Looking for Love (Boxed set) (29 page)

The baby cooed and Austin blinked, momentarily blindsided when the baby's image blurred—its hair changed from wispy blond tendrils to curly red locks, its brown eyes to sea-blue ones like Kimberly's.

"You think you and Kimberly will start a family right away?" his mother asked.

"Huh?" He blinked the blond curls back into focus, and stared at his mother, his mouth gaping open in shock.

"You said Kimberly works at a children's center, so I assume she likes kids and wants a family."

He tried to formulate an answer, but an image of a pregnant Kimberly stole his thoughts. He imagined her wearing those ridiculous short shorts, her stomach round and protruding with that silver earring dangling from her bellybutton. Not exactly a motherly image.

But an oddly erotic one.

"I do want to have a family someday." Kimberly's soft voice saved him from a response, and he jerked his head sideways to see her standing in the doorway, looking almost ethereal in a deep blue silky blouse the color of her eyes. And those legs...encased in black stockings, showcased by a short black skirt, were a sight to die for.

"That's what I thought," his mother said with a grin. She patted his arm. "Kimberly is so sweet, Austin. I have such a good feeling about this marriage."

He swallowed, his tongue thick in his throat. Then he realized as she moved into the room, her hips swaying enticingly, that she was putting on an act. That she’d only said she wanted a family because she sensed that was what his mother wanted to hear.

He should give her an Academy Award.

"I love children, but Austin and I aren't in any hurry, are we?" She propped her curvaceous hip on the arm of the chair beside him. "We want a little time to ourselves first."

She leaned over, her red hair draping her shoulder like flames flickering off a wicked fire, and he inhaled her erotic scent.

Dammit. He’d say anything she wanted at that moment, especially if she kept looking at him as if she wanted to eat him up.

But instead of putting him on the spot, she simply smiled at him sweetly as if she'd meant what she'd said, then tickled the baby's chin. The tiny girl beamed and gripped Kimberly's finger playfully, making gurgling sounds. Austin was momentarily enraptured by the tender moment.

"You two ought to be going," his mother said, holding out her arms for the infant "You don't want to keep Josh and Marilyn waiting."

"You're right, Mrs. McDane." Kimberly stood and smoothed down the hem of her skirt. His gaze traveled the length of her, then back up to her face, and he swore she blushed again.

What was it with Kimberly this weekend? Normally she fended off men's looks and advances with a quick comeback or a playful swat. Around his family, she was acting like a demure virgin.

The act again.
He almost slapped his forehead at the realization. Damn, she was good. Either that or his wholesome family was making her reconsider her wild ways. Perhaps this weekend might make her rethink her lifestyle and she might settle down to a respectable kind of job.

The thought both unsettled and pleased him. Because if she did, he silently admitted, he'd definitely want to see her again. He might even change his workaholic ways... someday.

Austin searched his pockets for his car keys, surprised when Kimberly and his dad launched into a discussion of football. Must be all those sports bars she frequents with her dates, he thought, glumly.

The image sobered him immediately. "Come on, Kimberly, let's get this night over with."

His mother's forehead creased with concern, and Kimberly frowned, making him realize he'd sounded rude. "Sorry, guess these things make nervous."

His mother laughed. "Just think of it as a rehearsal for your own big day," his mother commented.

Austin’s knees buckled at the thought.

Then Kimberly aimed a heart-stopping smile at him, brushing his arm with her fingers as they walked out the door.

Good god, he thought, as he trailed after her. He had to find his sanity before his fake fiancée completely destroyed it.

* * *

The ride over was strained and silent, stretching Kimberly's nerves so raw she'd ended up biting her nails.

She was surprised Austin hadn't noticed the difference between Marci's inch-long hot-pink acrylics and her short, plain, unpolished nails. And the comment she'd made to Austin's mother about wanting a family—well, she did want one.

But Marci would never say something like that. Had she given herself away?

* * *

"Come on, man," Josh said, elbowing him. "You have to stand beside me and make sure I don't faint when it's time to say
I do."

