“You deserve everything you get, buster,” she grumbled. A tug on her covers had her sitting up. “What are you doing?” Her forehead knocked against his. “Oh, holy night,” she cursed.
He grunted and rubbed his head. “I swear I’m going to have a goose egg tomorrow morning.”
“Shoo! Go, be gone!” She shoved at his hard, bare chest. Heat burned her palms. He grabbed her wrists and held her hands to his wildly beating heart.
“Of all the women in the world, it had to be you,” he muttered.
Jerking away from him, she twisted and turned her back on him. “Some prize, huh?” His words stung. That was a first. She’d never let a guy’s comments wound her before.
“Bad timing,” he said.
Peg snorted.
The sofa dipped when he joined her. A cool breeze rushed over her when he lifted the comforter to cover both of them. He cuddled close, pressed against the length of her. There was no mistaking how turned on he was. Peg gulped hard.
“Relax. I’m dog tired, your family’s scattered around the store in various departments trying to fall asleep, Bruno’s just a call away, and, I’m not about to make it with you in a window display.”
“Fat chance.”
His chuckle tickled her ear. A sweep of heat rushed through her.
“Why?”
Austin sighed. Another whisper of warmth curled in her center. “Thought it would fix things. Never imagined it would make it worse.”
With his hand settled on her hip, he must have drifted off. But Peg couldn’t sleep. Being so close to him kept her nerves jumping. And her mind sorted the messy aftermath of his steamy kiss.
Her family had them practically married already. They’d mapped out the next two years of her life. She could work while they planned the wedding. And, of course, King’s Department Store, would be the one and only store they would consider for the arrangements. Once hitched, Peg would quit and the couple would move close to them. While trying for a baby, Peg could fix up the house they’d selected for her.
The babies-slash-cousins-would grow up together. The grandparents would babysit often. Oh, and more babies to come, exactly two years apart from each other.
It wasn’t half bad for someone who liked that sort of thing. But, not for Peg. And surely not for Austin Rhoades.
Her mind buzzed with ways to stop the madness, once and for all.
Plan A: He’d have to break up with her, quick and to the point. Better still, in front of her family, too. Now, all she had to do was convince him it was for the best. He needed to get out of her life, sooner rather than later.
That shouldn’t be so hard to do, right?
Chapter 8
Austin slept with dreams dancing through his mind. The visions and impressions played all night long. They felt so real, like kissing Peg again. Her soft, luscious lips came back to haunt him. He shivered. He wanted more.
Then there were voices, a low murmur at first, and then rising. Could that be Rico talking?
And what was that brilliant light? Was he on stage again?
“Succotash and sassafras,” Peg cried out, yanking him fully awake.
Sitting up, he blinked the sleep out of his eyes and looked out the window.
A couple dozen people stared back. Some were in fatigues, holding kids, some women were peering closely and pointing; others held cameras and started clicking.
Austin whipped around to see Rico coming into the display. With his hands pressed against his chest, he said, “O-M-G! Peg, hottie, I didn’t know you two were here. I pulled the cord to open the curtain just like Griff asked me to do.”
Peg bolted to her knees, lost her balance, and landed on his bare chest. They both grunted. Pushing away from him, she kicked aside the covers and half rolled, half fell to the floor. She hit with a dull thud. Her rabbit feet pajamas caused the onlookers to laugh and point. “The Wounded Warrior families,” Peg whispered, scrambling to stand up. “I’m dead meat now.”
“Rico, close the curtain,” Austin said.
“No can do. Griff’s on his way.”
Slowly standing, Austin heard and saw the many clicks of the cameras. He was shirtless and shoeless. Exposed and vulnerable.
He bent to pick up his shirt when the first scream sliced the air.
“That’s him! I’d know him anywhere!”
Another shriek sounded, and then one right after the other followed.
“Now you’ve gone and done it,” Peg said, inching backwards.
The chant from some of the onlookers began. “Austin! Austin! Austin!”
