Passionate Kisses 2 Boxed Set: Love in Bloom

by Magda Alexander

  She sighed. In a couple of days, she’d return to Boise and her safe, predictable life. She stared at the diamond on her ring finger. On a long, wistful breath, she let herself imagine what it would be like if her relationship with him were real.

  The fantasy lasted about a millisecond, and she straightened on the bench with a frown. Wealthy and jet-setting Zachary Banister would never in a million years be interested in conservative and middle-class Audrey Thompson.

  She stretched her legs out in front of her. She supposed she’d just enjoy the game while it lasted. Maybe she’d learn a thing or two to take back to her life in Boise.

  “Having fun?”

  Audrey’s eyes flew open as Theresa stepped into the gazebo.

  “You scared me. I didn’t hear you come up.” She scooted over on the bench to make room. “Yes, it’s beautiful out here,” she said.

  Theresa sat down. “I meant, are you having fun with Zach’s little game?”

  Audrey hid her bare feet in the shadows, remembering Ava’s advice never to be caught without the stilettos. “I can’t believe anyone is buying it, but yeah. I’m having a good time.” She smiled.

  Theresa didn’t quite return the smile. “It’s hard not to buy it with the way you two are carrying on.”

  Audrey’s skin burned. She cleared her throat.

  “Zach and I used to do this to our parents when we were teenagers,” Theresa said, placing her hands behind her on the bench and circling her head around a few times as if she had a kink in her neck. She laughed. “I could never outdo him, did he tell you that?”

  Audrey shook her head.

  “He always knew exactly the type of girl to bring home who would get under our parents’ skin. I swear, that boy should have been an actor. He really knows how to play the doting boyfriend.”

  Audrey focused on the leaves of the quaking aspen across the garden. “Is this where you’re going to warn me not to get too caught up in the game, to not fall in love with him?”

  Theresa looked at her. “No matter how upfront he was with the girls, they always got the wrong idea.”

  Audrey forced a chuckle. “Don’t worry. I’m about as interested in a serious relationship as he is.” Which was true, if she referred to Ava.

  Theresa cocked her head and pursed her lips. “Uh-huh. I’ve seen the way you look at him.”

  “He’s easy on the eyes, in case you hadn’t noticed.” Audrey kept her tone light. “Don’t forget what I do for a living, Theresa.”

  “Ah, yes. I do remember. So you’re really an actress? That wasn’t just part of the joke?”

  Audrey shook her head. “My, ah, primary job is flight attendant in Zach’s company.”

  “So Zach is your boss.”

  Audrey hadn’t really thought about that.

  “Aren’t you afraid that this could damage your work relationship?”

  “Why would it? Our relationship is no different now than it’s ever been.” Which was also completely true, if they referred to Ava.

  Theresa plucked a petal from a red rose vine twining around the railing. “I’ve also seen the way my brother looks at you.”

  Audrey’s pulse sped up. “Like you said, he’s been doing this for years.”

  “Perhaps,” Theresa said. She opened her mouth to say something more, but stood up instead. She nodded to the ring on Audrey’s finger. “Just don’t forget it’s all pretend.”

  Audrey watched Theresa disappear into the maze of raised rock beds and roses, then leaned back into the railing. Did Theresa mean Zach’s carefree façade was just that, a façade? Was he not as immune to this game as he appeared to be?

  What would he do when he found out she wasn’t who she said she was?

  *****

  Zach met Theresa coming out of the gardens. “Did you see Ava in there?”

  “She’s in the gazebo.” She started to brush past him, and he grabbed her arm, halting her.

  “What did you say to her?”

  She laughed and pulled her arm free. “What? You’re afraid I’m trying to sabotage your fun?”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time,” he said dryly.

  She patted his cheek. “Don’t worry, little bro. Your secret’s safe with me.”

  “Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me the whole story?”

  She feigned indignation. “That hurts.”

  “Deal with it. What happened?”

  “Just be careful. I have a feeling she’s hiding something.”

