Man Shy (4 page)

“
If you go for the uncivilized macho-man type.
”
Lindsey
’
s expression made it clear that she didn
’
t.

Not only had Brody retrieved a couple of glasses and a two-liter bottle of pop from the kitchen, he
’
d also finished his first slice of pizza and started on his second before Mallory made it back inside.

Her triumphant grin lit up the room as she closed the door behind her.
“
She bought it.
‘
Poor rejected, over-the-hill Mallory
’
just got upgraded to
‘
poor deluded, in-love-with-the-wrong-man Mallory.
’”

“
I
’
m the wrong man?
”
Brody did his best to look offended.

“
Wrong for my family anyway.
”
Mallory snagged a slice of pizza and settled back in the armchair.
“
Daddy
’
s suspicious of anyone who wasn
’
t born and raised in Brunswick, and my mother
’
s prejudiced against men who have more hair than she does.
”

“
Then I guess it
’
s a good thing this is just a make-believe relationship.
”
He poured a glass of pop and handed it to her.

“
Thanks.
”

Again a fleeting smile lit her face, making him realize how solemn she looked most of the time. Why? Had her boyfriend
’
s defection plunged her into a lingering depression? Or was her problem more complex?

None of your damn business
, he reminded himself.

“
What brings you here tonight, Brody?
”
Mallory
’
s soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

He waved a slice of pizza.
“
I don
’
t like to eat alone.
”

“
I
’
m serious.
”

Yeah, so he
’
d noticed.
“
I thought we ought to spend some time together, get used to each other. Otherwise, we
’
re going to have a tough time fooling anyone at the wedding.
”

“
Meaning?
”

“
Yesterday you practically had a panic attack when I reached over to wipe a smudge of chocolate off your chin. If you react that way at the wedding, nobody
’
s going to believe you
’
re in love with me.
”

She fell silent, staring in apparent fascination at a string of mozzarella dangling from the lid of the pizza box like a miniature bungee cord.
“
My reaction had nothing to do with you. I
’
m just a person who needs a lot of personal space.
”

“
But you want everyone to think we
’
re involved, right?
”

“
That
’
s the plan.
”
She still wouldn
’
t meet his gaze.

“
Then I think we need to practice.
”

She looked up, startled.
“
Practice what?
”

“
Sitting side by side, for starters.
”
He shrugged.
“
We might be a little more believable as a couple if you didn
’
t flinch whenever I come within five feet of you.
”

“
I don
’
t flinch.
”

“
Oh, no?
”
He moved to her side and leaned casually against the arm of her chair.

She shrank away like a turtle retreating into its shell.

Brody stepped back, folding his arms across his chest.
“
I rest my case.
”
He returned to the love seat and helped himself to another slice of pizza.

“
No fair. You startled me.
”

“
Exactly my point.
”

She lifted her chin. Her gaze was direct and unwavering, her mouth a tight line of determination, but the rapid rise and fall of her chest betrayed her true state of mind.

“
I
’
m no threat to you,
”
he said.

“
I know that.
”

“
You don
’
t react this way to Kyle.
”

“
No, but
c”

“
What?
”

“
I
’
ve known Kyle a long time. I barely know you at all.
”

“
Then you
’
d better get to know me. Otherwise this isn
’
t going to work. Not if you shy like a nervous horse every time I get close. Come sit by me.
”
He patted the space next to him on the love seat.
“
I don
’
t bite. Think of me as someone harmless, an older brother, a favorite uncle, the boy next door.
”

She froze, her eyes wide and blank.

“
Mallory?
”
What had he said now?

She blinked twice, then slowly focused her gaze on him.
“
I
’
m being silly, huh?
”

“
Not silly. Cautious. And with weirdos like GI Joe running around loose, some caution is in order.
”

“
But you
’
re not GI Joe.
”

“
No.
”
Though he damned well wished he knew who was.
“
Did you ever play make-believe games when you were a kid?
”

“
All the time.
”

“
Well, that
’
s what this is. Make-believe. All you have to do is pretend to be interested in me.
”

“
Like you
’
re pretending to be interested in me?
”

“
Right,
”
he said, though he wasn
’
t sure as he gazed into her eyes if he was pretending or not. Despite her hang-ups, Mallory Scott was a very appealing woman, more so perhaps because she seemed totally unaware of how attractive she was.

