Looking for Love (Boxed set) (26 page)

Dammit, he could not go there, not with this woman.

He toweled the cold water droplets from his body, grateful the frigid shower had cooled him down. Only three more days to go before they headed back to Atlanta. Back to work. Back to the old routine. Back to seeing Kimberly as Marci, the cocktail waitress who flirted with every guy in pants.

How in the hell was he going to make the weekend with his sanity intact? Especially with this
different
woman—Kimberly. Why had he never realized how attracted he was to her at the restaurant?

Tonight, he'd been so hot for her he'd had to make a hasty exit from his old room for fear he'd forget about his parents downstairs and make good on the promises and heat he'd felt in her lithe body. He remembered the dazed look in her brilliant blue eyes and was grateful she'd been too stunned to make a sound.

If she'd groaned, he would have lost it right there. Nothing excited him more than hearing a woman’s soft sounds of ecstasy.

What kinds of sounds would Kimberly make—cat-like purrs, wild screams of pleasure, or husky murmurs and erotic words of longing?

Austin dropped to the floor and did a hundred push-ups, trying desperately to rid himself of his sexual frustration. Maybe he should have insisted he and Kimberly stay at a hotel. He shook his head, his mind full of conflicting thoughts. His parents would never have gone for it.

Besides, he wasn't sure he wanted to have a fling with Kimberly. He didn't want to be another man she added to her list like the charms on her bracelet.

Then again, when they'd kissed, her body had responded with a sensual fire that promised much more. He sighed in disgust, rolling on his back as he remembered the reason Kimberly had agreed to come along. He was paying her two thousand dollars. She was just pretending.

But after that kiss, he’d practically had to hold her up climbing the stairs. Had her response to him been an act? If so, she was a damn good liar. Not an admirable quality either.

She was also a lounge waitress—she didn't seem to have a career-oriented bone in her body. She flounced her assets around for other men to ogle—not the kind of woman he'd want for a wife.

Not that he was in the market for a wife, but if he was, he'd want a respectable woman who would be proud of his work, a woman who would probably have her own career, a woman who was nurturing and caring and—a sexy woman who had a body and eyes and mouth just like Kimberly's.

Damn. A woman like that didn't exist.

A good marriage meant a real commitment and right now he was married to his company. His own dad could have made it past the lower level at the tobacco plant if he hadn't gotten married and had a family.

Hours later, with the sheets tangled around him, eyes wide open, and thoughts of Kimberly still driving him crazy, Austin crawled from bed and dragged out his laptop. If he couldn't sleep, he might as well get some work done.

* * *

Kimberly was tired of wrestling with the covers. Ragged and exhausted from her sleepless night, she dragged herself from Austin's bed, knocked on the bathroom door to make sure she didn't walk in on Austin, then locked the door and showered.

Still sleepy, she studied her reflection in the mirror, the childhood rhyme she and Marci had recited when they'd teased one another springing to mind.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the sexiest twin of all?

"Marci, definitely Marci," Kimberly mouthed, disgusted with the dark circles under her eyes.

Austin's aftershave and masculine scent filled the small room and his razor and toothbrush on the counter seemed somehow intimate. She slipped on her long silk robe, deciding any sexual attraction she'd thought Austin had felt for her the night before must have been a figment of her overactive imagination. Needing to know the agenda for the day so she'd dress appropriately, she knocked on his door.

When he didn't answer, she rapped a little louder, then eased open the door and froze when she saw Austin slumped over the desk with his head resting on his arm. Marci's comment about him sleeping with his laptop came to mind and she smiled, wondering if he slept with it because he didn't have a woman in his bed.

She padded over to him, her bedroom slippers squishing into the thick carpet. His long dark lashes fluttered against his cheeks. Then, as if he sensed her presence, he roused from sleep and looked up at her.

"Um, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"What time is it?" he asked, his raspy voice sending a shiver through her.

"About seven." His gaze roamed over her, and Kimberly realized her mistake in coming into the room—she was wearing nothing but a silky robe. He wore only pajama bottoms. Dark hair curled on his chest and tapered to a vee at the waistband, making her imagine what lay lower.

She had to fight to keep her breathing steady.

