Renting His Heart Read online

  He cleared his throat. “Let’s do this wedding thing. Again.”

  She nodded, her cheeks pink. “We seem to be good at those.”

  “Yes, we do.” Austin chuckled as he took his suit down to the car and laid it out in the trunk, and Chloe kept her bag on her lap since it was small. “Need anything else?”

  “A mom buffer?” Chloe smiled. “She still hasn’t talked to me since I yelled at her and your mom yesterday.”

  Austin leaned over and kissed her cheek. “It’s something that was long overdue. And Lacey is much happier with the wedding inside, thanks to you. But I’ll be your mom buffer for you.”

  Chloe nodded. “Just use your winning smile and you’ll have her melting like butter . . . never mind. Don’t do that.”

  “I’ll try not to, but I mean. Look at this smile.” He pulled out of the ranch and on to the road. “What do you think of having a ranch not too far away from Mandy? You two could do all your designing things together.”

  Chloe’s smile slipped. “I have a life back home in France, Austin. I can’t just let it all go to come here.”

  It was like she’d thrown an ice-cold bucket of water at him. “You know I have a life back home too, right? But it just feels like it’s supposed to be this way. You and me, here.”

  She bit her lip and looked out the window. When she finally answered, her voice was quiet. “It wasn’t supposed to go like this. After the wedding, and after you get your estate, we were supposed to walk away from each other.”

  “I know . . . I just . . . I don’t want to think about a future without you there in it, Chloe.”

  “Austin, we haven’t seen each other in years. Now we’ve been together for what, two days? And now you’re saying you want to spend the rest of our lives together? It’s too much.” She climbed out of the car at the hotel and wiped a tear. “I can’t do this right now.”

  That was not how the conversation was supposed to go at all. Austin shoved the gear into park and turned off the car. What was he thinking? She was right. It had only been two days and he was suddenly ready to take their spur-of-the-moment marriage to a new level. He shook his head. This coming from the guy who couldn’t keep a girlfriend for half that long.

  He climbed out of the car and draped his tux over his arm. Even though Chloe was supposed to be in the same room getting her dress, he needed to talk to Lacey’s mom about getting the tux steamed. He knocked lightly on the door and one of Lacey’s various bridesmaids opened the door. Her look of impatience turned to a smile as she looked him up and down.

  “Can I help you?”

  Austin held up his tux. “Just need this to be steamed.”

  The girl shut the door and a moment later, she opened the door and shoved the steamer into his arms. “You can’t come in here, but there’s a room next to us that should work.”

  Austin went to his mom’s room instead and knocked on the door. She’d know how to work this thing better than he did. She opened and her face transformed into a smile. “Sweetie, I didn’t think I’d see you until the wedding.”

  “I need your help.” Austin held up the items in his arms.

  She moved out of the way so he could come in and then took the steamer from him. “I don’t know how many times I’ve told you to make sure you took good care of your suits. They don’t travel well.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Austin climbed onto one of the beds. “You haven’t heard from Dad or Grandma have you?”

  “No, why?” Mom started on the pants first.

  Austin hesitated. “The estate. Grandma should have received my certificate by now and I haven’t heard anything.”

  She stopped and turned. “You already sent her the certificate?”

  “Well, I sent a copy. It’s the weekend, and we’re here, so I couldn’t really mail out the real one . . . that’s back at my house in Massachusetts.” He’d caught the glint in her eye that told him something else was up. “What?”

  Mom turned away. “Nothing. It’s just that . . . don’t you think it’s odd that Chloe didn’t come into your life until your grandfather died?”

  “What are you implying?” Austin didn’t like how close to the truth she was, but he had to maintain the secrecy. But no. It was worse than that. “Wait. Do you really think that Chloe would take advantage of me for money? Mom, that’s ridiculous. She probably has more than I do. She’s a designer who lives in France, for crying out loud.”

  She froze, then continued steaming. “That doesn’t mean she doesn’t want more, sweetie. I’ve just found it odd that you would suddenly show up here married. It’s so unlike you. And when we talked a few weeks ago, you said nothing of any marriage.”