Austin laughed, nudging Josh into place as the preacher coached Josh on the order of the service. Marilyn scooted up beside him, and they exchanged secretive smiles that produced a twinge of unexpected jealousy in Austin. Not because he wanted Marilyn, he realized as Kimberly's wild red curls drew his eye.

Because a surge of loneliness filled him, a longing to share a similar bond with a woman, to have more than his empty apartment to go home to at night.

Austin walked through the wedding ceremony with Josh, his gaze straying to Kimberly as she sat on the church pew, her hands knotted in her lap, her gaze flitting nervously across the room.

Obviously she didn't feel comfortable inside a church watching this declaration of wedding vows.

Hell. He cleared his throat. She was probably anti-marriage, probably had a different lover every weekend, and hated all this traditional stuff.

Josh and Marilyn clutched hands while they rehearsed the ceremony, and he silently admitted someday he wanted to marry and have children of his own. He'd just postponed the event, hoping to establish his career first.

But another glance at Kimberly brought a startling revelation that made his breath clog in his throat—he hadn't considered a serious relationship before now because he'd never met the right woman.

But Kimberly Turner, the waitress?

No way, he thought, wiping his forehead again.

"It looks like your family's really taking to your fiancée," Josh said, when Marilyn and the preacher stepped aside to review the music selections.

"Yeah, they really hit it off," he muttered.

But if they knew she had a pierced bellybutton, wore short shorts for a uniform, and flirted with anything in pants, they'd think he had been working too hard and somehow flipped his lid. He'd chosen Marci because he wanted to show her off to Josh.

Maybe he had flipped his lid, he decided. Because he was beginning to fall for his fake fiancée.

* * *

Kimberly tried to enjoy the delicious lobster and steak dinner Josh's family had arranged for the wedding party, well aware that Marilyn and Josh kept watching her and Austin. He had been extremely attentive, touching her, getting her drinks, caressing her shoulder, kissing her at odd little moments.

Heaven help her. Her body was one big fat mess, coiled with tension and need. Damn the man for making her want him.

She constantly had to remind herself that every kiss and touch was an act, that he was only playing the doting fiancé to impress his friends.

Except that he touched and kissed her a lot, even when they weren’t looking.

So much that she'd begun to enjoy the gaiety of the occasion and started to feel at ease with his hand at her back, his large hand enveloping hers, his fingers stroking her palm underneath the table.

His tender ministrations were driving her crazy.

"So, Kimberly, tell us about this children's center Austin mentioned. He said you were the director," Marilyn said.

Kimberly tensed, but Austin squeezed her hand in reassurance. Work came natural to her, so knowing she wouldn't need to lie helped restore her calm. "We provide day care for low income families, and some after-school childcare for older kids."

"Where do you get your funding?" April asked.

Kimberly explained, knowing her school was one topic she could handle with skill.

"Sounds like a great program, "Josh said sincerely.

Kimberly's cheeks warmed under the compliment. "I think it's good for the kids." She thought about the struggling families the center served, how hopeless their lives seemed at times, and her voice grew stronger. "I'm not sure what some of the single parent households would do if we couldn't help them."

"What kind of facility do you have?" Rob's wife asked.

Kimberly's fingers tightened around her water glass. She didn't mind talking about the school at a fund-raising event, but she sensed Austin would be shocked if she got on her soapbox. Besides, this was a wedding rehearsal, and she was supposed to be Marci—fun-loving, fun, sexy Marci.

Not serious, boring Kimberly.

"We’re currently in an older house that was donated by the city. I'm afraid it's in need of some major repairs, though."

Austin was watching her, the corners of his eyes crinkling as if he was waiting for her to make a slip.

"Are you handling the renovation, Austin?" April asked.

Austin squeezed her hand again, quickly masking his perplexed expression with that lopsided grin of his. "As a matter of fact, I'm going to look into it when we get back. Isn't that right, honey?"

Kimberly nodded and started to answer, but Austin swooped her into his arms and gave her a kiss that sent her senses sizzling and brought a round of laughter from the others.

"I think it's time for a toast," Marilyn's father said. "Austin, you're the best man, will you do the honors?"

