Quick to Love

Chapter 7

"I hope you weren't leaving?" Austin says to me questioningly.

I gaze at his chiselled face taking in dark his eyes and his strong nose. He looks hotter than I have ever seen him if that is even possible. He's wearing a white shirt and rolled up black skinny jeans. He looks like a model from a fashion magazine and I don't think I could ever say no to him.

"No" I lie. "I just was going to the bar."

He smiles and I feel so many emotions inside. Happy, excited, turned on...

"I'll come with you" he proposes.

"S-sure" is all I can muster.

"What does everyone want?" he offers to get a round of drinks.

I can feel the nervousness of seeing him bubble up inside. I have sat here all night wanting him to appear and now he's here I don't know how to act. I'm super nervous and I feel like a cardboard cut out of myself.

Pull yourself together. Act cool.

Everyone puts in their order and we make our way to the bar. I glance back to the table to get some reassurance from my friends but they are already engrossed in conversations with Austin's friends.

As we are waiting to be served, Austin turns to me and says "So tell me about yourself."

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

I grin from ear to ear and start to unleash my life story on him.

"Er OK so I live in Canada Water with my friend Charlie" I point at Charlie who is in deep conversation with one of Austin's handsome friends. They seem to be hitting it off, which makes me smile. Maybe I'm not the only person that's going to break the no man rule. "We live in this amazing loft by the river. I am originally from a small town in Essex but moved to London when I graduated from Uni. I went to Central Saint Martins to study Fashion Design. I am currently working at Allure as a Designer. It's my dream job.".

"Wow a Fashion Designer. That sounds like such a cool job."

"It is. I love it. What's your story then?"

I am dying to know about his life. I wonder to myself what he does? I bet he has a really cool edgy job and lives in some swanky place I could only dream about affording.

He explains that he is a part time model (of course) and property developer. He lives in Blackheath and he is originally from Essex as well which is convenient. He moved to London when he was twenty one to pursue modelling after he got scouted. He likes modelling but he wanted to do something else so he started to invest his earnings into property. He has now developed over twenty properties in the five years since he started. He is currently converting an old townhouse in Greenwich to flats. I stare at him as he talks, watching the way his mouth moves and how he laughs after telling me about a funny modelling story. He's intoxicating and he makes everything he says so interesting. He could have been talking about the most boring thing in the world and I would have found in fascinating.

I'm pulled out of the spell he has over me by our friends who start to heckle us from afar. I realise we have been standing at the bar for ages and we still haven't ordered the drinks.

"I think we better order those drinks" I say laughing.

For the next hour I spend my time alternating between my friends and Austin. Every time I talk to Austin I get butterflies. I have never felt this way about a guy before. It's not just that he's gorgeous, he also has substance which a lot of good looking guys don't have.

At one am we realise that the bar is about to close. I look around and we are the only group left on the terrace. We gather our bits and head towards to the lift. Austin comes up to me and out of nowhere he grabs my hand. I feel a jolt of electricity go through me, just like our first meeting.

I try to hide my surprise and turn to face him. He's smirking at me which stirs something inside me.

"What are you guys up to tomorrow? Are you going on the boat party?" He has a hopeful look on his face.

Is he asking me because he wants to meet up??

I reply quickly to put him out of misery "Yes we are. I can't wait. Are you?"

He nods. "Hope you none of you get sea sick!"

I roll my head back and laugh. "As far as I know we don't. Fingers crossed otherwise that could be embarrassing."

We step into the lift and Austin is still holding my hand. I love the feel of his hand in mine. They fit so perfectly together like missing jigsaw pieces. I can feel the sexual tension emanating off us. We stay silent for the whole journey so as to not ruin the moment.

The lift dings and the doors open on the fourth floor. "This is us" says one of Austin's friends, I think he is called Steve. Austin gazes at me and indicates that this is his floor.

"See you tomorrow then" he questions in an excited voice.

"Yes can't wait! Night"

He hesitantly lets go of my hand and walks out of the lift before it closes on him. I spend the rest of the journey with a cheesy grin floating on cloud nine.

The minute we get in our room, I get the Spanish inquisition from my friends.

"What was he like?" "What did you talk about?" "You were gone ages, you must have heard his life story".

I glare at my friends as if to say chill out. We sit crossed legged on the beds like teenagers and I update them on everything we talked about.

"Wow he sounds like the perfect man" Charlie declares. I smile and agree.

"So when are you seeing him again?" She adds.

"Tomorrow, they are going to the boat party."

We all squeal and dance around the room like teenagers. If only Austin could see me now, he would probably run a mile.

"You need to wear the sexiest bikini you own" Violet encourages. "He won't know what's hit him!"

We chat for another half hour until we are all yawning. I definitely need my beauty sleep ready for the party tomorrow so decide it's time for bed.

I walk over to my bed thinking about Austin. I think back over our conversation and I remember the way he looked when I talked to him. I've never met anyone that looked genuinely interested in what I was saying. Usually with guys they are jut pretending to listen so that at some point you might let them in your knickers. I get the feeling Austin is different, honest. I really hope I'm right.

I quickly remove my clothes and chuck them on the chair with the rest of my dirty clothes. I am the most untidy person ever, much to my friends annoyance. Charlie is always moaning at the state of my bedroom. I pull on my "Need more sleep" pyjamas and head to the bathroom. The floor is cold on my feet but I enjoy the sensation as the room feels too hot. After removing my make up and cleansing my face, I climb into the crisp fresh bedsheets and quickly give in to sleep dreaming about Austin.