  “Or you’re just angry that she stopped your plans for the outdoor wedding. That, by the way, wouldn’t have worked anyway, since there’s already an event out there tomorrow.”

  “Oh, come now. You know very well that the wedding would have been much nicer outside. It’s all about the presentation, and the backyard was a much better location.”

  Austin grumbled under his breath. “But it’s not where she wanted it. I don’t get why you’re so adamant about it. This wasn’t your wedding to plan—”

  “Yes, but yours was.” She glared at him. “I had one chance to plan the perfect wedding, and I knew that wouldn’t happen. Then you show up with that girl and tell me you’re already married. It hurt, son. You’ve pushed back in every way, but this was low even for you.”

  Austin barely had time to reach out and grab the tux she threw at him. He paused at the door. “I’m sorry, Mom. But I don’t regret it for even a second.”

  He took the steamer from her and left the room without another word. The door was still closed to where everyone was changing, so he set the equipment on the ground in front of it and went to change in the room next door. The tie that Chloe gave him was a little longer than he liked, but he was able to make it work.

  Austin opened the door and came face-to-face with Lacey who was just about to knock. She was still dressed in sweats and a T-shirt and her hair was in a messy bun on top of her head. She grabbed Austin’s hand and yanked him toward the front door and didn’t say anything until they got outside.

  She turned on him. “Okay, what’s going on?”

  “Uh . . . I’m getting ready for your wedding?” Austin hadn’t seen this fire in her eyes since the day she was getting ready to move and he’d told her he probably wouldn’t write letters. She hadn’t liked the excuse he was a guy and guys didn’t write.

  She huffed. “You know that’s not what I meant. Chloe is a mess right now and I’m pretty sure it’s something you said. Or did.”

  “Okay, number one, that’s not fair. The guy isn’t always wrong. And number two, I don’t know what I did. We apparently want different things, and I have no idea how to make it work. I want to give her the world. She wants to do it on her own. What am I supposed to do with that?”

  Lacey blinked. “Wait, she wants to leave you?”

  Crap. “No. I just mean that she doesn’t like the idea of talking about getting a ranch here because she has her job in France. I want to sell my business that’s not doing well anyway so I can actually make a profit before it tanks.”

  “Wait, you’re saying that moving here is giving her the world?” Lacey raised an eyebrow. “Once upon a time when I moved to the area, you said it was the last place on earth you’d want to live because your best friend would have to be a cow.”

  “I said that?” Austin thought back to that day when she left. All he knew was that his heart was ripped apart when her car drove away.

  Lacey nodded and put a hand on his arm. “Don’t mess this up, Austin. She’s a great girl. If she doesn’t want to live on a ranch, don’t make her.”

  Austin sighed. “I don’t think it’s even that. I think we just rushed everything and she’s feeling a bit freaked out.”

  “You’re a good guy, Austin. I know because I hear it all the time in all of the magazines
plastered everywhere.” She grinned. “I bet you’re loving that.”

  “You know me. Always one for the spotlight.” Austin ran his fingers through his hair and then quickly combed it back into place. “If you see her again, please tell her we’ll work it out. I don’t like that she’s so upset.”

  Lacey kissed him on the cheek. “And that’s why I love you. Now, please go check on Dallin. Last I heard, he was playing video games with his friends and we have a wedding in an hour.”

  “Got it.” Austin saluted and then bent down to give her a hug. “He seems like a really cool guy, Lacey. I’m excited for you.”

  “Thanks.” She hesitated. “To be honest, when we first met, he reminded me a lot of you. It threw me for a loop. I mean, more the you I knew back forever ago. Not the you now . . . I mean, not that there’s anything wrong . . . I’ll be quiet now. Just please go help him.”

  Austin laughed. “I’ll take care of it.”

  She ran back into the hotel while Austin stared after her. Maybe she was more like Chloe than he’d thought at first. But still. Cousins? He shook his head and went inside to find Dallin and his friends. Loud laughter came from one of the rooms on the right, so Austin knocked.

