“You’re looking chipper this morning.” Cilla stood in the kitchen, hands on hips, studying Pepper.
“Why shouldn’t I? I had a good night’s sleep.”
“Really?” A grin teased at Cilla’s mouth. “So, after the big dinner last night, you and your so-called fiancé came back here and you hopped into bed. Alone.”
“Yes.” Pepper concentrated on the scones she was plating. “Of course. And what do you mean, ‘big’ dinner? It was dinner with my folks. That’s all.”
“Oh, please.” Cilla flapped a hand at her. “My phone rang off the hook last night, people who wanted all the gory details. Your mama gave a fine performance, fawning all over him while giving him the third degree.”
Pepper snorted. “You got that right. I have no idea why he didn’t run screaming into the night.” She sighed. “I have to agree Mama can be a bit much.” And wasn’t that just stating the obvious.
Cilla giggled. “So did she have the date set, the venue booked, and the guest list done by the time dinner was over?”
Pepper filled a second plate with poppy seed muffins, today’s flavor, and carried them into the dining room. Cilla had shown up at the crack of dawn, eager for gossip, and made herself useful by setting the table. The rest of the ingredients for today’s meal—omelets, buttermilk pancakes, bacon, fragrant sage and pepper sausage, and sliced melons, strawberries and kiwi—were ready in the fridge for when the first guests came downstairs. And, for a touch of morning decadence, a chocolate layer cake. She loved gastronomically shocking the guests sometimes.
“She tried damn hard,” Pepper told her friend. “But I’m getting almost as good at avoiding commitments as she is at trying to pin me down.”
“At least it got you out of dinner with yucky Judd Wallace.”
“Nothing, and I repeat nothing, would have gotten me to dinner with that jerk.” She smacked a cake server against the sink. “Not even my mother.”
“Okay, then.” Cilla fixed a mug of coffee for herself, stirring in cream and sugar. “So you’re telling me that after that hot kiss performance yesterday, nothing else happened?”
“Yes. Right. That’s what I’m telling you.”
Cilla cocked an eyebrow. “Even after spending the day holding hands?”
Pepper glared at her. “I see Gossip Central has been at it again.”
“But isn’t that what you want? It gets your folks off your back and makes your little fairy tale plausible, right?” She tilted her head. “It is nothing more than a fairy tale, right, Pepper?”
“Of course. Can you help me fold napkins?”
“Nice change of subject there.” Cilla laughed. “Okay, I see my curiosity isn’t about to be satisfied. But let me tell you, girl. If I had a hunk like that pretending to be my fiancé, I’d have a hard time not trying to make it the real thing.”
Pepper scowled. “Marry a man I don’t know?”
Everything else aside, she really didn’t know Kyle Montgomery. Who was he when he wasn’t playing tourist in Bayview? What did he do for a living beside “run a business?” Maybe he even had a wife who he was “taking a break from,” as she knew some rat fink men did.
No. She might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but she knew she’d have sensed it if there was someone at home wondering where he was this weekend. Everything about Kyle Montgomery said “successful single businessman.”
She realized that while her mind wandered, Cilla was still keeping up the conversation.
“Not necessarily. I’m just talking about taking advantage of the opportunity to play house while he’s here.”
“Can we please change the subject?” Pepper was having enough trouble wiping the previous night out of her mind as it was. She wondered how she’d pull it off when Kyle showed up downstairs, and what time that would be.
She could hardly believe she was so wide awake. Spectacular sex was exhausting. Plus, she’d had to sneak out of Kyle’s room at five o’clock, before any of the guests were up, so she could shower and dress and get ready for breakfast. He had tried to talk her into staying a little longer, but, by that time, she was already nervous and maybe having second thoughts.
She was not a woman who fell into bed with a man without even knowing him for twenty-four hours. It just wasn’t her style. She never, ever, ever fell into bed with a man she’d known for less than twenty-four hours. So, what had gotten into her last night?
Oh, wait. She could justify it by telling herself this was different. And it was, in so many ways. But the one way that frightened her was how intense the sex had been and the invisible thread that seemed to connect them from the moment he’d walked into Hibiscus House. But in a very few days Kyle Montgomery would be leaving. That was already set in stone. She could be setting herself up for a big fall, here.
It will be worth it. I’ll just have to deal with the fallout.
Cilla helped her serve the first round of breakfast meals, three couples and two women. All were pleasant, and their rave comments about Bayview and Hibiscus House were music to her ears. She didn’t care what her parents said. This place was her life. Her heart was here. She was going to build on its current reputation and make it a top B&B destination, at least in the South.
She was in the process of plating more scones and muffins and wondering what time Kyle would roll out of bed when she sensed someone behind her. In the next moment, warm hands cupped her shoulders and soft lips placed a kiss at the side of her neck. His breath feathered softly against her skin, sending heated messages to the rest of her body.
