Too Many Secrets

ELEVEN

Low burning candles and soft music from the bluetooth speakers would set the mood for tonight's romance. Austin hadn't stopped thinking about his date with Brittany, and he realized that he didn't want to take her to the restaurant. Privacy was what they needed. If it was just the two of them, she'd open up to him a little easier. And maybe, just maybe, she'd let him kiss her again.

He adjusted the wine bottle in the bucket of ice sitting on the dinette table. He picked out the overlooked green leaf in the bowl of fresh strawberries before walking over and dimming the lights.

Before his anxiously awaited guest arrived, he hurried into the bathroom to check his appearance one last time. As he slapped on his favorite cologne, he caught his reflection smiling like a little boy on Christmas day, but surprisingly enough, he couldn't control his eagerness.

He ran his hand over his wavy black hair, knowing women liked this particular trait about him—hair just long enough to run their fingers through, yet not too long to be in the way. He glanced down at his gray, short sleeved polo shirt and debated whether to tuck it into the waist of his Levis or just wear it out. Then again, if he tucked it inside, she'd be able to see his muscular frame better. Grinning, he shoved the ends of the shirt into his Levis.

Showing off his pearly whites, he stepped closer to the mirror to inspect his teeth, making sure he'd brushed and flossed his teeth clean. Satisfied, he straightened. Everything had to be perfect tonight. This was his only chance to show Brittany what a charming, and gentle man he really was. If he failed again, she'd never come back.

His lucky stars were aligned perfectly tonight. He had a good feeling that things would turn out as planned. Brittany had come back to him, when he thought he'd never see her again, and he was determined not to let her go this time.

Strange to think, but as many situations that he'd helped Hillary get out of, she was actually helping him this time.

The doorbell rang, and his heart sprang with excitement. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he walked out of the bathroom and to the front door. He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, chuckling to think he was so anxious. Austin Reeder? Nervous? Ridiculous. Wouldn't the press have a field day with this story?

When he received his first look at Brittany, his heart melted. Instead of the slutty dresses she'd worn before, her attire was much different tonight. Instead, she wore a short sleeve, dark blue shirt that was buttoned down the front. She had on gray slacks that fit her figure perfectly. Nothing about her clothes could be considered sexy, and yet...he liked this look on her.

Her jet-black hair was left long, flowing like silk over her shoulders and down her back. He'd never seen it so shiny and soft. His fingers itched to stroke her locks; to feel it brush across his face. He quickly stopped his thoughts before they got out of hand. This wasn't the way to start out the evening. But how could he not think that way? She really did have beautiful hair.

Another thing different about her was that she didn't cake on her makeup as she'd done before. But whatever she'd done, it was perfect. It made Brittany appear more natural. He liked that a lot, because now he knew she had natural beauty.

A black purse hung over her arm, and one hand clutched onto it so tight her fingers were white. The poor woman looked so nervous that she might empty her stomach at any moment. He'd change that. He'd have her relaxed in no time.

Giving her a tender smile, he stepped away from the door. "Good evening, Brittany. Won't you come in?"

She nodded then walked past him into the suite. Her heavenly scent of roses wafted around him—just like it had done the other night.

"How are you this evening?" He shut the door.

"I guess I'm a little nervous," she answered as her gaze swept through the room. "Uh, Austin? I thought we were going to the restaurant for dinner."

"We were, until I realized I like room service much better. It's not as crowded here, either." He smiled.

"Well, whatever we are having for dinner, it smells Heavenly."

"I hope you like this." He glanced at the dinette table where the food was laid out. "I've ordered my favorite dish from the restaurant. We'll be having smoked duck breast, peach risotto, charred broccoli, heirloom carrots, and red wine shallots. For dessert, we'll have dark chocolate pudding."

Her expression relaxed as a small smile touched her face. "That sounds wonderful."

He motioned toward the table. "Shall we eat?"

She nodded, so he took her hand and brought her to the table, and like a nobleman, pulled out the chair for her to sit.

Her eyes widened. "My, my...don't we have the manners of a gentleman."

He laughed and sat beside her. "I'd like to believe so, since I was taught as a young boy how to treat a woman." Surprisingly enough, he wasn't taught that by his mother. He quickly quenched the horrible memories and focused back on his beautiful date.

