He laughed. “I never knew you could be so devious.” He stretched and turned toward the door. “I guess I’d better go get the kids.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“Maybe I’ll just send you.” He grimaced. “I’m not sure I want to face your sisters.”
Debbie frowned. “Yeah, I don’t want to face them either. Should we go in together and try to convince them this is real? Or do I face the firing squad alone?”
He rubbed his neck. “Are your brothers likely to be there?”
“No, why?”
“I have a feeling they are going to kill me when they find out we’re engaged.”
Debbie huffed out a breath. “They didn’t drop the big brother act last Saturday, did they?”
Austin shook his head. “But I can’t blame them. If my sister got engaged to some guy she’d only known for a couple of weeks, I’d run him out of town.”
Debbie sat on the sofa in the sitting room and slipped off her heels. “I’ve made enough crazy life choices that even though my family will be surprised, they won’t be too shocked.”
“Right. They’ll just think you’re impulsive and insane, while I look like a gold digger.”
“Oh please, we both know you don’t want anything to do with my money.”
“Yeah, but everyone else doesn’t know that.”
She stood and smiled at him. “Then I guess you’re going to have to work extra hard to convince everyone you’re really in love with me.”
* * *
Debbie pickedup the remote and stretched out on the sofa in her living room. She’d shed the satin and lace dress as soon as Austin and Amy left and donned comfy pajamas. The longer she continued to dress casually the more she enjoyed it.
Dressing up in nice clothing and jewelry made her feel pretty and special, but Austin’s gaze had barely taken in those things when he first arrived tonight. He’d stared at her face, and she’d never felt more beautiful.
Debbie sighed. That was nothing, though, compared to the way she felt when he kissed her.
Austin seemed like the perfect man. Why did he have to have such an aversion to her money?
For the first time since marrying Peter and becoming wealthy, she considered giving it all up. She could easily sign over large chunks of Peter’s fortune to various charities and be done with it, but she’d promised him she would bless as many people as she could for as long as possible. And she enjoyed helping others.
In the end, she’d let Austin go to Joy’s house alone. He’d admitted he planned to text Savannah to tell her he was there and to bring her brothers out.
Debbie didn’t blame him for being a coward, since that was exactly the reason she’d decided not to go. If they’d try to sell her sisters on their relationship, she’d not only feel like a fraud, she’d end up longing even more than she already did for his touch and kisses.
The doorbell rang just as she turned on the TV. She turned it off again and braced herself for the inquisition she knew was coming.
Joy and Sheila rushed in as soon as Debbie opened the front door.
“Please tell me it isn’t true and that Cody was just telling lies,” Joy said.
Sheila swatted Joy’s arm. “Of course he wasn’t lying. Even Savannah confirmed it.”
They both stared at Debbie.
She stood frozen as heat flooded her cheeks. Maybe it would have been easier to have Austin beside her to help convince her sisters.
“Well?” Joy propped a hand on her hips.
“Well what?” Debbie’s voice squeaked.
