The Reluctant Beauty (Once Upon A Romance Series)

by Laurie LeClair

  Looking at Peg now, he tried to convince himself this liquid heat in him wasn’t what he wanted or needed.

  She wasn’t what he wanted or needed. Yeah, right, his body seemed to mock.

  ***

  Peg straightened the last of her clothes, liking the outfit, but not certain she could pull off the look. Or even dare to leave the room with so much skin showing. Slipping into the black sparkly heels Rico shoved at her, she thought she was someone else.

  “Rico, I never wear heels. I’m already a beanstalk, towering over most people.”

  “Oh, honey. You look G-O-O-D!” her friend said.

  Austin whistled again, low and long. Heat dotted her cheeks. With a last-minute hair fluff from Rico, a brush of mascara, and sweep of lip gloss, she was done. She blinked at herself in the mirror.

  “Geez Louise, who is that?” she wondered aloud.

  “Pegalicious, girl! Or should I say luscious, right, Austin?” Rico clapped his hands.

  “Luscious would be correct,” Austin agreed, meeting her gaze in the mirror.

  There it went again. Her cheeks burned at his hot, lazy perusal of her.

  “Let’s get this show on the road,” Peg said, turning away from the reflection and heading for the door. “Follow my lead, fellas.”

  She sucked in a deep, cleansing breath, and then opened the door. The voices stopped. All eyes were on her as she sauntered out of the bathroom with Austin and Rico following close behind.

  “Peg?" her mother asked.

  “Is that you, my little girl?” Her father’s voice was filled with wonder.

  “Sis?” her brother and his wife asked in unison.

  “What, haven’t you ever seen someone this tall before? The heels add three more inches. How’s them apples?” She didn’t wait for any more comments. “Clipboard?”

  Priscilla rose from the desk chair and handed it to her. “You look great, Peg! Man, what I’d give for those legs.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Now I got a job to do, so all of you can talk amongst yourselves while I get down to business.”

  “Griff’s in the lobby, entertaining the troops,” Prissy said with a smile.

  “Pickles and pasta, not that. Why, he’s gonna scowl one too many times and scare them away. Why didn’t you say something?” Peg rushed out of the office and down the hallway to the elevator. She stumbled a few times and then righted herself in the heels.

  “Wait for me,” Rico cried out.

  “Us,” Priscilla added. “And he’s not snarling, well, too much, today. I brought Ruby to keep him calm.”

  “Between you and the baby, you two have kept him under wraps. Thank all that is holy and good for that,” Peg said, scanning the list on her clipboard. Everything was set up yesterday afternoon, checked, double-checked, and closed for the night. But who knew what her family had done to the setup overnight? She grabbed for the pencil attached to the top of the board and began to scribble in the margins of her lists. “Triple check.”

  “Peg.” Austin’s voice brought her up short.

  Looking over her shoulder, she saw him walking to her, all good-looking and smiling. For crying out loud, he didn’t have to do anything, just stand there, for her to tremble. This was not good. Not by a long shot.

  She heard her family’s voices before she saw them storming down the hall.

  “Break up,” Peg said. “One hour. Downstairs. In front of everyone.” End it now.

  “Do you always order everyone around?” His smile took the bite out of his words.

  “Yep. Works for me.”

  The elevator doors dinged open. Rico and Priscilla hustled her inside and joined her. When she turned around, she found Austin gazing at her. His eyes, intense and searing, held her stare. This time she shivered.

  “Bye, Peg.”

  Gulping hard, she nodded. “Roger and out,” she whispered.

  No more kisses. No more close calls. No more hottie.

  Oh, Jiminy Cricket. She swore her heart just cracked open, leaving a Grand Canyon of an ache behind.

  Chapter 9

  Back to all business, Peg got the group organized and assigned each family a personal King’s shopper. She handed out a copy of the already filled-out family’s wish list to them and waved them off.

  “Good choices,” Griff said, nodding to the handpicked employees who seemed to enjoy the adventure just as much as the families did.

  “You may not have a way with people, Boss, but you do know who does and you put them together.”

