The Reluctant Beauty (Once Upon A Romance Series)

by Laurie LeClair

  The cold blast of wind and icy drizzle hit him the moment he exited the building. He stopped long enough to shrug on his coat and turn up the collar. He should have bought a hat, he thought, as his bare head took the brunt of the bad weather.

  It was dark. It was cold. He hiked back the way the taxi had come and tried to find another one. No such luck.

  He spotted a coffee shop on the corner and jogged the rest of the way to it. Warmth and the pungent scent of coffee greeted him. He waited in line. More people came in after him. He looked around, nodded, and then kept his head down when curious stares lingered.

  “Hey, anyone ever tell you that you look like that guy in the band the Rhoadies?” A woman in front of him wouldn’t stop gawking.

  Her friend chimed in, “Yeah, you’re right. You know, what’s his name? But he’s got all that hair. Come on, it can’t be the first time someone’s ever asked you.”

  “Thanks,” he muttered.

  They looked like they’d either been out to dinner or were going to start their night; both were dressed up: short skirts, high heels, faces made up, and hair overdone with too much spray. He’d seen so many women like this in the front rows at his concerts.

  The first one moved closer. “I used to buy all their CDs, but lately they’re not as good. What do you think?”

  Ouch! That stung! Nothing like a critic. He shrugged.

  She nudged his arm. “Why don’t you join us? We’re waiting for a few friends to meet us and then we’re going to this new club we heard about.”

  “Oh, that would be so cute if we brought him, don’t you think?” her friend said.

  What was he? A puppy? “No, thanks.”

  Someone from behind jostled him. He turned quickly. A couple eyed him closely. “I swear that’s him,” the female half of the duo said. “I’d know him anywhere.”

  The big, hefty guy stared him down. “Shit, you’re right. I can’t believe it’s Austin Rhoades right here.”

  “Can I take a picture with you? Can you give me your autograph?” the guy’s date asked, pulling out her cell phone and taking a picture of him.

  “Hey,” the woman in front said. “I spotted him first.”

  Within seconds, the line was abuzz and the whole coffee shop came to a halt just to see what was going on. Panic rippled through him. He backed out of the line, holding up his hand. “Thanks, guys.”

  He bumped into people as he headed toward the door. “Sorry. I forgot something.” Yeah, like how damn hard it was to live in the real world anymore. Dodging his way out, Austin finally exited, but they were right there on his heels.

  It was hard to make out what they were saying; all of them were talking and snapping pictures at the same time. Noise and white flashes overtook his senses. At the street corner, he looked in all directions and then back at the group of people surging toward him. He bolted, darting into an alleyway and cutting across streets to get away.

  In the back of his mind, he knew where he was going, his feet automatically pointing him to one place he felt safe. One person he felt secure with. Peg.

  Chapter 4

  The pounding on the door matched the pounding in her head. “Geez, Louise, I shouldn’t have had the apple martinis. Sneaky little suckers,” she groaned. “Okay, okay, Rico. I’m coming. Whatcha do, go and forget your key? You know, I shouldn’t even let you into your own house when you left me high and dry like that.”

  She kept talking as she moved to the door. “I swear my head’s gonna explode if you don’t quit that racket.” Peg unlocked the door and yanked it open.

  Holding her aching head, she stared into the hottie’s pale blue eyes. She gulped hard. “For cripes’ sake, what are you doing here?” She realized she had on her pink polka dot jammies with her silly pink bunny slippers.

  “I…messed up. I do need a place to stay,” he said, looking over his shoulder.

  “No can do.”

  “What? Come on, Peg. Just tonight.”

  “Nope.” She went to close the door, but he put his foot out, stopping her.

  “I’m in a bind.”

  She eyed him closely. He did seem a little out of sorts now. “You rob a bank or something?”

  “Come on, Peg, do I look like I would do something like that?”

  “You’re nervous. You keep looking over your shoulder. The law after you?”

  “No. I need a place to stay. It’s cold and wet outside.”

