Jacquelin Thomas - Return To Me

He wore a light blue dress shirt that fit snugly over wide shoulders, then tapered, tucked into slim-waist navy trousers.

Austin smiled, revealing two small dimples Bree hadn’t noticed before. She tried to throttle the dizzying current racing through her. He radiated a vitality that drew Bree like a magnet. Whenever he laughed, his full-throated masculine sound sent strange waves through her stomach.

Girl, you need to focus.

It wasn’t easy, though. Austin made Bree feel things she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Not since Caleb.

At least I still have those feelings , she reasoned silently. For a while she worried that they had died with her husband.

“Jordin told me that you’re a psychologist.”

“I am,” Bree confirmed.

“I think it’s cool. I’ve always been fascinated with human behavior, especially when it comes to the criminal mind.”

“Okay, you know I’m going to ask the question . Why do you defend criminals?”

He chuckled. “I’ve come to expect it. All criminal defense lawyers are asked this question. It’s part of the criminal defense experience.”

“I’d like to hear your response, as well,” Garland said. “I don’t think it’s something I could ever do, especially if I knew my client was guilty.”

“Innocence is not the chief driver for me,” Austin stated. “You all may find this strange but I enjoy working with guilty people. I have an interest in the causes of human conduct. I search to find the humanity in the people I represent, no matter what they may have done. I started out practicing family law, but I didn’t find it as fulfilling,” Austin said. “Nobody knows this, but I once considered studying forensic psychology. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology.”

Bree reached for her glass. “Really?”

He nodded. “I love law and psychology—pursuing law just seemed the natural way to go for me.”

There was something in his manner that she found soothing. It was easy to talk to him. “That’s because you’re a DuGrandpre,” Bree responded. “It’s in your blood.”

“I suppose so,” Austin said with a smile.

She felt a lurch of excitement within her. “It seems we have something in common,” Bree told him. “I briefly considered going into law, but decided that I loved psychology more.”

“Do you have any regrets?”

She shook her head. “I know that I’m exactly where I should be.”

“I feel the same way.”

Bree felt there was some type of deeper significance to the visual interchange between them.

The thought struck a vibrant chord in her.

She contributed to the conversation going on among everyone, but found herself studying his profile.

Bree had to deliberately shut out any awareness of Austin just to focus on Jordin’s words.

“What do you think about a girls’ night next weekend?”

“That’s fine,” she responded.

Jadin agreed, then asked, “What about you, Garland? Can you join us?”

“She can,” Ryker answered for her. “It’ll do her some good to get away from the children.”

Garland pointed to him and replied, “What my husband said...”

At the end of the evening, she bid everyone a good night. As she gathered her purse, Austin volunteered to walk her down to her car.

“Bree, travel safe,” he told her.

She tingled as he said her name and a quiver surged through her veins. “You do the same.”

Bree unlocked the door and got into her car. She was soon pulling out of the driveway and traveling toward the freeway.

It had been a long time since a man had struck her interest, filling Bree with a strange inner delight.

* * *

Two days later Bree walked out of Marbelle’s Children’s Boutique, juggling her tote and a couple of shopping bags in her hands as she neared her car.

“Hey, are you following me?”

She glanced over her shoulder, her steps slowing. “Austin...what are you doing on my side of town?” Her heart danced with eagerness over seeing him again.

“I have a client who lives over here. Hey, thank you for being my plus one the other night. Everyone was coupled up...it could’ve been a little awkward if you hadn’t been so gracious.”

“I didn’t mind. I enjoyed talking to you,” she responded. “You’re a very interesting man.”

He grinned. “Do you have some time for lunch?”

“Sure.” Bree looped her purse over her shoulder while her insides jangled with eagerness. She felt the blood surge from her fingertips to her toes. “So, where are we off to, Austin DuGrandpre?” She was thrilled that he wanted to continue their conversation.

“There’s a little place around the corner.”

She chuckled a little. “You use that line often?” she asked playfully, glancing at him.

Austin laughed, full-throated and sexy. “I don’t believe I’ve ever used it before, as a matter of fact.” He adjusted his long stride to her much shorter one.

“I wouldn’t recommend using it again,” she remarked with a chuckle. “The only thing around the corner is a bank.”

He laughed. “I’m still learning my way around.”

“There’s a sandwich shop that’s two blocks away. It’s walkable.”

“Perfect. Let me help you with your bags,” he offered.

* * *

They walked past a pizza place in full lunch swing, the scents of robust sauce and spicy sausage filling the air.

Bree’s stomach rumbled. If he heard, there were no outward signs of it.

“You in the mood for pizza?” Austin inquired.

“Not really.” Although the pizza smelled great, at noon the place was usually overrun by high school kids, and Bree didn’t want to get caught in the wave of teens.

In the middle of the next block, the sandwich shop was trendy and casual.

“Have you been here before?” she asked.

“No. How’s the food?”

“Very good. I highly recommend the club sandwich. It’s roasted turkey breast, smoked ham with bacon and avocado. The roasted garlic mayonnaise is made in-house and is delicious.”

“You find a table and I’ll order our food,” Austin suggested.

Bree found one near a large window facing the street. She hadn’t expected to see him quite so soon. They would’ve run into each other at some point, she knew. This was perfect as she had been thinking of him earlier.

Austin walked up with two trays laden with sandwiches, potato chips, pickles and drinks.

Bree blessed the food.

“Jordin tells me that you have a little boy.” He bit into his sandwich.

“I do,” she exclaimed with intense pleasure. “He’s my whole world.” If Austin hadn’t mentioned it, she would’ve told him about Emery. It’s one of the first things she usually told men who seemed interested in her. It helped to eliminate the ones who were simply looking for a good time.

“That’s cool.”

“Do you have any children?” Bree inquired as she studied his profile.

It took a moment for him to respond. She wasn’t sure he’d heard her. Bree opened her mouth to repeat the question.

“No,” Austin interjected. “But I’m looking forward to having a child one day.” He wanted to bring up the subject of Emery, but didn’t want to make her suspicious as to why he’d be so interested in her son, especially since they’d just met.

“I think being a parent is probably my best achievement. My late husband and I really wanted children.” She took a sip of her drink. “He would’ve loved Emery.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

Bree smiled. “Thank you, Austin. There was a time when it was hard for me to think about Caleb, but it’s gotten easier. We had a lot of good times together.”

“I can’t imagine going through something like that.” Austin took another sip of his water when she moistened the top of her lip with the tip of her tongue. “I know my family would rally around me,” he said, shifting slightly in his chair.