by Erika Wilde
With a low growl that reverberated deep in his chest, Austin lifted his head, his eyes glowing with unsuppressed hunger. “I suggest we finish this later, when we don’t have an audience.”
Certain that intimate comment was meant for their viewers’ ears, she nodded, the only intelligible gesture she could manage at the moment.
“They have got to be the most romantic, in-love couple I’ve ever seen,” Teddy heard some woman say from behind Austin.
They’d certainly fooled everyone, she thought with a grimace. Hopefully, Louden would be just as convinced.
Arm in arm, they strolled away from the arbor. “You’re an investment broker,” she whispered in a low voice to Austin, and nodded sociably at an older couple who were smiling at them.
“I am?” Amusement threaded Austin’s voice.
“As of ten minutes ago, you are.”
“How about I own my landscaping business instead?”
She shook her head at him, dismissing his offbeat suggestion. “No, I was thinking more along the lines of something upscale and respectable.”
“Respectable?” he echoed, his voice losing that humorous edge of moments before.
Her face flushed. She hadn’t meant to insult him. “Well, yes,” she hedged. “Saying you’re an investment broker is more respectable than announcing you’re a fantasy for hire. You weren’t around, we hadn’t discussed an occupation, and it’s the first thing I thought of.”
He shrugged, and accepted her choice of career. “Okay. After all, this is your fantasy.”
She frowned at him, and his choice of words. “No, my fantasy was a cowboy. This is strictly business.”
Annoyance flitted across his handsome face, and just when she suspected he was going to issue an argument of some sort, the man she’d been dreading all evening finally approached them. The tension Austin had worked so hard to obliterate quickly spread through Teddy’s body, tightening muscles and tingling nerves.
Dressed in the prerequisite black tie, Louden exuded confidence and professionalism, which Teddy supposed appealed to the higher-ups in the company. Louden couldn’t have climbed the corporate ladder as high as he had without competence and some personable qualities. What the directors didn’t realize, though, was just how poorly he handled employee relations.
Pale blue eyes scrutinized Austin lazily, but Teddy wasn’t fooled by his complacent behavior. Even if he was suspicious, he certainly wasn’t going to let it show in front of her, or anyone else.
“Hello, Louden,” Teddy greeted, trying to maintain a semblance of courtesy.
“Theodora.” Louden inclined his head at her and smiled pleasantly. “You look quite lovely tonight.”
Ignoring his compliment, she pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. “Louden, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Austin McBride.”
Louden turned his attention back to the man at her side, and Austin extended his hand toward her boss. Their hands clasped in a firm handshake, and Teddy caught an undercurrent of silent rivalry. Austin was clearly staking a claim, and Louden was sizing up the competition.
“Nice to meet you,” Austin said, his tone cordial.
Louden didn’t return the sentiment. “So, we finally get to meet the man in Theodora’s life. Can’t say I’ve heard a whole lot about you. Other than that ring on her finger, Teddy’s been keeping you a secret.”
“Well, she certainly hasn’t kept you a secret,” Austin replied meaningfully.
Something dark sparked in Louden’s gaze, but he didn’t respond. “You must be very proud of her. Theodora has proved herself to be quite a valuable asset to Sharper Image in the nine months that she’s been working for the company.”
“The woman constantly amazes me with her talent and dedication.” Austin slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close in an open display of support and tenderness. “I’m hoping to see her promoted to that senior graphic design position, where she can really exercise that creative mind of hers.”
Teddy discreetly nudged Austin in the side. The man was pouring the praise on a bit thick.
“I’d really like to see her promoted, too, but I have the difficult task of weighing both candidates’ proficiency for the position and convincing my superiors of their competence.” He sighed, as if the selection process was a burdensome one. “Needless to say, it’s been a tough decision.”
“I’m sure you’ll select the most qualified person for the job.” Austin’s words were cool, but very calculated.
Louden’s expression was just as shrewd. “Without a doubt.”
The band announced that dinner was about to be served, and for everyone to find their seats before the buffet began.