  Dollars to doughnuts, he was hiding something. Could she make this work to her advantage? “I need a date.”

  “Seriously? Are you bringing that up now?”

  “Terms are, I do you a favor and you do me a favor.”

  “How fair is that? I just need a place to crash. You need a, what, two-week commitment?”

  “You get free room and board for two weeks. You meet my folks, brother, sis-in-law, and behave, then you dump me, in front of them. Poof, you’re gone. I’m happy. You’re happy. Whatda say?” She stuck out her hand.

  ***

  Two weeks? Two days would be better for him.

  But that might give him enough time to hide out, meet up with his sister, catch up on her life, and avoid the fans while he planned his next move out of the limelight. This time he’d fly off to some damn island where no one cared who he was or what he did.

  Doubts crowded in. Evelyn would let him bunk there, but she had a chatty roommate. And the press would make the connection and hound his sister. Even after he left, her life would still be upended; they never would believe he’d skipped out of town.

  They’d done it before. He’d helped her move to avoid the ongoing aftermath. They’d do it again.

  He shook Peg’s hand. “You’ve got a deal.”

  ***

  Peg wanted to do the happy dance, but settled for a handshake instead. She yanked him in and shut the door behind him.

  He had no idea what he’d gotten himself into. And she wasn’t about to fill him in on the details. Her family was relentless. Even with her, thus the date thingamajiggy plan had percolated and taken root.

  In fifteen minutes, Peg, with Austin’s help, put together his sleeping area: a couple of thick comforters on the floor and a spare pillow and blanket.

  “Your friend won’t mind, will he?” Austin asked, sitting on a chair and tugging off his heavy boots.

  “Rico? Nah! The more the better. He loves a good sleepover.”

  Austin seemed to sag. Peg noted how tired he looked.

  “You look beat. Hanging out at bars wears you out?”

  He chuckled. “Flying, months of working without a day off, now that does wear me out.”

  She frowned. “So what do you do anyway?” Putting out her hand, he took it, and she tugged him to his feet. She liked touching him. Too much. He was close. Now she saw the sleepy eyes and sliver of a smile. Peg gulped hard. That smile…

  “Travel a lot. For business.”

  He couldn’t even form complete sentences. She nudged him toward the lone bathroom. “You take the rights first; you need it more than me right now.”

  Mumbling something, he snatched some things from his duffel bag and went to the barely there room in the loft.

  Curious, Peg craned her neck to see if she could find out what else was in that black bag he carried around. Nope. Nothing but clothes on top.

  Marching away from it, because that was the right thing to do and she was fighting herself with peeking, Peg turned to the tiny kitchen and heated up a couple of cans of soup for them. After all, he must be cold, tired, and hungry by the looks of him.

  She heard movements in the other room, and called out to him. “Be there in a jiffy. I’m getting some grub for us.”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Strange.”

  Silence from the other room made her nervous. Picking up the pan from the stove and still stirring it with a wooden spoon, she padded into the living room and stopped short. He was stretched out on his makeshift bed. Fast asleep. Shirtless. Noth
ing but black boxer briefs on.

  “French fries and fiddlesticks! He’s gorgeous. Those pecs, Those abs. You could bounce a coin off of him.”

  The key in the door sounded. A second later, Rico entered. He halted in his tracks as he took in Peg and then followed her gaze to the half-naked man on the floor. “Well, Peg, if that’s hot wax and you two are in the middle of playing, I get to watch.”

  “What do you do with hot wax? Hair removal?”

  He rolled his eyes. “The things you don’t know.”

  ***

  “Rico, look at him. He’s to die for, isn’t he?” She whispered as she knelt over Austin’s prone body, having set the hot soup pan back on the stove. The man wasn’t kidding when he said he was tried. He lay dead to the world.

  “Who did his hair?” Rico reached out and rubbed his hand over the top. “Too short for my taste. But not bad.”

  “Let me feel.” It was soft, yet spiky in places. She giggled.

  Austin stirred.

