The Reluctant Beauty(14)

Peg scurried into the room and eased the door closed. He was there on her bed, leaning back on her pile of pillows with his boots off and ankles crossed and his hands linked behind his head.

Gulping hard, she said, “Geez ’em Pete, you gotta do that around me?” She stuck her thumb in the direction of the other room. “I could jump your bones right now, but I won’t cause big ears and everything.”

He chuckled. “Come on, Peg.” He pat the bed beside him. “You slept beside me last night and you didn’t try anything.”

“R-I-C-O, that’s why, bub.” She put her hands on her hips. “Look, it ain’t convincing them. Famous? Hell’s bells, you could have told me or something.” She threw up her hands. “You had to be badass hot and a rock star?! They don’t believe it. Us.” She brushed her hands together. “So, ibso, facto. Finito. Hit the road, Jack.”

“No.”

“Whatda mean, no?”

“I’m staying. I’m your boyfriend, remember? You wanted this.” He shrugged. “I’m here and ain’t going anywhere.”

Rounding the bed, she hopped up on the side and knelt by his hip, saying, “Boyfriend? They barely can believe I know you, Austin Rhoades.” She grabbed the front of his shirt and tugged. “You and me are not a you and me, got it?”

“Your eyes are so big,” he said out of the blue. “And the way you’re pretending to be mad. It’s so cute.”

“I’m not pretending.”

“Cuter, still.” He grinned. “I can’t stop watching your lips. God, you’re a great kisser… Yeah, but I told you that already.”

Peg felt the heat climb up her long neck and into her cheeks. His eyes were gazing at her mouth. She couldn’t breathe, never mind talk at the moment.

He reached up and cupped her head in his hand, pulling her down to him. She landed on him.

He grunted at the impact, and then chuckled.

She could break away. If she wanted to. If she didn’t want the same thing so darn bad.

Sighing, she gave in to the want, to the need.

His lips were firm and hot. He moaned.

Capturing the sound, Peg gasped. A swirl of desire licked through her. She gave in, completely and wantonly. It was her one and only chance to do all the things she’d ever dreamt of doing.

She splayed her hands across his rock hard chest, popped a button or two when she tugged on his shirt and slide her hands under the fabric. Peg groaned. Soft, yet hard. Hot skin. Perfect muscles. She trailed her fingers up and then down, going lower.

And she still kissed him, bold and hungry. Hey, why not? He’d never remember her in a million years after all the girls he’d kissed in his lifetime.

“Oh, my!” Her father’s voice broke through her foggy brain.

Peg jerked away and scrambled off the bed. Austin sat up slowly while buttoning his shirt and appearing dazed. “Mr. Newbury, I’m sorry. I got carried away.”

Frowning, Peg thought he sounded sincere. He’s a good actor, too. “Pop. We were just—"

Her father held up his hands. “No, no need to explain. I know exactly what was going on.” His puzzled look said it all. “A couple, Peg?” He shook his head. “It doesn’t add up.”

Oh, that was it. Her economist father couldn’t put it all together. It wasn’t feasible. Or practical.

“It’s going to blow,” her mother called from the other room.

“Buffy, is the baby coming? Now?” Peg rushed out of the room behind her father and with Austin close on her size ten flats. She crammed into the small bathroom with her family and the rock star. “Sis, you all right? I thought your water broke.”

“Not mine,” she said, pointing toward the ceiling over the tub. “But that’s about to any minute.”

The bulging ceiling looked eight months pregnant itself. “Danger, Will Robinson, danger! What is that thing?”

“Looks like a leak from your upstairs neighbor. Let’s get out of here before it breaks and hurts someone,” Austin suggested.

She reached over and yanked the shower curtain shut. “Containment.” Peg nudged her sister-in-law out first, and then her brother and her parents.

Austin made sure she got out before him. “Got the superintendent’s number?”

“Do I? I’ve been bellyaching about that sound of dripping for weeks. It’s grown into a full-size cantaloupe now. Geez ’em Pete, that’s all I need.”

Peg rushed to get her clipboard and phone, found the man’s number, and pushed speed dial. “Yo, Super Duper, it’s Peg. We got trouble in River City.”