know. Deal?"
"Deal." He took her hand in his and waves of energy pulsated up her arm. She looked at him, her amusement giving way to something else. An awareness of the dominant maleness of him spread through her. The desires and feelings he evoked with no effort on his part flooded her body. She felt vulnerable and fragile and very feminine. What was she getting into?
"If the two of you were engaged and she's now left her husband, seems like the perfect time to get back together, not play games," Kelly said, tugging her hand. Kit didn't release it.
"I don't want to. I don't want her even trying. You're the perfect decoy. You're new in town, young, successful, pretty enough to attract anyone." He frowned at that. "You aren't attached right now, are you?"
She shook her head, fascinated by the play of emotion across his face. "Never have been," she said honestly.
"And you'll go through with it?"
She nodded.
"However long she's here?"
She paused a second, then nodded again, wondering how involved they were supposed to be, and how long Althea was planning to stay.
"It won't take Althea long to find out I've just moved here. Won't she be suspicious?" Kelly asked, giving the situation some thought.
"Depending on how good an actress you are, no. Though she might wonder how anyone could be attracted to me." His voice was bitter, his face tormented.
Kelly's fingers tightened around his and she leaned closer, aching to ease the distress so evident in his expression.
"I think you're sexy as hell, Kit Lockford," she said evenly, her eyes looking straight into his.
He shook his head, looking at her as if she'd lost her mind, then a dull flush spread up his neck, touched his cheeks.
Kelly was delighted. She would never have expected such a reaction from the town's hell-raiser. She smiled in enchantment. Althea must have done a real number on him to shake his own self-confidence so badly. He was more man than she could handle, yet he didn't seem to realize it. Could she continue the charade for any length of time? Would her own heart become involved?
"Then give me a smile, sweetheart," Kit said finally. "The music's stopping and Althea just walked in the door."
Kelly swirled around to look. There were several people in and near the door, most of them strangers to her. Which one was Althea? Kelly wasn't left in doubt long as a tall, slim woman with wavy auburn hair turned and spotted Kit. She spoke to the person beside her, her eyes never leaving Kit, and then walked deliberately over to him. Her thick auburn hair was beautiful, Kelly thought, and the striking clothes she wore gave her a certain elegance missing from the other women present.
Althea paused dramatically a few steps away, holding the moment as people nearby turned to look at her, curious about her meeting with Kit.
"Hello, Kit." Her voice was low and sultry, accompanied by a provocative smile for Kit alone.
Kelly watched quietly, waiting, feeling as if she was on the edge of a deep, dark hole. So this was Althea. Kelly took an immediate dislike to the woman. Knowing what she'd done to Kit was bad enough, but her air of patronization grated on Kelly's sensibilities. Althea didn't fit in with the rest of the crowd. And she was a troublemaker. Kelly knew enough about human nature to recognize that trait immediately.
Kelly's hand ached with the strength of Kit's grip. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his voice even as he said, "Hello, Allie. Didn't expect to see you tonight."
Althea smiled brilliantly. "Just visiting my parents for a while. Thought I'd drop in and see old friends. It's been a long time, Kit. Too long."
He shrugged and glanced at Kelly, his eyes opaque, hiding any feeling he had. "Kelly, this is Althea Kendricks. Allie, Kelly Adams."
The redhead looked at their clasped hands and the slightest frown marred her perfect features. But she recovered quickly.
"How nice to meet you, Kelly," she said smoothly. "Do you live near
"Deal." He took her hand in his and waves of energy pulsated up her arm. She looked at him, her amusement giving way to something else. An awareness of the dominant maleness of him spread through her. The desires and feelings he evoked with no effort on his part flooded her body. She felt vulnerable and fragile and very feminine. What was she getting into?
"If the two of you were engaged and she's now left her husband, seems like the perfect time to get back together, not play games," Kelly said, tugging her hand. Kit didn't release it.
"I don't want to. I don't want her even trying. You're the perfect decoy. You're new in town, young, successful, pretty enough to attract anyone." He frowned at that. "You aren't attached right now, are you?"
She shook her head, fascinated by the play of emotion across his face. "Never have been," she said honestly.
"And you'll go through with it?"
She nodded.
"However long she's here?"
She paused a second, then nodded again, wondering how involved they were supposed to be, and how long Althea was planning to stay.
"It won't take Althea long to find out I've just moved here. Won't she be suspicious?" Kelly asked, giving the situation some thought.
"Depending on how good an actress you are, no. Though she might wonder how anyone could be attracted to me." His voice was bitter, his face tormented.
Kelly's fingers tightened around his and she leaned closer, aching to ease the distress so evident in his expression.
"I think you're sexy as hell, Kit Lockford," she said evenly, her eyes looking straight into his.
He shook his head, looking at her as if she'd lost her mind, then a dull flush spread up his neck, touched his cheeks.
Kelly was delighted. She would never have expected such a reaction from the town's hell-raiser. She smiled in enchantment. Althea must have done a real number on him to shake his own self-confidence so badly. He was more man than she could handle, yet he didn't seem to realize it. Could she continue the charade for any length of time? Would her own heart become involved?
"Then give me a smile, sweetheart," Kit said finally. "The music's stopping and Althea just walked in the door."
Kelly swirled around to look. There were several people in and near the door, most of them strangers to her. Which one was Althea? Kelly wasn't left in doubt long as a tall, slim woman with wavy auburn hair turned and spotted Kit. She spoke to the person beside her, her eyes never leaving Kit, and then walked deliberately over to him. Her thick auburn hair was beautiful, Kelly thought, and the striking clothes she wore gave her a certain elegance missing from the other women present.
Althea paused dramatically a few steps away, holding the moment as people nearby turned to look at her, curious about her meeting with Kit.
"Hello, Kit." Her voice was low and sultry, accompanied by a provocative smile for Kit alone.
Kelly watched quietly, waiting, feeling as if she was on the edge of a deep, dark hole. So this was Althea. Kelly took an immediate dislike to the woman. Knowing what she'd done to Kit was bad enough, but her air of patronization grated on Kelly's sensibilities. Althea didn't fit in with the rest of the crowd. And she was a troublemaker. Kelly knew enough about human nature to recognize that trait immediately.
Kelly's hand ached with the strength of Kit's grip. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his voice even as he said, "Hello, Allie. Didn't expect to see you tonight."
Althea smiled brilliantly. "Just visiting my parents for a while. Thought I'd drop in and see old friends. It's been a long time, Kit. Too long."
He shrugged and glanced at Kelly, his eyes opaque, hiding any feeling he had. "Kelly, this is Althea Kendricks. Allie, Kelly Adams."
The redhead looked at their clasped hands and the slightest frown marred her perfect features. But she recovered quickly.
"How nice to meet you, Kelly," she said smoothly. "Do you live near
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