Looking for Love (Boxed set) (25 page)

She would never have a relationship with Austin, because they were not only lying to his parents, but she was lying to him. Besides, Austin had made it perfectly clear he wanted her only for this charade. She'd better remember it, too, and not let herself get caught up in some happily-ever-after fantasy.

Several of the neighbors and family members shared silly stories about Austin's childhood, and Kimberly laughed, touched by the tenderness and affectionate bond between Austin and them. A glass of champagne was thrust into her hand and someone handed her a plate of hors d'oeuvres. The line of visitors seemed endless. Austin's gaze met hers occasionally over the crowd and a spark of awareness simmered between them, heating up the air around her.

"I can't believe it, man." A blond man slapped Austin on the back. "We're both giving up our bachelorhood."

"Josh!" Austin pounded the guy's back. "Never thought we'd let ourselves get hooked, did we?"

"I'm glad for you, man. I was afraid—"

"Hey, things worked out perfectly," Austin said, cutting off Josh.

Kimberly frowned. Austin had tensed at Josh’s comment. If he really was a confirmed bachelor, why didn't he tell everyone that instead of carrying on this ridiculous act? Certainly he could fend a few questions from his mother.

A slender blonde with copper eyes gave Austin a hug.

"Hi, Marilyn. It's good to see you," Austin said, kissing her cheek.

An uncomfortable silence descended in the room as some of the family members watched the exchange.

"I'm glad you came, Austin. I was worried."

The woman's cat-like purr irritated Kimberly. And the way she clung to Austin's arm made it obvious they shared a past.

"We're both glad you made it," Josh said, draping an arm around Marilyn.

Marilyn dropped the cream puff she'd just bitten into on her plate. Kimberly compared her curvaceous hips with this woman's slender build. Marilyn could probably swim in cream puffs and never gain an ounce. It wasn't fair.

"Now, where's the woman who finally convinced you to settle down?" Josh said with a wide grin.

Austin held out his hand and Kimberly stepped forward, feeling plain and underdressed next to Marilyn.

And awkward as all get out.

"This is Kimberly, my fiancée." He wrapped his arm possessively around her waist.

Kimberly's mouth felt dry, but she forced a friendly smile, grateful the other visitors and family members returned to their own conversations.

Josh shook her hand, then gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Pleased to meet you, Kimberly. When's the wedding?"

Kimberly sipped the champagne to wash the lump from her throat, and Austin's arm tightened around her shoulders.

"We haven't set the date yet," Austin said. "As a matter of fact, Kimberly just accepted my proposal."

Josh's thick eyebrows arched and Marilyn flashed sparkling white teeth. "She just accepted?"

"Yes," Austin said, his air of confidence surprising Kimberly. "I've been chasing and asking for weeks, but, well, you know women." He gave Josh a conspiratorial wink. "They like to take their time, make us guys suffer while we wait."

Josh roared with laughter as if they shared a private joke, then pulled him aside.

Kimberly gritted her teeth at his joke. After all, they weren't really engaged and he was paying her for this charade. But if they really were engaged, she would never let him get away with a sexist remark like that.

Lord, get me through this
.
And I will never ever switch places with Marci again. From now on, it's Kimberly all the way. Marci can get herself out of her own messes.

"Kimberly, dear, how did you and my son meet?" Mrs. McDane tucked her curly brown hair behind one ear, a thin gold chain sparkling on her arm.

Kimberly sipped more of the bubbly champagne, coughing as it burned a path down her throat. That along with the lies. She and Austin should have come up with a story.

Why hadn't they planned it better?

"Um, we met through my sister," she said.
At least that much was true.

Suddenly Austin slid up behind her and curved his arm around her waist again. "How's it going, darlin'?"

Kimberly forced a smile, trying to imitate her sister's lighthearted demeanor. "Your mother wanted to know how we met."

"At a restaurant in Atlanta," Austin answered quickly. Kimberly froze, wondering if Mrs. McDane caught the awkward moment.

"Really?" Mrs. McDane asked, her eyes narrowed. "She said her sister introduced you."

Austin paused briefly, the only indication he'd noticed the slip. "Oh, she did. Her sister works at the restaurant."

Kimberly gulped.

Thankfully the tinkle of silver spoons against long-stemmed crystal glasses quieted the conversation and saved them from more questions.

"Since I'm Austin's best friend," Josh said, raising his glass, "I want to propose a toast." Marilyn stood beside him, her brilliant smile directed at Austin.

"To my best friend," Josh said. "And to his bride-to-be. May you be as happy as Marilyn and I are."

The crowd echoed the sentiment. A strange, dangerously heated expression covered Austin's face as he tossed back his champagne and stared into Kimberly's eyes.

"You don’t have to worry about that," Austin said, caressing her fingers with his.

Then he pulled her into his arms, tipped her head back and whispered in her ear, "I've been dying to do this all night."

Without waiting for a response, he pressed his mouth to hers in a kiss so wild and hungry, yet so tender she almost believed that the sizzling heat between them was real.

But she couldn't think that way. It wasn't real. It was just an act.

Guilt clouded her desire, and a dull ache rolled through her chest as he pulled away. These people had opened their hearts and their homes and welcomed her with love.

We love her already,
his mother had said.

But what would they say if they knew the truth? That their son was lying to them? That she was nobody special to him at all?

Chapter 3

A few minutes later, Kimberly stumbled up the stairs, Austin's hand cradling her elbow for support. Her legs wobbled and she pressed her lips together, the imprint of Austin's mouth still fresh on hers.

She had never been kissed like that before.

Not so the floor seemed to move beneath her feet. Not so the ceiling spun in circles, dazzling her with soft, muted shades of sparkling light.