  “You don’t trust any woman I date.”

  “Neither do you, or you wouldn’t still be bringing home fake girlfriends.” She glided off with all the grace of the charm school graduate she was.

  Damn!

  He should be delighted Ava concerned even Theresa, who was in on the joke. But he hoped his sister had been nice to her. The Ava Divine he thought he knew could brush off any unfriendliness with the blink of a fake eyelash. But this new Ava… He had a feeling she wasn’t so thick-skinned.

  An empty gazebo greeted him. He knew Ava hadn’t gone back to the house because she would have had to pass him. Zach strode toward the river.

  In the midst of the cottonwood and aspen, Ava stood on the bank, barefoot, her shoes dangling from one hand. Zach paused in the shadows to admire her. Dappled sunlight shone on her upswept hair, brightening the loose tendrils around her face. The tight mini skirt hugged her curvy hips and showed off her endless legs. She’d changed into a white gypsy shirt that hung low on one shoulder, revealing a creamy expanse of skin. His fingers tingled in anticipation, as if she’d bared that shoulder just for him. He’d always thought her beautiful, but now…

  He recalled the intimacies they’d shared. The feel of her slick, wet body pressed against his in the shower; the way her nipples hardened with just the briefest touch of his fingers; her hot, tight sheath clamped around him. Everything about her-the sight, the feel, the taste of her-left him wanting more. His slacks tightened at the crotch.

  He realized he also genuinely liked her company. He’d never had a woman friend. Plenty of female acquaintances. But one with whom he could horse around and be himself? Never. He hadn’t trusted one enough for that.

  Zach took a step toward her, and a twig crackled beneath his feet.

  Ava turned toward him and smiled. “Hi,” she said. “You’re back earlier than I expected.”

  “Hi, yourself.” His feet crunched on old leaves as he crossed the bank to stand beside her and stare out at the slow-moving water. “I didn’t feel like hanging around for the closing ceremonies.”

  “How did you do?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve played better. You okay?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his golf shoes. “You’ve had a busy day. You’ve been scolded by my father, kicked off the golf course, and accosted by my sister.”

  “Don’t worry.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine.”

  Zach pressed his fingers to his temples, reminding himself yet again that he should be glad their plan was working so well. But her feelings were hurt. “How would you like to get out of here for a while?” he asked.

  Relief flooded her emerald eyes. “I would love that. I’m feeling kind of cooped up, which doesn’t make a lot of sense, considering your family’s estate is bigger than my neighborhood.”

  He tugged her toward the house. “Grab your purse, and meet me in the foyer in fifteen minutes.”

  “Where are we going?”

  Where were they going? “Uh… We can head up to my cabin for the day. You might want to change into some jeans.”

  “Ava doesn’t wear jeans,” she said.

  He grinned at how she referred to herself in third person, then wondered what had possessed him to invite her to his cabin. A woman who didn’t wear jeans. She’d take one look at the remote and primitive surroundings, and demand he take her back to civilization.

 
; Just like Rachel.

  He worked the muscles in his jaw, biting back the bad memory. “If you hate it, I’ll bring you right back.”

  “I won’t hate it.” One perfectly-arched eyebrow rose. “As long as there are no taxidermied animal heads inside.”

  He smiled, liking her more and more every minute.

  *****

  Audrey brushed her teeth and touched up her makeup. Her stomach knotted at the thought of being alone with Zach at his cabin.

  She’d pretty much been nuts from the time she’d agreed to this whole charade. Why stop now?

  It would be nice to get away from the prying eyes of his family for a few hours. Never in her life had she experienced such disdain. She wondered if her sister experienced this reaction on a regular basis. She hoped not.

  She still had a few minutes before Zach expected her downstairs. Picking up her cell phone, she speed-dialed her home number.

  Her sister answered on the fourth ring, and she sounded out of breath. “Shoot me now.”

  Audrey tucked the phone between ear and shoulder as she swiped coral lipstick across her mouth. “Why? What’s going on?”

