Anything You Can Do(26)
This made no sense. He couldn't possibly like greasy cardboard. If it were anyone but Austin, she'd think he was being kind, trying to make her feel good, throwing the race.
Somehow she made it through the rest of the evening, but she didn't dare look at Austin. If she'd seen sympathy or pity in his eyes, she couldn't have stood it. That would be the ultimate sign of losing.
Finally it was time to leave, to get away from everyone, to hide, regain control, and sort out the evening.
"Did you check the park today?" Gordon asked Paula as Bailey unlocked the car doors and plopped Samantha into the backseat.
"No. I'm going tomorrow. Which reminds me—" She opened the passenger door and retrieved Bailey's ill-fated shopping bag from The Complete Kitchen. "I answered twenty of the letters from prospective Prince Charmings." She turned to Bailey. "We need to mail them on the way home."
"Austin'll do it," Gordon exclaimed, stepping quickly to the car, taking the bag from Paula, and passing it to Austin. "He has to go right by a post office on his way home. You don't need to be stopping this late at night."
"Okay," Paula agreed, shrugging. "About time you lawyers did some of the mailing."
"Pick you up tomorrow morning to go to the park," Gordon called as they pulled away from the curb. Paula leaned out the window to wave.
"You know," she said, rolling up the window, "it's a shame those guys are lawyers."
"Umm," Bailey murmured noncommittally, refusing to relinquish her train of thought. She'd found something to take her mind off the evening's events, and she didn't want to give it up. What did the two of them want with Paula's letters, and why did Gordon want to take her to the park?
"They were both so gallant tonight. Especially Austin. Kind of surprising, considering the way you two fight, but I suppose that makes it all the more chivalrous. "
"What do you mean?" Bailey gripped the steering wheel, hoping Paula wasn't going to refer to his eating her awful cheesecake.
"Austin saving your honor, of course."
"Saving my honor?" Somehow that had a nicer ring than feeling sorry for her.
"Sure, by eating that horrible cheesecake. You're lucky you make enough money to eat out all the time because you really are the worst cook I've ever known."
"Maybe he liked it," Bailey protested. Saving my honor? She fought against the disconcerting warm spot the idea planted in the middle of her chest.
"No way. He just didn't realize that you know you're a lousy cook, and that it doesn't bother you. Still, he was a real gentleman to come to your defense."
"My defense? I don't need anyone to defend me! Certainly not Austin Travers!"
"Well, you must admit, he had the perfect opportunity to roast you, and he didn't do it. Maybe he suddenly noticed you're a woman. You do look really good tonight."
Bailey was grateful for the darkness in the car. She could feel the blood rushing to her face as Paula's words reminded her of the way she'd felt in Austin's arms only last night, of the kiss they'd shared. Though calling it a kiss was like calling Niagara Falls a creek. And tonight he'd saved her honor.
*~*~*
Austin slouched low in the seat of his Mercedes, waiting for Paula and Gordon to arrive. Sitting in the park with a huge basket of cut flowers in the passenger seat, trying to be unobtrusive, was ridiculous. Stealing Paula's letters rather than mailing them was bad enough, but this escapade was worse.
He shifted and scanned the parking lot carefully, anxious to spot Gordon's familiar car and get it over with. Gordon would really owe him after cooking that dinner last night and delivering flowers anonymously today. Of course—he cringed—Gordon might think he'd paid his dues by being forced into eating more of that awful cheesecake.
And there was another piece of insanity. He'd had Bailey on the mat, beaten her fair and square. His cooking was delicious and hers was terrible. Yet he'd thrown the race.
Her expression when she'd taken her first bite flashed onto his brain—those big, clear eyes so full of despair. Logically he knew he should have jumped on her when she was down since that seemed to be about the only time he could jump on her. He should have refused to eat the blasted cheesecake, should have added his insults to the others.
He should have jumped out of his chair and pulled her to her feet and kissed those sad lips. He should have taken them both back to that crazy world they'd found on Friday night.