Authors: Rita Herron

Husband Hunting 101 (25 page)

No sexual reaction at all.

The two thousand dollars he'd had to pay her to be his escort proved it. He'd seen her freely leave the restaurant with bikers and thugs; yet he still had to cough up cash.

Marci slipped through the crowded corridor, and he followed, his eyes glued to the gentle sway of her hips. The two of them settled into a corner booth, and he studied the menu, forcing himself to concentrate on food as he reminded himself of all the reasons he and Marci were unsuited.

And then all the reasons they were perfectly suited for this farce of an engagement.

He couldn't picture her settling down and getting married—a major plus in his book. The last thing he wanted was to have some woman decide she wanted to fill the role of fiancée for real and try to tie him down.

Now
that
would be a disaster.

"I bet you get sick of restaurant food, Marci," Austin said.

"Kimberly," she said softly.

"Oh, sorry, Kimberly." He nodded approvingly. "That's a pretty name."

"Thanks." Her cheeks turned a soft pink and he shifted uncomfortably. He liked this new side of Marci-Kimberly.

A heavyset waitress wearing black pants, a white shirt and a ridiculous little bow tie ambled over, removed the pencil stuck in her stiff brown hair and jotted down their orders.

A soft country ballad played in the background, and Austin decided to tell Kimberly a little more about his family just to prepare her in case the family drilled them.

Her blue eyes twinkled back at him as she listened intently. Damn. Her chestnut hair and pale complexion were the same beautiful shade he'd seen a dozen or so times.

But tonight she seemed different.

Quieter somehow, not as flirty, but sweet. Her voice even sounded a tad huskier. Maybe changing her name had something to do with the change in her personality.

At the restaurant she enjoyed showing off her assets, but now... well, she was more subdued. Still, her intoxicating perfume was driving him crazy and a frightening thought hit him.

He was actually starting to
like
her.

By the time they climbed back in the car, she'd lapsed into silence. He grimaced and started the engine. Hell, he was probably boring her to death with tales of his family.

As they drove away, he kept ordering himself to think of blueprints to keep his mind off the way she was built, while she was probably thinking of other, more exciting men.

"Do you mind if I turn on the radio?" Kimberly asked, finally breaking the strained silence.

"Of course not." Although she would no doubt roll on the floor laughing at his choice of music.

But Kimberly popped in his favorite selection—
Kenny G, Unplugged
—and he was so surprised he hit a pothole and almost swerved off the road.

Then she laid her head against the headrest, making her long curly hair tumble softly around her shoulders, and his lungs tightened. She looked classier and sexier than he'd ever thought Marci Turner, no, Kimberly, could look.

"Um, Kimberly, I've been thinking. I'm not sure my parents will believe I fell in love with a waitress. Do you think we could make up a new line of work for you? Maybe a nurse or librarian?"

Her blue eyes darkened suddenly. "Of course," she agreed readily. "Why don't you tell them I work in a children's center?"

Austin sighed in relief. He'd been afraid she would be offended. "Perfect. My mom's crazy about kids. We can say you're a teacher."

Kimberly's eyebrows lifted. "No, tell them I'm the director."

"Great, that's even better. They'll really be impressed," Austin said enthusiastically.

A long silence stretched between them as the sound of Kenny G's saxophone echoed through the car. As the soul-searching melody seeped into him, he covered her hand with his. "I really appreciate this."

She seemed to tense again, but in a different way—a totally sensual way that indicated her body felt a response to his hand touching hers.

"Tell me about the wedding," she said softly.

Austin nodded, although he didn't intend to divulge everything. There was no reason he had to admit that he'd needed a fiancée because his best friend was marrying his former girlfriend.

Both the bride and groom as well as his parents were worried he would be distraught, so he'd decided an engagement of his own would put an end to any pity parties they'd planned for him. And after he showed off Kimberly, Josh would be satisfied he didn't harbor any hard feelings. Then they could all relax and have fun.

"The groom was my best friend in high school and college. We used to run track together."
And chase girls, only Josh usually caught them
.

"When is the wedding?" Kimberly asked.

"The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner are tomorrow night, the bachelor party following." He grinned at the thought of drinking beer with his old buddies. "And the wedding is Sunday at six."

"Six?"

"Yeah, they're having a big party afterwards. Lots of music, champagne, dancing."

Kimberly squirmed. "So, we won't be coming back Sunday night?"

Austin arched an eyebrow. "Is there a problem? I thought you said you had Mondays off."

"Oh... yes," Kimberly said, shifting to look out the window. "I'm free on Mondays. No problem."

Then she closed her eyes, curled one hand beneath her cheek and leaned against the window.

Well, he'd done it now. The thought of spending three days with him had already put her to sleep.

Kimberly pretended to be asleep, but her brain was about to explode with frustration. Marci had told this man she didn't have to be back until Monday.

She silently made several promises to her thoughtless twin sister—none of which she could repeat out loud. Marci might have Mondays off, but Kimberly had to work—for heaven's sake, the center depended on her.

But it was too late to panic. When they stopped for gas, she'd find a phone, call Nancy and have her cover for her on Monday. Then she remembered Nancy had the chicken pox. What was she going to do? Sighing in frustration, she prayed a solution would come to her, but no quick answers surfaced.

Except one—she was going to kill Marci.

Here Comes The Bride

Rita Herron

Available at your favorite eBook Retailer

Multi-published, award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. She has sold over sixty novels, worked for several major publishers, and loves writing romantic comedies as well as spinning dark romantic suspense tales filled with murder and mayhem.

For more on Rita and her titles, visit her at
www.ritaherron.com
. You can also follow her on
Facebook
and twitter
@ritaherron
.

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