Chapter 3: Thought You'd Never Ask

Trouble in paradise? Just a few months after Amanda Marks gives birth, Austin King, the supposed father of her baby, is spotted at the People's Choice Awards with none other than Bren O'Neil. This is the second time they've been seen together at a major event and a photo popped up of the two kissing outside Bren's condo. Looks like Austin's moved on, but the question is, has Amanda?

"Mmm," Bren purred as she stroked Austin's chest. He wasn't sure why he was there with her... again, but she was there and willing, so there he was. "Please tell me you're not leaving anytime soon."

"We're around for a while."

"Too bad I've got to head for Europe in a few weeks, but that's not what I meant. Are you staying over?"

Austin closed his eyes and wondered how best to bring this up. He felt like such a dick every time he did. "Bren, you know this isn't going anywhere, right?"

"I know that, silly. I just know this is a good thing we've got going on, and I don't want to give that up if I don't have to."

Austin wasn't sure she really believed what she was saying since he didn't even believe it. He usually didn't get involved with women more than once, and he sure as hell didn't sleep with women who were barely out of high school. The thing with Bren had only happened because it pissed his old man off. His dad had asked him to escort Bren to an event with the strict instructions not to touch her or mess anything up. Of course, Bren had other ideas, and with Austin always willing to stick it to the douche, he let the young woman "seduce" him. When he realized how mad it made the old man, he decided to keep Bren around. He wasn't an asshole, so he made sure to explain it all up front, and she'd been on board with it. Only now he was wondering if she were starting to think there was more to it.

"Can't stay tonight," he said as he rolled and hovered over her. "I'll make it up to you, though."

"Be my plus one for the fundraiser next week?" she asked. "Those things can be a drag. At least with you in tow, it won't be so bad. We can find a way to make it interesting."

Austin wondered if America knew just how wild their young and impressionable Bren was. He was shocked at how far she was willing to go, but he wasn't totally surprised. It happened a lot more than he realized. Hell, it happened with him. You got stuck with a certain image, and you had to stick with it or risk what it might do to your career. He was known as a bad boy. He didn't do anything to make people think otherwise, but he wasn't as bad off as the press made him seem. Sometimes he played his role full on just because he needed the outlet, though, needed the excuse to rage. Bren had been around the scene for a while already, even at her age, and she was wise beyond her eighteen years. She'd been on her own for many of those having emancipated herself from her parents several years ago when she found out they were stealing money from her. Maybe that's why Austin felt a connection with her. They both had daddy issues.

"Come on," she cajoled, "it's this and then I've gotta head off for Europe. Send me off with a bang."

Austin laughed. "In more ways than one, huh?"

"Too bad you aren't touring in Europe while I'm there."

"Yeah... too bad," he said but realized he'd dodged the bullet. It as probably a good thing she was leaving. It didn't matter how much it ticked his dad off, he didn't want to get her feelings any more involved. He wasn't an asshole. It was time to call it quits.

The next weekend, Austin was still trying to figure out how to break it to Bren that they should end things. He knew she was in too deep, and hated that he put her in that position in the first place. Tonight he was going to deal with it.

The driver he had hired pulled up to her door right on time, and he was impressed. Austin was always late. It didn't matter how early he left or what route he took. L.A. traffic always did him in, and he was forever getting shit for it. He made his way up to Bren's condo and when she opened the door, lord have mercy, he was done for. He kept thinking he needed to be strong, but his dick wasn't getting that memo.

"What do you think?" she asked.

"Let me scrape my jaw off the ground. Damn, is that dress legal?"

She twirled and he swore he caught a glimpse of her bare ass cheek. The black dress was slit on one side all the way up to the top of her thigh, and the skirt was all see through. The strapless top gave him plenty of skin to caress and run his hands over until he could get her out of the eyes of others. With a dress that like, she was tempting him. She was telling him to forget whatever he thought was right and take what she was offering right then.

Her smile lit up her face. "Austin King, you're good for my self-esteem."

"With a dress like that, I'd say you don't have any issues, it's more like I'm stroking your ego."

"I'll stroke your ego if you keep it up."

He waited as she locked up and then rested a hand on the small of her back as they walked to the elevator. At 6'3" Austin knew he was taller than average, but she was a tiny thing. Even with the sky-high heels she wore, she only came up to the top of his chest. The driver was waiting as they exited the building along with a few photographers trying to grab a shot. No doubt something would end up in the tabloids tomorrow, he just hoped it wasn't because she flashed her crotch like Brittany Spears did. If she came off without the crotch shot, he was sure it'd be something about how he corrupted the sweet and innocent Bren. If those were the two options, bring it on.

The ride to the venue was quiet. Austin was trying to decide when it'd be best to bring everything up with Bren. It didn't help that the whole paternity mess was filling his brain. He'd taken that test, and they were waiting for the results. In the meantime, he'd tried to see Amanda and Finn, but she'd been busy and hadn't responded to his calls or texts. For a woman who'd named him as the father, she sure was making it hard.

