Renting His Heart

Austin wants nothing more than to have his mom and grandma off his back. When his grandma threatens to cut him off from his grandfather's estate until he's married, it's the last straw.

Chloe has finally hit it big with her books and her clothing line. Now if she could just get her parents to leave her alone. Her cousin's wedding sends Chloe on a trip to a small town in Idaho, and she runs into an old crush on the way.

When Chloe finds out that Austin has a lot to lose, she offers to marry him to appease their parents and help Austin gain his estate in the process. Can they maintain their agreement and move on, or will their old flames reignite and grow into something more?

 Austin slammed the door to the limo and loosened his tie as he strode toward his house. He should have known better than to trust that his
grandma would leave him alone at his grandpa’s wake that night. His mom had assured him of that.

The words his grandma had spoken ran through his mind over and over. “Your grandpa loved you dearly, Austin. He wanted the best for you. But he’s gone now, and I’m over the estate. I don’t want you wasting our money like you did your own. Until you’ve settled down with a wife, you won’t see a dime of it.”

Austin was the only one who had visited his grandpa in the hospital. The only one who cared to make sure the man was taken care of in the rest home. Grandma had been off with her friends on a cruise while her husband lay dying. And now he was
being punished for not being married?

It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to be married. He’d been so close more than once. But when it became clear that they were only in it for the money, he’d walk away again. At that point, he wanted nothing more than to sell everything he had and start over on a ranch somewhere. No one would bother him there.

Austin stopped at the desk in the entryway and picked up his mail. It had been a few days since he’d been home, so the bills had piled up. Phone, gas, requests for him to attend galas—as long as he paid for a spot at the table—always the same.
It was these parties that got him into money trouble in the first place. Junk
mail. He sighed and dropped them back onto the table. His accountant could pay the bills later.

A letter dropped to the floor as he walked away. He bent to pick it up and frowned. He hadn’t noticed this one before. It seemed to be an invitation, but he didn’t recognize the return address. He slid his finger along the envelope to break the seal and pulled out a card. The couple in the picture seemed happy, and the girl was vaguely familiar. Austin glanced back at the envelope and his eyebrows shot up. He’d grown up with her. Lacey had been a good friend until about junior high when her family moved across the country.

The wedding would be at a small bed and breakfast in southern Idaho at the beginning of June. Austin stared at the announcement. As far as he knew, he wasn’t doing anything that weekend, and he hadn’t seen her for a while . . . Austin shook his head. The last thing he needed was a wedding. Right now, he just wanted a quick jog and a hot shower to get rid of the stress from the wake.

He changed quickly and waved at his butler, Charlie, as he headed out. “I’ll be back in half an hour so could you make sure dinner is ready by then?”

Charlie Ames raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going to dinner with your mother?”

“No, not tonight. Tell her I’m sick. Or dying.” Austin left the house to the sound of Charlie’s deep laughter. This wasn’t the first time Austin left with those same instructions.

The evening breeze coming off the Cape Cod bay was cooler than he’d expected. The temperature had to have dropped twenty degrees since he’d gotten home. Austin pulled the hood up on his head and stretched. His run would have to be a lot
shorter than he’d planned. These late winter storms were so unpredictable.

Neighbors waved as he passed by. He didn’t know most of them, but they knew his family. That was enough. Austin tugged on his hood again, wanting to hide. Maybe he
should have tried his treadmill instead.

By the time he finally made it back to his house, Austin was gasping for air. The breeze had turned icy cold, taking his breath away. He ran up the steps and had to fight the wind to get his door shut once he was inside.

“Good run, sir?” Charlie stood in the entryway with a water bottle.

“Always. I’ll be down in a bit.” Austin took the steps two at a time, ignoring the burning in his lungs. The faster he could get in the shower, the faster he could get warm. He turned the shower up as hot as it would go, then climbed in, allowing the water to soothe his sore muscles.

His phone buzzed as he climbed out. Austin checked it and sighed. Five missed calls from his mom. She wasn’t about to give up. After changing into a pair of sweats
and a T-shirt, he dropped onto his bed. The phone rang again before he could dial.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Where have you been? I’ve been trying to call all night. Why aren’t you here at the country club? I told you we had important clients here.” His mom had to yell to be heard over the music in the background.

“I figured you’d have it taken care of. Besides, you know I avoid that place on Friday nights.” Austin kicked at one of his dress shoes he hadn’t put away. 

Mom huffed. “And this is why—”

“Don’t say it or I’ll hang up.” Austin could still hear the unspoken words. “You’re not married.” They’d been over this way too many times. 

“Well, it’s the truth. It’s not like—”

“I’m getting any younger. I know. I’m going down to have dinner. I’ll see you at breakfast on Sunday.” Austin stood and grabbed his shoes to put them in his closet.

Mom sighed. “Very well. At least tell me you’re going next week.”

“Uh . . . going where?” Austin mentally went over everything he had scheduled, but besides work, there was nothing.

“The wedding, dear. I assume you got the announcement.”

Austin stared at his phone for a moment before answering. “You’re the one who gave her my address?”

“Of course, dear. I knew you would be disappointed if you missed out.” 

“Thanks. I think.” Austin sighed. “I don’t know that I can take off work to go.”

“Nonsense. You’re not missing this wedding for a job you don’t even care about. I’ll take care of the airplane tickets. You’ll fly out on Friday. And Austin? If you try to make plans, I’ll make sure they’re canceled.” The call dropped.

Austin stared at the phone. Typical of Mom. He opened the bedroom door to head down to dinner and found Charlie standing there ready to knock. 

“There you are. I was beginning to wonder if you’d make it downstairs before your food got cold. Shall I bring it up for you?”

“No. I’m coming.” Austin glanced at his phone again before shoving it in his pocket and following Charlie down the hallway. “And Charlie? I’ll need a new tux for the wedding. Can you set something up with the tailor?”

Charlie nodded. “Already set. You’ll meet with them next Monday and it will be ready in plenty of time. Your mother called when she couldn’t reach you.”

“Sorry about that.” Austin shook his head. “I suppose you know all about the trip then?”

“I do. And I must say I’m glad you’re going.”

Austin raised his eyebrows. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Charlie was silent until they reached the table in the dining room. He finally cleared his throat. “You spend too much time between work and the night life in the city. It’s about time you get away from everything and learn what you really want out of life.”

“I . . .” Austin blinked. “I know what I want.”

Charlie placed both hands on a chair and leaned forward. “I apologize for being so forward, but I really don’t believe you do.”

Austin picked up his glass and took a drink, not knowing how to even respond. Charlie never argued with Austin. Ever. He’d never argued with Mom or Dad when he was their butler. Was he right? Only one way to find out. He’d go on this trip and
prove both Charlie and his mom wrong.