Читать онлайн книгу «Seduced by the CEO» автора Barbara Dunlop

Seduced by the CEO
Barbara Dunlop


“There’s always a catch.” Kalissa smiled.
Riley agreed with that. “Catch is—” he settled a hand on her bare hip “—I’m falling for you.”
Her smile widened. “That’s not a catch.”
It was for him, and that was the hard truth. He was quickly coming to care for this woman, but he was destined to upset and disappoint her. There was no way around it.
But not now, he told himself, not today. They could be together for a little longer yet, before the real world crowded in.
* * *
Seduced by the CEO
is part of the Chicago Sons series: Men who work hard, love harder and live with their fathers’ legacies …
Seduced by the CEO
Barbara Dunlop


www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
BARBARA DUNLOP writes romantic stories while curled up in a log cabin in Canada’s far north, where bears outnumber people and it snows six months of the year. Fortunately she has a brawny husband and two teenage children to haul firewood and clear the driveway while she sips cocoa and muses about her upcoming chapters. Barbara loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website, barbaradunlop.com (http://barbaradunlop.com).
For my husband
Contents
Cover (#u2c460f38-e2bf-5038-9c92-f59c7f2f640f)
Introduction (#u31a2afa1-1be2-575e-848c-59359b41cb8e)
Title Page (#u03316673-280d-5189-a210-97c543bc8f14)
About the Author (#u1e32545d-c61b-5a7f-aad7-5f6bd5b43ad5)
Dedication (#u24cc6314-2f3b-5430-bf22-7bbecd758346)
One (#uc8ad0e3f-8b8b-56f2-8c7f-e3dd273afa3a)
Two (#ue439314b-7d3b-59ec-9d1e-f6b062d4ec81)
Three (#uc702c20d-4bdc-53a2-b527-63e063e7a898)
Four (#u25068074-f039-590e-b522-195cbe9bc80e)
Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
One (#ulink_bc635be8-a83f-56a0-b91a-812fdc406e82)
Kalissa Smith stripped off a pair of dirt-streaked garden gloves and paced backward from the Newbergs’ house, smiling with both pride and satisfaction. It had taken a full month, but the new lawn gleamed emerald under the August sun. Beyond its scalloped edges, fresh, black dirt was mounded in flower beds positioned against the brick walls of the two-story colonial. Evergreens and dwarf maples were clustered in one corner of the spacious yard, providing shade and privacy.
“The ornamental peppers definitely work,” said Megan, crossing from their company pickup truck in the driveway.
“It’s a bit of a twist,” said Kalissa.
Megan drew a deep breath. “I think they’ll be happy with the twist.”
“They’d better be happy.”
The Newbergs were not the easiest clients in the world, but at least the job was finally complete.
“Did we make any money on this one?” Megan asked.
“I sure hope we did. We were underwater on the turf, but we saved on labor.”
“Only because we did most of it ourselves.”
“Good thing we charge ourselves such reasonable prices.”
Megan smiled at the joke. “It does look fantastic.”
Kalissa couldn’t help flexing her sore shoulders. Her calves were tight and her abs ached from so many days of physical work. On the bright side, she had absolutely no need to visit a gym, and she was developing a very nice tan.
“I’m going to take some pictures for the web site,” she said.
Mosaic Landscaping had been in business for just under a year, starting when Kalissa and Megan had both earned college diplomas in landscape design.
“There were three more inquires on our voice mail this afternoon,” said Megan.
“Can we at least grab dinner before we start a new project?”
Megan chuckled. “On top of everything else, you want food?”
“Call me high-maintenance.”
“I could go for a burger.”
“Benny’s, here we come.”
Benny’s Burgers was a funky little restaurant tucked in an alleyway near their landscape shop on the west side of Chicago. They’d rented the aging storefront and warehouse space because of its generous size and reasonable rent. Esthetics had little to do with the decision—though they had painted and brightened the upstairs apartment, moving two single beds and some used furniture into the space.
Kalissa retrieved the camera from the front of their serviceable, blue pickup truck, making her way around the yard to take shots from various angles.
At the same time, Megan gathered up the last of the hand tools, stowing them in the pickup box. Then she perched herself on the tailgate, scrolling through pages on her tablet.
“Any new inquiries from the web site?” Kalissa called as she lined up for a picture of the flagstone walkway edged with pink and white peonies. The front porch and double doors filled in the background, and the sun was hitting the flowers at just the right angle.
“There are still a lot of people looking for maintenance.”
Megan and Kalissa had talked about adding a yard maintenance service to their business. It wasn’t where they wanted to focus, but if they could hire a decent crew, they might be able to make a little extra money. Their business was gradually increasing its customer base, but the margins were thin.
Kalissa clicked the final shots.
“What do you think about doing that?” she asked as she made her way back to the truck.
“Is there something you’ve neglected to tell me?” Megan was staring at the tablet screen.
Kalissa stopped in front of her. “About what?”
Megan turned the tablet so it was facing Kalissa.
Kalissa reached out to steady it.
She squinted against the bright sunshine, and a photo of a bride and groom came into focus. The man was handsome in his tux, and the woman’s dress was gorgeous, highlighted by a huge, multi-colored bouquet of roses, tulips and lavender.
“See it?” asked Megan.
“The Ferdinand Pichard roses?” They were stunning. Kalissa had never seen them in such a deep magenta.
“The bride.”
“What about the—” Then Kalissa saw it. She snapped her hand back in astonishment.
“It’s you.”
“It’s not me.” Kalissa peered at the woman’s startlingly familiar face. It obviously couldn’t be her.
“Photoshopped?” she asked.
“That’s what I thought,” said Megan. “But there are a bunch more.” She moved so they could both see the screen while she scrolled through other pictures.
“What on earth?” Kalissa took control of the tablet. “Is this a joke?” She looked at Megan. “Did you do this?”
Megan stood up for a better view. “I only found it two minutes ago.”
Kalissa stopped on a picture of the bride and groom cutting the wedding cake.
“Nice,” said Megan. “Seven tiers.”
“I obviously have money in this alternate life.” Kalissa took in each of the bride’s poses and expressions. “Too bad I can’t float us a loan.”
She struggled to figure out where her head shots could have originated, guessing this was some kind of on-line game.
“My birthday’s coming up,” she ventured, trying to imagine who, other than Megan, would spend this much time on a joke gift.
“Nice groom,” said Megan.
Kalissa took another look at the man. “He is pretty hot.”
“It says here he’s Shane Colborn.”
“Why do I know that name?”
“Colborn Aerospace,” said Megan, identifying a prominent Chicago company.
“So, it was obviously somebody from Chicago who did this.”
“I mean, this is the real guy. He owns Colborn Aerospace.”
“Uh, oh.” Now Kalissa was worried. “He’s not going to think this is funny. Can anybody see this page?”
“I got it from a Nighttime News link.”
Kalissa’s confusion grew. “The national site?”
Megan nodded.
“Why? How? We have to get them to take it down.”
“I think it’s legit.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“I think you have a doppelganger.”
“That’s not a real thing.” Kalissa studied the bride’s face. “And there’s no way someone could possibly look this similar.”
It was a joke. These had to be pictures of her that somebody had taken without her knowledge.
“Maybe you were part of a cloning experiment?”
“I doubt they had human cloning when I was born.”