  “Leave it to you to call it like it is,” he muttered.

  “You grumpier than usual, Boss?” She checked off the personal shopper event and moved down to focus on the next thing on her list. “Prissy said she brought Ruby. Where’s that baby of yours? She’ll sweeten you up in no time flat.”

  “What? You run out of sugar, Peg? On what’s his name? Rhoades?”

  “Now you’re asking for it, buster,” she said, putting her hand on her hip and tapping her foot.

  Griff glanced at her. “Never seen you in heels like that before. Don’t think in shorts, either.”

  She hadn’t worked with him this long to know he was trying to joke with her. Maybe in another couple dozen years, he’d get it down pat. “Watch out or I’ll sic my family on you.” Smiling, she turned and walked away.

  His soft chuckle reached her.

  People stared as she went by. Men looked at her. Some even did a double take. Peg tried to brush it aside, but she got a tiny thrill at their reaction. For one day, she’d take it all in. Then tomorrow she’d be right back to her old self again.

  She caught a glimpse of his hotness, his stare locked on her as a group of teenagers surrounded him. He looked downright uncomfortable with all the attention.

  But just his look did the strangest things to her.

  Gulping hard, she wondered, after spending the weekend with Austin, would she ever be able to go back to her old self ever again? Would she want to?

  ***

  Austin Rhoades stayed as far away physically from Peg as he possibly could. But, he did watch her. She was everywhere, keeping people on track, helping wherever anyone needed it, and buzzing like a bee around the store.

  Peg Newbury, self-assured and in charge, loved what she did. She did it with humor and grace. Why couldn’t her family see this?

  Whenever she came in close proximity to him, he stared.

  Lusted was more like it.

  She was adorable with those big brown eyes, her ready smile, that cute little chin, and those incredibly long, sexy legs. But it was the woman herself who turned him on.

  Her funny little sayings made him smile. Her sometimes bossy attitude was just a front. Things got done when she took charge. She kept people in line. Well, most of them. Her family was an exception. That’s where Peg was unsure of herself, in front of them.

  Maybe he could help her.

  ***

  “I found you,” Austin said, coming upon two people chattering amicably in front of the Charmings Wedding Boutique. They were at a lull and waved to the families as they headed to other departments around them.

  “Moi?” Rico asked, putting a hand to his lips.

  “No, he means me,” Evelyn said, turning toward her brother. “I’ve heard you’ve been busy.”

  He shot Rico a glare. “You didn’t have to go and blab.”

  His sister giggled. “Then you don’t know Rico at all.”

  “Girl.” Rico nudged her arm. “I’m not a blabbermouth. Have I told him how you want to have a dozen babies of your own? Sooner rather than later.”

  She winced. “You just did.”

  “Oh.” He pressed his hand to his mouth. “My bad. Look, Austin, she’s been around the King babies, babysits all the time, and just can’t get enough of the stinky little things.”

  “Ev, you’re not?” Austin looked down at her flat stomach, and then back up into her light blue eyes, the only thing they’d both inherited from their mother.


  With her cheeks flushed, she said, “No, of course not. You know I love kids. Always have.” She shrugged. “It’s just being around the babies…well, my clock is ticking—”

  “You’re only twenty-five. You’ve got years,” he pointed out.

  “Years I don’t want to wait.” The stubborn streak flashed across her face and he knew there’d be no talking her out of anything.

  “You are so like Mom in a lot of ways.” He smiled fondly. “She never backed down.”

  “Especially when it came to us,” Evelyn agreed.

  Austin let out a long, hot breath. “I can’t stop you.”

  “At least you’ve got that much straight,” Rico chimed in.

  “If Mom where still here, she’d want you to go for your dreams. So who am I to stop you? At least I can help you. Money.”

  “Austin, we’ve beaten this subject to death. I want to make it on my own.”

  “With a dozen babies?” He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’d like to see that.”

  “Oh, girl, you’re not going to do that in vitro stuff, are you? You know, six or seven babies at a time. That’s more like a litter.” Rico shivered in disgust.

