Free RG2 - Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons by Denise Grover Swank Page B

Kent.”
    His hand hung in the air, and I was torn between shaking it and turning around and running home.
    I shot a glare in Violet’s direction, then turned to Austin and shook his hand. It wasn’t his fault I’d been set up, and I couldn’t bring myself to be rude.
    Just like Violet planned.
    “Hi, I’m Rose. Oh wait, I guess you knew that already.” I laughed, flustered, especially since Austin was still holding my hand.
    Mike, who’d kept his attention on the steaks on the grill, picked up his beer bottle and took a long swallow.
    Looked like I wasn’t the only one who’d been set up.
    “Austin brought a bottle of wine to go with the steaks,” Violet gushed. “Wasn’t that sweet of him? I’ll go pour you a glass.”
    I pulled my hand from his tight grip. “I’ll go with you.”
    “No!” She pushed me down into the chair next to the man. “You chat with Austin and I’ll be right back.”
    There was no way out of that one.
    Austin sat next to me and I gave him a genuine smile. I couldn’t very well be rude. “So how do you know Mike and Violet?”
    “We all went to high school together.”
    “I haven’t seen you around.” I glanced into the yard at Ashley and Mikey playing on the playset.
    Austin laughed. “I disappeared for several years. I went to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville for my architecture degree, did an internship, worked in Little Rock and decided I missed home. I just got back to Henryetta a couple of months ago. I’m settin’ up my own firm and hope to work with Mike.”
    Austin seemed self-assured yet not arrogant. A man who knew what he wanted in life and how he planned to get it. There was no doubt that he was handsome; his chest filled out his shirt nicely and his tan set off his hazel eyes and dark brown hair. And I had to admit, if Joe wasn’t in my life, I’d have been interested in him. What surprised me was the way his eyes followed my every move. This experience was vastly different than the first blind date Violet set me up with.
    Blind date . Crappy doodles. I was gonna kill Violet.
    “Here you go.” Violet put a glass of red wine in my hand, taking a large sip of her own. As weird as she was acting, I wondered how much she’d had to drink before I got there.
    “I’ve never had red wine before, only white.” I blurted out before I thought to stop myself. People didn’t just say things like that.
    But Austin smiled, making his eyes twinkle. “Then I feel privileged to have provided the selection for your first taste.” He bowed his head with a wink.
    He watched me as I self-consciously took a sip. It wasn’t as sweet as the white wines I’d had. Austin waited for my response, so I smiled. “It’s wonderful.”
    Austin went on to tell Violet and me why he’d choose this particular vintage (its smoky taste blended well with grilled red meat) and why that particular year (the vintage from the year before had experienced a drought). Violet rested her chin on her hand, listening to Austin as though he was sharing the secret of life. Mike continued to give rapt attention to his barbecue tongs. I longed to be over there with him.
    I set my wine glass on the side table and stood. “If y’all will excuse me for a moment, I need to visit the restroom,” I said as sweetly as possible.
    Mike shot me an apologetic glance.
    “Well, hurry up darlin’,” Violet drawled. “The steaks are almost ready.”
    “I’m only going to the restroom, Vi. I’m not making a cross country road trip.” Although at the moment, that sounded like a great idea.
    Mike snickered then chugged his beer before Violet caught him.
    Hurrying to the bathroom, I shut the door and pushed my back into it, the molding pressing into my neck. I took deep breath and dug out my cell phone, hoping against hope that I’d missed a call from Joe.
    Nothing.
    Forlorn and having given up all pride, I called his number, preparing to hear Hilary’s voice. Instead, it went to voice mail.