“I hope they still don’t have it now,” said Megan. “You know, there is one other possibility,”
Kalissa waited a moment. But when Megan didn’t finish, she glanced up. “What?”
“You have an identical twin,” said Megan.
Kalissa shook her head.
“You were adopted.”
“I was nearly a year old when I was adopted. My mother would have known if I had a twin sister. She would have said something.”
Gilda Smith hadn’t been the most organized person in the world. She was fond of sherry, and her memory was never the greatest. But you didn’t forget that your adopted daughter had a twin sister.
Megan looked pointedly down at the screen. “Maybe they split you up.”
“Who would do that? And why keep it a secret?”
“It says she’s Darci Rivers. Well, Darci Colborn now.”
“My birth name was Thorp.”
“And your legal name is Smith. Whoever adopted this Darci would have changed hers too.”
“It can’t be,” said Kalissa, fighting the logic of Megan’s assumption. “It just can’t.”
Megan shrugged her shoulders, clearly resting her case.
As Kalissa took in every inch of the woman’s face, her chest tightened, and a strange buzzing sensation made its way along her limbs. She struggled to wrap her head around the information.
The resemblance was far too close to be a coincidence. Unless this was some elaborate photo-cropping joke, there was a real possibility she had a secret twin sister.
“You should call her,” said Megan. “Maybe she can float us a loan.”
Kalissa was appalled. “You didn’t actually say that.”
“The woman just married a billionaire.”
“So what?” The Colborn money had absolutely nothing to do with Kalissa.
“The minute she gets a look at you—”
“I’m not about to let her get a look at me.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not going to be that person.”
“Really? What person is it you’re not going to be?”
“The long-lost relative who pops up the minute there’s money in play.”
“You don’t have to ask her for money.”
Kalissa wasn’t fooling around here. “It doesn’t matter if I ask or not. They’ll think I’ve been waiting in the wings all these years, and now I’ve decided to pounce.”
“She’ll probably just offer it up.”
“Stop it.”
“We’d pay her back.”
“See?” said Kalissa. “See? Even you think I’m after her money. And you know me better than anyone.”
“It’s not like she’d miss a few thousand. Temporarily.”
Kalissa closed the window and handed back the tablet. “No. No. And no.”
“You can’t just ignore this.”
“Watch me.”
* * *
Riley Ellis was both thrilled and terrified. He had a newly expanded aircraft factory, a significant new sales contract, a massive mortgage on the commercial building and a maxed out line of credit. Ellis Aviation was entering a whole new phase of existence.
“Flipping the switch now,” he said to Wade Cormack on the other end of the cell phone in Seattle.
“Congratulations,” said Wade. He was the owner of Zoom Tac, the company supplying most of the parts for the new E-22 short haul jet.
Riley twisted the switch, and the main overhead lights came on in sequence. Computers came to life, and robotic machines started their power-up sequence along the assembly line. The hundred staff members on the floor sent up a cheer.
He hadn’t really turned everything on with a single switch. The supervisors and foremen at each station had simply taken the overhead lights as a signal to go live. It was eight a.m., August 16th, day one of the expanded operation.
From the interior walkway on the third level, Riley gave everyone a wave and a salute. “The clock is officially ticking,” he said to Wade.
The cheering gradually died down, and everyone’s attention turned to their tasks.
“Now you just need to get the glitches worked out of the supply chain,” said Wade.
“The custom rivets finally arrived. Colorado’s good on the sheet metal. How are your new parts certifications coming?” Riley moved along the walkway to his office, the spring-loaded door shutting out the noise behind him.
“My guys say they’re on track.”
“That’s great.” Riley plopped down on his desk chair.
The new office was compact and utilitarian, with big windows overlooking the factory floor. His production and sales managers had offices on either side of him, with the various unit supervisors near their staff’s stations throughout the facility.
Out of habit from all the recent construction, he’d worn cargo pants and a t-shirt, his feet clad in steel toed boots. Part of him was itching to get down there on the floor and plunge in. But he realized he had to stay at the helm.
He had over a hundred and fifty workers now, operating on three shifts. They needed a leader, not a colleague. And he had to keep focused on the company’s strategic direction.
“Good luck,” said Wade.
“Talk to you in a few days.” Riley ended the call.
As he settled back in his chair, his thoughts went fleetingly to his father, Dalton Colborn. The man had never once acknowledged Riley as his illegitimate son, and he’d certainly never given him any support or encouragement. Still, their lives had ended up following a similar path.
At the moment, Riley couldn’t help but wonder if this was how Dalton had felt in the early days when his fledgling company had first started to grow. Had he experienced this same combination of exhilaration and flat-out fear? Dalton had gone from nothing to a billion dollar aerospace company before he’d died, so he must have taken chances along the way.
Shane Colborn had inherited that dynasty. Shane was the legitimate son, the golden child.
“Well, Shane,” Riley said out loud to the empty office, wishing he had a shot of tequila or even a beer to use for a toast. “Let’s find out if your illegitimate half-brother can give you a run for your money.”
His phone pinged with a text message.
He set aside his thoughts and checked it. The text was from Ashton Watson, his high school friend. It was a photo tagged: Blew my mind.
Another text came immediately from Ashton. I’ve met the bride.
Curious, Riley tapped the photo. It expanded to show a picture of Shane dressed in a tuxedo standing next to a gorgeous, auburn haired woman in white lace. She had a trim body, bright green eyes and flawless skin, a true ten on the hotness scale. Then again, a ten was exactly what Riley would have expected for Shane.
His office door opened, and Ashton strode right in. “She’s a piece of work, that one. Nasty as they come.”
“She doesn’t look nasty,” Riley couldn’t help but observe. She looked classy and beautiful, and also very happy. Then again, she’d just married a billionaire in a lavish wedding that was reported to have cost several hundred thousand dollars. That would probably make the nastiest of women happy.
“Just don’t tick her off,” said Ashton.
“How do you know her?”
“She was Jennifer’s roommate.”
“Jennifer?”
Ashton gave an exasperated sigh, lowering himself into the single guest chair. “I dated her for four months.”
“Did I meet her?”
“Yeah. At least once. I’m sure you met her. Blond hair, blue eyes, great legs.”
“You just described every date you’ve had since freshman year.”
“She was different. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. It’s going to go bad for Shane. I’d put money on it.”
“Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” Riley drawled.
Ashton grinned and cocked his head toward the interior windows. “Looks really good out there.”
“I can’t believe we’re finally up and running.”
“I knew you’d do it.”
“I haven’t done it yet.” Riley rose to gaze out at the factory himself. Machines were running. People were working. But it was a long, long road to any kind of profitability. He sure hoped he could make it.
Ashton stood beside him. “Yeah, you have. Before long, you’ll have more contracts than you’ll know what to do with.”
“Believe it or not, I’ve been thinking about Dalton.”
“Seriously?”
“I was thinking, he had to have started out like this, same risks, same fears, same hopes.”
It took Ashton a second to respond. When he did, his tone was thoughtful. “You’re more like him than Shane is, you know.”
“That’s not my ambition. Riley had no admiration or respect for his biological father. He hated the man.”
“Shane had it handed to him on a silver platter. You had to fight for every inch to get where you are.”
“Where I am is deep in debt and tip-toeing along a cliff of complete disaster.”
“That’s what makes it exciting,” said Ashton. “No risk, no reward.”
