My dark brown irises remained heavily locked with Austin's icy blue ones as I continued to walk towards the VIP section.
The high intensity between us was like a wild burning fire, desperately begging to be put out.
My heart slammed loudly against my chest in unison with my heels each time they connected with the floor.
Why was he staring at me like that? I haven't done anything to him.
He probably just doesn't like you Lena, Have you thought of that one?
As I inched closer and closer to the rowdy group, Austin suddenly broke the line of sight and turned his full attention to Smitty who was talking to him on his right hand side.
He placed his forearms on his knees and leaned forward, his form now relaxed as if nothing had just happened between us.
Maybe because nothing did happen between you Lena. There goes that wild imagination of yours.
"Lena come sit! Where's your drink?" Vanessa yelled over the vibrating speakers of the club, diverting my attention away from Austin.
"Oh Chris is getting me something from the bar." I grinned at her.
"Chris huh? I noticed him eyeing you up since you got here. He's a cutie." Natalie pipped in, with raised brows and an almost fake smile on her face.
I hadn't had much interaction with her since I had arrived but she seemed somewhat friendly. Despite my first impression and what Adam had to say about her, I was still willing to get to know her.
I didn't like when people judged me without getting to know me so I didn't like doing that to others. But I couldn't help but feel like there was something about her that just rubbed me the wrong way.
"Uh- yeah he's pretty cute I guess." I shrugged, not sure what else to say.
"You should totally talk to him!" Natalie went on as she crossed her legs and took a sip of her Paloma cocktail.
"Oh Nat, leave her alone! She literally just got here and you're trying to set her up with one of our own." Vanessa scolded.
"I'm just saying she should go for it." Natalie rolled her eyes. "And there's nothing wrong with getting with one of our own." She said mischievously before she got up from her seat and walked over to the vacant seat on Austin's left.
I watched as she sank down, ran her fingers through her long hair and placed her hand on his arm as she leaned in to speak to him.
He pulled the cigarette from his ear and placed it between his full pink lips, bringing his lighter up and sparking it lit. He inhaled deeply and quickly blew out a cloud of smoke, nodding his head up and down as he listened intently to what she was saying into his ear.
I felt a sudden pang in my chest as I watched them interact in front of me.
His eyes quickly found mine as he took another pull, catching me red handed as I was staring at them.
The look in his eyes changed from serious to... Amused?
I couldn't put my finger on it but I swear the smallest of smirks faintly formed on his face.
Fuck Lena look away for God's sake
I looked down to floor and tried my best to shake off what ever strange feeling I had building up inside of me.
"Ignore her, she's something else." Vanessa chuckled. "So are you even single?" She asked curiously.
"Yeah I've been single for like a year now." I replied, trying my best to shut out any memories from my past relationship from seeping into my mind.
"So you're telling me a pretty girl like you is from LA, you don't have a man and you aren't a model?!" She exclaimed. "I don't believe you Lena." She laughed before she took a long sip from her long island iced tea.
"Vanessa stop, you're literally too kind." I shook my head. "Thanks for being so nice and welcoming towards me, it's tough relocating with pretty much all new people except for Adam."
"Of course girl, I'm here for you. It's nice having another woman around here that's not completely full of herself." She laughed and shot her eyes in the direction of Natalie, who was desperately laughing at one of Austin's jokes.
"Are they-" I began to ask as I mentally slapped myself for the words slipping out of my mouth.
Again Lena.
Why. Do. You. Care.
I squeezed my eyes, hoping Vanessa didn't think I was even remotely interested in the man who was only a few feet away from us.
"Oh god no. In her freaking dreams that is. She won't admit it but she definitely has a thing for him and he doesn't see her in that way. At all." Vanessa shook her head. "Why? Do you think he's cute?" Her eyes widened with intrigue.
"What? No. I was just asking." I mumbled as I lied through my teeth.
Of course I liked Vanessa and even saw myself eventually confiding in her but letting it slip that my famous rockstar boss was attractive was not something I was ready for.
"Again, I don't believe you!" She giggled as she nudged my shoulder with hers. "Chris isn't the only one who's been staring at you." She took a sip from her glass. "I swear Austin has too." She said as she bit at her straw.
"No, I don't think so. He's been kind of stand offish towards me if anything." I shrugged, trying not to let that fact that it bothered me, translate onto my face.
"Stand offish? Really? That's odd. Austin's the sweetest guy ever!" She looked at me with the same confused look Adam had given me earlier.
"Yeah so I keep hearing." I chuckled softly.
"Hey Lena, here's your drink." I heard Chris's voice from behind me.
"Oh thanks Chris." I gave him a warm smile as he admired me with his chocolate brown eyes before turning to socialize with the group.
"So Lena, how did you like your first concert of Austin's?" Jay asked me as he popped open a new Bud Light.
"Get out, you've never see him live before?" Smitty exclaimed with surprise as if I was absolutely insane for never seeing the infamous Post Malone perform in person.
I felt Austin's eyes retract back towards me as he stared curiously. He took a sip of a his whisky and looked as if he was waiting patiently for my response.
"Seen him live? She only knows like two of his songs!" Adam snickered as he openly teased me.
"Shut up Adam." I couldn't help but roll my eyes in his direction and lightly slap his arm. "It was amazing, I really enjoyed it."
"You were really incredible." I said shyly as I met Austin's gaze. I swear I saw a hint of pink take over his cheeks as he quickly looked down to his glass.