The hairs on the back of his head stood on end. No one was supposed to know his physical location.
Austin was in the spotlight. Again.
He cursed.
Griffin came into the display with a woman close behind. “What’s—” He stopped short. “Peg?”
“Oh, honey, come with me. I’ll get you outta here. Rico, you, too,” the lady with the strawberry blonde hair said, quickly guiding them out of the area.
“Prissy, I swear, I didn’t—" Peg’s voice faded away.
Between gritted teeth, Griff said, “Wave at your fans, grab your shirt, and then you’re coming with me. Understood?”
“What’s not to get?” Austin muttered.
He backed up, nodded, waved once, and then leaned down to snare his shirt and socks and boots. More shrieks sounded. Warmth stole over his cheeks. He always hated it when strangers made a big deal out of him, mostly because of how he looked and what he did.
It had nothing to do with him as a person.
Finally, he rushed down the stairs and back into the store only to face a line of gawking employees. They blinked a few times and tried to pin on smiles.
“Peg and him?” The whispered question cut through the awkward silence.
Griff held up his hand. “There’s no show here, folks. Let’s just get ready for the soldiers and their families. Doors open in ten.”
His stern look must have spoken volumes; they scurried away and murmured, “Yes, Griff. We’ll be ready.”
Austin tugged on his shirt.
“You hurt Peg and you have me to answer to.”
“You didn’t waste any time, did you?” He was happy someone Peg knew wanted to make sure she didn’t get hurt.
“Nope. Ex-military. Peg’s family. Need any more explanation?”
“I’m good,” Austin said with a smile in his voice.
“You’ve got two choices. Peg’s in the executive offices with my wife, Priscilla. Rico’s pulling something for Peg to wear. You can either go see her now and get it over with or you can face your admirers on the way out the door.”
Standing straight, Austin looked at this guy. Steely gray eyes stared back at him, hard and unyielding. “Thanks for taking care of Peg.”
“So you’re leaving.”
“No way. I’m going to see her. Just point the way.”
This Griff guy smiled. Well, it was for a second maybe, but it was a smile. “Okay, Rhoades. I’ll have someone show you the way. But, if you stay, you pitch in. Maybe sing a song or two. For the warriors. Tonight at the private ball.”
“You know me?”
“Rico, Peg’s family, Bruno, my in-laws, and a few others have been talking.” He shrugged. “I’m more of a classic rock fan myself.”
He laughed. At least this guy wasn’t going to sugarcoat anything. Austin stuck out his hand. Griff clasped it in a firm handshake. “I’m in. You wouldn’t happen to have a guitar in the store, would you?”
Griff rubbed his chin. “Kid’s Department. Toys. Hope that will do for now.”
Austin scratched his head. “Well, that’s better than nothing.”
A few minutes later, he was whisked up in the muted gold elevator to the fifth floor. He’d managed to pull on his socks and boots before the door dinged open.
Looking up, Rico waited for him. He had his arms crossed over his chest and was tapping his foot. “It’s about time you g
ot here. Should I call you Rock Star?”
“Come on, don’t give me that.”
“A little surly today, aren’t we? Didn’t get any last night?”
“Rico.” His voice filled with warning.
He reached over and smacked him on the upper arm. “J-O-K-E! Come on, hottie. I grabbed some duds for you, too.”
“What kind of duds?” The hackles on the back of his neck stood up.
“Never mind. I got it all sorted out.” He nudged Austin into the executives’ office and down the hall. “Boys over here.” He flicked a hand behind him. “Girls over there.”
He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “Peg’s that way?”
“Yes and deedee.”
“Then I should be going that way.”
“All in good time, hottie. Listen to brother Rico. Her mom and sis-in-law are in there with her, besides Priscilla.” He shook his head. “You don’t want to be there, trust me.”
He put two and two together. “So her father and brother are this way.”
“Oh, you are a smart one.”
Halting, he asked, “And you think they’d be any better?”
Rico nudged him again to get him moving. “But you have me, so that makes all the difference.”