“Is that why you fly the way you do? The adrenaline rush?”
Ashton was a helicopter pilot, and he volunteered for search and rescue on his days off. He had a reputation for saying yes to the riskiest of flights.
“Sure,” Ashton said with a shrug. “That and it impresses the girls.”
“Like you’ve ever had trouble getting girls.” For some reason, Riley took another look at the picture of Shane and his bride.
“Her name is Darci Rivers,” said Ashton.
There was something compelling in the woman’s emerald eyes, a secret in her lush smile. Riley suddenly pictured her shiny hair splayed across a white pillowcase.
He shifted and quickly banished the image.
“You think he made a mistake?” he asked Ashton.
“Oh, he made a mistake all right. That creature’s got claws.”
“Well, I hope she distracts him,” said Riley.
He and Shane would be going after the same airline contracts from here on in. If Shane was newly married to a handful of a wife, it might give Riley an advantage.
* * *
Through the glass of the restaurant window, a good looking, neatly dressed man caught Kalissa’s eye for a second time. He was staring openly now as she wheeled a trio of azalea plants across the lighted patio garden.
It would be nice to think he was interested in her. He was extremely attractive, with dark eyes, a straight nose, and the kind of square chin that made a man seem powerful. But she was dressed in dirt streaked blue jeans, a faded green T-shirt and a pair of scuffed, serviceable work boots.
Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. At least it had started the day that way. By now, it likely resembled a rat’s nest. And the morning’s fifteen second application of mascara would have long since rubbed off.
No. The thoughts running through his head were not about getting her phone number. Judging by his growing frown, he was probably offended by her dirty, disheveled state as he tried to enjoy a refined meal.
She kept right on walking, focusing on the uneven cobblestones in front of the wheelbarrow tire, finally stopping at the raised garden bed between two magnolia trees.
“Two foot intervals look right to me,” said Megan, straightening from where she’d dug a trio of holes.
Kalissa focused her attention on the garden bed that stretched along the wrought iron fence. “As long as the evergreens stay properly trimmed, this is going to be stunning.”
Someday, her budget permitting, Kalissa wouldn’t mind dining out here, or even inside. Her gaze darted back to the bank of windows that revealed the elegance of the main dining room.
The man was still staring at her, and she quickly looked away. He was probably just curious about what they were doing—though it had to be obvious. It was also possible he was bored with his dining companion and seeking a distraction.
Despite herself, she covertly shifted her glance to take a look at his date. She was surprised to find he was sitting across from a man. The man looked serious, gesturing with his hands as he spoke. It could be a dull business meeting, she supposed. They were both wearing suits.
“Let’s do it,” said Megan, releasing the rope on the burlap sheet that surrounded the azalea’s root ball.
Kalissa quickly took the other side of the plant, lifting it and then adjusting it to position it in the hole.
Suddenly, a male voice surprised her. “What are you doing out here?”
Megan looked up, and Kalissa turned her head.
It was the man from inside the restaurant, and he was obviously angry. Her first thought was that they had somehow disturbed his dinner. But they weren’t making any noise. Surely planting azaleas wasn’t that objectionable.
She straightened to face him.
“Are you spying on me?” he demanded.
The question took her completely by surprise. “Am I what?”
“You’ve been watching me.”
“Only because you were watching me.”
He gestured to the wheelbarrow and the plants. “What is all this?”
“Azaleas,” said Megan from behind her.
“We’re planting azaleas,” said Kalissa, squaring her shoulders and folding her arms across her chest.
He scoffed a sound of disbelief. “Outside my window.”
“You own the restaurant?” Her question was sarcastic. If he had anything to do with the management of the restaurant, he’d have known Mosaic Landscaping was working here all week.
“I meant the window next to my table.”
“I have no idea who you are,” said Kalissa. “What’s more, I don’t care who you are. If you’ll excuse us, we have work to finish.”
“You have no idea who I am?” There was a note of disbelief in his voice. He jammed his thumb over his shoulder. “And I’ll bet you have no idea I’m having dinner with Pierre Charron?”
Kalissa reflexively glanced at the window. Then she looked straight into the stranger’s eyes. “None whatsoever.”
His steel gray eyes narrowed.
“I’m getting the manager,” said Megan.
“No, you won’t,” said the man.
“Excuse me?” said Kalissa, widening her stance. “You think you can stop us from getting the manager?”
“You’re bluffing,” he told them with conviction. His critical gaze took in her outfit. “You’re not going to want to explain this to any manager.”
“Explain why we’re planting flowers?”
“Explain why you’re trespassing.”
Kalissa searched her brain for an explanation. He’d accused her of spying. What was he doing worth spying on?
“Are you breaking the law?” Perhaps they’d inadvertently stumbled on something to do with a crime or maybe national security. Should she be frightened?
“I can’t believe he sent you.” Then a flash of confusion came into the man’s eyes. His voice lost some of its edge. “Why did he send you? Why would he send you?”
Kalissa extracted a business card from her pocket and held it out. “Mosaic Landscaping,” she said. “See, that’s us.”
Looking suspicious, the man took the card and read it.
“Nice level of detail,” he said, sounding ever so slightly impressed. “But why you?”
She took a stab at answering the bizarre question. “Because I have a diploma in landscape design.”
He drew back. “Are you serious?”
“Completely serious.”
He took a long look at her clothes and her hair. “It still doesn’t make sense.”
“It makes perfect sense, when you think about it,” said Kalissa.
Her apprehension began to moderate. The man was clearly more puzzled than angry.
He shook his head. “Why send his wife? He wouldn’t send his wife.”
“I’m not married,” said Kalissa.
“Give me a break.”
“Kalissa?” Megan interrupted.
“No, seriously,” said Kalissa. She stripped the glove from her left hand and wiggled her fingers to show him.
“The diamond is probably in your safe.”
“Kalissa.”
“I don’t have a safe.”
Megan grasped her shoulder from behind, stepping closer. “Kalissa, he thinks you’re Darci.”
Kalissa twisted her neck to look at her friend. “What?”
“She is Darci,” said the man.
“Darci,” Megan repeated with a meaningful stare.
“Darci Colborn?” Kalissa asked, the lightbulb coming on inside her head.
“This is ridiculous,” said the man.
Kalissa turned back to him, realizing there was a simple explanation. “I get it. I’m not Darci Colborn. I look a little bit like her.”
“A little bit?” asked Megan.
“The jig is up,” said the man.
“There is no jig, and it’s not up. I’m Kalissa Smith. I can prove it. I have identification.”
He peered at her, and the minutes stretched by. It was obvious his brain was piecing through the situation.
“What have you got against Darci Colborn?” she asked him.
“I’ve never even met her.”
“Then, that’s why you’re confused. She’s quite different than me in person.”
“You know her?” he asked.
“I’ve seen videos.”
“They’re twins,” said Megan.
“We don’t know that,” Kalissa said to Megan.
“You should contact her,” said Megan.
“Shut up,” said Kalissa, having no intention of getting into that debate again, now or in the future.
“This is going to keep happening,” said Megan.
“It’s a fluke.”
“You’re a landscape designer?” asked the man.
“Yes.”
“Your name is Kalissa Smith.”
“Says it right there on the card.”
“And you don’t know Darci Colborn?”
