The Reluctant Beauty(25)
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.