The Perfect Couple

by Valerie Hansen

  “Eating mosquitoes, you mean?”

  “Those, and every other flying insect they can catch on the wing. I must have twenty pairs of martins in my birdhouses so far this year and they're singing like wild canaries to attract mates. It's wonderful. I wake up to a concert every morning.”

  Susan giggled. “I wake up to Mark's snoring.”

  “Well, to each his own. I prefer my birds,” Kara teased. “They don't make funny noises. And they always clean up after themselves.”

  “But they don't keep your feet warm at night.”

  “I have an electric blanket.” She made a face. “If it stops working, I can buy another one.”

  A pleasant voice coming from behind her made Kara jump. “Buy another one what?” Louise Tate asked.

  Kara whirled. “Oh! Hello. You startled me.” She smiled for Louise's benefit, then shot a questioning glance at Susan.

  “I take it you didn't know I was coming,” the older woman observed. “I hope you don't mind.”

  “No, of course not. It's nice to see you again.”

  Susan smiled broadly and reached past Kara for the bowl Louise was carrying. “Oooh, fruit salad. How delicious.”

  “I didn't want to come empty-handed,” she said. “If you don't want to serve it tonight, you and Mark can always have it later, when we're all gone.”

  We? All? Kara was beginning to have serious misgivings about the forthcoming evening. She had a bad feeling that Louise might be only the first of the surprises her sister had in store.

  Before she could ask, Mark burst in the back door, still dusty from work. “Sorry, ladies,” he said in passing. “I got delayed. I'll go grab a quick shower and be right back.” He stopped in the hallway and stuck his head back through the door to the kitchen where Susan, Louise and Kara stood. “If Ty gets here before I'm done cleaning up, ask him to go ahead and light the barbecue, will you?”

  Kara's mouth dropped open. She wheeled to face her sister. “Susan…”

  “Hey, it's a big roast,” she countered. “No sense in letting it go to waste. Besides, there's nothing wrong with trying to make points with the boss.” She smiled sweetly. “I kiss up to mine all the time.”

  Kara's, “Oh, save me!” practically rattled the windows. She quickly excused herself, spun on her heel and headed for the door. Of all the ridiculous tricks Susan had pulled, this one took the prize.

  Jerking open the screen, Kara plunged outside, ran down the steps onto the lawn and nearly collided with Tyler Corbett.

  He put out his arms to catch her. It wasn't necessary. She managed to skid to a stop and regain her balance without stumbling, then step back out of reach.

  Filled with annoyance, she put her fists on her hips, braced herself and stared up at him. It was easy to see he was as shocked to see her as she'd been to learn that he was also invited to dinner.

  Kara nodded toward the house. “I wouldn't go in there if I were you.”

  “Why not?” Scowling, Tyler stood his ground.

  “Because there's apparently a plot brewing. I don't know why I'm surprised. My sister's done this kind of thing before.”

  “Done what?”

  “Gotten it into her head that I'm desperate for a husband and tried to hurry things along. I hate to tell you this, but I think she's picked you for the job.” She grimaced. “Louise is in the house, too. I suspect a conspiracy.”

  His eyes widened. “Dee's mother? Why would she be involved?”

  “I don't have a clue. All I know is she seemed to know you were coming and didn't act a bit surprised to find me in the kitchen with Susan when she arrived a few minutes ago.”

  Tyler was slowly, pensively shaking his head. “I suppose you could be right. Louise has been repeating her marital history a lot lately. I figured she was getting senile. Now that I think about it, she may have been using those stories to try to get me to consider finding another wife.” He looked directly into Kara's eyes as he added, “That will never happen. Deanne was one of a kind.”

  Kara began to relax. Taking a deep breath, she released it as a relieved sigh. “I know what you mean. After Alex, I swear I'll never get married again.”

  “Why can't they just leave us alone?” Tyler sounded melancholy.

  “I don't know. Probably because they care about us too much.” She was starting to get an idea and didn't want to discuss it where they could be overheard. “Come on. Let's take a little walk.”