“If you’ll excuse me, I see a few people I’d like to say hello to before I sit down,” Louden said. “You two enjoy the evening, and I’ll see you in the office Monday, Theodora.”
Once they parted ways with Louden and headed toward their designated table, Austin asked, “Is there a reason why he calls you Theodora when everyone else calls you Teddy?”
“To annoy me, and to make sure I keep in mind his position of authority.” The only other person who used her formal name on a regular basis was her prim-and-proper mother, and her brothers when they wanted to antagonize her. “Speaking of which, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t directly challenge Louden like that.”
Austin clasped Teddy’s elbow to escort her through the throng of people. “Yeah, well, someone needs to knock that guy down a peg or two. He’s too cocky for his own good, and I don’t like the way he looks at you.”
She bristled, feeling her defenses rising. For too many years she’d endured coddling and protecting from three older brothers who’d treated her as a weak, vulnerable female. She’d despised every minute of it. That Austin felt compelled to shelter her as well provoked a bit of rebellion, especially when she’d struggled for so long to break free from her family’s stifling habits.
“Being my bodyguard isn’t your job, Austin,” she said emphatically. “All I need you to do is back up the ring on my finger. I’m more than capable of fighting my own battles in the boardroom.”
His mouth thinned ruthlessly. “Are you?”
“Yeah, I am.” She resented the insinuation that she couldn’t look after the situation herself. “I want this promotion on my own merit. My work record proves I’m qualified for the job, more so than my opponent.”
Austin didn’t look convinced. “Do you honestly believe that introducing your boyfriend is going to stop this slime-ball from making future moves on you? Guys like Louden don’t stop at minor obstacles like boyfriends. He wants to be in control, and he won’t stop until he gets what he wants, which seems to be you. The only way he’ll leave you alone is if you report him to human resources.”
Teddy’s stomach churned as she sat in the chair Austin pulled out for her at their table, but she refused to dwell on his accurate assessment of Louden, or just how messy filing a report against him could get. “Don’t worry, he’ll leave me alone,” she said, wishing she felt more confident than she sounded.
Austin let the subject drop as they joined the others at the table. Teddy made introductions to the people who hadn’t yet met Austin, and valiantly tried to shake off the black mood Louden had cast over them and the evening.
Minutes later, they stood in line at the buffet table, plate in hand. Dinner was a selection of salads, rich side dishes, fancy breads, chicken in a mushroom-and-wine sauce, and prime rib. A quarter of the way down the buffet, Teddy glanced up to find Janet, a buxom redhead who worked in her department as Louden’s secretary, staring purposefully at Austin from the opposite side of the smorgasbord. Janet was extremely loyal to Louden, and that alone made Teddy mistrust the woman.
Austin must have sensed the intensity of the other woman’s gaze, because he looked up, too—which was all the invitation Janet needed to launch into conversation.
“You look so familiar,” she said, tilting her head so her thic
k mane of curly auburn hair tumbled over her shoulder and lay enticingly just above the breasts straining the too-tight bodice of her spandex dress. “Have we met before?”
The question was harmless, yet an awful premonition made Teddy’s stomach dip.
“I don’t believe so,” Austin replied with a smile, and pressed his hand to Teddy’s spine to keep her moving along the buffet line.
Janet managed to stay aligned to them, eyeing Austin with too much interest as she put a croissant on her plate. “I keep imagining you in a police uniform. Are you a cop?”
The spoonful of scalloped potatoes Teddy scooped up missed her plate and would have landed on her shoes if it hadn’t been for Austin smoothly intercepting the entrée with his own plate.
“No, I’m a broker,” Austin said to Janet without missing a beat. Taking the spoon from Teddy’s unsteady fingers, he ladled a small portion of the potatoes onto her dish and murmured, “Be careful, honey, or we’re going to have a mess on our hands.”
The meaning behind Austin’s words wasn’t lost on Teddy. She struggled to keep a cool composure when all she could envision was the possible scandal should Austin be exposed. Her reputation at Sharper Image would be tarnished, and no doubt she’d kiss that promotion she’d coveted goodbye.