“Morning, gorgeous.” The deep voice sent shivers rippling through her.
“Morning.”
She put the pan from the scones in the sink and turned around, almost afraid of what she would see. Did he regret last night? Well, he wouldn’t have greeted her this way if he had, right? Slowly, she turned around. When she did, he was so close to her only a sheet of paper could have slid between them. The same heat she’d seen in his eyes last night was there today, flaming in his melted-chocolate irises.
He studied her face for a moment, as if striving to read her state of mind. Then he cradled her cheeks in his palms and lowered his head to press a kiss to her mouth. The contact was even more scorching, if that was possible. He used the tip of his tongue to part her lips, sweeping inside when she did. Her temperature gauge went from zero to one thousand in seconds. How did he do this to her?
Everything fell away as she lost herself in the kiss. Every nerve sparked, her blood raced through her veins, and that same pulse low in her core began to beat like a jungle drum. She was glad when Kyle finally lifted his head because she had totally forgotten where she was. She had to tear her eyes away from the look in his, a look so sensuous it immediately brought back intense memories of the night before.
The sound of a throat clearing drew her attention to the other side of the kitchen. Cilla was sitting on one of the high stools, a knowing expression on her face. Pepper glared at her, trying to send her signals, but Cilla just grinned and kept watching them.
“Don’t mind me,” she said. “I’m just enjoying the show.”
Kyle grinned. “Stare all you want, Cilla. I enjoy kissing my fiancé.”
Pepper wished she knew how much was real and how much was part of the roles they were playing. She extricated herself from Kyle’s arms, aware she was probably blushing, and moved over to the espresso machine.
“How about coffee while I fix you some breakfast?”
“I’d offer to help,” he told her, “but you know what you’re doing, which is more than I can say. And, yes. An espresso would be great.”
Pepper tried not to be self-conscious as she went about preparing the meal. She fixed Kyle’s coffee first, pulling the levers on the awesome espresso machine that she’d finally managed to order. Coffee, steamed milk, a little froth on top, and it was ready.
“That looks better than the espresso I got in San Francisco.”
Pepper glanced up at him, curious. “You go to San Francisco a lot?”
He shrugged. “Um, sometimes on business.”
“Ah, yes.” She grinned. “The mysterious ‘business.’ Why don’t you take this into the dining room,” she suggested, opening the fridge and scanning the shelves for what she needed. “There are fresh scones and muffins in there.”
“I’d rather watch you work.” He brushed a kiss over her ear and gently nipped the lobe.
She nearly dropped the eggs she was holding, forcing herself to concentrate as she took the rest of her supplies out of the fridge. The last of the couples came downstairs, so she fixed breakfast for everyone, carefully plating each meal so it looked its most appetizing. She managed to convince Kyle to eat in the dining room, introducing him to the other guests seated there.
“I’m Pepper’s fiancé.” He nodded at everyone. “Nice to meet you all. Have you been coming here long?”
The two women taking their time over breakfast studied him with renewed interest. The older couple smiled at her indulgently. She was sure Kyle could charm the pants off a scarecrow. It made it all that much harder for her to tell how much of what he said to her was real and how much was playacting.
Quit it! In a few days he’ll be gone, so what difference does it make?
Maybe because the fact he might be someone she could really care for shocked her. She knew nothing about him, nothing about who he really was, and was well aware that when his reservation was up he’d be leaving. Her hormones must really be going haywire. Either that or she’d lost her mind.
But last night was real. There was no faking it then.
Okay, she needed to get her head screwed on straight and do what she’d set out to when he said he’d go along with the charade. She’d enjoy it for the time they had, they’d have a polite breakup, and she’d get on with her life.
Kyle was taking his time, drinking coffee and nibbling on a muffin and talking to the older couple when the back door opened and slammed closed. Pepper looked up from her place at the sink, startled. Then she swallowed a sigh of irritation. Did she have no peace?
“Pepper, honey.” Maggie Thornton pulled Pepper in for a tight hug. “Oh lordy. I am just so excited.”
Pepper dug for her patience and did her best to extricate herself from her mother’s tight grip.
“About what, Mama?” She managed to move a step or two away.
Maggie stared at her, excitement dancing in her eyes. “About what? Why about the wedding, of course.” She fanned herself with her hand. “I must admit, when you said you and Kyle had met on the Internet, I had my reservations. But, honey, he’s the catch of the year. Truly. We need to pick the date and book the venue before everything is taken.”
Pepper felt her stomach contract. “Mama, can you please slow down? Kyle hasn’t been here more than a couple of days. We’ve hardly had a lot of time together. Remember. This was our first time to meet in person.”
“Oh, so what?” Maggie flipped a hand in the air. “I know what I see, and that’s a handsome, eligible man who wants to marry my daughter. I say, let’s get it on.”
