Kari was grateful for the change in subject. She couldn't stand to cry again, especially in front of Jordan. As Kari unpacked, Jordan followed her around, discussing the details and talking about all the places she would introduce her best friend to that weekend. Kari's chum didn't notice the small bag of crushed and wilted flowers she slipped in a top drawer.
Kari closed the drawer, feeling she'd closed a painful chapter in her life, yet she couldn't quite release it completely. She halfheartedly listened to Jordan go on about the social life in Orlando. Maybe it would take her mind off Austin, no, Rodent King, for the moment!
Kari continued her unpacking, getting into the conversation whenever she could. Jordan would be a great comfort to her. That was something she needed more than anything now, especially since Jack had his own life now and she didn't want her problems interfering with his happiness. With Jordan's help and her new job she would forget Austin DuQuaine. Kari knew she had to.
****
The cab stopped in front of the apartment building in Minneapolis. Austin got out, asking the driver to wait for him. He pressed the buzzer to Kari's apartment several times before he realized no one was there. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration, decisively pushing the manager's bell. A scratchy female voice came over the intercom. Austin explained that he was Kari's fiancée from Houston, here to surprise her, and could the manager possibly let him into the apartment? The voice hesitated a moment and then asked him to wait. The door opened shortly and a tough looking, small but wiry older lady peered out.
"Can I see some identification? Miss McKinnon never mentioned a fiancee." She scrutinized him closely. Austin pulled out his wallet and showed her his driver's license.
"She hasn't mentioned me? I'll have to have a talk with her about that. You know Miss....."
"Lawson. Mrs. Lawson."
"Pardon me, Mrs. Lawson," Austin said charmingly. "You sounded so young on the intercom. As I was about to say, Kari is so shy I guess I'm not surprised that she hasn't mentioned me. Do you think I could at least leave her a note to let her know I'm in town and where she can call me? You can come in with me while I'm there."
Mrs. Lawson scrutinized him with a critical eye.
"Well... I can't see any harm in leaving a note."
She opened the door wider to let him in. Austin followed her up the stairs making small conversation as they went. When they reached her apartment, Mrs. Lawson was convinced that he was on the up and up. She opened the door for him.
"Just be sure to close the door when you leave Mr. DuQuaine." She surveyed the young man in front of her closely. Mrs. Lawson never forgot a face or a name. "You're not from around here. The accent. Southern?"
"Why, yes ma'am. You certainly are perceptive, and thank you very much Mrs. Lawson, ma'am. I really appreciate this."
Austin gave her his best southern gentleman drawl. As she turned and walked down the hall, Austin entered the apartment.
He knew immediately that Kari lived here. He could almost feel her presence, the rooms still smelling slightly of a tropical floral scent. Her scent. Austin stood in the middle of the living room with his eyes closed tightly, his hands clenched at his side, remembering her golden red hair wrapped around his hands and fathomless green eyes gazing at him in pure wonder and amazement. And trust. Shaking the vision from his mind Austin continued his way through the small but spacious living quarters.
When Austin entered her bedroom he stopped cold. Something didn't feel right. He went to her closet with an icy feeling and opened it. It was nearly empty. A few odds and ends were still apparent, but he knew intrinsically that Kari was gone. Apparently even the landlady didn't know.
Austin continued to search the apartment, finally going into a room that was distinctly male. Glancing around, he spied a letter on the dresser. Striding over to the dresser quickly, he picked up the letter addressed to Jack. It wasn't sealed so he took the letter out.
Austin read how Kari had left for a job working for an advertising company that did work for Disney World and would be staying with her friend Jordan. Well, that would be easy enough to trace. What the hell! He was unemployed now anyway. A job in Florida would be a nice change of pace. His mind was already working.
He returned the letter carefully to its envelope and walked into the kitchen. Going through the drawers, he found what he was looking for. Kari wasn't going to get away from him so easily. Address and telephone number in hand he slipped out the door of her former apartment and went out to the waiting taxi. Austin directed the driver to go to the airport. He certainly was spending a lot of time in terminals lately.