Somehow he wasn’t convinced.
Austin stopped in his tracks, pivoted, and marched the other way. “I’m going to see Peg first.”
***
“Torture, I tell you, pure torture,” Peg whispered under her breath to Priscilla.
“They love you,” her friend pointed out. “But their taste in clothes is…how can I say this?”
“Tasteless?” Peg offered, holding up a pair of white cotton panties and a pointy, white bra that could hold a couple of gallons of lead.
Priscilla cringed. “They insisted on helping. You should have seen the look on Rico’s face. He’s personally going to see to the banning of all such undies.”
“Ma, Buffy,” Peg said between gritted teeth. “I can handle getting dressed. No need to wait on me.” Pink cheeked and freshly scrubbed from her shower in the boss’s private bathroom off his office, she clutched a fluffy green towel around her.
“We need to talk, dear,” her mother said, smoothing her hair into place. Her new blue dress picked up the color of her eyes perfectly. “About the boy.”
By the boy, Peg knew she meant Austin.
“Peg, you know we only want the best for you, so don’t take this the wrong way,” her sister-in-law said, clutching her hands. She bit her lip. “Um…he’s smitten now…but it might wear off quick.”
“Cut to the run,” Peg’s mother said.
“Chase, Ma. Cut to the chase,” Peg corrected her.
“No one else has shown any interest. So don’t wait for the wedding. Put a ring on it before he changes his mind.” Her mother’s advice didn’t surprise her.
Priscilla shoved a bunched-up wad of material at her. “Here, Peg, try these. They’ll be much better.”
“Don’t try to distract me, Prissy,” Peg said, but grabbed for the black lacy lingerie. She backed into the bathroom and left the door halfway open while she dropped the towel and shimmied into the delicate fabric. “Mother, what are you up to?”
“We told,” Buffy piped up.
“Peg, it was for your own good,” her mother added.
“Told what?” she asked, looking down at the skimpy attire; it barely covered her important parts.
“The press—”
“What?!” Peg and Priscilla cried out in unison. Peg rushed out of the bathroom and into the executive office just as the outer door opened.
Austin, with Rico following, barged into the room. “Peg—” He whistled long and low.
Heat swooshed into her cheeks. “Hotness, what are you doing here?”
“O-M-G, Peg!” Rico cried out. “You’ve been hiding that all these years! Girl, you got some legs on you.”
With all eyes on her, Peg wished she could crawl away. Instead, she took a half step back and then another. Priscilla rushed to her side and tried to shield her. “Thanks, pal, I owe you,” Peg said, trying to avoid looking directly at Austin.
But he was there in front of her and nudging Priscilla aside. “I’ve got this,” he said and backed Peg up into the bathroom, slamming the door behind them.
On the other side of the door, she heard her family and friends talking all at once. Chaos. But it was nothing compared to what her insides were doing as she stood two feet away from his holy hotness with his light blue eyes nearly devouring her.
She pointed over his shoulder. “You should be out there.” Looking around, she gauged how far she had to stoop down to grab the towel off the floor. How geeky and awkward would she look in next to nothing leaning over and trying to snag it up?
His gaze traveled over her.
Heat stole into her cheeks.
Austin leaned down and grabbed the towel, handing it to her. But he didn’t release it; he stepped closer.
Peg backed up, hitting the wall, trying to escape. “Mamma…Mamma Mia…” Was she stuttering?
His dreamy smile caught her attention. His lips moved. “You owe me.”
“Huh?” Now she couldn’t talk at all. That was a first.
“A kiss.” He crowded close, dangling the towel from his fingers, just out of her reach.
The voices on the other side of the door rose.
“Peg, not before the wedding,” her mother scolded.
“Do it, girl! Hurry up. I’ll keep them away,” Rico called out. Something hit the door. “Ouch! Not fair.”
“A cheering squad?” Austin asked.
She snorted. “Rah, rah, sis cum bah. What’s next? Score cards?”