“Mama, ssh.” Pepper held her fingers to her lips. “He can hear you. Can we please try to do this in a somewhat normal fashion?”
“Oh, normal?” Maggie gave her a chastising look. “Is normal meeting your fiancé on the Internet and then throwing yourself on him when he gets here?”
Was she going to regret that impulsive hot kiss forever? No, only that too many people had seen it.
“Morning, Maggie.” Kyle wandered in with his empty cup and plate. “Pepper, what’s all happening today?”
Pepper appreciated the fact he was trying to put some semblance of a normal face on things, but she figured they were already well past this. Besides, this was all still just playacting. She needed to slow her mama down so she wasn’t signing contracts, hiring photographers and a band, and setting up tastings. She supposed she hadn’t realized until this moment exactly how focused and obsessed the woman was with getting her married off.
For a moment, her heart pinched. Married. It wouldn’t be to Kyle, for sure, although, as she fell asleep in his arms last night, the notion had insistently wiggled its way into her brain. Even now, she couldn’t manage to put it in its place, in the box labeled make-believe. He’d slammed into her like a tidal wave of heat and emotion, and she was hung by her own stupidity. She didn’t even want to think of the fallout after he left. Without her.
Then Mama would be all over her again like white on rice. Maybe even dragging that obnoxious Judd Wallace into it again. Nope, not marrying him even if she died an old maid. Besides, whoever it was, they’d want her to give up Hibiscus House and that would be like losing a piece of her heart. Why couldn’t her parents see that?
“Pepper?” Maggie’s voice snapped her back to the present. “Kyle’s talking to you. It’s not nice to ignore him.”
“What?” She blinked. “Oh, sorry. Um, today?”
“Why don’t you get Captain Jim to take y’all out on that boat of his today,” Maggie suggested. “Kyle, have you ever been out on the water?”
“I’m sure he has, Mama,” Pepper spat out, then regretted snapping at her mother. “I mean, he might not even like it.”
“He is right here.” Kyle moved to stand beside her, his arms curling around her shoulders in a lazy hug. “And he has been out on the water before, but not on Hibiscus Bay. Who’s this Captain Jim?”
“One of our colorful retired senior citizens,” Cilla explained. She’d hitched herself up on one of the stools at the island, her face alight with curiosity and humor. “He hangs out at the Coffee Cup at the marina. When he’s not piddling around with his boat, that is. He loves to take tourists out and give them his spiel.”
“That’s for sure.” Pepper grunted. “If you want to know anything about Bayview, he’s the man to ask. Even if you don’t want to know, he’ll find a way to tell you.”
“Sounds interesting. How long is the boat trip?”
“Oh, you have to tell him ahead of time.” Pepper laughed. “Otherwise, he’ll have you out there until after sunset.”
“That sounds good to me. What do you have to take care of here?”
“Nothing.” Cilla answered for her. “I can handle it all. You know I can, Pepper. Go enjoy your time with your fiancé.”
Pepper didn’t know whether to hug her or kill her.
“And you can show him some of the other tourist spots around here,” Maggie added. “Get him to take you to the Lighthouse for dinner later.” She looked from one to the other. And go pack your bathing suits. You can get some sun and swimming out there.”
“Maybe Kyle doesn’t want to spend the whole day on the boat,” she pointed out.
But Kyle just curved his lips in a lopsided grin and said, “That sounds great to me.”
“Fine.” She threw up her hands. “Fine, fine, fine.” Then, realizing she wasn’t acting quite the part of an engaged person, she grinned up at Kyle. “It will be fun.”
“Good. I’m all for fun.”
“I’ll call Captain Jim and then order a lunch basket.” Maggie grabbed her cell phone. “Go get ready.”
Kyle wondered if he was having too good a time with his erstwhile fiancée. This was all make-believe, right? He was doing her a favor, helping her out. And helping Pepper was not any kind of hardship, especially after last night. Oh, yeah. Last night. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed sex as much. Or been as affected by it. The emotional impact of it was throwing him for a loop, something he had been unprepared for. How was it possible that, in less than twenty-four hours, he was falling for a woman he’d just met?
Yesterday, Pepper had given him a tour of the little town of Bayview, a town that in spite of himself he found charming and appealing. Today, they’d be out on the water, one of his favorite places to be. He already itched to head to the marina. When he and his brothers were kids, his parents had bought a home on Lake Forth, about ninety minutes from Dallas. All of them were free to use it whenever they wanted. Kyle had a boat he kept there, a boat he hadn’t seen nearly enough of for the past two years. This would be a real treat for him.
He’d come here—run away here—to escape his parents’ hounding and get them off his back as well as to give himself space from clingy, determined Charlotte. And, if he was honest, hide from the backlash of his latest breakup. His plan had been to bide his time here, be polite, then go home and tell his parents the company should save its money. He was slowly being seduced by the town and his fake fiancée.
