Chapter 23: Affection Of a Cowboy

...Summer POV...

I feel my heart pressing up against my ribcage as I know that Austin is only a few feet away hiding inside the toilet stall and Raymond is standing right in front of me. What is it with men walking into the ladies' bathroom without knocking?

"What do you mean, what's going on? I'm just splashing some cold water on my face"

"Are you lying to me? I saw a man walking in here"

He walks closer to me. "Why would I lie to you?"

"Well, Summer, you seem to be the kind of girl that wants to break the rules. I told you that we needed to be seen together for your mother to like me but you just can't keep your eyes off another man while you're sitting with me? You think I didn't see you staring?"

"I…I…wasn't staring at another man…I was just admiring the beautiful decor"

He walks even closer and I feel the familiar feeling of fear controlling me. I need to get out of here. I understand now why my parents like him so much. They're all the same.

"I think you're lying, Summer. Why don't you just tell me the truth"

I want to scream and shout for Austin to help me but I don't him to get involved. He moves even closer to me. I want to get away but he pins me up against the bathroom wall. Then I hear the toilet stall door slamming open and I know, Austin is furious.

AUSTIN POV

The moment I heard that voice, I knew there's going to be nothing but trouble. Why I should be hiding in here just because Mr. Important cannot read, pisses me off even more than the fact that he's in here in the first place. Who does this fool think he is? Summer can do as she pleases, he must damn well mind his own business. But I respect her, and if she wants me to hide, then that's what I will do.

So I'm patiently waiting for him to get his ugly face out of here when I hear he starts to raise his voice. At first, I'm not concerned, for it's still at a respectable level. But the more she protests and tries to stand up for herself, the more the man seems to become more agitated.

Then I hear a loud thud and Summer's breathing increases at a frantic pace. As I fling the door of the cubicle open, there the goddamn asshole has her pressed up against the wall. It only takes one giant step and I'm in his face. I smash my hand into his chest as I pull him by his shirt off of her. At first, there's a terror on his face, but then it turns to amusement.

"Oh look the cowboy has come to safe the day. Are you going to slap me around the way you slapped Tyler?"

"Oh, I'm not slapping you, you piece of shit. I'm fucking killing you."

I throw his body back into the wall, then I grab him by the hair and slam his face into the wall...one...two...three times more.

"You're a piece of scum, I should go rub your face in that pig shit on my ranch."

"You're going to pay for this."

"What are you going to do? Pin me to a wall?"

Then I spin him around and punch him square on the nose, he tries to launch his fist to my face, but I serve to right. But then he loses his balance and stumbles forward. I kick him on the ass straight into one of the cubicles.

"Ya...that's where you belong."

With one...two...three steps closer, I leap forward and ram my knuckles into his jaw. One uppercut and he finds himself slumped over the toilet. I rip him off the floor and throw him into the basin. He crashes headfirst and knocks one of his crooked teeth out.

But as I want to kick him in the gut, I feel the gentlest touch on my arm.

"Austin…don't"

SUMMER POV

I watch him turning around looking at me with his wild eyes and then it grows into the gentlest man I've ever met.

"Summer sorry…I just could not stand the way he was talking…treating you. I heard him pushing you against the wall and I just lost it. Summer, I am sorry…"

"Thank you for doing that, Austin"

I feel heavy tears threatening behind my eyes and I know the waterfall is about to begin. I try to hide my face from him but it's like he knows what's going to happen. Suddenly I feel his strong protective arms surrounding me completely making me feel safe again. I lean my head against his perfect chest and I hear his strong solid heartbeat, assuring me that he won't let anyone harm me. This just makes the following words even more difficult to say.

"You have to go now. I need to deal with him myself"

"Summer, you can't keep cleaning up their messes. Let me be here for you. Let me do it. Stop thinking you don't need anybody because you do"

"Austin, you don't understand the dynamics of our family. It's just, complicated…you won't understand"

I feel him pulling a little bit away from me still holding his hands on my waist. He bends down and looks deep into my eyes making sure I understand what he wants to say to me.

"I know all about complicated. Just let me in for a brief moment. That's all I ask of you. Tell me what can I do?"

I feel like screaming out to him the truth and opening my heart completely to him but I don't want to scare him away before I've even got to know him. He's already seen what my brother did and now, this with Raymond. I can't believe that this wonderful man standing before me hasn't run away yet.

"Austin, it's not so easy. It's not something I can just tell you. But I do need you more than you know…oh god…I didn't mean to say that"

I feel a rush of blood running up towards my face and I know that my cheeks are redder than the reddest rose you can find. I can't seem to control my words when I'm around him and I know that deep inside me, I don't want to control my words or my actions.

He then touches my face with the back of his hand and softly caresses my cheek.

"Promise me when you are ready that I'll be the first person you come to. I will not push you to do something that you're not comfortable with. I respect you and your feelings. I think I have fallen even deeper than I thought"

I hear the words that he says but my heart can't believe it. Did he just say that he's fallen for me? I don't think I would believe it even if he told me straight to my face that he has feelings for me. How can it be that a perfect man like him would even consider spending his time with me?

Then I see Raymond moving and moaning as he gets up from the floor. He makes sure that he's not close to Austin when he gets up. It's clear to me that he's very much afraid of Austin. But then he stops just as he's about to leave the room and he gives me the stare that looks just like the look my dad likes to give. This look speaks more than any words. I know that I'll pay for this in one way or the other. He slams the door open and then walks back to the table.

I take a deep breath and then watch Austin standing in front of me just staring at me. His eyes are filled with concern and I know he doesn't want to leave my side. But I need to go and assess the damage that was done. I know that my mother wouldn't leave me alone if I don't end up going with Raymond to the party. Only a few more days to go of obligation and then I'm free to be me again.

I take his hand in mine and I feel him caressing my hand with his thumb.

"I need to go now. I promise to come to you when I'm ready to let someone in"

I walk away from him and I feel him trying to hold on to me but he knows he can't keep me here against my will. If there's one thing I do know about Austin Pierce, he won't mistreat me in any way.

I open the door and walk back to my table only to find that Raymond has left the restaurant. He was also very gracious in leaving me with the bill and a note. The note reads:

"You better be at your best behavior the next time I see you or I'll let your mother know how badly you treated me tonight…"

"Oh please!"

I didn't realize I said that aloud and the entire room looks at me. I give them my famous fake smile and sit back down. When everyone minded their own business again. I put my hands on my face and think.

"There might be hell to pay when I get back home…"