He lifted his hand and trailed his fingers over her cheek. His frown said it all. “This isn’t what we want.”
“Tell me about it.” She sucked in a sharp breath when he ran his thumb over her bottom lip. Little tingles started where he touched and shot out and beyond.
“No way,” Rico cried. “How can I win against a woman whose preggers?” He grunted. “That was my shin you just kicked!”
“It’ll be higher next time,” her sister-in-law warned.
“Peg? Peg!” Rico’s voice rose another octave. “Hurry up, will you! She’s aiming—”
Austin sighed, pulling away. His hot breath fanned over her face. Gently, he placed the towel around her.
Peg gulped hard as his palm brushed her skin. He stilled, gazing into her eyes. “Peg—”
She heard the bang of the wood hitting the wall and felt a sudden breeze right before she realized someone had entered the room.
***
“What the hell?” Austin asked, twisting around to see Rico bolt into the tiny bathroom, grab the doorknob, and slam it shut in both Mrs. Newbury’s faces. He turned the lock. The loud click resounded in the air. He leaned back against the barrier, breathing hard. His eyes were wide.
“They got a piece of the devil in them. Girl, why didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s getting too crowded in here,” Austin pointed out as Peg nudged him aside so she could see her friend.
“Rico, you were supposed to hold them off, not surrender.”
Still pressed against the entranceway, Rico held out a hanger with clothes on it. “Me? That sis-in-law of yours can kick. Girl, any higher and I’d be crushed. Literally.”
Peg took the offered clothes, turned the hanger around to look at the back and front, and then eyed them suspiciously. “Is there a skirt?”
“Just try it, will ya?” His breathing had finally slowed and he pushed away from the door. Another bang hit. Rico jumped away. He grabbed Austin’s arm. “You’ll protect me, won’t you?”
“It’s me they’re after,” Austin said. “You just got caught in the middle.”
“Nah, fellas. It’s me.” Peg nearly moaned at how ridiculous her family was acting. In the background, she heard her father and brother’s voices join the fray. “Holy Saint Nick. Does
everyone have to be out there?”
Austin grabbed the clothes she thrust at him and held up the hanger as she yanked the white silk blouse off of it.
“Black camisole first,” Rico said, nodding to the dangling scrap of silk.
Peg dropped the towel and avoided their stares. “Mind? I’m half naked here,” she said.
“No. I don’t mind at all,” Austin said with a smile. “In fact—”
She smacked him on the arm.
“Did you teach the rest of your family that?” He rubbed his arm. But he didn’t turn away. How could he? She was tall, with perfect curves, soft smooth skin he’d love to keep touching, and had the longest, sexiest legs he’d ever seen in his life.
The constant hum in his body just increased in vibration, like turning up the volume. That only happened when he played music. Never with a woman before.
Austin shook his head, wondering, once again, what was happening to him.
With quick, jerky movements in the cramped space, Peg slid the camisole on, poked her arms through blouse sleeves, straightened the black collar and black cuffs on the sleeves, and then grabbed for the rest of the outfit. “Shorts? Leather shorts?” She froze.
“To die for, aren’t they? D-I-E, honey.”
“I don’t wear this kind of stuff, Rico. You know that.”
“Girl, you’ve been covering up those gams way too long.”
“Beautiful gams,” Austin corrected.
She jerked her head to look at him. He heard her swallow hard.
“It’s true,” he said, looking directly into her chocolate-brown eyes. His heart did this funny little flip.
“I don’t have time for this,” she said. “I got a store to help run.” She pulled the shorts off the clips on the hanger and shimmied into them.
He heard the double meaning. She didn’t have time for him, either.
She was right, of course. Neither of them had time to deal with this. His plan of escape closed in on him. Hadn’t being on display in the window this morning shown him that much? People knew who he was and where he was. Word would spread.
King’s was his refuge, for the time being. But it would all come to an end soon once he walked into real life.
The Reluctant Beauty (Once Upon A Romance Series) Page 6