As he was trying to sort the mess in his brain, his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the readout. His father. He was surprised it wasn’t his mother. After all, he’d been gone less than forty-eight hours, and he knew how hard it was for them to stay out of his business. He always laughed when his daddy told people he was retired.
Retired, my ass! He spent all his time being a busy body, like Kyle’s mom.
“I need to take this,” he told Pepper. “Business. I’ll take it outside while you do whatever you need to get ready. I won’t be long.”
He walked out through the back door and down to the water. When he was far enough away no one could overhear the conversation, he hit the button to answer.
“Hey, Dad.”
“How’s it going, son?” Hal Montgomery’s gravelly voice boomed over the connection.
“Going fine. Just fine.” More fine than I ever expected.
“And?” Hal prodded. “The B&B? Your mother and I loved it. We see it as the cornerstone of a new division of Montgomery Hotels. Might even change the name of the corporation to encompass everything.”
Kyle ground his teeth. This was taking things way too far, to his way of thinking. They had to make a decision to move forward with this first. Then decide if Hibiscus House was a good cornerstone. Although, he had to admit, it was way more than he’d expected.
“So, are Maggie and her husband still running it?” his father asked. “When we were there, they sort of mentioned turning it over to their daughter.”
Kyle felt a tiny invisible bug crawl up his spine.
“They did, did they?”
“Yep. We met her. Very special young lady, don’t you think?”
Now the bug turned into a swarm of bees. He gripped his phone so tightly he thought he might crack the case.
“Yes, Dad, she’s very nice. Please tell me she’s not the reason you cooked up this trip.”
“Now, why would you think that?” The surprise in Hal Montgomery’s voice couldn’t have been more fake.
Kyle wanted to throw something. “Because you and Mom have been plotting twenty-four/seven to get me married off and provide you with grandchildren.”
“And is that so bad? We’re not getting any younger, you know.” He paused. “And neither are you.”
“I think I can figure that out myself. I really don’t need you and Mom pulling strings in my life for me.” He drew in a deep breath to get hold of his irritation.” This place is nice. More than nice. I’m evaluating the town and the tourist attractions.” He paused. “Strictly on a businesslike basis. And that’s what my report will reflect.”
“I wouldn’t expect any less of you,” Hal said. “All I’m saying is, you can also stop and smell the roses along the way.”
He couldn’t resist saying, “Or in this case hibiscus?”
“I know you said you’d be back Monday, but if you need more time, feel free to take it.”
He could have argued with his father. Told him his schedule was too crowded to take more time. In fact, he needed to call his office now and check up on current projects and make sure the quarterly reports from managers were in. But he kept that to himself.
“See you Monday,” was all he said, and disconnected the call.
He glanced back toward the B&B and when he didn’t see anyone on the back porch looking for him, he pressed speed dial for his office.
“I think this is the longest you’ve ever gone without calling the office,” his assistant, Julie, said. “Are you sick?”
“Ha, ha. Very funny.” Julie had been with him ten years, and he allowed her more leeway than he gave his mother. “I’m checking to make sure we’re on track with everything.”
“Of course we’re on track,” she sassed. “I want to earn my pay, don’t I?”
He wondered how he would ever run the business if she left him. Sometimes he thought she knew more about it than he did.
“I just wanted to let you know I’ll be back Monday for sure.” He had not told Julie where he was going. He’d expected this to come to nothing, and he didn’t want her asking him a ton of questions.
“Are you ever going to tell me why you ran away on some super-secret trip without giving me the details?”
“Maybe. If you’re a very good girl.” Except at the moment he wasn’t sure what he’d tell her. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”
“Kyle? Tomorrow is Saturday. I’ll be home having fun. Maybe you should think about doing the same.”
Tomorrow was Saturday? Good lord! He really was falling apart.
“Good-bye, Julie.” He could hear her laughing as he disconnected.
What was wrong with him? But he thought he knew the answer. He was besotted by a gorgeous, sexy woman who had crawled into every part of his body and bewitched him. When he started this game yesterday morning—yesterday morning? Had only one day passed?—he’d thought this would be fun. He could play along with Pepper Thornton’s little game and enjoy a trip he hadn’t wanted to take in the first place. But last night had changed things in a way he’d never expected. For the first time in his life, he had a situation he wasn’t sure he could handle.
Because, come Monday morning, he’d be out of here. He had no plans to give his father the recommendation he’d wanted, and he knew he’d never see Pepper again. What he didn’t understand was why all that made him feel so bad.
Stuffing the phone into his pocket, he headed back to the B&B. Whatever happened, he planned to make sure both of them enjoyed today. Then he’d see what happened.