"Thank you." He replied shortly, suddenly avoiding my eyes at all costs. His voice was dry and emotionless and I was thankful as the group's conversation quickly changed it's focus elsewhere.
I sank further into my seat as I couldn't help but think what was going on in that mind of his.
*****
The bus ride to Seattle was rather short and uneventful. Jay, Chris and Austin slept on the twins beds out in the common area as Jay had kindly offered me the only single bedroom on the tour bus.
When we finally arrived to our next Air B and B in the city of Seattle, it was close to mid afternoon and though I had slept nearly the entire time on the bus, I still somehow felt surrounded by a cloud of exhaustion.
I heard the group making plans for dinner, as we carried our baggage inside but the last thing I wanted to do was to leave the house. Especially when we had just gotten there.
I took a long hot shower and changed into clean clothes from my suitcase. Just as I was sitting on the bed, brushing my hair, I heard a quiet knock on my door just before Adam poked his head in through the door.
"Hey Lee. Are you sure you don't wanna come? We're going to this crazy hibachi place downtown." Adam said as leaned against the doorway.
"I think I'm gonna sit this one out. My head kind of hurts and I don't really feel like going out in public right now." I wrinkled my nose as he chuckled at me. "I'll probably order Postmates or something for dinner."
"Always a homebody." Adam shook his head. "Well I don't think Austin is going either so you guys should definitely order something to eat."
My heart dropped as I heard I was going to be alone in the house with Austin, even if it was for a short period of time. But I nodded my head towards Adam and forced a smile.
"Will do. See you later."
He closed the door behind himself and I threw myself back onto the bed.
This was going to be just great.
*****
The house felt eerie and even vacant as the team's usually loud ruckus was reduced to nothing but deafening silence with their absence.
I hadn't even heard a single noise from Austin and I assumed he had been locked in his room since everyone had left for the night.
I put my hair into a messy bun with the exception of a few loose pieces framing my face. I then made my way to the kitchen in my matching two piece pajama shorts and top.
I rustled through the grocery bags on the table looking for a quick snack as I felt my stomach rumbling. I hadn't ordered dinner yet but I wasn't sure what I was in the mood for so I settled on my guilty pleasure of salt and vinegar chips that I had picked up from a gas station on one of our pit stops.
I sat on the top of the island and scrolled through my phone, texting back and forth with Sofia as I heard Austin's bedroom door open.
I looked up and placed my phone down onto the counter. As he entered the room, his eyes glazed over me before he tore his gaze away and walked past me to retrieve a Bud Light from the fridge.
"Oh can you get me one?" I spoke up, wondering if he was going to make any sort of conversation with me.
He simply took two cans out of the refrigerator, closed the door and placed one on the island next to my leg. He began to walk back to his bedroom without a single word leaving his lips.
A sudden anger was rising in me and I felt myself getting red with nerves.
This was my chance. No one else was around to hear the conversation I was about to make him have with me.
"Austin what is your problem with me?" I finally exclaimed, as I couldn't take it any more.
I couldn't bear to keep it in any longer and I had to know what his deal was.
He turned around sharply as if he couldn't believe the words coming out of my mouth.
"What?" He said with a harsh tone.
"You heard me." I said through gritted teeth. I wasn't going to sit back and let him act this way any longer.
"What are you talking about?" Austin scoffed, cocking his eyebrow slightly.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You barely speak to me, unless it's work related, you act like I don't even exist sometimes. Like I'm not just as your employee as every one else here!" I fired back, unable to hold it in as I let out how I truly felt.
Austin clenched his jaw and exhaled sharply, almost avoiding eye contact with me.
But I wasn't going to let him walk away from me without answers.
"You treat me differently than anyone else that works for you."
I sighed with an exhausted tone. I almost regretted sounding pitiful and pathetic but I honestly didn't care anymore.
Besides hating the fact that he always ignored my existence, I hated even more that it bothered me.
Austin took a few steps forward, slowly and carefully. He moved smoothly through the room until he reached where I was sitting on top of the kitchen island. My heart raced faster and faster with each step he took.
He was closer than he had ever been before. Too close.
I could feel his breath on my face and I felt my own breathing become labored, afraid of what was about to happen next.
His usual glare softened slightly yet his face remained unreadable.
He placed both hands on the counter on either side, trapping me in between his arms. I felt the heat radiating from his body and his eyes studied mine carefully.
He then looked down to my lips which were slightly pouted from yelling at him. His eyes quickly dropped to the outline of my cleavage, his stare lingering much longer than usual.
He dragged his gaze back up to my face and slowly blinked as he moved his hand up, gently brushing away the loose piece of hair that framed my face.
My breath quivered as I felt his tattooed fingers just barely graze the side of my face.
This was the first time he had ever touched me besides from shaking my hand when we first met.
And to say I felt fireworks exploding in my heart was a complete understatement.
He brought his hand back down to the counter, trapping me once again.
He leaned his face closer and closer to mine while I hoped my hammering heartbeat wasn't loud enough for him to hear. I didn't want him to know to effect he had on me. Not yet at least.
That's if he didn't already have a clue.
He was close enough to my body to make me shiver yet I felt like I couldn't move. My knees pressed against his abdomen as he ran out out space from leaning in towards me.
"I'm not attracted to anyone else that works for me."
He almost whispered, his raspy voice making me freeze as he spoke.
And with that, he pushed himself away from the counter and turned away from me. I watched as he walked out from the kitchen towards the door leading to the patio, pulling his pack of camels from his back pocket.