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I giggle "Well, thank you"

"My pleasure"

He casually places his hand on h the slush on the ground My pumps may be cute, but they’re noton my ass for the second ti er"

"Sorry," I"I’m not usually this clus to the red heels "Hot"

He’s still holding ainst his chest I catch my breath His body is solid and firh our layers of winter clothing

Matt was rangy, tall and thin I used to joke that s around hiht, but Austin…?

Austin would pina sweat

I pull away, certain ain, and look around I hope we’re close; another couple of blocks falling into Austin’s ar, and I won’t need a drink to be light-headed and dizzy

"There it is!" I announce, spotting the big old sign "Just ahead"

"Marie’s Crisis…" Austin reads, looking puzzled "What kind of name is that for a bar?"

"No idea" I walk hurriedly to the stairs that lead below street level to the front door "Let’s go find out"

As soon as I push open the front door, I’ I step inside to find a small, di the back wall, a piano toto "Hey, Dolly!" by Barbara Streisand

I love it

Austin enters behindhis hands onin to ainst ay bar? Because trust "

As if to prove his point, he tugs ainst the front of his body

All his body

"No!" I yelp, spinning around "I didn’t think… I mean, I know you’re not…" I stop, embarrassed "I just read about it, it sounded like fun Soht" Austin’s mouth creases in a like I’ll need a drink myself"

He takes my hand and leads me around the crowd to the bar "Whiskey, neat," he tells the bartender, then turns to roans "What are you, fifteen? Order a real drink, sweetheart"