He sat up but winced in pain, then rubbed his neck. "Damn. I have a crick in my neck."

Kimberly hesitated, reminding herself she was supposed to be her bold sister and reached out to touch his neck and shoulders. "Relax, I'll massage it for you."

"Thanks, but you don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine."

He tried to move again and pain etched his face.

"Don’t be silly," Kimberly said as she moved up behind him. "I’m pretty good with my hands."

"I don’t doubt that."

His deep voice sent a tiny thrill through her, and he dropped his head forward, making small sounds of pleasure as she worked the kinks from his sore muscles. When her hands caressed his lower neck, he shifted slightly. "Thanks, that feels great."

She kneaded and worked the tension from his shoulders and he pressed his face into his hand and groaned again, the erotic sound making her tremble.

"God, you are good with your hands. Don't stop," he whispered.

She swallowed at his husky plea, her breathing faltering as her fingers squeezed the firm, hard muscles of his shoulders.

Against her will, her eyes strayed to the ring on her hand, and her chest clenched with longing.

Slowly she felt him relaxing. "You don't feel quite so tense now."

"That's what you think," he muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing, it feels wonderful."

Kimberly sucked in a harsh breath, desperate to ignore her body's reaction to the hunger in his eyes.

"Did you sleep well?"

His dark eyes locked with hers and the truth lingered on the tip of her tongue. But there was no way she’d admit to dreaming about him all night, to wanting him.

"Yes, fine," she managed to say.

Something hot and wicked flickered in his expression, but sounds from the rooms below startled him. He stood up so abruptly he accidentally knocked the glass of water off the table with his elbow. It splattered across the desk and onto Kimberly.

They both zeroed in on the wet spots soaking the front of Kimberly's robe. Her first instinct was to cover herself; the wet silk was molded to her curves in the most intimate of places.

"Kimberly?" Austin cupped her face in his hand.

"Austin—"

A loud pounding at the door cut off Kimberly's words. "Austin, Kimberly, are you up?" They jumped apart guiltily as Austin's brother, Philip, swung open the door.

"Um, Mom said breakfast is almost ready. She’ll keep it warm for you." Kimberly crossed her arms over her chest at Philip's wicked grin. "Looks like you two are hot enough—"

Austin narrowed his eyes. "Shut up, little brother."

"Don’t sweat it, bro. You
are
engaged." Philip laughed and closed the door.

Kimberly refused to look at Austin. Cheeks flaming, she ran through the bathroom and into Austin's old room, then shut and locked the door, completely mortified—and determined to get herself under control.

* * *

"Pancakes are delicious, Mom," Austin said a few minutes later.

His mother handed him a pitcher of maple syrup. "Where's that lovely fiancée of yours?"

Probably hiding in my old room.
"She'll be down in a minute." Austin dribbled syrup over his hotcakes and imagined what she was doing—getting dressed. Too bad he couldn't be up there helping her.

Better yet, helping undress her.

Philip winked at him from across the table and Austin gritted his teeth. His little brother had always been a pest. Obviously he hadn't outgrown the habit.

"She certainly is a lovely girl," his mother said. "I'm looking forward to getting to know her better today."

A warning bell sounded in Austin's head. What did she have planned, an inquisition for Kimberly?

"I'm sure she's looking forward to it, too," he said cautiously.

"What am I looking forward to?" Kimberly sauntered into the room wearing a gauzy green skirt that swirled around her ankles and a soft beige sweater top. The top and skirt were modest and demure, surprising him. But still the top hugged her curves and teased him to wonder what lay beneath.

"Austin?" Kimberly paused beside the table.

"Uh, getting to know my parents," he said hastily.

Philip jumped up and pulled out her chair. "Mom makes the best breakfasts in town," Philip said. "We always told her she should open a cafe."

"Oh, you two hush," Mrs. McDane said, blushing.

Kimberly eyed the assortment of pancakes and fresh sausages. "It looks wonderful. Maybe your sons are right, Mrs. McDane."

Austin's mother laughed good-naturedly. "Call me Mom, sugar. It won't be long until we'll be family."

Kimberly sipped her juice, her gaze troubled as she glanced at Austin. He squirmed uncomfortably. He was beginning to feel guilty about this deception.

