The Lawson Brothers: Love So Perfect Part 3

"Place up in Greenville."

"They deliver that quickly?"

He grinned, sending her heart into overdrive. "Nah. I drove there to pick them up."

"You drove an hour there and back just to bring me flowers?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"Yes," he simply said, as if it wasn't anything to him.

But it meant the world to her.

Lemon cleared her throat. "Say thank you," she whispered.

Harper's eyes widened. How rude she must sound to question him like she was. "Thank you. They're beautiful. If you'll come inside, I'll just put them in water and then we can go."

"I'm ready when you are," he said, stepping inside.

But was she ready for him? That was the question of all questions.

Chapter Three.

All it had taken was a thirty-minute car ride to the beach for Austin to realize that he was utterly charmed by Harper. It was like she'd put a spell on him. There was no other way to describe it.

Once again, when she smiled, he couldn't help but do the same. When she walked inside the restaurant, he made sure to keep one hand on the small of her back. He hung on her every word, even while she talked about things he had no idea about, like lesson plans and common core curriculum. Apparently, the latter was the bane of teachers, students, and parents' existence everywhere.

But what he did know... she loved her students. The way her eyes glowed and her voice softened when he'd asked about the kids in her cla.s.s. The way the corners of her mouth would curve into a sweet smile when she described their triumphs in reading and math.

Where had she been when he'd been in school?

"Excuse me?" Harper asked, blinking up at him.

He set his beer down. s.h.i.t. He'd actually voiced his question. "You're so pretty and nice... and I'm know you love your students. I didn't have very many-who am I kidding-I didn't have any teachers like you when I was in school. Pretty sure I would have paid attention better if I had."

An auburn brow rose. "Pretty sure that wouldn't have made a difference for you."

He was taken aback from a moment. "Really? Do tell."

She grinned at him over her drink. "You strike me as the type who did as you pleased and that was that."

Narrowing his eyes at her in a mock glare, he asked, "Have you been talking to Mrs. Bakerson?"

Biting her lip, she shook her head. "Didn't have to. It's obvious you're a flatterer."

"You don't like it when I mention how gorgeous you look tonight?"

Her cheeks bloomed with color. "Compliments make me uncomfortable."

"The flowers didn't," he pointed out.

"The flowers were beautiful and unexpected." Taking a sip of her wine, she sat back and glanced around the interior of the restaurant. "Having dinner at The Magnificent Dunes was also unexpected."

The stately resort built practically on the dunes facing the Atlantic Ocean was a favorite of his. A place he liked to go in the off-season to relax and get away from it all. There was something about the ocean that called to him. Beside, whenever he was here, no one cared who he was. The staff left him alone while paying attention to his needs, and the other guests minded their own business as well.

"I didn't bring you here to impress you."

Harper jerked her gaze to his. "Thanks?"

"That's not what I meant." He leaned forward. "I came here because no one cares who I am. Back home, everyone would have stared at us and interrupted our dinner. To be honest, my brothers would have kicked my a.s.s for taking a woman out to a bar for a date."

"I wouldn't have minded, but I understand your need for privacy." She glanced to one side. "This might sound a little silly, but when I go out, all eyes are on me. It's like I'm not supposed to be anywhere but in my cla.s.sroom. And Lord help me if one of my students spots me in the grocery store buying toilet paper." Wincing, she sighed. "Not that you needed to know that."

"Trust me. I know all about that. Once had a reporter follow me right into the men's' room. d.a.m.n near came into the stall with me," he griped. "Had to do a one-eighty and drive home just to take a pi-well, you get the picture."

And that's how we get women to fall at our feet.

Hey! She brought up toilet paper first.

What are you-twelve?

Harper laughed, a clear, lilting sound that made his gut clench. "Sorry, but that's very..." She cleared her throat. "Very... awful?"

"Inconvenient," he supplied, not bothering to hide his grin.

The server brought their entrees, baked salmon for him and stuffed flounder for her.

Just as she was about to leave, Austin grabbed his phone. "Do you mind taking our picture?"

Smiling, the woman said, "Of course not."

Austin scooted in closer to Harper, wrapping his arm around the back of her chair. She turned to him, the scent of her shampoo mouthwatering.

"What are you doing?"

"Making sure I don't forget how beautiful you look."

Her lips formed a perfect O, and he had to fight the urge to kiss her. Never in his life had a woman made him feel so out of control. With great effort, he turned to face the camera and smiled. Hopefully, Harper had done the same.

"You two are a very cute couple," the server said as she handed him his phone.

"Thanks." Pocketing it, he scooted his chair back to his side of the table and gestured to Harper's plate. "Ladies first."

"I really hope this tastes as good as it looks and smells," she said before taking a small bite. Her eyes closed. "Heavenly."

He stared at her for a moment, wishing like h.e.l.l he could be the one to put that much pleasure in her tone. Be the one to make her eyes close and- Stop it. Remember what you said to Tristan. Remember what you said to yourself. One date and then all business on Tuesday.

Harper's beautiful eyes opened and fixed on him, their light grey depths turning silver in the candlelight. "I was really nervous about going out with you tonight. But you are really easy to talk, which is surprising."