“Didn’t even know she existed until last week. It’s weird, but it’s no big deal.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, looking like he probably was, even though he was still watching her intently.
“No problem.”
The strength of his gaze sent a shimmer through her chest. He really was an incredibly good looking man. He was tall, fit, and somewhere around thirty. Too bad she was such a mess. And too bad his interest had nothing to do with her personally.
“Can I keep the card?” he asked.
“Do you own a house?” asked Megan, stepping up beside Darci. “Do you have a yard?”
He pocketed the card. “I do. Goodnight, ladies.”
“Goodnight,” Kalissa automatically echoed.
With a nod, he turned to walk back to the restaurant.
“He was hot,” said Megan.
“He was strange,” said Kalissa, watching his broad shoulders as the glass door opened and then swung closed behind him.
But she had to admit, he was also hot. There was something extraordinarily sexy in his deep voice. Part of her hoped he might actually call. Against all logic, that same part couldn’t help but hope it would be about more than just landscaping.
Two (#ulink_05eac231-c720-50f4-9392-c290b2954849)
The next evening, sitting on his deck with Ashton, Riley was still trying to figure out Kalissa Smith.
His brother’s wife had a sister. She had a sexy, feisty, secret twin sister. And nobody seemed to know she existed.
“Setting aside the ‘how on earth’ questions,” said Ashton, helping himself to a slice of pizza from the carton on the wood slat table between them.
The sun was setting beyond the park, over the vast stretch of orderly rows of houses north west of Chicago. The lengthening shadows showed Riley’s yard as plain and stark.
“Setting that aside,” he said, though he’d pondered the very question in bed last night, then again at work today.
He’d also pondered Kalissa, her crystal green eyes, those deep red lips, and what looked like a perfect body, nearly but not quite camouflaged by her work clothes. He’d checked social media sites today, but there were no tagged photos of Kalissa Smith. Her name was on the Mosaic Landscaping site, but it didn’t have her picture.
“Could she have been spying for her sister?” Ashton asked.
Riley had considered and discarded that theory. “If she was, she deserves an acting award.”
“And it seems pretty elaborate,” said Ashton, propping his feet up on one of the wooden stools.
Riley had to agree. “There’s no way she overheard our conversation from out on the patio. All she could report was that I met with Pierre Charron, and maybe for how long. And why would you use a Darci clone to do that? There are far easier ways. Bribe a waiter, for example.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
Riley reached for his cell phone. “I’m thinking about doing some landscaping.”
Ashton smiled. “Keep your enemies close?”
Riley fished into his shirt pocket for the Mosaic Landscaping business card. “I don’t think she’s the enemy. I don’t know what the heck this is all about.”
“You think they’re really twins?”
“They’re absolutely identical.”
“You sure it wasn’t Darci?”
“I’m positive. I checked. Shane and Darci were at an art gallery last night, a charity event on the other side of town.”
Ashton was silent for a few minutes. “Then why pursue it? What’s in it for you?”
Riley dialed with his thumb. “I don’t know yet.”
Ashton shifted in his chair, turning sideways to face Riley. “You’re attracted to her.”
“She’s attractive,” Riley admitted.
“This isn’t about wanting what Shane’s already got.”
Riley frowned. “I’ve been over that for a very long time.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Mosaic Landscaping,” came Kalissa’s breathy voice.
“Is this Kalissa?” He already knew the answer.
“Yes, it is.” She sounded like she was slightly out of breath.
“This is Riley,” he hesitated over his last name. “Have I called at a bad time?”
“Not at all. How can I help you?”
He pictured her pushing a wheelbarrow, flushed cheeks, a bead of sweat at her temple. “I was hoping to make an appointment with you.”
“Okay. Are you looking for a site visit? Or do you want to come into the office?”
“The office. Is today a possibility?”
“Um.” She blew out a breath. “We’ll be back there in about an hour. Is that too late?”
“An hour is fine.” He glanced at his watch and realized it was coming up on seven. “Long work day?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“About normal,” she said. “Riley...?”
“We met last night.”
There was silence on the other end.
“You asked me if I had a yard.”
“Megan asked you if you had a yard.”
“Well, I do. Have a yard.” He gazed out over it, knowing the front yard was just as neglected. “I’ve been thinking about it, and it could use some landscaping.”
“Is this a joke?”
“No joke. I need some landscaping.”
Ashton rolled his eyes and lifted his beer to take a swallow.
There was another pause before she continued. “What’s the lot size?”
“Seventy by one-hundred and thirty. I have an oak tree.”
“Bully for you.”
“I mean that’s all I have. It’s a patchy lawn with a single oak tree. It’s pathetic, really. I don’t know how you’ll save it.”
“Maybe we should come out and take a look,” she suggested.
“I’d rather talk first. You know, toss around some general ideas.”
“Whatever you prefer. Seven forty-five? Mr...”
“Seven forty-five sounds good. I’ll be there.” He disconnected.
“Smooth,” said Ashton.
Riley reached for his own beer. “I don’t want to tell her my last name.”
He didn’t want her to know he was Shane’s competitor. She might not know the Colborns yet, but Riley was willing to bet she’d meet them soon.
“Make one up,” said Ashton.
“I don’t want to lie to her either.”
“Ha, there’s a challenge. She’s coming to your house, and you’ll have to write her a check.”
Riley had already thought of that. “The house is registered to Ellis Aviation’s numbered holding company, and I can pay the bill in cash.”
“Oh, that will allay her suspicions. She’ll think you’re a criminal.”
“Or a conspiracy theorist.” Riley took a thoughtful drink. “You know, that could work. I accused her of being a spy last night. If I behave like I’m generally paranoid, she’ll think it’s just my personality.”
Ashton chuckled. “Can I come along? This sounds entertaining.”
* * *
Kalissa couldn’t decide if Riley was paranoid, a covert operative or maybe even in the witness protection program. He claimed to be a conspiracy theorist, but she wasn’t buying it. Never mind that few conspiracy theorists would describe themselves that way, over the past week she’d found his most dominant characteristics to be intelligence and hard work.
He was far more normal and much more agreeable than he’d seemed at first, and she hated to think that somebody that great looking and sexy would be unbalanced. It wouldn’t be fair to the women of Chicago.
After thinking it through, she was going with the witness protection program theory.
He’d offered to pay a premium, so they’d bumped him to the top of their list. After some initial work, mostly to level the ground and rip out the sickly lawn, the delivery service had dropped off a load of milled, Colorado flagstone. The installers were due on Thursday to lay the rock for the patio.
She was excited about the patio, and in particular that Riley had agreed to a spa and barbecue area. It was exactly how she’d do the yard if she was the owner. She knew the final photos were going to look great on their web site.
The sun was setting now as she made her way around to the back of his house.
“Thirsty?” Riley surprised her by calling down from the sundeck above her.
She looked toward the sound of his voice.
“Looks good.” He nodded to the flat stones piled on wood pallets. Their tones were rich and varied in rust, browns and chalk. “Come on up.”
“Sure.” She crossed the raw dirt to the outdoor staircase and made her way up to join him.
“Iced tea?” he asked as she made it to the top. He gestured to a pitcher on a round wooden table that was bracketed by two wooden deck chairs.
“Love some.”
She lowered herself into one of the chairs, taking the weight off her tired legs.