  He eyed her with suspicion as she urged him away from the house. “Why?”

  “Because I know how we can get everybody to relax and leave us alone,” she said brightly. “It's brilliant. And plausible. I've used similar tricks to get Susan to back off, before. It'll serve them right if they swallow the whole charade, hook, line and sinker.”

  “We're fishing?” Tyler teased. He was beginning to suspect where Kara's mind was going and couldn't help being amused by her enthusiasm.

  “No, we're bamboozling. We're going to make them think we're a couple! We'll have to work out the beginning of our pretend relationship, of course. It has to look natural or we won't fool anybody. That'll be the hardest part.”

  “You're crazy. They'll never buy it.”

  “Sure they will. It'll be easy, especially if we throw in a suitable lovers' quarrel every once in a while.” She grinned up at him. “How about it? Think you can argue with me convincingly?”

  “I think we can manage that part all right,” he said hesitantly. “The friendly stuff may be tougher.”

  “Not once we get used to it. Lots of couples have rotten home lives and still manage to present a loving image when they're out in public.”

  “That's not a very comforting picture.”

  Kara agreed. “No. But it does prove my plan is doable. What do you say? Shall we try it?”

  “I'm not sure. Suppose Susan doesn't fall for the same trick again? And what about Louise?”

  “If it doesn't fool them, then we're right back where we started. We won't have lost a thing.” Kara's eyebrows arched. “But if the plan works, we can string them along for months, maybe even years, till we either get tired of acting the part or you meet somebody else and decide to move on.”

  Laying her hand on his arm she sobered. “I know what's bothering you. It's deceitful. That part bothers me, too. If our friends were trying to manipulate us like this, we could just tell them off. But Louise and Susan are family. We can't disown them just because they're trying to do us a favor, even when they're wrong.”

  Tyler looked down at where her warm hand rested on his forearm. If he wasn't so positive he'd never be able to replace Deanne, he'd never agree to such a bizarre plan. If it worked, however, there could be added benefits that Kara hadn't mentioned. “Okay. I'll do it. But only because I think it will demonstrate to Louise and everybody else that I am not going to change my mind.”

  “Ditto.” Kara extended her hand. “Shake on it?”

  He complied, then quickly released her and stepped back, sliding his fingers into the back pockets of his jeans. “Okay. You're the brains of this outfit. How do we get started?”

  She smoothed the hem of her T-shirt over her hips while she gave her imagination free rein. “Well, you could always kiss me and then I could slap your face.”

  “Why would I kiss you?” Flushing, he realized his initial astonishment at the suggestion had made him sound too hostile. “I mean, doesn't that seem too quick?”

  She subdued her bruised pride and managed a cynical smile. “Hmmm. You're right. So why don't we just wing it? We've already decided we're going to have a few lovers' quarrels. I think you'll do just fine at that kind of scene without a script.”

  Tyler didn't miss the extra dollop of cloying sweetness in her voice—or the smug look on her face. “Cute. Sounds to me like you won't need one, either.”

  “See? You're starting to appreciate my quick wit already. Come on.” Kara started back to the house. “I'll go in the kitchen door. You'd better wait a few minut
es and use the front so we don't look like we're together.”

  “I thought that was the idea.”

  “Not yet. That's too easy. They'll never buy it if we give in too willingly.”

  He slowed his pace. “Okay. I suppose you're right. You go on back. I'll follow in a few minutes.”

  “Right.” Suddenly nervous, she paused and smoothed her pale-blue top again. “Do I look okay?”

  He wanted to tell her she looked wonderful. The shirt fit her nicely, without being too tight the way some women wore them, and her jeans were so right for her they may as well have been tailored to her precise measurements.

  “You'll do,” he said dryly. “You're not auditioning for Macbeth, you know.”

  Kara giggled. “I feel like it.”

  “Scared?” Tyler stepped closer to speak in confidence. They were barely fifty feet from Mark and Susan's. The sun was low in the west, the ranch as quiet as it ever got, and he didn't want their conversation accidentally overheard.

