A Case of Extreme Mistaken Identity - Victorine E. Lieske Page 0,46

are kids that way?”

He let the question hang in the air. He had no answers. “They didn’t react like I thought they would when they saw my jersey. Instead of getting excited, they said it was tainted since I had worn it. They said I had ruined it, and it was now worthless.”

Dani gasped. “They didn’t.”

“Yes, they did. And then they took my jersey and ripped it and tossed it in the mud.”

“Oh, Austin.” She placed her head on his chest and hugged him close. “That breaks my heart.”

“I was so upset, I couldn’t speak. I hid that jersey under my bed and wouldn’t tell my mother why I was crying. She found it the next day.” A wave of emotion choked him and he paused, unable to speak for a moment. “Watching her cry after she found out what happened was probably the worst thing I’ve had to endure in my life.”

Dani blinked back tears. She placed her hands on the sides of his face. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”

“I blamed everything that happened on my stutter. If only I didn’t have that problem, those kids wouldn’t have made my mother cry. I hated myself for it.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know that now. But back then, I didn’t. I was so ashamed. And, if I’m being honest, a part of me still carries that shame from so long ago.”

Dani wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer and swaying to the music. The song had changed, but he barely noticed. She stared up at him. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

A wave of emotion closed his throat. It was just like her to know exactly what to say in a moment like this. Her sweet nature was to try to heal his wounded soul. He stared down at her lips, which looked soft and warm. Energy coursed through him, and he desperately wanted to show her his true feelings. He was falling for Danica Jordan.

Every fiber in his being longed to be with her. To touch her. He couldn’t stop himself. He reached up and caressed the side of her face with his fingers. “I’ve wanted to say the same thing to you.”

She blinked and her lips parted a fraction of an inch. It kind of drove him crazy. All he could think about was how those lips would taste.

“What?” she said.

“Do you know how badly I want to kiss you right now?” The words sprang forth from him, and he was powerless to stop them. After they were out, he froze, waiting to see her reaction. His heart hammered so loud, he was sure she could hear it.

Time stretched as Dani stared at him. He held his breath, unable to say anything else. All he could do was wait to see what Dani would say.

Chapter 22

Dani’s breath hitched and she stared up at Austin. Had he said what she thought? He wanted to kiss her? And why did that thought send a thrill through her? She should be suspect of him. She didn’t know what his motives were. He’d lied to her. Several times, even. She shouldn’t be entertaining the thought of possibly allowing him to kiss her.

And yet, she found herself wondering what it would be like. What his lips would feel like against hers. Why did she suddenly want to find out? His words echoed in her head. Dani, do you know how badly I want to kiss you right now?

“Then maybe you should,” she said under her breath. Dear heavens, what was wrong with her? Had she really just said that? What was she doing? Maybe the sway of the ship was getting to her, making her dizzy and not thinking clearly. That had to be it.

He leaned in closer, the smell of his cologne making her heart pound and her knees feel weak. “What did you say?” His breath tickled her cheek.

Oh no. He was going to make her say it again? She would rather die than admit she’d been so flirty. She looked up at him, ready to deny any such comment had come out of her mouth, when the urge to ignore all sensibility swept over her and she repeated it, louder. “Maybe you should.”

Austin must have heard that time, because he cupped her cheek, threaded his fingers behind her neck, and tilted her head up to capture her lips. The kiss seemed to happen in