It had been a hot day, and her powder blue cotton shirt was clinging damply to her body. Her jeans were dusty, and her hair was sticky with sweat and garden dirt.
She pulled out her ponytail and ran a hand through it, discovering a twig and a couple of leaves. She couldn’t help but sigh as she discarded them. It seemed Riley was never going to see her at her best.
He’d arrived home from work about an hour ago, just missing Megan who’d left for another jobsite. He was dressed in his suit pants and dress shirt, his tie loosened around his neck. His hair was neat, his face clean shaven, and his fingernails were spotless.
She glanced down at her own fingers and curled them into her palms. She’d worn gloves all day and kept them relatively clean, but she was in desperate need of a manicure. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn nail polish or had her hair trimmed. She’d pretty much kill for a spa day.
He poured the iced tea. “Looks like you’ve made good progress.”
“Your lawn is gone,” she acknowledged.
“Wasn’t much of a lawn to start with.”
She didn’t disagree. “There must have been a lot of annual ryegrass in the mix. Did you aerate, fertilize, re-seed?”
There was humor in his eyes. “Your lips are moving, and sounds are coming out, but...”
She found herself grinning in return. “Never mind. We’ll take care of it.”
“Where’s Megan?”
“We’re starting another job over in Oak Park.”
“You seem busy.”
She accepted a glass filled with sweet tea and plenty of ice-cubes. “We’re getting there, slowly. We keep adding casual workers to our roster. But it’s hard to be competitive and still make a profit.”
“I hear you.” He gave a sage nod as he sat down.
“You said you own your own business?” She’d come to understand that he was a private person, but she hoped he’d share a few more details.
“We manufacture parts, mostly for the transportation sector. Margins are tough in any business.”
“How long have you been in business?”
“Ten years all told. I started small. You?”
“Just under a year. We’ve been working hard, and our customer base is gradually growing.” She lifted her glass in a toast. “Thank you for adding to it.”
“I’ll tell my friends about you.”
She took a sip.
“Anything you need me to do tonight?” he asked.
Though he rarely got home before seven, Riley had jumped in on several occasions, getting work done after the crews left, both to save money and to make things smoother the next day.
“We’ve leveled the ground.” She rose to gaze over the rail. It was growing dark, but she could still make out the newly worked area in the yard. “Next step is for the installers to lay the stone.”
Riley rose and moved to stand beside her. “Next step requires professional expertise?”
“It does.”
“And I’m not an expert.”
“Not unless there’s something you’re not telling me.” She let the comment dangle, wondering if he’d decide to divulge something new.
A gust of a breeze came up, and she brushed her loose hair out of her face.
“There is something I’m not telling you,” he said in an oblique tone than triggered a shimmer of sexual awareness.
“What is it?” She found herself holding her breath.
The silence stretched, so she looked up. He was closer than she’d realized. His gaze was warm and intimate.
The awareness increased, warming the surface of her skin while paradoxically raising goose bumps.
Without a word, he brushed a stray lock of hair back from her temple.
His callused fingertips seemed to hum against her skin. His touch felt good. It felt sexy.
“You’re incredibly beautiful,” he whispered, easing slightly closer.
The statement took her by surprise. “I’m mostly dusty.”
He smiled. “I can’t see any dust. But I can see your gorgeous eyes, and I can see your beautiful lips.”
His smile disappeared, and he ran the pad of his thumb across her lower lip.
“Soft,” he whispered, leaning in.
She drew in a breath and held it.
His palm slipped up, cradling her cheek, his fingertips easing into her hair. He bent his head.
She stilled, waiting.
The kiss started soft, but soon heated between them. Her fingers curled into her palms, and she stretched up. Her lips parted, and he firmed his own, bracing his free hand across the small of her back.
She opened wider, and his tongue flicked in. She met him with her own, angling her head. She raised her palms to his chest, sweeping them upward, marveling at the definition of his pecs, then the breadth and strength of his shoulders. Her arms wound themselves around his neck.
He pressed their bodies together, her breasts against his chest, his thighs hard against hers. The kiss was sexy and deep, oddly familiar. She wanted more from him, even as she acknowledged this was happening at lightning speed.
He seemed to sense her hesitation.
He broke the kiss, drawing back.
“Wow,” she managed.
“Wow,” he echoed, gazing into her eyes.
The sun was completely gone now, and soft darkness surrounded them, a shaft of yellow light coming from a small window in his house.
He kept his arm around her, still holding her close. “You should come out with me.”
She hesitated, unsettled by the sudden shift between them. “I don’t usually...”
“Kiss like that?”
“Date customers.” Though she had to admit, she couldn’t remember a kiss like that.
“You’ve only been in business a year,” he said. “It can’t have come up that often.”
“I suppose,” she was forced to agree.
“Has it ever come up?” he asked.
“Not really.”
“So you don’t have a rule against it.”
“I don’t have a rule for it either.”
“Where do you want to go?” he asked.
She cocked her head. “I haven’t said yes.”
“I figure I’ll increase my odds of a yes if you like where we’re going.”
The logic made her smile. “Take a stab.”
He smoothed her hair again. “No help from the lady?”
She struggled not to react to the intimate touch. “No help.”
“Navy Pier. Ferris wheel and a pretzel dog.”
She was surprised, but also intrigued. “You’re inviting me out for a pretzel dog?”
“I’ll throw in some ice cream.”
She put a note of astonishment in her voice. “You expect me to say yes to that?”
He didn’t look worried. “You don’t strike me as a symphony and Le Petit Soleil kind of girl.”
She wrinkled her nose and gave a little sniff. “That’s only because you’ve never seen me clean. It’s an unfair bias if you ask me, and not worthy of you, Riley.”
Uncertainty finally appeared in his eyes. “You’d prefer the symphony?”
She’d liked teasing him. “Your first instinct was right. Add the fireworks, and you’ve got yourself a deal.”
He gave her a squeeze. “You’re messin’ with me.”
“I am.”
“I shouldn’t like it so much.”
“Probably not.”
“Can I kiss you again?”
The amusement went out of her, replaced instantly by desire.
“Just once.” It was a warning to herself more than to him.
“Just once,” he agreed.
“Because...”
He dipped his head toward her, voice dropping to a whisper. “Because this is too fast.”
“It’s too fast,” she whispered back.
“It’s too hot.”
“It’s too hot.”
His lips brushed hers. “It’s too everything.”
“Oh, yes.”
He kissed her long and deep.
* * *
“It’s not really a date,” Kalissa said to Megan as they moved through the racks at Annabelle’s Discount Boutique. They’d found a couple of hours to spare this morning, and it had been ages since Kalissa had bought any news clothes.
“Boy, girl, dinner, entertainment,” said Megan. “What part of that is not a date?”
“I mean it’s not a buy a new dress and get my hair and nails done kind of date.” Kalissa held up a pair of dark blue, skinny jeans. “What do you think?”
“Cute. What’s the price?”
“Thirty-nine ninety-nine, with fifty percent off.”
“You can add my thirty percent off coupon.”
“So, that’s about fifteen bucks. I can afford fifteen bucks.”
“They’ll go with this,” said Megan, holding up a white and silver tank top.
“I sure couldn’t show up at work in that,” said Kalissa.
A camera flash went off in her peripheral vision, and she turned to see two young women giggle as they looked at their phone screen then back at her.
“You like the top?” she asked them, holding it out. It was cute, but she’d give it up if they’d fallen in love with it.