  “A little,” she said softly. “I know it's crazy but it really bothers me to think of deceiving Susan. She's always there for me when I need her. I love her a lot.”

  “We don't have to go ahead with this, you know. It's not too late to change your mind.” Stepping closer, Tyler waited for her final decision.

  Kara's words were so soft he could barely hear them. He rested his hands lightly on her shoulders and leaned down, inclining his head to one side. “What did you say?”

  She was about to repeat, “I know,” when she saw a flash of movement past Tyler's shoulder. It was Mark. And he was staring right at them!

  Before Kara could warn Tyler or step away from him, Mark let out a hoot of surprise, then bolted for the house.

  Tyler spun around. “What was that?”

  “I think it was the opening of act I, scene 1,” she said, her heart racing, her cheeks turning crimson. “My brother-in-law just caught us out behind the barn.“

  Mark shot through the door and shouted, “Hey! You won't believe what I just saw!”

  Susan and Louise froze where they stood. Susan finally found her voice enough to ask, “What?”

  “Kara and Tyler.”

  “So?“

  “Together!” he added, pointing. “Out there.”

  “Were they killing each other?” Susan was rap idly drying her hands, preparing to go to Kara's rescue.

  Mark snickered. “That sure wasn't what it looked like to me. I didn't stand around and stare but I'd swear they were pretty friendly.”

  Louise let out the breath she'd been holding. “Whew. That's a relief.”

  “I'll believe it when I see it.” Susan was already headed for the door. She grabbed a handful of her husband's shirt in passing and tugged him along behind. “Show me.”

  Tyler was having trouble dealing with the unacceptable awareness he'd felt when he'd made the mistake of innocently touching Kara's shoulders. He told himself he should have already learned the folly of doing anything like that. It had happened for the first time when she'd asked him to hold back her hair while she'd doctored the pup's leg. This time was worse. This time, he'd had no reasonable excuse for his actions.

  “What do we do now?” Kara whispered.

  “Don't ask me. I suppose we could claim we were quarreling, like we'd planned.”

  “Even I wouldn't believe that one, and this story is my invention.”

  “Well, what then?”

  She pulled a face. “I don't know. Maybe we can—”

  Just then, Tyler saw everyone else rush out of the house. Mark was pointing.

  “Go to Plan B.” Tyler finished her sentence with a self-deprecating smirk, grabbed Kara and pulled her into a full embrace. As he bent to kiss her, he whispered a warning against her lips. “Hang on. This won't hurt a bit.”

  The moment he took her in his arms, Kara's brain curled into a useless knot and ceased rational function. The touch of his lips only added to the turmoil. She wrapped her arms around Tyler's neck and held tight as he lifted her off the ground. If this was his idea of a make-believe kiss, she was glad he'd never give her a real one! It might be so wonderful she'd die from its sweetness.

  Tyler released her almost immediately, although it seemed as if eons had passed while their lips were pressed together. Guilt assailed him. He'd pledged himself to Deanne for eternity, yet he'd savored the taste, the touch of Kara's kiss. That was wrong. It had to be.

  He started to back off.

  Kara blinked repeatedly, trying to focus her thoughts. She wasn't scared. She wasn't anything. Her brain was drawing a complete blank, leaving her feeling about as resourceful as a bowl of cold, week-old grits.

  When Tyler looked down at her and gazed silently into her eyes, she could hardly breathe. “What—what did you do that for?”

  “We have an audience. Plan B. Remember?”

  Kara remembered all right. She also remembered exactly what she was supposed to do in return. “Well, you started it,” she muttered. “I guess I can finish it.”

  Drawing back, she slapped his face so hard her palm stung, spun on her heel and stalked away.

  Chapter Six

  Kara stormed past her openmouthed sister and the others and reentered the kitchen, slamming the screen door behind her. If the idiotic plan to pretend she was interested in Tyler hadn't been her own, she'd have had someone else to blame. But there was no way to disclaim accountability. There was nothing left to do but try to carry out the entire plan.