Not so she'd wanted to jump the guy's bones right in front of his parents.

Austin probably hadn't felt a thing.

Well, maybe he'd felt something—men couldn't exactly control their physical reactions, but his insides probably weren't quaking and his mind a jumbled mess like hers.

"Mom said you should stay in my old room," Austin said when they made it to the end of the hall.

Kimberly turned to face him, anxiety knotting her shoulders. "I can't do that."

"Look, Kimberly, I'm tired and so are you." Austin ran a hand through his hair again, once more spiking the ends sideways. He looked so adorable, Kimberly barely resisted the urge to stroke the errant strands down over his forehead.

"But where will you sleep?"

"In the guest room. Mom insists that you have my room because it's bigger." He gave her a teasing look. "That is, unless you want us to share?"

"I don’t think your parents would appreciate that." Kimberly glanced nervously toward the door. The thought of sleeping in the bed Austin had once slept in unnerved her. But the thought of sharing a room with him made her chest flutter with want. A want she couldn’t satisfy. "I'll take the guest room."

Austin frowned. "I'm not going to argue about this. Mom will think I've forgotten my manners if you don't take my room. And I'd just as soon not make waves with her."

Kimberly bit her tongue as she studied his face. She still wasn't sure why an independent, intelligent man needed to pretend he was engaged. Why didn't he just tell his parents the truth? Why had he brought her along?

He pushed open the door and nudged her inside. Kimberly instantly caught sight of baseball trophies, a globe on a polished oak desk, and a model airplane dangling in the corner. A Fleetwood Mac poster and a concert photo of the Rolling Stones hung side by side on the wall, and a blue plaid comforter covered a massive oak bed. "It's lovely."

"Mom hasn't changed it since I was a teenager. She said she's keeping it for her grandchildren." He grinned as if embarrassed by his mother's sentimentality, then his gaze rested on a group of framed family snapshots on the wall, and he automatically looked away and cleared his throat. "I'd better let you get to bed."

"Okay." Kimberly was mesmerized by his solemn expression, the fine line of stubble darkening his chin, and the creases below his eyes. "You look beat, too, Austin."

"It's been a long day," Austin agreed, heat simmering in his eyes.

Kimberly nodded, the urge to yank him to her for another one of his mind-boggling kisses almost overwhelming.

"Uh, Kimberly, we share the bathroom between the rooms." Austin hesitated, staring silently at her mouth for several long, tense seconds. A sliver of desire warmed her insides.

Then he grinned, that quirky smile that made her want to melt like hot fudge, lowered his head and traced a finger along her arm. "You may want to lock the door when you shower, darlin'." He whispered the words against her cheek, brushed her lips quickly with his, then smiled and closed the door.

Kimberly touched her fingers to her mouth. A thousand wonderful sensations tingled inside her, sending alarm bells chiming in her head.

Why was she reacting so strongly to Austin? If she wasn't careful, she'd completely overdo the fiancée act and make a fool of herself by falling for him.

She quickly found her overnight bag, stripped her clothes, and donned a sleepshirt. After scrubbing her teeth and face, she climbed into the oak bed, her body aching from exhaustion, her mind wide awake from craving another kiss like the one she'd shared earlier with Austin.

Had the kiss been only a show for his family? If so, what would happen if Austin's passion were real and he unleashed it?

Hugging his cuddly old teddy bear to her chest, she sank lower under the covers, trying to erase the images from her mind by focusing on her plans for the center back home. The problems, the bills, the renovations... but the faint scent of Austin's cologne permeated the room and the sensation of Austin's touch remained with her. And his family—they were the kind she'd always wanted.

Except she didn't feel at all sisterly toward Austin.

Ridiculous for her to feel a part of a family. She was a fake.

It was just too bad this wonderful family came with a sexy bachelor who had already stated that he wanted a pretend fiancée—not a real one. The very reason he'd asked Marci—she was the
unattachable
type. The trouble was—she was Kimberly and Kimberly was very much the
attachable
type.

The shower kicked on, and she imagined Austin standing stark naked, his dark skin glistening under the warm pelting spray of the water, his muscled body hard, his sex jutting out thick and long...

She punched the pillow and jumped from the bed to pace the room, totally disgusted with herself. Her fingers absent-mindedly slid around the engagement ring, and she twisted it in circles as she paced. What was wrong with her? She never had thoughts like that.

She had to stay focused. She had agreed to this arrangement to earn money for the center. Lately she'd been so dedicated to her work, she'd forgotten what it was like to be with a man.

When this weekend was over, she’d get out more, accept an occasional date. There was that guy, Benny—no, he'd lost three jobs in the last two months. Ralph—no, he'd already been married two times, not a good sign. Tom—he was quiet, but he was a counselor who worked hard with the kids. And he
had
asked her out for coffee a couple of times. Sure, there hadn't been any sexual attraction, but maybe it would come.

Her resolve firm, she studied the framed photographs on the wall. There were baseball and basketball shots, then a picture of a doll house he'd obviously built for his sister. The two of them were standing beside it, Austin's arm draped affectionately around Rebecca. A lump formed in Kimberly's throat, but she swallowed and pushed away the melancholy, studying the other photos.

A candid shot of Josh and Marilyn and Austin caught her eye. Marilyn stood in the middle with both guys' arms slung around her shoulder. They looked as if they were the best of friends. No wonder Austin had wanted to come to the wedding.

A little more relaxed, she climbed into bed, pausing only momentarily to stare at the diamond on her finger. Only three days and she'd be back at home, back at work, and this whole weekend would be a ridiculous memory.

She’d be single and free and she’d never see Austin again. Then she could forget these crazy fantasies...

* * *

Fantasies of Kimberly had tormented Austin while he showered.