Free Trust In Love (A McCord Family Novel Book 2) by Amanda Siegrist Page B

Austin asked, just within the threshold of the kitchen.
    She turned around, pasting a small smile on her face. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
    "I would like to think we've become sort of friends in the past month. You said so yourself that you don't trust men. Emmett's a great guy, but you don't know him and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable while he's working inside. If you want me to keep you company in the kitchen, I can. Or I can go back home because I know you probably don't want me in here either. You never invite me in and you never accept my invite to come into my house. Let me know what you want and I'll do it," he said with concern in his eyes.
    "You're too perceptive for your own good, Austin," Sophie said, pulling open the fridge to grab the apples. "I would feel better with you in the house. I know he's your cousin, but you're right. I don't know him and it is slightly uncomfortable."
    She closed the fridge door, set the apples on the counter, and noticed that Austin had stepped into the kitchen and taken a seat at the table.
    "I can't help myself. What happened to you, Sophie? Why don't you trust men?" Austin asked softly.
    She glanced at him. "I don't want to talk about it. Please don't ask me again, Austin."
    "Okay. I won't," he said in defeat.
    She nodded, surprised he didn't pry further. "Thank you."
    She turned back around and started peeling the apples and slicing them up in tiny pieces.
    ***
    Austin watched in silence, enjoying the way she moved about the kitchen. Fast and efficient in every movement she made, especially slicing the apples. Although, she did have a handy tool to help her along. She would grab an apple, slide it onto a device he had never seen before, and then rapidly twirl the knob on the other end as it would peel the apple skin off and slice it at the same time.
    Simply amazing.
    Then she'd toss the apple slices into another bowl, grab another apple, and repeat the process. Before he knew it, she had finished slicing the apples.
    He hated holding back his questions. The need to know more about her coursed through him every time he saw the slight fear in her eyes. Even though he saw that fear, she was still one of the bravest women he had ever met.
    Ava, of course, would be the first.
    Sophie never let that fear hold her back and bring her down. He admired that about her. He gained a small amount of trust, but he wanted that full-fledged trust that came with a deep friendship. That's how he saw her. A good friend. It didn't matter what Emmett said about him liking her.
    He didn't. Not like that.
    As he watched her bend slightly to toss the pie in the oven, her petite bottom wiggling, he realized he was kidding himself.
    He did like her.
    Talk about trying to suppress his emotions. He refused to go down the path of love again, no matter how much it killed him to ignore it. Not that he loved her, but he was on his way to a deep feeling he couldn't describe nor wanted to contemplate.
    "All done. Now we just wait for it to bake. Do you think he's almost done? I would hate for you two to miss the beginning of the game," Sophie said, wiping her hands on a towel as she looked at Austin.
    He grinned, knowing full well that was her polite way of saying she wanted them out of her house. "I can go see. But it takes time. You did say a thousand of those spiders escaped. It would be a good thing for him to get every single one."
    Sophie shuddered. "I don't even want to go down there. It's gross. You're right, though, I do want him to get them all. Would you like something to drink? I don't have alcohol because I don't drink like that, but I have water, iced tea, or milk.
    He wasn't surprised she didn't drink. Probably had something to do with the secrets she kept inside. "I'm okay." He saw her nod and then he continued, "You ever been to New York?"
    "Why would you ask me that?" Sophie exclaimed.
    Austin almost jumped in his seat by her response. "No reason. Just trying to make small talk. I take