They didn’t answer, just gave her a thumb’s up and backed away.
“What the heck?”
“It’s the Darci thing,” said Megan.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, those two think they just saw the wife of a billionaire shopping at a discount store.”
Kalissa glanced at the two retreating women. Suddenly self-conscious, she glanced around the store to see if anyone else was paying attention to her. They weren’t, thank goodness.
“I wonder how they’d react to me using a coupon,” she speculated.
“I think a lot of celebrities buy things on the cheap.”
“Darci’s not a celebrity.”
But Kalissa now felt ridiculously conspicuous, and she glanced around the store again. Who else was out there covertly watching her? Who else might mistake her for Darci and think Darci was doing something inappropriate.
“Oh, crap.” She tightened her grasp on the jeans.
“What?” Megan looked from side to side.
“Riley. The date. Me and him together at the Navy Pier.”
“Those jeans will look great,” said Megan. “And try on the top. I bet it works.”
“What if somebody sees us? What if they think I’m Darci? What if they think she’s cheating on Shane?” Kalissa had absolutely no desire to mess up anybody’s life.
“It could happen,” said Megan, looking thoughtful.
Kalissa put the jeans back. “Maybe I should cancel.”
“You can’t cancel. He seems like a great guy. And what are you going to do? Never go on a date again?”
“Maybe we could do something a little less public.”
“There’s always the symphony. It’s dark in there.”
“I have no interest in the symphony.”
“Yeah.” Megan nodded. “Besides, at a snooty event like that, everyone really would think you were Darci.”
“This is a problem.”
Megan lifted the jeans and handed them, along with the top to Kalissa. “It’s not your problem.”
“It’s Darci’s problem.” Kalissa tried to work her way through the ethics of the situation. “I at least owe her something for being my sister. Don’t I?”
“So, tell her.”
“That I’m going on a date?”
“That you exist. Give her a heads up. That’ll keep the reporters from blindsiding her with it.”
“I could call her,” said Kalissa. “Or drop her an e-mail.” An e-mail sounded a lot less intimidating.
“She’ll think you’re a wing-nut.”
“Maybe. Probably. I could send her a photo.”
“She’ll assume it’s her, or that it’s photoshopped like you did.”
Kalissa thought it through. “I could hold up today’s newspaper, so she’ll know that it’s current.”
“That would be a great way to meet her security team or maybe the Chicago Police.”
“I’ll phone her,” said Kalissa, deciding it was the best option. “Do you suppose our voices are alike? Would she recognize it?”
“Just stop by her office,” said Megan. “Colborn Aerospace has its own building down by the river. There’s a huge sign.”
“How do you know this?”
“I internet searched her, of course. Didn’t you?”
“No. Not really. Okay, maybe a little bit. I found out she has the same birthday as me.”
“Surprise, surprise.”
“Just drop by her office,” Kalissa pondered out loud. “Say, hi there. I’m your twin. If anyone asks you why you were on a date at the Navy Pier tomorrow, you can let them know it was me.”
Megan chuckled. “Try on the jeans first. But, yeah, that’s basically it.”
“I could be in and out in five minutes.”
“With the jeans?”
“With Darci.” Kalissa couldn’t quite shake the fear that any contact would be an intrusion on Darci’s life. “If she doesn’t want to talk. If she’s too busy. I’m in, I’m out, she’s warned, we’re done.”
“I’m guessing she might have a few questions for you.”
Kalissa decided it was the best course of action. What Darci did with the information was entirely up to her. But it was colossally unfair to risk the press running with the story before Darci, and especially Shane, knew the truth.
* * *
“Shane Colborn is on line three for you,” Emma Thatcher, the Ellis Aviation receptionist, announced through the inter-office phone line.
Riley moved the receiver from his ear and stared at it for a moment.
“Riley?” Emma’s voice came through the tiny speaker.
“Are you sure?” he asked her.
“He claims to be Shane Colborn.”
“Did he say what he wanted?”
“You want me to ask?”
“No. That’s fine. I’ll take it. Thanks, Emma.”
“No problem.”
Riley pulled his thoughts together, waiting a beat before pressing the blinking button. “Riley Ellis here.”
“This is Shane Colborn.”
“What can I do for you?” It was the first time Riley had spoken to his half-brother in more than a decade. They’d exchanged approximately three sentences their entire lives. And not one of them meaningful. Beyond that single moment when they were both teenagers, Shane ignored him. It was clear Shane preferred to live in denial.
“I understand you’ve put in a bid with Askeland Airlines.”
“Where did you get that information?” Riley had no intention of either confirming or denying it.
“From Richard Price, the VP of purchasing.” There was an edge of annoyance in Shane’s tone. “He’s hinting that your price is surprisingly low.”
“You expect me to discuss my price with you? You expect me to discuss anything with you about a bid that may or may not exist? You have heard of collusion, right?”
The annoyance in Shane’s tone ramped up. “I’m not asking you to collude.”
“Good.”
“This is a courtesy call.”
Riley scoffed out a cold laugh. “So far, this seems real courteous, Colborn.”
Shane’s tone was a growl. “There are also laws against predatory pricing.”
“Those laws are there to protect small companies. You’re a billion dollar conglomerate. I’m not even a tenth of that.”
“The law goes both ways.”
“You’d be laughed out of court.” Not that Riley was doing anything remotely illegal.
“You could be laughed into a jail cell.”
“We’re leaner than Colborn. That’s just the way it is.”
“We have a reputation for excellence.”
“That and a tell-all book from your former mistress accusing you of collusion and corporate espionage. Are you spying on Ellis Aviation?”
“Don’t be absurd.”
“Marrying a pretty wife can’t fix everything.”
Shane’s tone went hard. “Leave my wife out of this.”
An image of Kalissa appeared in Riley’s head, and guilt immediately slammed into him. Shane was right. This had nothing to do with Darci.
“You’re right,” he said. “I apologize.”
It took Shane a moment to respond. “Everywhere I look, everywhere I turn, you seem to show up.”
“We’re in the same business,” said Riley, wondering if Shane would finally acknowledge their family relationship. He lobbed him an opening. “It must be in the genes.”
Again, there was a moment of silence. “Is that a crack?”
“Take it however you want.”
“Inheriting something is only the first step. The place doesn’t run itself.”
“Inheriting is a big step,” said Riley. He’d have been happy to inherit a dollar. He’d have been happy if Dalton had even once looked him in the eyes.
“I’ve been on my own for over six years.” Shane sucked in an audible breath. “Forget it. I don’t give a damn what you think.”
“And I don’t give a damn what you think. I bid the contracts I see fit. I’ve been independent since day one, and I’m planning to stay that way.”
“This is strictly business?” asked Shane.
“Strictly business,” said Riley.
“It feels.” There was a searching tone to Shane’s voice, and he paused again.
Riley hated that a mere phone call could unsettle him like this. He hated himself for hoping that Shane would acknowledge him. He’d been waiting for scraps from the Colborn table his entire life. He needed it to stop.
“Is that it?” he asked, anger crackling his tone.
“That’s it,” said Shane.
Riley slammed down the phone.