"Sure." Austin refilled his glass and Kimberly's, then stood and raised his champagne flute, a devilish gleam in his eye. "May you and Marilyn be as happy together as my own folks. Here's to the next forty or fifty years."

"Thanks, buddy." Josh bear-hugged Austin. "Just like you and Kimberly will be."

Laughter spilled through the room as glasses clinked again. Austin's gaze met Kimberly's, and her breath caught in her throat. A heady look of pure hunger radiated from his dark eyes, and his mischievous smile captivated her.

Caught up in the excitement of the moment, she gently stroked his jaw. "Yeah, just like we're going to be, sweetheart," she whispered.

Then she framed his face with both hands, slanted her mouth over his and kissed him feverishly, pouring herself into the moment.

Finally the roaring of his friends snapped her back to reality. As she pulled away and stared into the passionate eyes of the man holding her in his arms, she wondered what in the world had come over her. Pretending to be Marci was having a dangerous effect.

She was starting to act impetuous like her wild sister.

* * *

The bachelor party was in full swing. But Austin was having a hard time concentrating on his beer-guzzling buddies and the luscious blonde who had just appeared to deliver the surprise singing telegram for Josh, decked out in tiny strips of leather and tassels. Five minutes into her program, and she was nearly naked from head to toe. His friends were teasing Josh, Josh was grinning like an idiot and fending off innuendoes about his honeymoon night.

But Austin was thinking about Kimberly and that devastating kiss she'd bestowed on him during dinner.

The guys chanted encouragement to the girl as she taunted Josh with a scarf she'd removed from her ankle. Austin downed his beer, wondering why, in his celibate state, the young blonde wasn't turning him on.

Then the woman's image faded, and he lapsed into a fantasy of his own. Kimberly was decked out in sexy attire, but not leather and tassels. No, she wore soft satin and see-through black lace. In fact she was nearly nude from head to toe, and he was teasing her with the scarf. A surge of desire swelled within him and he swallowed, his heart pounding as he completed the fantasy He kissed away the satin, stripped away the lace, tore away her defenses until she was begging him to make love to her.

Until she was naked... except for his diamond.

He shifted, reached for the pitcher of beer and poured himself another mugful, disturbed by the image. He wanted Kimberly Turner. There was no doubt in his mind about that.

The flirty waitress in Atlanta hadn't stirred his groin, but the fake fiancée, the one with the mesmerizing shy smile and the ability to wrap his family around her finger with her talk about wanting kids and running a child center for the needy,
that
Marci Kimberly Turner, he wanted with an ache that he couldn't deny.

"Yo, man, just think. You'll be next." His brother Rob slid onto a stool beside him and pushed a shot toward him.

A pang of guilt assaulted him for lying to his family, and he opened his mouth to tell Rob the truth, but the strip show came to an end. The crowd of men erupted into cheers, and Josh dropped down onto the stool on his other side.

"Thanks for coming, Austin. It means the world to me and Marilyn to know you're not upset with us." His voice turned serious. "And that you have a girl like Kimberly, that you're happy, well, it's the best wedding gift you could have given us."

Josh refilled all the men's glasses from the pitcher. "That is, unless you want to have a double wedding."

Austin laughed off the suggestion with a shrug, then downed the shot, his earlier fantasy taunting him. Marriage to Kimberly?

Well, they'd have great sex, but then they'd go back to Atlanta and their real lives and it would never work. Then an image of Kimberly wearing nothing but that tiny tattoo and bellybutton ring popped into his mind and his body hardened.

But a honeymoon—now that he could handle.

* * *

Kimberly paced the confines of Austin's bedroom, grateful she'd finally escaped his loving and welcoming family. All night she'd felt guilty for lying to them.

When she and April and Suzanne had arrived home the kids had still been up. She'd played Monopoly with the older children, cuddled April's baby, then looked at the family photo album with Austin's mother.

She'd finally excused herself and retreated to Austin's room, saying she was exhausted. She must be getting good at faking things, she thought, in disgust, because she certainly hadn't been tired. She'd been feeling extremely guilty. And now it was one a.m., and she was wide-awake.