Smiling nervously, she sat down next to him. Her breathing was rapid. Her hands shook.

Brody gave her an encouraging look.
“
Don
’
t hyperventilate. Just relax.
”

She shut her eyes and her breathing slowed, but her hands still trembled.

Brody kept his voice low.
“
Okay, Mallory, I
’
m going to put my arm around your shoulders. Try not to tighten up.
”

She made an obvious effort to relax, but her shoulder felt as rigid as a board under his hand. Maybe that was the problem. Her effort was obvious.

“
This isn
’
t working,
”
he said.
“
Open your eyes. Let
’
s play the what if game.
”

She eyed him uncertainly.
“
I don
’
t know that one.
”

“
It
’
s easy. I pose a question. You answer off the top of your head. Ready? What if you won ten million dollars?
”

She grinned.
“
I
’
d retire to Tahiti. How about you?
”

“
I
’
d quit my job to train full-time for the Olympics.
”

“
In what sport?
”

“
All of
’
em. I dream big.
”
He squeezed her shoulders. She tensed, but only for a second.
“
Okay, second question. What if aliens took over the earth?
”

“
Aliens?
”
She laughed.
“
I
’
d cancel their green cards and send them back to their home world. What would you do?
”

“
Me? Well, since I have it on authority that aliens are allergic to tropical breezes, I guess I
’
d retire to Tahiti.
”

“
No fair! Think up your own answer.
”
She leaned forward to scoop up a slice of pizza. Brody, who
’
d had the same idea, was a fraction of a second slower. Her hand closed on the pizza and his hand closed on hers. Mallory stiffened again and uttered a nearly inaudible gasp.

As her startled gaze met his Brody murmured an involuntary,
“
Oh!
”
Which didn
’
t fall under the heading of witty repartee, but then, the unexpected physical contact seemed to have short-circuited his brain.

“
Brody?
”
she whispered, looking as confused as he felt. Her fingers trembled in his.

“
Hmm?
”
He blinked, fighting to clear his head. For some reason, he couldn
’
t seem to think and look into her eyes at the same time, a circumstance he found unsettling. Very unsettling. A man could drown himself in the depths of those eyes.

“
Brody?
”
she repeated in a shaky voice.
“
Is this part of the game?
”
She dropped the pizza and tugged her fingers free of his, breaking the spell.

“
What?
”
He stood abruptly.
“
Part of the game? No, I think the game
’
s over for tonight.
”
He cleared his throat.
“
I just remembered I promised someone I
’
d do something.
”

Mallory
’
s face went blank. Then she shifted her gaze, veiling her expression behind a thick fringe of eyelashes.

Oh, great. Now he
’
d hurt her feelings. And no wonder.
I promised someone I
’
d do something
. Talk about pitiful excuses.

Mallory rose. Her cheeks were faintly pink, but she looked him right in the eye.
“
I
’
m sorry if I offended you, Brody. Of course it was part of the game. I never really meant to question your motives. It
’
s just
c”
She dropped her gaze.
“
I keep forgetting. I mean, you don
’
t seem
c”

Gay? Good reason for that
. He took a deep breath.
I should tell her
, he thought. But then she
’
d never be able to relax enough to carry off the charade. And Kyle had told him how important this was to her. Hell, another week and he
’
d be out of her life forever. Surely he could keep his mouth shut and his hormones in check that long.

“
Brody?
”

He looked at her. Big mistake.

She captured his right hand in hers and gave him a formal handshake.
“
Thanks for dinner. I really appreciate what you
’
re doing for me.
”

Yeah, but did she have any idea what she was doing for him?

No, he decided, she didn
’
t have a clue. Her eyes were wide and guileless, her soft pink lips curved in an innocent smile. God, but he was tempted to kiss her. What could it hurt?