  The door opened and a couple of the guys came bursting out, spraying each other with seltzer, barely missing Austin.

  “Whoa there. Let’s not run up the bill for Dallin’s wedding. Get back in there and clean it up.” Austin rolled his eyes at the fact that he had to be the adult one here. When one of them tried to escape, Austin grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back into the room. He found Dallin sitting in the middle of the room and pushed his way over to him, trying to avoid getting anything on his tux.

  “Hey, Lacey wanted me to remind you that you have a wedding in an hour. You should probably get ready.”

  Dallin checked his watch and jumped up. “Okay, guys, party is over. Go get dressed and I’ll meet you back here in half an hour.”

  Groans erupted as everyone dispersed to go change. Austin stared down at the mess all over the floor and then glanced up at Dallin.

  “You going to clean this up?”

  “Nah. The hotel will get it.” Dallin turned to take his tuxedo off a hook, but Austin grabbed his arm.

  “Wrong answer.” Austin pulled him closer. “Lacey was my best friend and someone I still care deeply about. You will treat her with the same respect she believes that you deserve. Trashing this hotel game room is not the way to do that. Now, I suggest you bring everyone back here and get it cleaned up before Rachel gets here, or I’ll accidentally let it slip that Lacey should come and check out the great game room before her wedding.”

  Dallin yanked his arm away and backed up. “You wouldn’t.”

  Austin grinned. “I don’t think you should find out.”

  He opened the door to leave and found Chloe standing there. “Oh, hey, Chloe. Dallin is getting ready now.”

  “Are you two okay? I thought I heard arguing.”

  But Austin couldn’t answer. Chloe was dressed in a blue gown that brought out the blue in her eyes. “I . . . you . . . wow.”

  Chloe grinned and turned in a circle. “Isn’t it gorgeous? Aunt Carol is absolutely amazing. And you should see Lacey’s dress. It’s this style, but white.”

  Austin wanted to pull her close, but worried he would ruin the dress somehow so he took her hand and kissed it instead. “You look absolutely enchanting.”

  “That’s it.” Chloe clapped excitedly. “I’ve been thinking about doing a line like this, but I couldn’t decide the right wording.”

  “Uh, you’re welcome?”

  “Oh, there you are.” Austin’s mom scurried up to them in her dress holding a boutonniere in her hand. “I need to put this on you.”

  Austin tore his eyes away from Chloe and glanced down at the flower. “Oh. Okay.”

  She expertly put the flower on and patted his shoulder. “My, this is a nice tuxedo. Much better than that blue monstrosity you have at home. Now, I must be gone. Oh, and we’re sitting in the front row on the left. I must go find the others to give them their flowers.”

  “I don’t think she likes me.” Chloe sighed.

  “That’s her loss.” Austin tucked a piece of hair behind Chloe’s ear. “To be honest, she thinks you’re after my estate.”

  Chloe rolled her eyes. “I know.”

  Austin stepped back. “You do?”

  “Yep. She threatened me that if I didn’t end this charade, she’d expose me for the fraud I am.” Chloe straightened Austin’s tie. “So, you know. Watch out, because I love to chase money.”

  He bent down and kissed her cheek so he wouldn’t mess up her lipstick. “You can chase me all you want.”

  Chloe laughed as he walked away. “You better believe I will.”

  Austin was half-tempted to go make sure that Dallin was cleaning up, but he stopped when he saw Mike walk in with his wife and twins.

  “Hey, Mike. I figured you’d be here by now. Hey, Tommy.” Austin made a face at their little boy, earning a giggle in return. “You’d better go get your boutonnière or whatever it’s called. Otherwise, you’ll have my mom after you.”

  Mike set Tommy down in the car seat. “Can you help JoAnn with the twins? Just help them sit wherever.”

  “Sure.” Austin smiled at JoAnn. “Mom has space already saved for us if you want to sit with me. Otherwise I can find a place by his mom.”

  She shrugged. “Either way. I’ll just need a seat on the end for the stroller.”