Maybe Kimberly was, too.

Kimberly stabbed a blueberry pancake and quickly added syrup. Rebecca and her crew joined them and the kitchen bustled with noise as everyone dug into the pancakes, passed syrup and sausages and wiped up spills from the children.

Austin was surprised at how relaxed Kimberly seemed with his family, especially the children. They seemed to love her.

"You need to get fitted for your tux." Mrs. McDane patted her son's hand. "And Rebecca, you'll have to meet Kimberly and me at the bridal luncheon."

Kimberly paused, her fork in midair. "The bridal luncheon?"

"Of course," Mrs. McDane said, starting to clear the dishes. "They're expecting us. Marilyn specifically told me to invite you."

Austin's fork clanked against his plate. "You don't have to go if you don't want, Kimberly," Austin said.

Maybe he should have told Kimberly about his history with Marilyn. He hadn't thought his family would be so insensitive as to throw the two of them together. Then again, Kimberly was only a pretend fiancée.

What difference would it make to her?

"Oh, but she should go," Mrs. McDane said. "Marilyn said she wanted to get to know Kimberly better. Especially since she's going to be part of the family."

The syrup glued Austin’s throat together. He might not be engaged to Kimberly, but for a while he had dated Marilyn, even entertained the possibility that some day...

Then she’d run off with Josh for a long weekend and he'd become history. Josh had apologized, saying he and Marilyn couldn't help themselves.

What would Marilyn tell Kimberly about him?

* * *

Kimberly frowned as Austin's mother steered the family Buick toward the mansion where Marilyn's bridal luncheon was to be held.

Why didn’t Austin want her to talk to Marilyn?

Oblivious to her turmoil, Mrs. McDane chattered away, giving her all the highlights of the farmland they passed and regaling her with stories about each of her children.

"April was kind of a tomboy—loved to play soccer. That's how she met her husband, he was on a soccer scholarship at State. And Philip, he's my wild one. Girls just love him, but he wants to play the field. Don't know yet what he'll do with his life."

"And Austin?"

Mrs. McDane grew thoughtful as she turned onto the little street leading into the small town. "Austin was always a serious boy. Thought his dad was destined to do bigger things."

"Mr. McDane wasn't happy with his job?"

"Oh, yeah, he was fine," Mrs. McDane said. "But Austin thought he should be moving up. He didn't understand Jerry was happy where he was. See, Marilyn's dad owned the bank, and Josh's dad is an airplane pilot."

"I see," Kimberly said, not sure she did.

"Working in a tobacco plant wasn't exactly impressive."

"But he was a good father?"

"Mercy, yes. Never missed one of the kids' games or school plays. Coached Little League and Becca's soccer team. Some people are content with the simple life—Jerry's one of them."

He sounded like a perfect father to her.

"But Austin was smart, always building things. Didn't surprise me one bit when he decided to be an architect. I’m so proud of him sometimes I could bust.”

Admiration for Austin stirred in Kimberly's chest. He'd set his goals and followed through.

"Well, we're here," Mrs. McDane announced.

"This is lovely," Kimberly said, impressed with the outside of the Victorian house.

She admired the gardens while she and Mrs. McDane strolled up the sidewalks. Daylilies bloomed in the neatly trimmed yard and petunias blossomed in colorful flower beds in front of the huge porch. Mrs. McDane hesitated before they went in. "Kimberly, can I say something before we go in?"

Kimberly studied her face, her stomach suddenly a bundle of nerves. "Sure."

"Marilyn is a nice girl and we've known her for ages."

"I know," Kimberly said. "I saw the picture of Marilyn and Austin and Josh in Austin’s room."

Mrs. McDane exhaled audibly, as if in relief, and fanned her face with her hand. "I guess Austin told you Marilyn dumped him and ran off with Josh."

No, he seemed to have forgotten to mention that detail. "Hmmm," was all Kimberly could manage to say.

"Well, now she and Josh are getting married and Austin has you. I'm sure it's all forgotten."

Kim’s chest gave a pang. Was it forgotten or did Austin still carry a torch for Marilyn?

Mrs. McDane ushered her up the steps. "Anyway, I just wanted you to know Marilyn wasn't right for Austin. It's better it worked out like this."