Austin’s answer didn’t seem to appease Janet. Ruthless determination gleamed in her eyes. “I was so certain you were a cop.”
“You must have him mixed up with someone else you’ve met,” Teddy interjected quickly, desperate to end the interrogation.
“Maybe, but I’ve got a memory for faces.” Janet’s gaze flickered dismissively from Teddy, to Austin, scrutinizing him one last time as she waited for the chef to place a slice of prime rib on her plate. “It’s going to drive me nuts until I place where I’ve seen you.” The slight curve to her mouth suggested she found Austin a mystery she intended to solve.
Teddy let out a tight breath as they finished their trek through the buffet and headed back to their table. “Tell me she wasn’t a Fantasy for Hire customer,” Teddy said, knowing her wish was a futile one.
“Unfortunately, I do remember her, though she’s not the one I fulfilled the fantasy for,” Austin replied wryly. “It was at a bachelorette party a few months ago, and the bride-to-be was marrying a cop, thus my costume. That redhead was more enthusiastic about my performance than the bride.”
Teddy groaned at her bad luck. “Hopefully, Janet won’t figure out the connection.”
“I think as long as I keep my clothes on, we might stand a chance,” he said, winking at her.
A burst of dry laughter escaped her throat, but his playful remark didn’t completely reassure her.
Clothes or no, Austin McBride had a body and face that most women wouldn’t soon forget.
The Christmas party was winding down, and Austin loathed for the evening to end, especially since he had Teddy right where he wanted her—in his embrace, dancing close to a slow Christmas ballad that comprised the band’s last set.
Despite the fantasy of playing Teddy’s lover, he’d enjoyed being with her and wondered if he’d see her again after tonight—no pretenses, just as a man and a woman strongly attracted to each other. The thought appealed to him immensely.
It went against his work ethics to pursue a client, but he’d thrown that restriction out the window the moment he’d agreed to accompany Teddy to her party. The stakes had somehow turned personal for him, his interest in Teddy Spencer stretching beyond business, yet he had no idea where he stood with her.
Before they parted ways, he intended to find out.
He glanced down at the woman in his arms, and found Teddy frowning, her troubled gaze trained on something beyond the parquet dance floor. Following her line of vision, he discovered her watching the redhead they’d encountered at the buffet table a few hours ago, who stood near the service bar conversing with Louden. She’d yet to approach them again, and Austin fervently hoped, for Teddy’s sake, that the other woman’s curiosity, and tenacity, fizzled. As for Louden, he’d kept his distance as well, but there were times throughout the evening when Austin had caught the man eyeing Teddy in a way that made Austin feel territorial.
“What’s on your mind, Teddy?” he asked, surprising himself with just how much he wanted to know about this woman who seemed such a paradox.
She pulled her gaze from the pair, and smiled up at him, a lazy curving of her mouth that attested to her relaxed state. “A cop, hmm?” she murmured, revealing exactly where her mind had ventured. “What’s your specialty at Fantasy for Hire?”
“I don’t really have one,” he admitted, rubbing his thumb over the hand he held against his chest. “Women’s fantasies vary, and are very personal. I’ve been a lifeguard, a UPS deliveryman, a biker. It all depends on the woman, and what turns her on.”
The hand resting on his shoulder moved upward, until her fingers touched the hair curling over the collar of his shirt. Her body flowed against his as they swayed to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.” “I bet you look just as good in leather pants as you do in chaps.”
“Ah, your fantasy,” he murmured. Pressing his palm low on her back, he slid a thigh gently between hers, making their position more intimate, more arousing. “How did I do in terms of fulfilling it?”
She gave him a sultry, upswept look that had him thinking inappropriate thoughts, considering they were still in a public place, surrounded by a dozen other dancing couples.
“You certainly lassoed my attention,” she admitted in a sexy, cowgirl drawl.
He felt ridiculously pleased with her confession. “So, what is it about a cowboy that turns you on?”