  She pulled her hand back guiltily, curling her fingers to hold in that warm, tingly feeling whenever she touched him. He stilled. His perfect face looked even better this close. Sticking out a finger, she traced his jaw, liking the slight prickly sensation his scruffy beard caused.

  “Lower, Peg, much lower.” Rico poked at the guy’s bare chest.

  Peg swatted his hand away. “Hands off, bub. He’s my date.”

  “Shut up! O-M-G! Him?! How did you score that one?”he nearly shrieked.

  Peg gave him a nasty glare. “I do have some powers of persuasion.”

  Rico looked her up and down. “You? Where?”

  “Huh?” Austin mumbled.

  “See? You’re waking him up. Stop.” Peg tried to nudge Rico aside and away, but it was too late.

  ***

  Voices woke him. Austin blinked. He was on his back. And two people were crouched over him. Had he passed out on stage?

  Trying to will his mind to clear, he realized he’d been off tour for less than forty-eight hours, so it wasn’t that. But what?

  Slowly, the events of the long day and even longer night clicked into place as he focused on the woman hanging over him. Those big, brown eyes were trained on him, that smirk playing around her sexy lips, and he was certain she wasn’t wearing a bra under that thin pajama top. Now this he could get used to.

  But the guy? He’d recalled him from the restaurant when he left her there on her own. Her friend looked Austin over like a piece of filet mignon.

  “Peg?”

  “Hey, you remember. You know the morning after and all?” His blank look must have prompted her; she said, “Just kidding. You gotta catch on to my jokes or we’re toast with my folks.”

  The guy leaning over him giggled. “That rhymed. How funny.” He couldn’t stop laughing.

  Peg joined in. “Rico, how much booze did you drink on your date tonight, anyway?”

  “Not enough to make him disappear.” Another round of laughter gripped him. He tilted to the side and fell on the floor. “Oh no, my head is dizzy.”

  “So what’s new about that?”

  He laughed even harder.

  Beside him, Peg laid down, chuckling, her head just inches from Austin’s. And Rico did the same on the other side.

  Austin sighed, thinking this wasn’t much different than his touring days.

  ***

  Peg hustled to keep up with her boss, her clipboard in hand. “You gotta walk so darn fast this morning?” she mumbled.

  Griffin James stopped in his tracks. “What’s wrong?”

  “Huh?”

  “You were late this morning. You’re never late. Now you can’t keep up.”

  “Sleepover. At Rico’s.”

  He held up his hand. “Enough said. Rico has his reputation to live up to.”

  “Or down to,” she muttered.

  They both chuckled.

  At a slower pace, Griff moved ahead. “What’s next on the agenda? The men’s department remodel? It’s on schedule.”

  He was talking, but she barely listened. She did have something else on her mind. A man she’d left asleep with a note and a key by his side. Peg wondered if he’d follow through and go to her place, settle in, and then she’d see him later tonight.

  No wonder she’d never wanted a permanent relationship with anyone. He mind turned to mush at work.

  Griff had stopped again. Quiet now.

  “Ah, it’s my turn isn’t it, Boss?”

  “Peg, did you call the contractors? We’re all set for next weekend, right?”

  She nodded numbly. “Whattda think? Call’s made. Day’s set. We’re good.” Her usually razor-sharp mind took slightly longer to process the request and come up with the answer.

  “Good.” He rested his hands on his hips. “Now, first on the agenda is the charity event. The planners are putting the finishing touches on it as we speak. But, I need you here and focused. So, if you got something going on, you need to fix it and fast. Take the afternoon off. I’ll see you here bright and early tomorrow morning.”

  He walked away.

  She gulped hard. “Dismissed? For the day?” No one had ever done that to her before. But she couldn’t blame him. He’d had to repeat himself several times already. And she’d normally be five steps ahead of him.

  “Thanks, Boss,” she called out, racing back upstairs to her office. She’d get her things, lock up her desk, and skedaddle outta here and back to her apartment to check on Austin.