  They chuckled. It eased the air.

  “No, Rico, I want you to be the father of all my babies. How’s that?” Evelyn smiled smugly up at him.

  His mouth fell open and he backed away, pressing a hand to his chest. “No, no. I’m Uncle Rico. U-N-C-L-E. Not Daddy Rico.”

  “Somehow, I knew you’d ditch me,” Evelyn said. “But the babies need you.” Her smile, sly and wicked, stretched across her face. “Never can get the best of him. I’m loving this,” she said under her breath.

  “You can torture him later. Right now I need to ask him a favor.” Austin nodded to Rico.

  “You game?”

  “With you? O-M-G! It’s my lucky day,” Rico said, clapping his hands.

  “It’s actually for Peg.”

  “Peg?” Rico and Evelyn asked in unison.

  Quickly, he explained her family’s lack of faith in her and her work. He shrugged, saying, “I thought we could show them. Make sure they see it with their own eyes how much she loves this place and how good she is at doing what she loves.” Pin pricks of warmth crept over his cheeks.

  Rico smacked him on the chest. “A hottie and a nice guy. Ev, honey, why did you keep him from us so long?”

  She folded her arms over her chest, mimicking Austin’s stance, and stared, long and hard, at him. Her direct assessment was unnerving. “You like her. You really like her.”

  Heat whooshed over his cheeks now.

  “Oh, he really likes her,” Rico chorused.

  “Forget it, okay,” Austin bit out and stormed away.

  Why had he even bothered?

  ***

  Austin skirted his way around Peg, which wasn’t easy to do since she was everywhere all the time. But he steered clear of her, only to be zapped when she did glance his way. Once, she nearly stumbled when their gazes caught and held.

  His gut coiled tighter.

  Finding her father deep in conversion with an older man in uniform, Austin stood and waited it out. He was surprised to hear them discuss cars.

  “Ah, nothing like a good heavy Chevy,” Peg’s father said. “I wish I had kept mine. But with a wife and two kids, that old gal had to go.”

  “I’m a Ford guy, myself. Mustang all the way.”

  “Now you’re talking. Can’t forget them. What year?”

  “Older ones. Classics. Like me, I guess.”

  That had them all chuckling.

  The men finally noticed him.

  “Austin, my boy, things settled down finally.” He winked.

  He didn’t realize Peg’s father had a sense of humor. All he’d heard was the soundness of economics, what direction the country should take, and, of course, Peg’s mapped-out future with a family, house, and a white picket fence. “Sir.” He nodded to both of them.

  Slapping Austin on the back, he said, “This is my future son-in-law, Austin Rhoades.”

  Austin winced and rubbed the back of his neck. How had he let it get this far?

  “That’s my little girl over there,” he pointed out.

  The guy in uniform, Browne, by his name plate, turned to look. “Peg’s your daughter? You must be so proud of her. Griffin thought of this special celebration, knew what he wanted to do, but it was Peg who organized it all. She whipped us into shape. I could have used her in my unit.”

  “Really?” Peg’s father asked, clearly taken aback. “I had no idea. I thought she only did that to us. Whenever she comes home, she’s ordering us around and getting the house organized or remodeled.”

  She must have felt their stare; she finished up with a group of ladies and turned their way. Austin noticed she swallowed hard, but still marched their way.

  “Got too much time on your hands, fellas?” She looked at the soldier. “Is your speech ready for the party tonight, Captain?”

  “I’ve got the basics down.”

  “Tell you what. Meet me half hour before in the hotel lobby and I’ll proof it for you. Make sure it sings.”

  He smiled. “Thanks, Peg. I need to make certain I have the right tone.”

  “Will do.” She scribbled a note on the top sheet attached to her clipboard. “Now, I gotta shake a leg.” She leaned over and kissed her father on the cheek. “Don’t overdo it, Pop, or I’ll have to get tough with you.”

  Laughing, he said, “And you’re not now?”

  Peg chuckled and rushed away, heading for the overflowing Beauty Bar.

  “She’s something, isn’t she?” Austin spoke his thoughts aloud.