Three (#ulink_8b452c31-d96e-5c67-99a3-53c0607abbe6)
In the lobby of the Colborn Aerospace building, Kalissa lost her nerve. She felt suddenly vulnerable in the cavernous space, phones ringing, dozens of footfalls echoing against the marble floor, men in expensive suits, women in tailored black and white. Halfway to the long, curved reception counter, she turned back.
“Mrs. Colborn,” a woman approached her in a steel gray skirt and matching jacket. It was brightened by a teal blouse. “Did you get a chance to read the food services report?”
“I’m sorry,” said Kalissa, her voice coming out raspy from her tight throat.
“What was that?” the woman asked. When Kalissa didn’t respond, she kept on talking. “I can ride up with you on the elevator.”
“Mrs. Colborn?” called another voice, a man this time.
The first woman put a hand on Kalissa’s back, turning her. “Don’t look up. Just keep walking and listening to me. Pretend I’m saying something absolutely riveting.”
“Uh, what?” Kalissa glanced toward the voice.
“Don’t look,” the woman warned. She gave a nod to a security guard who moved forward to meet the man.
Another security guard held an elevator for them.
“Thank you, Bernie,” said the woman as they stepped inside.
Kalissa nodded to the guard named Bernie, and he reached around to press the button for the twenty-first floor. Then he stood in front of the door until it closed. Kalissa guessed her sister and her husband didn’t cram into the elevator with a dozen other people.
Her nerves ramped up even further.
“The food services report?” the woman asked.
“I’m sorry,” Kalissa repeated, not knowing where else to go with the question. She didn’t want to tell some stranger she was Darci’s twin before she told Darci herself. She was beginning to realize how poorly she’d thought this through.
“Not to worry,” said the woman. “Give me a call when you get to it. It’s all good news. The international stations are getting rave reviews, and we’ve had inquiries from two national food magazines about interviews. Can I tell them you’ll be available?”
“Can I, uh, get back to you?” Kalissa asked weakly.
The woman peered at her. “Are you okay?”
“Just fine.”
“You’re not getting that flu are you?”
“I do have a bit of a headache,” Kalissa replied honestly.
The elevator came to a halt, pinging at the twenty-first floor. The doors slid smoothly open.
Kalissa stepped out, not sure whether to go left or right. There was a small reception desk in the foyer, but she didn’t want to ask which way it was to her office.
“Mrs. Colborn?” A woman came worriedly to her feet from behind the reception desk. She glanced down a hallway behind her, then she looked at Kalissa again. “I didn’t see you leave.”
Kalissa breathed a sigh of relief. At least she knew which direction to go.
“Your clothes,” said the woman, bustling out from behind the desk. “Did something happen to the Farsen Kalick jacket? Do you need me to call the cleaners?”
“It’s fine,” said Kalissa, picking up her pace, heading for the hallway where the receptionist had looked. “I’m fine. I’ll let you know.”
She cleared the reception area, leaving the women behind her. She passed several closed doors. Two had nameplates on them, both belonging to vice-presidents.
At the end of the hall, she came to a set of double doors with brass handles, Shane Colborn, President. Her legs nearly gave way, and she put out a hand to brace herself against the wall. She did not want to run into Shane before she found Darci.
For a second, she considered turning back. But then she’d have to face the receptionist again, and she couldn’t see how she’d make it out of the building without being approached by other employees.
She straightened from the wall and took the right turn. A few moments later, she breathed a sigh of relief. She’d found it, her sister’s office door: Darci Colborn, Director of Staff Services.
It was open about six inches, and she could hear Darci’s voice inside. “I’ll be down to the cafeteria later on.”
Kalissa’s stomach clenched hard, but she couldn’t help a nervous smile. Darci sounded just like her.
“Okay,” said Darci. “Yes, I can.”
Kalissa gave a tentative knock, and the door swung further open.
Darci looked up from where she was still speaking on the phone. She leaned over for a better view, and her jaw snapped shut.
“I...” said Kalissa, not knowing where to start.
“I’ll call you back,” Darci said into the phone, replacing it on its cradle.
She moved around from behind the desk, taking several swift steps forward.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” said Kalissa.
“What on earth?” Darci stopped about ten feet away.
Voices sounded around the corner of the hallway, coming rapidly closer. Kalissa quickly stepped inside the office so they wouldn’t see her.
“I’m so sorry,” said Kalissa, regretting her decision to show up unannounced. “I thought this was the best way. But I didn’t think...I didn’t know...I realize this must be a bombshell for you.”
“Who are you?” asked Darci.
“My name is Kalissa Smith. I saw your wedding pictures, and well...I guess you can figure out why I’m here.”
“You look just like me.”
“I know.”
“I mean exactly like me.”
“Weird, isn’t it?”
Darci moved closer, peering at Kalissa.
Kalissa knew she was doing the same thing back.
Darci’s eyes might be a slightly paler shade of green. But their mouths were identical, so were their chins, their noses, even their hairline. Kalissa had never come across anyone with that little swoop at their part, never mind the exact shade of auburn in their hair.
“Are we twins?” asked Darci.
“I think we must be. My birthday is October third.”
Darci’s eyes widened. “Holy cow.”
“I didn’t want to bother you,” said Kalissa. “I wasn’t going to say anything. I mean, I know you must be busy, being a newlywed, and with this huge company and all. But I’m going on a date tomorrow night, and there were these girls in Annabelle’s Discount Boutique, and they thought I was you, and they took a photo, and I realized it could happen again, somewhere else, like the Navy Pier, while I was on a date, and people might think it was you.” Kalissa clamped her mouth shut. “I’m rambling.”
“We’re twins,” said Darci in obvious astonishment. “I don’t understand. How did that happen? Were you raised by our mother? Why didn’t she bring you back? And why didn’t dad ever tell me that—” Darci smiled. “Now, who’s rambling?”
“It’s unbelievable,” Kalissa whispered.
She hadn’t expected to feel this way, this ache deep down in her heart. She wanted to grab Darci and pull her into a hug. She had a sister. Tears started to tingle at the backs of her eyes.
The door whooshed open behind her.
“Sweetheart,” came a man’s voice. “Tuck is asking if...Oh, I’m sorry.”
Kalissa turned.
The man, obviously Shane, instantly froze in place.
“Darling,” said Darci, a tremor in her voice. “It appears there’s something more my father neglected to mention.”
“What on earth?” Shane started to circle Kalissa.
“We have the same birthday,” said Darci.
“Is this a con?”
Kalissa couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t blame Shane one bit for his suspicions. She’d have worried about him if he had accepted this at face value.
“Is she asking for money?” asked Shane.
“No,” said Darci.
“I’m not,” said Kalissa. “You couldn’t get me to take money if you tried.”
His eyes narrowed. “That’s how all the best cons start off.”
“Look at her,” said Darci.
“We’ll want DNA,” said Shane.
“Take it, if you want it,” said Kalissa. “But it’s not necessary. I’m not going to hang around. I only wanted to warn you, well, warn Darci. Since your wedding, people have started to mistake me for her. I’m out in public. I shop at discount stores. Sometimes I swear, or get angry with a store clerk or, and this is the big one, go out on dates. I have a date tomorrow night, and I was worried I’d be mistaken for Darci. That might look bad on the two of you, and I didn’t want to cause either of you any trouble.”
Shane stared at her in silence.
“Thank you,” said Darci. “That’s very considerate of you. But seriously.” She broke into a grin. Then, without warning, she rushed forward, opening her arms to pull Kalissa into a hug. “I have a twin sister.”