  “I’m bored silly, sis. I can’t believe you don’t even have cable.”

  Audrey squinted at herself in the mirror. “I don’t watch much TV.” She tipped the ends of her lashes in black mascara. Audrey Thompson would never wear so much makeup to a cabin, but as Ava… She’d better add a second layer.

  “What do you do for excitement around here?” Ava asked.

  “I don’t know, I hike the foothills, go to movies with my friends, work out.”

  “Oh. My. God. Audrey baby, you need to get a life.”

  Audrey stopped mid-lash with the mascara. “I like my life, thank you very much.”

  “Uh, huh. That’s why you’re still pretending to be me. How’s it going?”

  “Promise not to laugh, okay?”

  “Shoot.”

  “I’m falling for Zach.”

  Ava didn’t laugh. She didn’t say anything for a long time. The mantle clock ticked, ticked, ticked in the silence. “What?” Her soft tone conveyed her disbelief.

  “I know it’s silly, because it’s not really me he likes but you, but… I don’t know. I’m feeling things around him I’ve never felt with anyone else.”

  Quiet echoed on the line. “Does he feel the same way about you?”

  No, he feels the same way about you. Audrey rubbed a finger across her bottom lip as she inhaled a shaky breath. “Well, I took your advice and have been, ah, living it up a little.”

  “How ‘little?’”

  Audrey stared at her reflection, and saw Ava staring back at her. Her gaze flicked away, and she straightened the toiletries on the counter.

  “Audrey. Talk to me. You slept with him, didn’t you?”

  “Um…”

  “Audrey, I think you should pack up your bags and come back to Boise this instant.”

  Audrey frowned, unnerved with this sensible side of Ava. Usually, it was the other way around. “What? Why?”

  “You just said it’s not Audrey Thompson he thinks he’s with. It’s me. How do you think he’ll react when he learns you’re not me?”

  Audrey worried her lower lip. “Maybe he doesn’t need to find out.”

  “That’ll be kind of hard to do, since he’s my boss.” Ava said some choice words under her breath. “Tell him the truth, then get the hell out of there. I’ll figure out a way to smooth things over next time I see him.”

  Someone rapped on her door. “Ava? You ready?”

  Anxiety and anticipation washed over her, heating her face.

  “Who’s that?” the real Ava blurted. She could hear when she actually listened.

  Audrey called out, “Just a second,” then said into the phone, “It’s Zachary. We’re going to his cabin.” She checked her reflection one last time.

  “No, you’re coming home. Right?”

  She couldn’t meet her gaze in the mirror as she carefully turned off her phone.

  *****

  The Jeep zipped down the highway with the top off, the wind whipping through Audrey’s hair, disproving the marketing claims of Ava’s super-hold hairspray. The kitchen staff had packed them a picnic basket, which they’d stored in the backseat.

  Blissfully away from the Banister family animosity, they drove into downtown Sun Valley. Zach parked on the street in front of a clothing boutique. Faceless white mannequins wearing chic summer clothes on their ultra-thin forms posed behind the storefront windows.

  Audrey peered at Zach through her sunglasses. “You forget to pack something?”

  “No. You did.” He nodded to her short skirt and gypsy top. “Although I love looking at your legs, jeans would be more appropriate for where we’re going.”

  Audrey looked at the fashionable mannequins again, saw dollar signs, and thought of her bank account. Crap. “I’m okay. Really.” She had several pairs of jeans at home-many useless miles away.

  “My treat,” he said. He climbed out, then came around to open her door.

  “Don’t be silly. I can pay for myself.” Ava, however, would have no qualms about letting him pay. She cleared her throat. “But if you insist…”

  He returned her smile, and they went inside.

  Zach grabbed several pairs of expensive-looking jeans, plus a few shirts, all without a glance at the price tags. Audrey couldn’t imagine. She shopped at Target.

  He insisted she model the clothes for him. He sat in an overstuffed chair outside the curtained dressing rooms as she changed. She’d always thought jeans were jeans, but the way these hugged her curves almost had her rethinking her frugal ways. She pushed the maroon curtain aside, feeling like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, and stepped out of the dressing room.