"Not many men do that. My father drilled into my brothers that if they couldn't treat a woman kindly, they would not have satisfied marriages."

"Your father is correct." He slipped his hand over hers and softly caressed her skin. "He sounds like a wise man. I hope your brothers took his advice."

She shrugged. "Only my oldest brother is married, and so far, he and his wife seem to be very happy. My other two brothers are in college. One wants to be a doctor, the other one, a lawyer."

"How impressive. I'm happy that they want to make something out of their lives."

"We all do. Even me." She sighed and frowned.

"What do you want to become? Or have you already reached that goal?"

He waited for her answer, but she seemed to squirm in her chair and play with her utensils. Hopefully, he hadn't asked the wrong question. Suddenly, he realized he had! Because she'd wanted to earn extra money being a call girl, that right there hinted to him she didn't have a good profession.

Silently, he groaned. Now he needed to say something to make up for his blunder.

~*~*~*~

Brittany couldn't think. Why did this always happen to her when she was around this man? Had he some kind of hypnotic power to make all of the thoughts in her head disappear? So far, that's the only excuse she could come up with.

She couldn't necessarily tell him that she wanted to be a cop or detective, because what kind of woman would do that and then try to be a call girl? Perhaps she'd tell him about the profession she'd almost gone into.

She raised her gaze and met his worried one. "I was actually in college to get a degree in interior design, but I had to drop out to care for my father when he became sick. Once he was feeling better, I found a job, but I wasn't making a lot of money. One thing led to another, and suddenly bills started piling up. Then my job laid me off, and well...now I'm here, looking really pathetic about now, I suppose."

Sadness encased his expression. He took her hands in his, once more. It was hard to admit, but when he did this, it calmed her.

"My sweet, Brittany. You have such a caring heart to drop out of school to watch over your father. I think interior design would be a great career for you. I hope you return once you can get back on your feet."

She nodded. "That is my plan."

He released her and turned to grab one of the dishes of food. "We'd better eat before our food gets cold."

"Oh, yes. I'm starving."

It melted her heart to think he'd serve her. Most wealthy businessmen sat back and allowed others to serve them. With every minute with him, he amazed her more. Now she wondered how he could even be considered a suspect at all. He was so kind and attentive, and that definitely wasn't how murderers acted. There were people who had split personalities, but because he'd made it so far in life and was still going strong, that told her he didn't have that particular disorder.

As they ate their dinner, she relaxed and enjoyed listening to him. He talked about his hotels, and more importantly, how he'd obtained them. The idea of him being a murderer floated further from her mind. This man was extremely intelligent.

Off and on throughout the conversation, she could hear Kurt in her ear, making snide comments. Obviously, her partner thought Austin was lying about everything. She was tempted to take him out of her ear and enjoy her date for the rest of the night. But she knew she had to somehow get around to that important question—what were you doing on the night of Hillary's murder?

When there was a break in the conversation, she asked, "Austin, you really are a busy man, aren't you?"

"Yes." He took a sip of his wine. "That's one of the reasons I cherish times when I can relax, like right now."

"I wonder if that's the reason you weren't here when I first came by to talk to you." Brittany tried not to pat herself on the back for coming up with this idea so quickly.

His drink stalled at his mouth. "You came to see me another time?"

"Yes. Let's see," she tapped her finger on her cheek, "today is Friday, so I came to see you last Tuesday. It was around ten o'clock in the morning."

"Good girl, Russell," Kurt said in her ear. "That's the way to get Romeo to talk."

"Wow." Austin shook his head. "You were a determined woman, weren't you?"

"Like I said before. I was desperate." She paused, hoping he'd tell her where he was, but when he laid his hand over hers and gently squeezed, she wondered if he was going to thwart her question.

"Let's take our drinks over to the sofa." He stood and held her hand until she rose to her feet. With drinks in their hands, he led her to the furniture. "It's more comfortable over here."

She hardly tasted her wine, but only because she wanted a clear head tonight. He sat very close to her and placed their wine glasses on the wooden coffee table in front of them.