  Less than twenty minutes later, she was on the first floor of King’s Department Store again when she realized she’d better tell Rico she couldn’t meet up with him for lunch.

  There were a few people standing near the Charmings Wedding Boutique. She spotted Rico and his assistant, Evelyn, with a few other people. “Yoo hoo, gang! How’s the wedding biz today?” The figures on sales and weddings jumped higher than ever now that Kings, more specifically, the owner Charolotte King Royale, designed one-of-a-kind wedding dresses for the store, so they were adding more employees to help out. That must be it. They must be newbies.

  “Oh, honey, that color is all you,” Rico called out, referring to her bronze silk blouse and brown skirt. They match the caramel highlights I added to your hair.”

  “Geez, Louise, Rico, it’s only ‘cause you picked it out for me…” Her voice trailed off as she came upon the circle of people. “Ma? Pop? What are you doing here? You weren’t due until next week,” she squeaked out.

  Her brother’s wide grin and cheeky smile made her groan. “Hey, sis. Doc told Buffy the baby is coming two weeks early, so we decided to come now instead of cancel altogether.” He put his arm around his beaming wife. “So here we are.”

  But it was the man slightly behind her brother who caught her attention and held it. He was wearing a brand new black baseball cap, low over his eyes, but still she knew him, would know him anywhere. She gulped hard.

  Rico grabbed her elbow and tugged her closer. “You know Evelyn’s brother, don’t you?” His tone was too sweet.

  Evelyn grinned, reached back and pulled her brother to her side. “This is my big brother, Austin.”

  “We’ve met,” Austin said.

  “Brother?” What was this going to do to her plan?

  “Half,” both brother and sister inserted, but smiled, clearly fond of each other.

  “Holy crap, Batman and Robin,” Peg whispered, but it carried. Austin chuckled.

  Peg’s brother, Chip, turned to look at him. “You look familiar.”

  His wife clutched his arm. “Oh my God. It’s Austin Rhoades! He’s the founder and lead singer for the Rhoadies!” she nearly shrieked and gushed as she stared at Austin.

  Looking from her sister-in-law to Austin and his slight nod of agreement, Peg felt the blood drain from her face. What in the flying fig had she gotten herself into? She’d never pull this off now!

  Back to square one with the date thingy. Damn, if only they hadn’t figured it out about Rico; she
could have tried to pass him off as her one and only.

  Not gonna happen.

  Chapter 5

  Austin watched Peg, her slack jaw, pale face, and wide questioning eyes. His heart tugged. The jig was up before it had even started. How in the world did he think he could pull this off? How could he have thought he could hide in plain sight?

  His plans on being incognito while in Dallas dissolved right before his very eyes.

  The end of the charade.

  He could see the disappointment in Peg’s face, the various emotions coming and going. There, he saw the flash of betrayal. That hit, hard and swift.

  Somehow she conveyed her feelings, silently letting him off the hook.

  So he shouldn’t be feeling guilty about a damn thing, right? Wrong!

  Could he leave her hanging like that? She’d let him sleep over, gave him a key to her place, and had gone along with his wishes thus far. He’d done nothing for her at all.

  He’d overheard her family’s concerns to Rico right before Peg had arrived.

  They felt sorry for her. Tall, gawky only daughter never fit in with them. They’d tried, but, she was so obviously different in appearance alone. They loved her and only wanted the best for her.

  Underneath it all, Austin heard the well of regret, the fear of her never quite having a decent home life. The lonely existence they painted for her did seem sad. All work. Consumed with King’s Department Store. They just wanted the best for her. Work wasn’t everything. Huge sigh, but, for Peg, it might just end up that way; her mother had sniffed back tears.

  Shouldn’t he do something?

  He still needed a low-key place to crash; when the press got a hold of the fact he was staying in town, they’d camp out at every high-end hotel to catch him coming and going. He’d never have any peace.

  Those eyes, big and brown, captured him.

  His heart tugged.

  They’d both benefit from this. At least that’s what he argued with himself about right before he said, “Peg and I know each other already.”