Looking for Love (Boxed set) (30 page)

Where the heck was Austin?

Not that it was any of her business, she thought sullenly. Only being here, entrenched in Austin's family made it difficult to remember that. Mementos of his boyhood filled each corner and each sentimental story his mother told only made Austin sound more endearing. As if he valued family above anything.

Hearth and home – something Marci claimed she didn't believe in. But stuff Kimberly had always dreamed of.

Feeling weepy and confused, she studied a baby picture of Austin sitting on the desk. Darn it, even as an infant he'd been adorable. And his children would be, too.

"You are not having his children," she whispered fiercely, as she jumped up and paced across the room. You and Austin just met.

Her fingers curled around the belt of her robe as she heard footsteps padding up the stairs, then the doorknob began to turn. The heavy door squeaked open, and Austin stood in the dim light of the hallway, his tie askew, his shirtsleeves rolled up, his hair rumpled. He staggered slightly, his hand already unbuttoning his shirt.

"Kimberly, oh, sorry," he said, his words slurring slightly. "Forgot, this is my room. I mean your room."

"It's okay, I wasn't sleeping," she said softly.

His hands stilled on the buttons of his shirt, his breathing unsteady in the silence stretching between them. The room seemed small, too small. Intimate.

Kimberly swallowed, her throat tight, at the dark way he was looking at her.

"You look beautiful, so beautiful, Kimberly," he whispered huskily.

The sexy way he said her name sent a tingle along her nerve endings, and she slowly walked toward him. He reached for her and stumbled, and she caught him, then wrapped her arm around his waist and guided him through the door. "Come on, I'll help you to bed."

"Yes, to bed. Sweet, beautiful Kimberly," he whispered, leaning against her. They made it into the guest room, and he turned to face her, then buried his face in her hair. "So soft. It feels so good to finally hold you."

Kimberly gently pulled away and looked into his eyes. "I think you've had a little too much to drink."

He shook his head like a little boy, his eyes half-closed. "I love to touch you, darlin'. Been wanting to forever."

"I think you'd better sleep it off," Kimberly said, desperate to ignore the sensations his heady words evoked.

"Yep, time to go to bed," he whispered with a low chuckle.

Kimberly laughed softly at the teasing in his voice. Being so close to him was tempting her beyond reason.

But if she gave into her feelings, she would regret it in the morning. And so would he. "Sorry, Austin, but you're going to sleep alone."

"But, I need you, darlin'." He nuzzled her neck and trailed his hands down her side. "I want to be with you tonight."

She covered his hands with her own. "Austin, we can't, we're in your parents' house," she whispered hoarsely.

His dark gaze met hers. "But we're getting married tomorrow. It'll be all right."

He was drunk and confused, she decided as he staggered again. She released his hands and he fell backward onto his bed and groaned. She hissed out a nervous breath, watching nonetheless as he stripped his tie and then his shirt.

The sight of his broad muscular shoulders and bare chest stole the air from her lungs, and his words reverberated through her head, evoking erotic images of long, sex-filled nights. He fumbled with his belt, cursed softly, then dropped his hands by his side.

"Let me help you," she whispered.

She slowly reached out and unfastened the buckle, then loosened the snap on his slacks, her fingers trembling as his hand caught hers and he slowly lowered his zipper. She helped him slide the pants down his long, hair-dusted legs, her pulse racing when she caught a glimpse of muscled thighs and calves. Unable to drag her eyes away, she noticed his arousal pushing against red briefs. Hmm, she'd expected conservative boxers. Then he covered her hands with his and settled them on his chest. The touch of his warm, masculine skin sent desire coursing through her, and his dark eyes raked over her, his hand slowly closing over her fingers and bringing them to his lips. "Stay with me tonight, Kimberly. I've been thinking about you all night. Wanna see your tattoo."

She was tempted to lie down beside him, tempted to give in to the husky plea in his voice, but he wanted to see
Marci's
tattoo. Disappointment flooded her.