Austin DuQuaine had one thing in mind. He'd given up a life of ease to follow the woman he'd married after a week of knowing her. Kari made all the other women that had been in his life look pale by comparison, especially Lisa. He'd seen Lisa for the spoiled little rich girl she was after one night of being with Kari. This time things would be the way they should have been from the beginning. He had learned a hard lesson about keeping things from the one you love, and he was paying the ultimate price.
Austin murmured to himself. “I love you Kari DuQuaine. I love you. You will be mine, again, I promise you that.” His face was dark with a mixture of emotions. His brown eyes were the color of dark, rich chocolate. The way Kari had last seen them in their moments of celestial passion.
Quickly and confidently he walked onto the 747 that was about to leave for the sunshine state, the one that would bring him to the only woman he'd ever loved. Austin only hoped it wasn't already too late. He could imagine what Kari had thought when Lisa had told her she was his fiancée.
Lord. He groaned silently to himself as he felt her anguish. He had to make her see that everything would be all right, even though he knew that it must have seemed to Kari that he hadn't made a real commitment to her. She must really be feeling used. Austin knew all about being used. It was why he hadn't wanted to say anything about Lisa at the time. Yet, Kari had given her heart and soul without reservation! She deserved better than what he'd given her in return.
As the plane took off, Austin closed his eyes and began to form his plan to sweep her off her feet. He realized it would have to be very good. He sighed and stretched his long, wiry frame out and drifted off, dreaming of her naked body next to his. Yeah, she would be his again, no matter what he had to do.
Twelve
Kari was trying to concentrate on the computer screen in the small cubicle that had been her workspace for a couple of weeks now. She'd immersed herself in her editing work, not really getting to know anyone other than a passing hello. She was grateful to Jordan for taking her in and providing her with what should have been her dream job.
The trouble was, she couldn't seem to erase memories of Austin. All she thought about were his chestnut eyes, raging with a passion she hadn't even known existed until he had appeared. Kari had to force herself to concentrate on the task at hand. She'd already had made several mistakes. Thank God they were minor ones, and Jordan was always right there to help her.
Kari felt terrible that she wasn't able to talk about Austin with Jordan, but the memories were still intensely painful. She must have told herself a hundred times how gullible she'd been, yet she wouldn't have changed those intimate moments with him for anything. She sighed and started to get out of her chair, sending her coffee flying into the next cubicle.
"Oh damn, that's hot!"
Kari jumped up quickly, spilling her papers all over in her haste to see what damage she'd done this time! Peeking around the corner, she saw a young man wiping the dark liquid off his shirt and pants. Kari practically stumbled over him as she tried to help him clean up.
"I'm so sorry. I have this thing about not thinking first. I guess I was born a klutz."
He looked up at her about to let loose with a few carefully chosen words until he looked into those wide, innocent emerald eyes. Like most people who meet Kari for the first time, any negative response he may have been about
to give, disappeared when he saw her sweet, innocent face.
"Oh.... don't worry. It is an old shirt anyway. Let me help you with your papers. You seem to have more of a problem than I do." He moved to help her pick up her cluttered paperwork on the floor.
As they both bent over to clean up the mess, Kari slipped on the wet floor. Grabbing him for support, she pulled them both down on the floor. They peered at each other and began to laugh. Kari laughed until the tears came. She wasn't quite sure if the tears were of laughter or pain. Somehow it seemed a mixture of both.
The young man held out his hand as they sat there on the floor. "Rory Becker."
"Kari McKinnon. Well, Rory, you now know what you'll be in for working next to me. I was born this way. Will you be able to stand it, or should I say will you be able to survive!" They both laughed as they sat there looking at the mess.
"Ah,ummmm!"
Kari knew that voice. "Just a little accident Jordan. We were just about to start cleaning up." Kari got to her feet, her pale green skirt and blouse drenched with coffee stains.