  “Works for me.” Austin went to the ballroom and stopped. The vast open space was now filled with chairs, bouquets, and tables full of plates and glasses. Guests had already started filing in and they chatted with each other, keeping the room’s volume at a low buzz. “Looks like Mom is right there, but I don’t see enough spots. Let’s go one back.”

  He scooted in two so that there was room for Mike and then sat down. Chloe would actually be in the wedding as the maid of honor, and it felt rather bare without her sitting next to him. Mike checked and double-checked his tie between wrestling kids, so he wasn’t really available to talk either.

  “Is this seat taken?” The voice standing next to him sent a shock through Austin.

  He stood quickly to face his dad. “What are you doing here?”

  “Coming to see my son. I didn’t know that was a crime.” He helped his mom sit down next to him, and Austin thought he was going to melt through the floor.

  “What is she doing here?” Austin dropped his voice when he realized people were staring. “You have to have invitations to these things.”

  Grandma glared at him with her unnerving gaze. “I had to see the happy couple for myself. Pieces of paper can say anything. I want to know that you two are right for each other.”

  “So, invite us to your house. You can’t just fly across the country and crash a wedding.” Austin had to loosen his tie so he wouldn’t pass out. Suddenly the room was too hot, and he looked for an exit to escape through.

  Grandma pulled out an invitation and slapped it on Austin’s lap. “Our families go way back. You weren’t the only invited here tonight.”

  Austin glanced at his father who sighed.

  Dad handed the invitation back. “So, we invited ourselves. I haven’t seen you in years, son. I knew that you would be here, and I needed to see you.”

  “Dad. Seriously. I could have come there. This is not the place for a confrontation. You know Mom is going to flip when she sees you here.”

  “She won’t. There’s no way she’d make a spectacle in front her best friends.” Dad looked around. “So where is this Chloe you’re so fond of? Did she take off?”

  Austin rolled his eyes. “She’s actually in the wedding. You’ll see her in a minute.”

  “Wonderful. I can’t wait to see my new granddaughter.” Grandma’s voice carried through the ballroom and Austin wanted to hide his face in his hands. It would be a miracle if his family got out of here without
causing a major fight.

  Chloe wiped her tears away as Lacey and Dallin kissed, completing the wedding vows. The service had been beautiful, and Lacey was practically glowing with happiness. When they finally moved to walk down the aisle, Chloe breathed in and then out again, allowing herself to relax.

  Austin caught her eye as he stood, accompanied by Mike and his family and—Chloe froze. That was Austin’s grandma. What in the world was she doing here? Chloe wanted to sprint out of the room, but by the look of desperation on Austin’s face, he would probably explode if she went anywhere.

  She forced herself to smile and walked into the aisle in front of Austin so she could get to him easier. “There you are. I figured you’d already taken off for the cake.”

  Austin bent down and kissed her, taking Chloe’s breath away. When he turned back to his dad, Chloe had to hold onto the chair until she got her bearings back. “Grandma, Dad, this is my wife. Chloe, you remember my dad. Maybe. I think you met once upon a time. And this is my grandma.”

  “Ah, Chloe. You’re Mike’s little sister, right? I didn’t make the connection until just now.” Dad turned to his mom. “She has her own fashion line now.”

  Austin’s grandma stared at her as if trying to see if Austin’s dad was lying. “Is that so? I suppose you’re making pretty good money doing that?”

  “I guess so. I have my own flat in France—” She probably shouldn’t have said that. “That’s where most of my clientele is, so I plan to keep it for travel.”

  His grandma nodded in approval. “Smart girl. Real estate is something worth investing in.”

  Chloe beamed, and tried not to laugh at Austin’s audible sigh of relief. Apparently she hadn’t been the only one holding her breath. “Shall we go find a place to sit?”

  “Anything they have there will be too rich for me. I’ll eat in town. But Austin. I do expect you to come by and see us before you go. We have much to discuss.” She squeezed Chloe’s hand. “Keep him in line, won’t you?”