She gave his question some thought as they danced, her expression soft, her dark eyes luminous. “They’re rugged, but chivalrous, which makes them appealing.” She shrugged, her gaze meeting his daringly. “And there’s just something about chaps on a man that I find incredibly sexy, not to mention the sound of spurs on a wooden floor.”
A slow, spiraling heat spread toward his groin. “I’d wear spurs for you, cowgirl,” he whispered huskily, honestly.
Her breathing deepened, and through his tuxedo shirt he could feel her breasts swell, and her nipples tighten against his chest, tormenting him.
She touched her tongue to her bottom lip, and as if deciding their conversation was becoming too hot and provocative, she turned the subject back to him. “So, what compelled you to fulfill women’s fantasies?”
If she expected an exciting, sensational answer, she was going to be sorely disappointed. “Outstanding loans that needed to be paid.”
She nodded in understanding. “And do you enjoy the business?”
“I had more fun when I was younger,” he said, thinking back to the inception of Fantasy for Hire, and how a simple vision to earn extra money had exceeded his wildest expectations. Back then, he’d been enthusiastic, enjoying the excitement of each gig. “Now that I’ve hit thirty, I find I prefer conducting business with my clothes on.”
She grinned, and he thought about mentioning his flourishing landscaping business, which had become his main focus, but Teddy’s next question didn’t allow him time.
“How does your family feel about your profession?” she asked curiously.
“My mother and father are both gone. They died when I was sixteen.”
She appeared startled, and immediately regretful. “I’m sorry to hear that. Losing your parents at such a young age must have been extremely difficult.”
“Yeah, it was.” His mother and father had been good people, very much in love, and totally devoted to their two sons. Their death had shaken up his young world, and if it hadn’t been for Jordan’s guidance, he very easily would have become a juvenile delinquent. “My brother, Jordan, and I still miss them.”
The band announced the final song of the evening, and Bing’s tune segued into another ballad without a lapse. Some of the couples dispersed, but Teddy didn’t show any signs of wanting to go, so he continued to ho
ld her close as the music played.
Her gaze shone with genuine interest, solely focused on him. “So it’s just the two of you then?”
“Yeah. All we have is each other.” Austin found he liked talking to her, liked even more that she’d let down her guard to indulge in personal conversation—the getting-to-know-you kind of exchange that real lovers shared. “Jordan is older than me by two years. He raised me after our parents died.”
She tilted her head, looking soft, and beautiful, and very much at ease. “And how does big brother feel about you taking your clothes off for women?”
Austin chuckled, the sound swirling warm and intimate between them. “It’s definitely not his cup of tea. Jordan is an architect, and has always been a conservative sort of guy, but he’s always been very supportive of me and the choices I’ve made.”
“That’s great.” Her voice held a wistful quality that reached her eyes. “I wish my brothers were that way. Heck, I’d kill for a little support and encouragement from my parents, too.”
Austin thought briefly about what her sister-in-law, Susan, had divulged, but still couldn’t believe Teddy had ventured into her career alone, without having someone to share each step of success with. “Your family isn’t at all supportive of what you’re doing?”
She shook her head a little sadly. “Nope. I’m the youngest girl with three older brothers, which is the kiss of death itself. Then there’s my mother, who is from the old school, and believes a daughter should be raised to be a proper wife and hostess to her husband. She was horrified when I went to college to get my degree, and I know my father was disappointed, too.”
Austin’s hand rubbed small soothing circles at the base of her spine, and he could feel the rasp of her silky stockings against his slacks. He ignored the flash of heat that touched off a deep, inexplicable hunger for her, and steered his concentration back to their conversation. “Why can’t you do both, have a successful career and be a wife? Women do it all the time.”
A wry look crossed her features. “The two don’t seem to mix well for me. Remember Bartholomew? Well, I almost did the deed with him, and luckily came to my senses before I became a clone of my mother. That’s another incident my parents have yet to forgive me for.” Her gaze conveyed an unmistakable reckless defiance. “I’m not ready to settle down yet. I’ve got goals to attain, and quite frankly, after being stifled for more years than I care to recall, I like my freedom and independence.”