"Ah Kari, I'd like you to meet the new communications director in corporate sales. We stole him right out from under one of the largest companies in Houston. Austin DuQuaine, this is my colleague and best friend, Kari McKinnon." Jordan was trying to look stern, but she'd seen her friend in action too many times to be able to keep a straight face. She allowed herself a tiny smile, if only for an instant.
Kari froze. She heard his name and saw his handsome face at the same time, and she couldn't move. She stood there staring as if she were seeing something that couldn't possibly be there.
Jordan continued on. "Actually, Mr. DuQuaine came-"
Smoothly, Austin cut Jordan off. "How do you do, Miss McKinnon, ma'am. I'm pleased to know that I will have the pleasure of working with someone so talented as you. I hear that you are very good at everything you do."
How dare he. How dare he! Somehow Kari found her voice. If it had been a cold day in hell, the chill in her voice couldn't have been icier.
"I'm sure you'll find some type of pleasure working here, Mr. DuQuaine. I've heard of DuQuaine Industries. This certainly must be a step down for such a great man as you."
Touché! Austin noted mentally that this wasn't going to be so easy. Ice could be melted, though. The flame within him would melt that icy exterior. At least he had her where she couldn't easily get away.
Smiling sweetly, Kari smoothed her skirt and turned to Rory "You don't have to worry about this mess Rory, I'll take care of it." Honey dripping from her lips as she turned back to her best friend. "What is it that you would like me to do for Mr. DuQuaine, Jordan?"
Jordan just stared at her, a tiny light turning on in her brain. She finally found her voice.
"I thought you could take him out to lunch as I have another commitment. And, maybe give him a short tour around this facility. But, ah, Kari, I see that you really need to go home and change, so I can ask someone else."
"That would be nice, Jordan. I really do feel uncomfortable." She looked at Austin with glittering green eyes, hoping he got the message.
"I'd be glad to take you home, Miss McKinnon, and then we could go out to lunch. I could go for a good lobster salad."
Kari glared at him. Damn him! The nerve he had mentioning her favorite salad. It wasn't fair that he should be standing there, so sexy that she could hardly keep her eyes from wandering leisurely over his body, aching to touch him, kiss him....
Jordan inserted herself into quickly into the conversation, agreeing that would be a good idea. It hadn't taken her long to figure out that this was most likely the mystery man Kari had met in Hawaii. The look on Kari's face told all. Jordan's friend had never been any good at hiding her feelings.
Glancing at Austin, Jordan could see that he wasn't much better at it. This guy must have it bad to follow Kari here. Well, Jordan wasn't about to stand in the way of love. No one had ever done something like that for her. Appraising the situation further, she could see that he was in a lot of trouble. Something must have really gone wrong. Kari would have to tell now.
"I really don't think-"
"As your boss, Kari, I'm ordering you to take Mr. DuQuaine to lunch. Company expense. I'll talk to you later. Bye!"
Before anything else could be said, Jordan whirled around and was gone. Rory, embarrassed, bent over to pick up the mess on the floor while Kari stood with her fists clenched, glaring at the man she'd fallen in love with, and given herself to completely. The man who had used her.
Before she could say anything, Austin stepped forward and grabbed her by the hand, nearly dragging her out into the corridor. As they turned the corner out of everyone's sight, he took her by the shoulders and pressed her against the wall. His rugged lips covered hers instantly, catching her completely off guard. Kari tried desperately to break the kiss.
"Austin, you-" Her words were cut short as he held her face with both hands, massaging her lips with his thumbs.
"Ah, Kari, I've missed you so." Austin's lips sought hers again. As his kiss became more insistent, Kari felt the resistance starting to drain from her body. She became pliant in his arms, not wanting to, but not being able to stop herself. Her eyes fluttered shut as she slipped her arms around his neck. Oh, God, how could he do this to her. Her soul went spinning out of control at the simple touch of his skin to hers.
His lips released hers and nibbled at her ear, whispering her name over and over. Kari's knees grew wobbly as he whispered again how much he missed and needed her.
"We need to talk, Kari. I have so much to explain to you. Please give me the chance to tell you what happened. I know that I was wrong not to let you know about Lisa right away. Things happened so fast, I wasn't thinking straight. I just never expected anyone like you to come into my well-ordered life and turn it upside down. I love you so much, Kari."
