.

“Yeah, I only want her safe, and I’ll do anything to make sure it happens.” He says.

“Okay, she said you were looking into this guy. What have you found?” I ask.

“Nothing. That’s the problem. He doesn’t exist.”

“So, he was lying to her, which means he has something to hide. What’s our next step?” I ask.

“The private investigator is trying some facial recognition software with pictures I sent him. I had to break into Austin’s cloud storage to get them. She gave me the password years ago, but I’ve never used it. I don’t know if she’ll be too happy, but I couldn’t reach you guys.”

“I’ll smooth it over. I would have done the same thing.”

“The PI says the best thing is a fingerprint. If he’s running, he’ll probably be in the system, but I’m not sure how to manage that.”

“Not without using Austin as bait, and I don’t like that idea,” I growl.

“Me either. I don’t think we’re to that point yet. Also, have you heard from Dave? It’s like after your meeting he’s dropped off the planet.”

“No, I wasn’t in a rush to call him again. Have you tried Mitch?”

“Yeah, Mitch doesn’t even know where he is. Oh, well. We need to meet about this label, so we can get away from all of them anyway.”

“You still want to do this with me?” I ask.

“Of course, I do. I’m not happy about you and Austin, but you two are my family. I’m not turning my back on either of you.”

I take a moment to compose myself. Those words mean more to me than he will ever know.

“I had an idea, and this is more for Austin than anything,” I say.

“Lay it on me.” He sighs, and I can tell he’s lounging on the couch, his favorite place to talk on the phone. He always sighs like that, when he lies down.

“Austin and the receptionist at the label hit it off really well. I’d like to bring the receptionist over with us, so Austin has a friend and no reason to go back to the label.”

“Deanna, right? She’s always been nice when I’m there. I’m good with that, but let’s not talk to her, until we’re out of our contract. No need to ruffle feathers just yet.”

“I agree.”

We spend the next bit talking label stuff.

“Hey, I need to let you go. Austin is pulling into a gas station. I’ll talk to her about Branden. We’re about twenty minutes out.” I tell him.

“Okay, stay safe.”

This conversation with Austin could go one of two ways. Here’s to hoping she trusts her brother and me to keep her safe.