  Susan and Louise followed her inside a few minutes later. Kara's cheeks were still flaming, her eyes flashing, when she whirled to face the other women and peered past them. “Where's Mark?”

  “Outside, attacking the grill so we can roast the corn,” Susan said simply.

  “And Mr. Corbett?”

  “Outside.” Susan half smiled. “Or were you asking if Mark was attacking him, too?”

  “Very funny.” Kara didn't have to act the part of a flustered woman. She was truly upset about what had just occurred between her and Tyler. The worst part was she could still feel the touch of his lips, still sense his nearness, still taste his kiss.

  “Actually, I thought it was pretty funny,” Susan replied. “You should have seen the look on your face afterward.”

  “I don't want to discuss it. And I don't appreciate what you tried to do tonight.” She focused on her sister. “I'm never going to be able to trust you again.”

  Susan held up her hands in mock surrender. “Hey. I didn't tell him to kiss you. And I certainly didn't make you kiss him back.” She chuckled quietly and smiled over at Louise. “It didn't look to me like Kara minded much. Did it to you?”

  “No, I can't say it did,” Louise drawled. “As a matter of fact, I'm not sure Tyler started it. It seemed to me that Kara was as much a party to what took place as he was.”

  “I was not!”

  Susan cocked her head quizzically as she asked, “Do you mean to tell us the man knocked you out and dragged you off behind the barn so he could ravish you?”

  “No. Of course not.” Resolute, Kara faced her sister, hands on her hips, jaw clenched.

  “So, you went with him all by yourself, right?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “Aha. I thought so. I couldn't see you letting any man take advantage of you, if you didn't want him to.”

  That's true, now that Alex is gone, Kara thought. I am much stronger willed than I used to be. She refused to be swayed. “We were just talking. That's all.”

  “About what?”

  The knowing look in Susan's eyes told Kara her ruse was working, in spite of the plan getting off to a rocky start. She supposed that was better than failure, even though it had meant she'd learned something disturbing about herself. And about her vulnerability…or what was left of it.

  Whether she liked it or not, she was attracted to Tyler Corbett, at least on a physical level. Of course, she'd never let him guess that was the case. Their scheme would still work. All s
he had to do was keep him from demonstrating any more of his romantic tendencies and all would be well.

  Kara let herself smile as if she were hiding a delicious secret, then said, “Tyler and I were talking. That's all you need to know, nosy.”

  A triumphant expression bloomed on Susan's face. She glanced over at Louise, clearly pleased with herself.

  Kara's troubled conscience did a back flip and landed as a heavy lump of guilt in her chest. She averted her gaze. There were two ways to get her meddlesome yet devoted sister to leave her love life alone. One was the way she'd chosen; a sham romance with a man who could be trusted to keep a confidence and not misunderstand her motives. The second was to reveal the truth about her horrible marriage to Alex so Susan would understand why choosing another husband was not something Kara would ever consider.

  In any fair contest the truth should prevail, she knew. And maybe someday she'd find the courage to confide in her sister. But not now. Not yet.

  The urge to unburden herself faded. Forcing a smile, Kara reached for a paring knife. “Okay. Let's get back to work, here. Which do you want me to fix, the green salad or the potatoes?”

  Without speaking, Tyler followed Mark to the patio and watched him light the barbecue grill. He felt like he ought to say something—anything—that would explain why he'd been kissing Kara. He snorted in self-derision. If he knew why he'd done it, he'd have a lot better chance of explaining the whole thing to someone else.

  It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. One he'd been regretting ever since he'd acted upon it. In retrospect, he realized he'd gathered her so close he'd even lifted her feet off the ground. Considering how short she was compared to Deanne, he supposed his reactions had been instinctive. And stupid, he added. What must poor Kara think of him?

  His hand lifted to touch his still-tingling cheek. Poor Kara, indeed. For a little gal she sure packed a big wallop.