Austin held Kari at arm's length. "Let me show you how much you mean to me. We won't do anything you don't want to. We can go for a walk, go to lunch, whatever you want. Please say yes, Kari."
Still confused, Kari opened her eyes slowly, gazing into those soft brown eyes that always took her breath away. She swallowed, inhaling, exhaling, slowly.
"I don't think so, Austin. You can't just walk back in my life and expect, well, just expect me to fall all over you, my darling husband! Oh wait. You aren’t really my husband. That was just another one of your smooth, southern lies."
Austin winced at the barb. He'd had that one coming. At least she'd called him her husband, even if it was said sarcastically. It was a start.
"Kari. If I didn't love you, would I have come here and gotten a job with the same company? Are you going to hold it against me forever, because I made one little mistake?"
Kari looked incredulous. "A little mistake, Austin? You supposedly marry me, while all the time you have a fiancé safely tucked away at home? I may have been a fool, but I'm not stupid."
"Okay. You're right. It was a very big mistake, but I'm here with you, not there with her. Doesn't that count for something?"
Before she could answer, Austin took her hands in his. "Kari, I know that saying I'm sorry isn't enough, but couldn't we at least talk about it. If you don't like what I have to say, then tell me to get lost for good and I will."
Kari's insides were shaking. She loved him, but he'd betrayed her, or had he, really? It couldn't hurt to hear what he had to say, even if she was going to tell him it was over between them. A reminder of the pain he'd caused her suddenly returned with a vengeance. She needed air. Shutting her eyes tightly against the rising tide of tears, she drew in a long, audible breath, releasing it slowly. She opened her eyes, gazing at him with a sorrowful, but determined look on her face.
"Al..alright, we'll talk, Austin. But...just talk and nothing else."
Yes. Yes! "You won't regret this, Kari. Is lunch okay with you?" Austin's insides quivered with relief. At least she was giving him a chance. A chance he intended to make the most of.
>
"Lunch will be fine. But, just lunch and nothing else.” Austin’s wife eyed him suspiciously. “I need to get out these clothes first. You may not come into my apartment while I change clothes, either. You will wait out in the car for me. I'm not letting you within one hundred feet of anything that looks like you could lie down on it." She gave him a bold, defiant look. He held up his hands in mock surrender.
"Any way you want it, sweetheart. As long as you give me a chance to explain things."
"Fine. Great! Let's get this over with so I can get back to my life. And don’t call me sweetheart."
Kari wriggled past him, catching her heel in the carpet. Austin grabbed her to keep her from falling on her face once again. He gently pulled her upright, grasping her around her ribs, holding her close to him. Kari felt her heart race too wildly at his touch. Austin felt it too, grinning to himself at her endearing awkwardness. Her racing heart gave her away. Maybe he did have a chance.
She straightened herself, marching proudly out the door ahead of him. No way was he going to get to her with some sob story! Yet, he'd traced her whereabouts. He'd come for her. Still, Kari would not make it easy for Austin DuQuaine to worm his way into her life again.
Easy. She had been the easy one, the dupe. Austin DuQuaine would not find her to be so this time. She'd learned her lesson well. Still, a moment in his arms had nearly made her forget that lesson. Time to put on the steel exterior that she'd been so good at exhibiting for the last few years when it came to the opposite sex. Unfortunately, when he'd looked at her with those sexy dark eyes and long, sweeping eyelashes, she'd nearly fallen over in her eagerness to forgive him on the spot. Kari put her defenses on full, red alert.
They stepped out into the blazing Florida sunshine. It was a beautiful day, with the green palms etched against an sapphire sky. As her gaze traveled back to the street, she immediately saw a sleek, black corvette convertible, waiting just for them. Her heart took a turn. Why did he have to bring that car? Austin took her lightly by the elbow, helping her in. He dashed around the rear of the car, hurdling gracefully into the driver's side.
Austin's Pleasure Page 9