"Because I'm an athlete?" He hoped like h.e.l.l she didn't think he was a dumb jock.

She shook her head. "A little, but I don't know... Okay, I do know. Most guys who look like you and have your success don't bother noticing women like me. They don't bother bringing her flowers or taking her to a place like this. You brought your A-game tonight." Her eyes widened and one of her hands flew to her mouth, loosely covering it before she sighed and let it fall away. "I'm going to stop drinking now. Honesty is not the best policy while on gla.s.s number three with an empty stomach."

Son of a gun. She was perfect. She was exactly what the publicist ordered. "I disagree. When most women go out with a guy like me, they have nothing but dollar signs in their eyes. They ask about contracts and bonuses. How many famous people I've met... you get the picture. Yet, you haven't asked one thing about that aspect of my life," he said quietly.

She covered her eyes with her hand, and then spread her fingers to peer out of them. d.a.m.n, she was adorable. "Now I feel bad."

"Why?" Actually, he was more amused than anything else about her lack of interest.

"Because all I've done is talk about myself. I'm so sorry for being rude."

Reaching across the table, he grabbed her hand and gently pulled it away from her face, male satisfaction spiking as she gasped. "You are the exact opposite of rude. I've enjoyed getting to know you tonight. h.e.l.l, I want to know even more about you."

"I am? You have? You do?" she practically squeaked.

"I know this might be presumptuous of me, but would you like to go out again tomorrow night?" he asked, even as warning bells were going off in his head. Even as his brother's image appeared in his brain, glaring at him.

Long seconds pa.s.sed as Harper stared at him. Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she finally answered with one word.

"Yes."

The rest of dinner flew by and before he knew it, they'd eaten dessert and paid the bill.

"I had a really nice time tonight. Thank you for dinner," she said as they walked outside to wait for the valet to get Austin's truck.

"I'm glad, and you already know how I feel about tonight," he replied.

She nodded. "I do."

The valet pulled his truck to the curb. Austin helped Harper into the pa.s.senger side, tipping the valet before jogging over to his side.

"What time will you be available tomorrow?" he asked.

"I have my standing date with Libby, and then I'm free."

"Mind if I tag along?" he asked.

She gave him a look of disbelief. "You want to go with to the park with me and my dog?"

"I've been told I have a great throwing arm for the game of fetch," he deadpanned.

Harper snorted, and then giggled. "I bet you do."

Putting his truck into drive, he grinned. "I'm not bragging, merely pa.s.sing along useful information."

"And I truly appreciate that." She exhaled.

His grin turned stupid. There was no other way to describe it. He could chalk it up to the fact that he hadn't been on a date with a woman in months, not since he and Bianca had broken up. While he had access to a ton of women in the meantime at parties and clubs, he hadn't been but so interested. That had translated into many lonely nights.

But maybe he'd needed that time in order to fully appreciate a woman like Harper. Maybe he needed it so he didn't screw up again and date a woman who would cause more problems for him than Bianca ever did.

He glanced at Harper right as she began to silently sing along with the radio.

No way in h.e.l.l could any woman he would have met in the meantime have helped his PR nightmare that was going on now.

At the next light, he quickly texted a picture of Harper and him at dinner to Finley. The server had taken several. At least two of them looked downright intimate.

Unease coursed through him, but he sent those as well. It had to be done. No matter how good of a time he had with Harper, he needed to get back in the good graces of Coach and Finley. They determined what kind of career he had, not the beautiful woman at this side.

Although, she could help him. A lot.

s.h.i.t. He had to tell her.

"This was the best night I've had in a really long time, Austin." Harper glanced at him, a shy smile on her face.

f.u.c.k. He couldn't tell her, not after that p.r.o.nouncement.

"Know what? This is the best night I've had in a really long time, too," he admitted.

"Really?" she softly asked.

Mercifully, the light changed before he could do more damage. "Yes, really." He was going to h.e.l.l. So going to h.e.l.l, but at least it wouldn't be for totally lying to her. And why shouldn't he enjoy spending time with her? Why shouldn't he treat her in a way that came natural to him?

She made him feel good about himself and he for d.a.m.n sure wasn't lying when he complimented her. Part of being a good quarterback was making snap judgments based on the information available. He knew enough about Harper to want to spend more time with her, regardless of why he needed to spend more time with her.

Yeah, that might be a little sketchy, but he really wasn't using her if he truly was having a good time with her and making sure she was having fun as well. Was it anyone's fault that he happened to find her attractive? Was it anyone's fault that he knew d.a.m.n well she found him attractive too?

Either way, before things go too serious, he would tell her all about his situation.

Harper was dreaming. She had to be, because not only had she gone out on a real date, but Austin had also asked for a second one. He might be regretting that already since she'd barely said a word the entire drive home.

He hadn't seemed to mind, however, and his lack of pushiness when it came to her comfort zone surprised her. Maybe he was a mind reader, or maybe he was just really good with women.

She frowned. The thought of him being really good with women was rather unsettling.

"You're mighty quiet," he said as they pulled into the drive of her house.

Startled, she gasped and smacked her hand against her chest.