When they arrived at the swanky venue for the event, photographers lined the red carpet that they'd set up for the attendees to walk. Austin exited the car first and reached a hand in for Bren. He kept an eye out hoping she wouldn't flash the world. He could breathe easier when she made it out of the car with her legs together, and her crotch covered. He needed another PR nightmare like he needed another hole in the head.

Austin didn't give a crap about the questions that were being yelled out as they passed. He and Bren had decided long ago it was best if they just ignored all of them. It would fuel rumors, but it wouldn't really answer any questions. It worked for him and his arrangement. They paused from time to time to pose for a picture, and it wasn't until he heard, "So Bren, how do you feel about Austin abandoning his child for you?" that he broke radio silence.

"What did you say?" he asked staring down the man who'd ask the ridiculous question.

"I asked Bren how she felt about being with a man who abandons his child."

"First the allegations that I've fathered a child are just that, and Amanda and I are in agreement about the arrangements thus far. Now you can take that question and shove it up your ass."

Austin heard the cameras clicking, but he just didn't give a fuck. He knew he would later when this whole scene was posted everywhere, but damn. They could take their stupid pictures and say what they wanted. He was obviously the bad guy in this situation, but whatever. Grabbing Bren's arm, he pulled her away from the media horde and down the carpet not bothering to stop for anyone else. He was fuming mad and needed to get out of that mess. He wasn't sure what was taking so long with those damn test results, but he was going to get to the bottom of it.

As if knowing it would rub salt in an open wound, the universe just happened to send Amanda around the corner at that moment. "Hey, Austin."

"Don't 'hey, Austin' me. I just came off looking like a deadbeat dad because of this whole mess with Finn. We need to get those results and put a stop to all this."

"Finnegan."

"What?"

"His name is Finnegan, not Finn. And don't blame me that they think you're a bad dad. It's not my fault they never see you around us."

"Because I'm not the father!" he hissed under his breath. "And it's not like I haven't tried."

"The results should come in later this week."

"I've never wanted to strangle someone as much as I want to strangle you. There's no way we slept together, conscious or not. I don't think I could have handled it."

"Screw you, Austin," she spat back at him.

"Apparently I already did."

She made a disgusted face, "Bren, if you know what's good for you, you'll ditch him now before this becomes your reality."

Austin could feel his blood starting to boil. He was so mad at everything surrounding the situation. He'd tried to leave Amanda out of his feelings, but as time went on, he was having trouble separating them.

"Come on, let's go find a drink," Bren said pulling him from his thoughts.

Austin skipped the trays of champagne around the room and made his way toward the bar. Ordering bourbon, he downed it and got a refill before leaving and heading toward the rest of the crowd again. He kept thinking that maybe if he had enough to drink, this whole mess wouldn't look so bad. Every glass he downed just made it look worse. He was here because Bren had wanted him to keep her entertained, and now he was in a funk he couldn't shake. Thankfully Bren was by his side making his surly attitude look at least decent with others, and after several drinks, he was at least starting to loosen up.

"Seeing how the night isn't getting any younger, are you ready to go?" she asked quietly as they were walking away from another couple.

"Thought you'd never ask."

"Do we need to call the driver?"

Austin shook his head. "Already did. He's out there when we're ready."

A small smile that appeared and it made her look so much younger. "Well then let's blow this popsicle stand."

Austin was sure of three things. One, the buzz he'd been working on the whole night was no longer just a buzz, he was flat out drunk, two, he wasn't sure he was walking straight anymore, but he didn't give a shit at this point in time, and three, all the frustration and aggravation caused a need for him to hit or fuck something. He needed that release, bad. Austin was still half aware that he needed to break things off with Bren, so he was really in a tight spot. He'd figure it out. He was just about to tell the driver to take him home when Bren's hand landed on his thigh and started to travel north. He hated that he was going to do it, but he had no willpower to tell her no. He was going to do exactly what Bren wanted and send her to Europe with a bang.

Sliding down in the seat a little brought his crotch into contact with her hand, and shit did it feel good. When she looked over at him, he thought maybe she'd pull her hand back, but instead, she bit her lip and brushed her hand over him. His dick twitched behind the zipper of his pants, and he groaned. She'd never touched him the couple times they'd been together. He'd always taken the lead and been happy to make sure she was well taken care of. He'd just moved on and they hadn't gone that direction.

That small smile came back before she said, "I've never touched one before."

The blood in his veins ran cold, "You're... you were... were you a virgin, Bren?"

She shook her head. "No, I've just never done this. Most of the time it's like it's been with us. Well, sort of."

"What do you mean?"

"Just that not everyone is as generous as you."

"Tell me what you want, Bren."

"Just you, the way it's always been. Maybe I could touch you, though."

"Fuck."

"That's the idea," she chuckled.