  A huge floor-to-ceiling mirror greeted her. She turned in a slow circle in front of it and Zach. “You like?”

  He hauled her onto his lap. “Hell, yes, I like,” he muttered, shoving his fingers into her hair and pulling her face down to his. His mouth clamped onto hers in a hot, hard kiss. And despite the other patrons present in the store who pretended not to watch, Audrey kissed him back.

  Finally, he said against her mouth, “We’d better stop before we get arrested.” His hands slid down to her waist, finding bare skin as he kissed her hard again.

  A few minutes later, as she rifled through a stack of Tshirts, his hand grazed the side of her breast. When he bent to pick up a pair of shoes for her, she couldn’t resist running her hand across his tight behind.

  By the time they finally reached the cash register, Audrey wore new blue jeans, a designer T-shirt that showed a sliver of her bare belly, and white Keds. When the saleswoman rang up the purchases, Audrey forced herself to remain upright. Holy crap! The total equaled more than her entire year’s clothing budget.

  When they stepped outside into the warm Sun Valley sunshine, Audrey smiled up at him. “Thank you, Zachary.”

  She saw her reflection in his dark shades. His eyebrows rose. “You’re very welcome.” He bent and kissed her nose. “Consider it a thank-you for helping me out this weekend.”

  “I can’t imagine how generous you must be with your real girlfriends,” she said, hating the thought of other women in his life.

  “I like to be generous with my money.” He appeared to be looking over her head and not at her. She wished she could see his eyes behind his glasses.

  “You’re generous with a lot of things,” she said, thinking how he emphasized her sexual gratification over his own.

  He said nothing, but headed toward the Jeep.

  Why the reluctance to talk about this with her? She jogged to catch up with him. “Not all women expect that much generosity.”

  “Name one.” He stopped in front of the Jeep, and tossed the bags into the back seat.

  Me! Audrey wanted to shout. “Well, er, my sister. She couldn’t care less about money.”

  “Really?” He opened the door for
her. “What does she care about?”

  Audrey climbed into her seat. Realizing she risked crossing that proverbial line, she placed a hand on his chest. The strong ker-thunk of his heart beat beneath her palm. “She wants a man to be generous with this.”

  He gave a hollow-sounding laugh, and peeled her hand from him. “That’s exactly why I don’t date women like your sister.” When he slammed the door, Audrey jumped in her seat.

  Neither spoke as they drove through Sun Valley and Ketchum, then down the highway toward Hailey, another mountain community. She needed to stop pouting; he hadn’t intended to insult her. She’d invited his comment by bringing up her Audrey-self. How was he to know he’d just insulted her?

  “How far away is your cabin?” she asked, the wind tossing her hair and her words.

  The return of his grin pleased her. “It won’t take long.”

  She leaned back in her seat and marveled at the spectacular scenery of majestic mountain peaks, bright blue sky, and gorgeous hunk of a man beside her. She needed to stop worrying about the future and savor the moment, to enjoy her life right now.

  That worked until Zach pulled the Jeep into the airport.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.

  “My cabin’s not accessible by car.”

  “Not accessible by car? Where’s it at? The North Pole?”

  He nudged her shoulder playfully. “Just up in the mountains a bit.”

  “We’re already up in the mountains a bit.”

  “It’s up a bit more.”

  Audrey gripped the sides of her seat as he pulled to a stop in the small parking lot. “I really think we should just stay here. I’m sure there’s a nice park nearby.” She rubbed her sweaty palms on the thighs of her new jeans.

  He chuckled and leapt out of the vehicle, swinging the picnic basket from the backseat. “I’m sure there is, but I haven’t been to my cabin in a while. I need to check on a few things.”

  Crap. Crap! Crap! Leaden legs carried her alongside Zach as they walked through the small concourse. He filed their flight plan with the flight service station, then led her outside, past a line of jets, to a small, white helicopter.