  “That’s my girl.”

  “You should be proud of her,” Captain Browne said. “Griffin tells me this place wouldn’t run like clockwork if it wasn’t for Peg. She’s got a heart of gold, too. My wife,” he stopped, choking up, “has been sick. Cancer.” He swallowed hard. “Peg’s been calling every day, checking in with her, keeping her spirits high, making her laugh, and even sending King’s care packages. You know—girl things, bubble bath, perfume, nail polish…just the right touch. No out-and-out sympathy, but real caring.” He wiped his eyes, nodding to the woman Peg hugged and whisked into the salon around the gathering crowd outside the glass doors. “That’s her. Lost all her hair this year to chemo.”

  Shock rushed through Austin. The woman was small and frail, barely coming to Peg’s collarbone. And the wig she wore seemed too big for her head. But Peg looked down at her, smiling. The woman’s face had lit up.

  Austin turned back to his companions. He nodded to the soldier. “Tough break. For both of you.”

  “Why, I had no idea.” Peg’s father coughed, watching his daughter with pride shining in his eyes. “Sorry to hear your wife isn’t well.”

  “On the last of the treatments right now.” He shrugged. “We never were able to have kids. Peg’s been like a surrogate daughter.”

  “Bosses you around, too, I see,” Peg’s father said with a gruffness in his voice.

  “You’re a lucky man, Mr. Newbury.” He shook hands.

  “Thank you, Captain.”

  “You, too, Mr. Rhoades. She’s loyal and honest, to a fault,” he smiled, “but with a heart bigger than the state of Texas.”

  Austin swallowed hard. He didn’t have to have this guy point it out; he’d seen it. The problem was, he’d seen it and had been sucker punched in the gut with it.

  He should be headed out of town, away from people, out of the spotlight. Somewhere where he could lie on a hammock away from crowds and figure out if staying in the band and being on the road for the rest of his life was the answer for him.

  So why were his feet rooted to the spot and why was he falling hard and fast for this sassy, leggy, spitfire?

  ***

  “Success,” Peg said, as they ushered out the last of the soldiers and their loved ones. Griff, carrying baby Ruby and with Priscilla at his sid
e, led the families toward the luxury buses to bring them back to the house and hotel to get ready for the big ball tonight.

  “Great job, once again, Peg,” Charlie, the owner of King’s and her friend, said, giving her a squeeze around her shoulders. “Remind me to give you a raise.”

  “Ah, Boss, you kinda sorta did already.” Peg cringed at the thought of how much merchandise her family had used overnight and how much the King family allowed her for a new wardrobe. Rico had pulled a pile of clothes for Peg, and that was just for starters. Receipts were stacking up.

  She had yet to see the evidence, but Rico assured her he’d deposited the new duds in her office until her place was back to normal and she could move back in. For tonight, she and her family were invited to bunk at Charlie’s house.

  “Think of it as a bonus.”

  Peg steered Charlie away from the departing backs of their guests and looped her arm in her boss’s and headed for the floor. “Look, pal o’ friend. I got to tell you, it was thousands of dollars in product. I’ll pay it back—”

  “Quit, will you? You’re family, Peg. We help each other.”

  Choking up, Peg said, “Geez Louise, you’re gonna make me cry, Boss. Thanks, for everything. Place to stay tonight, too.”

  “Dolly will love the company. The more the merrier with her. You know she’s been trying out new recipes, right? She and Marcus are putting a cookbook together for King’s.”

  “Mamma Mia, I gotta get in on the taste testing. I just gained five pounds thinking about it.”

  They chuckled, coming upon the employees straightening up the store.

  “Great job, everyone,” Charlie called out, waving.

  “Thanks,” one called back.

  “We had a great time,” another one said.

  When Charlie lagged behind to say a few more words to some, Peg told her she’d meet up with her later. But, for Peg, she headed to the housewares department.

  Getting off the escalator, she sighed heavily, bracing herself for the coming meeting. She loved her family, but right now she didn’t need their constant badgering for her to get married and start popping out babies.