He wanted her sister, not
her
. Their entire relationship was one big lie.

Kimberly pulled her hands away, his husky plea almost destroying her resolve. Marci would sleep with him; Marci would take the one-night stand and kiss him off without a second thought.

But she was Kimberly. And her heart would break when he drove her back to Atlanta and said good-bye.

So she gently lowered her head and kissed his forehead, then whispered good night and went to sleep in Austin’s bed—
alone.

Chapter 6

Kimberly showered the next morning, feeling exhausted and sluggish. Only twenty-four more hours and she would be back at home, back to being plain, ordinary Kimberly. Responsible, mature, hard-working, lonely Kimberly.

With her identity back intact, maybe her rational mind would return also. For the life of her, all she'd thought about for hours was how much she wanted to sleep with Austin McDane.

She yanked at the engagement ring, half-wishing she could removed it, half-wishing she could keep it. She'd never before had such wild fantasies of making love with a man. And she'd certainly never imagined wanting a man with the intensity she wanted Austin.

Finger combing her wild curls, she dressed in jeans and a sleeveless navy T-shirt, hoping the day would pass quickly and uneventfully. If she was lucky, the McDanes' curiosity had been satisfied yesterday and today they could spend a quiet, relaxing day simply marking time until the wedding.

Austin probably had a hangover, so with any luck, he'd sleep late and she wouldn't have to see him until later. The less time she spent with him, the better. He was much too tempting, way too sexy, and utterly tantalizing. And on top of those intriguing but shallow characteristics, he seemed like a genuinely nice man.

One she could really fall in love with. If she hadn't already done so, she thought, with a twinge of panic.

The aroma of fresh coffee and blueberry muffins floated up to her, and she went down to the kitchen with a smile on her face, her stomach growling. She poured herself a cup of coffee and had just settled down at the table with a muffin and the newspaper when Austin's mother bustled in carrying a long garment bag in her arms.

"Oh, hi, dear," Mrs. McDane said, her rosy cheeks glowing with a warm smile. "I'm so excited! Philip told me the news."

Kimberly crinkled her forehead in confusion, her insides knotting with tension. "What news?"

Mrs. McDane pressed her hands to her cheeks, her eyes wide. "About you and Austin and the double wedding!"

The muffin lodged in Kimberly's throat, choking her. She took a quick sip of coffee, nearly scalding her throat. "Double wedding?"

Mrs. McDane nodded, her curly brown hair bobbing up and down. "With Josh and Marilyn. I think it's wonderful. Philip was so excited he woke me up last night to tell me. He said it was Austin's idea."

"It was? I mean he did?"

Mrs. McDane gushed, "I never knew my son was such a romantic."

Neither did I.
Kimberly's fingers tightened around the muffin, the remaining pieces crumbling onto the table.

What had Austin done?

Mrs. McDane unzipped the garment bag and removed a wedding dress. "We have so much to do to get ready, dear!"

Get ready? Was she serious?

"Look, I found my old wedding gown in the attic and I thought you might want to wear it."

Kimberly nodded mutely. The woman
was
serious.

How was she going to get out of this fake fiancée thing without hurting this wonderful, sweet woman who seemed thrilled to be getting her for a daughter-in-law?

Mrs. McDane traced a finger lovingly over the ivory lace sleeves. "I know it’s a tad old fashioned, but Suzanne and April and Becca all wore it."

Kimberly’s throat burned with unexpected emotions, her eyes watering. "Excuse me?"

"It's a tradition," Mrs. McDane said simply. Oblivious to her turmoil, the older woman narrowed her eyes, assessing Kimberly's size. "With just a nip in the waist, it'll fit you fine. And we can let out that dart in the bust line. What do you think?"

"It... it's lovely," Kimberly said, struggling for composure.

