Page 59 of One Kind Hand

He leaned in closer and she did the same. “Perhaps your true form has been revealed by being with me.”

“Perhaps.” She opened her menu. “Or maybe you’ve got my head spinning so much I don’t rightly know who I am anymore.”

“Rest assured, your head is not the only one spinning.”

“Good.”

They studied their menus, both of them deciding the swordfish special did sound amazing. Peter returned with the stuffed mushrooms and took their orders.

“Isabel and I saw a TV show about this place,” Charlie said as she helped herself to a stuffed mushroom. “There’s a club below this restaurant, right?”

“Yup,” Austin said. “You mentioned yoga and dance. Does that mean you like to dance?” Because if he could hold her close as sexy, bass-heavy music pumped through state-of-the-art speakers, he was definitely interested in that activity. He thought back to that tango scene he’d seen on TV back at his suite when Charlie had been using his shower.

“I do like to dance.” She peeked up through long, dark eyelashes, her gaze lighting a match inside Austin. “Is dancing on the night’s agenda?”

“I had hoped so.” He literally crossed his fingers in his lap.

When Charlie’s foot slid up his leg and along the inside of his thigh under the table, he sucked in a breath.

“The question is can Austin Rayhill dance?”

“Guess we’ll find out.”

“Yes, we will.”

They dove into their meals, enjoying easy conversation and heated glances at each other. When they were nearly finished eating, a flash to the left of their table made them both look in that direction. A couple scurried off, having garnered their sneaky photograph.

Austin raised his arm to look at his wristwatch. “Surprised we made it that long without someone doing that.”

“Yeah, people have been pretty cool about leaving you alone over here.”

“Maybe there are bigger movie stars in here tonight.”

Charlie’s mouth twisted to one side then the other. “Bigger maybe, but not better.”

“You mean you wouldn’t drop me like a hot potato if Chad Zimmers made an appearance in here?”

She scoffed. “Chad Zimmers? C’mon. I do have some taste, you know.”

That reaction stroked his ego just right. “Not a fan of Chad’s?” He was a rival action-adventure actor whose path Austin had crossed now and again. The guy was a dick, especially when Austin was awarded parts that Chad had also been considered for.

Charlie scrunched up her nose and shook her head. “His movies are a fun ride, but they lack the storytelling that your movies have.” She met his gaze. “They also lack you.”

He put his hand to his heart. “It might be petty, but finding out you’re not a Chad fan makes me so happy. I like knowing you’re Team Austin.”

“All the way.” She held up her wine glass in salute then drained the rest of it.

Peter appeared at their table. “Everything to your liking tonight, folks?”

Charlie sat back and patted her stomach. “Too much to my liking.”

“The chef will be glad to hear it.” Peter picked up their empty plates. “Speaking of, Adrienne wishes to stop by. Is that acceptable?”

“Of course,” Austin said. “That will give us the chance to pile on the compliments.”

“Which is no doubt why she wants to stop by,” Peter joked. “I’ll let her know. Can I interest you in dessert?”

“I think we’re going to digest for a smidge then head downstairs first,” Austin said. “But we’d love to find a dessert menu on this table when we come back.”