Tempt Me

Ben grinned. “Actually I just wanted to catch up and didn’t know how much you’d talk around your guest.”

He eyed Austin carefully but he didn’t flinch, unwilling to give up information to his suddenly nosey friend.

Ben rolled his shoulders and let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. Let’s get specific. Dan tells me you had some issues with the ex? You wrap that up okay?”

“I did. Thank fucking God.” Austin blew out a calm, relieved breath.

The kind he’d been exhaling since taking care of Kayla and receiving a call from the cops that they’d booked her along with her boyfriend for selling and possession.

Ben nodded his approval. “And how is your cute kid?”

“Good.” At the mention of Bailey, Austin grinned. “But she’ll be better when I can bring her home.” He explained Mia’s current situation to his friend. “I just want that wrapped up before I take Bailey from my parents. Just to be safe. But I’ve been visiting often.”

“I get that.” Ben tipped the bottle, taking a sip of his beer. “So what about you?”

“What about me?” he asked warily. What else had they been talking about if not Austin’s life? What else was there?

“So last time someone brought a strange woman to one of Dan’s parties—”

“You were protecting her?” Austin filled in the end of the sentence before Ben could leap to another conclusion.

He snorted. “I was going to say, I wanted her. And I’m wondering what’s going on with you and Mia.”

Austin blew out a long breath. He placed the bottle down on a table and met Ben’s gaze. Obviously his friend wasn’t going to let him off the hook and it wasn’t like he couldn’t use a friend to talk to. “If I was going to get serious about anyone, it would be Mia. But—” How did he explain?

“You’re still fighting the inevitable. I remember those days well. I got it.” Ben shook his head in definite understanding and commiseration.

It wasn’t the same thing. Ben’s history and issues had been with Summer herself. Austin’s problems were tangled up with betrayal and hurt and a little girl he couldn’t afford to put in the middle of something and have her get hurt.

“I can’t let myself get serious again. I can’t risk Bailey getting attached and me deciding it’s not working out.”

Ben rolled his eyes. “You’re certainly very protective of Mia, considering you brought her here when you could have just had someone watch the house.”

Austin frowned at his friend.

“I’m telling you, all the fighting you are doing with yourself? It’s not worth it. You could have a real family, you know?”

He swallowed hard. He knew. And that was what scared him. Having it. Trusting it. Relying on it. And having the rug ripped out from under him once more. “I’ve done the family thing once, Ben. Not doing it again.”

Except Mia wasn’t Kayla, a voice in his head told him. And his friend’s knowing shake of his head let Austin know he was thinking the same thing.

* * *

Mia listened to Summer talk about her tour, the adjustments to living on the road, out of hotel rooms, the fans, the venues… all things she wanted to hear about but none she could concentrate on because the nausea had returned. And out of the blue, Mia knew. This couldn’t possibly be a stomach virus. She knew better. She wouldn’t suddenly want to throw up after five days if it was.

Could she really be pregnant?

Dread and fear took hold as the possibility took root. And grew. She hadn’t wanted to believe it, think it, or face it. Hadn’t wanted to consider what it would mean for the life she lived. And loved. Or her future.

Or what Austin would think.

Austin, who’d been in this position once before, having gotten a woman pregnant. True, Mia hadn’t poked holes in the condom but he hadn’t originally wanted or planned that child. And he had no desire to get serious again.

Oh my God, she thought, as another wave of queasiness hit her.

Unaware, Summer continued, a smile on her face. “And Ben said if it wasn’t the last stop, he’d pull the plug on the tour because he couldn’t wait to get home,” Summer said, her voice trailing off as she met Mia’s gaze. “Are you okay?” she asked.

“Umm…” She touched Summer’s arm. “I don’t mean to be rude but I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

Before Summer could even get the word out, she turned and found Dan. “Where’s the bathroom?” she asked him, embarrassed but having no choice. She couldn’t wait.

“Through there.” He gestured toward the main part of the house, where the bedrooms must be. “Down the hall, first door on the left.”