"Brittany, I'm really worried about you. I know we only just met, but I care about you a great deal. Please don't lower yourself to become one of those girls who sells her body." He stroked her cheek. "You're much too intelligent for that."

He thinks I'm intelligent? Her heartbeat picked up in rhythm. "Austin, when I came to see you on Tuesday," she tried to bring back that subject, "I was in a different frame of mind. Maybe it was a good thing you weren't here that morning."

He turned his body closer to hers and slid his arm across the back of the sofa. A grin tugged on his mouth. "Why? What would you have done if I was here?"

Well, at least he said something that let her know he wasn't home around that time of day when Hillary was murdered. However, she still didn't think that made him a suspect.

She chuckled and shook her head. "Oh, no. I don't dare say too much. Besides, I'm sure you can guess what would have happened. I'm assuming you wouldn't have been exhausted like you were the other day."

"No, I wouldn't have been exhausted." He leaned closer and took a lock of her hair, caressing its length. "But I would have wanted to get to know you before, well...you know."

Kurt swore in her ear. "Are you kidding me? He's really going to revert back to that topic?"

"Why, Austin?" she asked, trying to ignore Kurt's voice. At this moment, she wished she wasn't wearing the earpiece. "Why would you have wanted to get to know me?"

"You're different." He shrugged. "I can't put my finger on it, but you're a mystery to me. At times I think you're just like those other women Derek has set me up with, but then you do or say something that throws me off...that makes me believe you are more."

She forced a small laugh, still trying not to allow him to completely melt her. "Austin, you still don't know me. Why do you say these things?" When he opened his mouth to reply, she placed her fingers on his lips, quieting him. "Because from life's experience, men who are over-flattering only want one thing. And well, I can't respect a man who is like that."

His gaze narrowed as he held her hand to his mouth. Slowly, he placed soft kisses on her fingertips. As she stared into his green eyes, they darkened with desire. Her heart hammered in a different rhythm, but it was not panic. She couldn't understand why she wasn't worried right now.

Gradually, he smiled. "And you are very smart to have figured that out so soon in life. But," he shook his head, "if I had felt that way about you when we first met, I wouldn't have wanted to jump in the sack. You see, I, too, have experienced love's hard lessons, and I guard my heart very carefully."

Was he just saying the words she wanted to hear, or was he being serious? Where were her gut feelings now when she needed them? "I see we have one thing in common."

"I'm sure we have more," his hand moved from her hair to her face, close to her mouth, "but we just need to discover what they are."

"And how you do you suggest we do that?" After she'd said it, she couldn't believe she was talking this way. Was she trying to seduce him? Nah, it couldn't be that...

"I have an idea." His voice softened as he leaned closer. His gaze stayed on her mouth.

She held her breath, waiting for the moment she'd feel the electricity buzzing through her from his passionate kiss. It could only be better this time, since she didn't think he was the murderer now.

As his lips touched hers, she closed her eyes. Warmth immediately spread through her, and she held back the sigh that was ready to release from her throat. But no, she couldn't let him know how severely her body reacted to his kiss.

"Britt," Kurt whispered. "What's going on? Why do I hear heavy breathing?"

She sighed, but it wasn't because of how pleasurable it was to kiss Austin. How could she have forgotten about Kurt?

She quickly pulled back and stared into Austin's surprised eyes. "I, um, I have a better idea." She licked her lips. "Let's, um... Do you arm wrestle?"

Austin's eyes widened even more. "Arm wrestle?"

Chuckling, she moved off the couch and back toward the table. "Yes. Arm wrestle. You'd be shocked how well one can get to know another person just by arm wrestling."

"Heehee," Kurt's voice rumbled from her ear. "Britt, you haven't changed a bit. I remember our first arm wrestle."

Inwardly, Brittany growled. She didn't want him in her ear. Not now. She wanted to get to know Austin so that she could make the decision of whether he was a killer or not. With Kurt's words influencing her, she doubted she'd be able to make the right decision.

Austin smiled and moved from the couch, coming toward her. "It's been a while since I've arm wrestled, but right now seems like a good time."

She smiled—genuinely smiled, and her heart lifted. She finally felt she could handle any situation now. That's what she needed in order to crack this case. Although she was undercover, she wanted to be herself. And starting now, she'd do that.