"Dear, I don't mean to put you on the spot." Mrs. McDane frowned in worry. "If you don't want to wear my dress, just say so and I'll understand. I know some young folks these days don't much care for family traditions and all that."

"No... I mean, I believe in family traditions," Kimberly said, her mind racing. "And the gown is gorgeous, but—"

"There's a lovely bridal shop over at the mall if you want to look around before you decide. We can be there at ten when it opens." Mrs. McDane paused, dabbing at her eyes. "Or maybe you want to wear your own mother's dress—"

"No, my mother and father were divorced, I don't even know if she still has it—"

"Oh, dear, that's too bad." She patted Kimberly's hand. "Do you want to look at that bridal shop?"

"No, your dress is beautiful—"

"Oh, good." Mrs. McDane bent and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm so glad you're going to be my daughter-in-law."

Kimberly nodded, her eyes filling with tears at the sincerity in the older woman's eyes.

"What's wrong, hon?" Mrs. McDane asked.

"Nothing," Kimberly said, her throat tight. "I'd be honored to be your daughter-in-law." Her heart pounding, she rose and wiped her cheeks, determined to escape before she burst into tears.

"I'd better go wake Austin." She poured an extra cup of coffee for him, then headed toward the staircase.

She wanted him to be wide-awake when she killed him.

* * *

A sledgehammer was beating on the door. Austin rolled to his back, vaguely aware of a dull throbbing pain exploding between his eyes. He draped his hand over his face to shut out the blinding light, groaning when the room swam in dizzying circles. But the pounding continued.

Where the hell was he? On one of his construction sites?

He dragged his fingers down his face, prying his eyelids open long enough to survey his surroundings. Nope, he wasn't on a construction sight. He was back at home, in the guest room.

Seconds later, he remembered why he'd come home and the bachelor party.

Brief memories of the evening flashed into his head—the stripper, the guys teasing and joking, the pitchers of beer. God, when had he ever consumed so much alcohol? Not since college.

The pounding intensified, and he realized Kimberly might be on the other side of his door. His pride immediately deflated.

He did not want her to see him like this.

He crawled from the bed, hurried to the bathroom, then turned on the cold water and forced himself to step beneath it. Several minutes later, he wrapped a towel around his waist and headed back into the guest room.

The bedroom door eased open, then the goddess who was posing as his fiancée stepped into the room. She looked beautiful. Maybe she would nurse him and pet him and make him feel all better.

But their gazes locked and the panicked expression on her face and the murderous look she shot him brought his heart to a stop. Something was wrong, terribly wrong.

His already sour stomach churned.

She obviously wasn’t going to nurse and pet him.

* * *

Kimberly tried to wrestle her anger into control while she’d waited on Austin to shower. Surely Mrs. McDane had misunderstood. Surely Philip had.

There was no way Austin would have told them he was going to marry her this weekend.

She’d tell Austin about the conversation with his mother, then he’d explain the situation to her, and they’d all have a good laugh.

But the sight of him wearing that towel and nothing else robbed her words. Damn the man.

How was she supposed to stay angry with him when he looked so sexy?

Still, time was of the essence; for all she knew Mrs. McDane was calling the florist now. So she thrust the coffee at him. "Austin, drink this. We have to talk."

She unfolded his hand and plopped two aspirin in his palm, walked into the bathroom, then returned with a glass of water. Her hands were trembling, her chest aching.

Good grief, the man was half naked. His chest glistened with water from the shower, and his dark hair was wet and spiked around his handsome face, giving him a rumpled, tousled, bedroom look that made her want to jump him.

Austin looked shaky for a moment, then staggered to the bed, propped himself up against the headboard and downed the aspirin.

"What's wrong?"

Kimberly clenched her hands. What wasn't wrong? She was pretending to be her sister, pretending to be his fiancée, lying to everyone in sight, and standing in the bedroom of a near-naked man whom she wanted to make love to but who wanted her sister instead of her.