Everything but the Baby (Harlequin Superromance) by Kathleen O`Brien Page A

“The rental cars showed up about three, so I drove around a little. I found Lincoln’s house—or, more accurately, the house he’s borrowing from his friend. It’s quite a place.”
    Allison knew about the mansion. Her investigator had supplied pictures that showed a sprawling oceanfront villa complete with tennis courts, swimming pool and a BMW in the circular drive.
    â€œWas he there?”
    â€œI couldn’t tell. It’s landscaped for privacy. You can probably see more from the beach, but I wasn’t curious enough to get out my Inspector Gadget binoculars and stalk around in the heat.” He leaned back comfortably. “I did see Janelle Greenwood, though.”
    â€œYou did? At Lincoln’s house?”
    â€œNo. She’s at The Mangrove, the resort down at the southern tip of the island. Luxe to the max, but not particularly well run. The staff has loose lips. I got Janelle’s room number and Lincoln Gray’s tee time in about ten minutes.”
    Allison didn’t find that terribly surprising. Mark had an air about him—without even trying, he would blend into luxurious surroundings organically, as if he’d been born there.
    It wasn’t a superior, down-the-nose air. She knew that one. Her father had it in spades. Mark’s panache wassubtler. It was a mix of easy confidence, intelligence and a general satisfaction with life, as if there wasn’t much he’d ever wanted that he hadn’t gotten, including answers.
    Besides, if the staff members he’d approached were female, it would have been almost too easy. The man had sex appeal like Hercules had biceps.
    She tucked her bare feet under her and leaned against the pillow. Finally she felt herself truly relaxing. Funny how comfortable she felt around Mark, considering how short a time she’d known him. More comfortable than she had with her own relatives.
    But they did have a lot in common. They hated the same person. Apparently it was true—the enemy of your enemy is your friend.
    â€œSo…what did you think of Janelle in the flesh? Does the picture do her justice?”
    â€œNot really. She’s just as naïve as she looked in the photo, but it didn’t show everything. She’s actually quite a knockout.”
    Allison thought back to the sweet-faced young woman. She was attractive enough, but a knockout? “She is?”
    â€œYes.” Mark got comfortable in the chair, tilted his head back and grinned. “From the neck down, especially.”
    Allison rolled her eyes. “Oh brother.”
    He didn’t look ashamed. “Just stating the facts. Facts that haven’t escaped Lincoln’s notice, I’m sure.”
    She wondered if he was right. Lincoln had always acted as if he found Allison the most attractive womanin the universe—even though her figure would never snag her a job as a Playboy bunny. Of course, acting was the important word. Lincoln had merely been playing the role of adoring suitor. For all she knew he’d been secretly drooling over every double-D that sashayed by.
    Or maybe Mark was just projecting. Maybe Janelle’s voluptuous body was exactly his type, so he assumed it must appeal to all men.
    She fought the urge to adjust her rumpled T-shirt to a more flattering fit. Instead, she climbed off the bed, hoisted up her garment bag and began unzipping it.
    â€œIf she’s that amazing,” she said, pulling out a handful of hangers, “maybe we should do this rescue as a team. I’ll distract Lincoln while you romance Janelle away from him.”
    Mark chuckled. “It had occurred to me. But what’s the point? Would it really be any better to get her heart broken by me instead of Lincoln?”
    â€œWhat makes you so sure you’d break her heart?” She arranged some of her dresses in the closet, shaking out the wrinkles. “Maybe you’d fall deeply in love and end up living