Kalissa closed her eyes, unexplainable feelings coursing through her.
Darci drew back, cradling Kalissa’s cheeks with her hands. “You are beautiful.” Then she laughed. “Didn’t that sound conceited.”
Kalissa took in every contour of Darci’s face, settling on her left cheekbone. “You have a freckle.”
“You don’t.”
“I don’t,” Kalissa agreed.
Shane cleared his throat. “I’m cancelling everything for the rest of the day.”
Kalissa turned to him. “Oh, no. Don’t do that. I didn’t plan to mess up your day.”
“Of course I’m doing that. You two have a million things to talk about. We’ll go to the penthouse, order some dinner. And wine. We’ll need some really good wine.”
“For a toast,” said Darci.
Shane gave a disbelieving shake of his head. “A toast is the least of why we need the wine.”
* * *
Riley could have happily done nothing but stare at Kalissa all night long. Her hair was full and shiny tonight, bouncing around her bare shoulders. Makeup brightened her beautiful face. While her tight jeans and the breezy little tank top were already giving him fantasies.
They’d snacked their way through the food kiosks and bought matching key chains with colorful, stylized letters on the fob. He’d held her hand while they navigated the crowds, waiting in a long lineup to get on the Ferris wheel. But it was worth the wait. The skies were clear, dotted with faint stars, while the skyline of Chicago was illuminated in the clear night air.
The bustle and noise of the crowds disappeared as they swept upward in the dangling car. The wind buffeted them, cooling the air temperature. Riley wrapped an arm around her, letting his fingertips brush her smooth, bare shoulder.
“I’ve never done this before,” she told him. “Wow. Look at the city.”
“You’ve never been up here at night?”
She shook her head. “I mean it’s my first time on the Ferris wheel. I’ve never been to the Pier before.”
“I thought you said you grew up in Chicago.”
“My mom wasn’t into things like this.” They hit the outer apex of the curve and she grasped his arm. “This is fantastic.”
Gratification swelled his chest. “No wonder you seem like a little kid.”
She tilted her head to give him an unabashed grin. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” He liked that about her. In fact, so far, he liked everything about her.
As they swung toward the top, he impulsively leaned in for a kiss. Her lips were warm and moist against his. She tasted like cotton candy, and he couldn’t stop himself from taking the kiss deeper and deeper.
By the time he pulled back, they’d crested the top. Her eyes were shinning in the ride’s bright lights, and her rosy cheeks had a new glow.
“I used to come here with my friends sometimes,” he told her. “When I was a teenager.”
It was a rare occurrence, since his childhood years hadn’t held much in the way of amusement. His mother had been the runaway daughter of Irish immigrants. With only a tenth grade education, she’d worked as a housekeeper for Dalton Colborn for nearly twenty years before succumbing to a bout of pneumonia.
Determined to hold Kalissa even closer, he settled his free hand at her waist, finding a warm strip of skin at her stomach.
“Were you a wild teenager?” she asked.
“Occasionally,” he admitted. “We used to street race, and we partied pretty hard. We once stole ethanol from the high school science lab. Made a killer punch that got about thirty kids blasted.”
“Who’s we?”
“My friend Ashton and I.”
“I can picture that.”
It occurred to Riley that if he wanted to impress her, he should probably change the subject from his teenage transgressions. “What about you? What were you like as a kid?”
She smoothed her hair in the wind and gave him an innocent smile. “I was good as gold.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true. I studied hard trying to get a scholarship, and I had a part time job from the time I was fourteen. I wanted to go to college, and I knew my mother could never afford it.”
“So, you were the consummate good girl?”
“I was.”
He moved in to playfully nuzzle her neck. “That’s sexy. It makes me want to corrupt you.”
She tapped him in the chest. “There’s something wrong with you.” But she was laughing as she said it.
“There’s a whole lot wrong with me.”
“Do tell.”
“I don’t think so.”
The ground rushed up, and the car glided to a stop, giving him an easy way out of the conversation.
He exited first, then took her hand, keeping hold of it as they walked away.
“It’s almost time for the fireworks,” he said.
“I can’t wait.”
“The best view is at the far end of the pier.”
“Let’s go.” She picked up the pace, leaning up against his arm.
He liked the feel of her against him.
The crowds had grown thinner as the evening wore on, with fewer kids darting from side to side on the walkway. They passed under strings of decorative, white lights and along yachts moored in the lake. Her hand felt good in his, but he gave in to the urge to wrap his arm around her shoulders again. She slipped hers across his back, and their thighs brushed together while they walked.
He didn’t want the night to end. He wanted to take her home with him, make love to her, sure, but also hold her sleeping in his arms, talk to her over breakfast, maybe plan their Saturday together.
The vision prompted a wave of guilt. She was open and fresh and genuine, while he was a fraud, hiding the most basic of information from her.
Determined to get them on a better footing, he found a clear spot in the crowd. Then he urged her toward the rail, turning her there so they were face to face.
“What now?” Her smile was in place, but she was searching his expression with obvious confusion.
“It’s Ellis,” he said, ignoring his own hesitation. “My last name is Ellis.”
Her smile faded, and she peered at him intently. “Are you in the witness protection program?”
“No.” Where had that come from?
“I thought maybe you’d testified against a crime boss or something.”
“I’m not a criminal.”
“You said you were a thief.”
“Ethanol. From an institution. Probably about ten bucks worth of the stuff.”
Her smile came back, and her voice went sexy and low. “Riley Ellis.”
Something shifted inside him.
She repeated his name.
He kissed her. It was fleeting at first, but then deeper and longer. He loved kissing her. But they were in public, so he forced himself to stop.
He rested his hands on the rails, arms around her, slowing his breathing down. “I promised you fireworks.”
Her eyes were wide and clear, her lips dark red. “You meant in the sky, right? Not the ones going off inside my brain right now.”
His hands twitched. “You have absolutely no sense of self-preservation.”
“And you have no sense of humor.”
“You are not a good girl.”
“I said I was once a good girl.” She planted a quick kiss on his mouth and then ducked under his arm.
He immediately caught her and wrapped his arm around her as they walked. “Okay, now you’re taking all the fun out of the chase.”
“There they go,” she called out as the first red and yellow starbursts banged through the air and lit up the sky.
They quickened their pace, laughing as they went. Riley found them a table at the beer garden, ordering beers and a savory platter.
He angled his chair toward her. He’d seen the fireworks before, but he’d never watched Kalissa watching them. The bright colors reflected off her skin and flashed in her shinning eyes. She was so much more beautiful than the display in the sky.
She caught his gaze and did a double take.
“Hey,” he said softly.
“Hey.”
“How do you like them so far?”
“They’re stunning.”
“Stunning,” he agreed, his gaze fixed on her.
She glanced back at the sky, but then returned her attention to him.
“Want to know what I did yesterday?” she asked.
“Absolutely.” He wanted to know everything about her.
She traced a line along her plastic beer cup. “I met Darci.”
Everything went still inside Riley.
It took him a minute to respond. “Your sister?”
“Yes, my sister. Who else would I be talking about?”
He sat back in his chair.
He’d known this would happen. At one point, he’d even thought it might be good for him. He’d considered that Kalissa might give him some inside information on Shane.
But that was days ago. Now he didn’t want Kalissa talking to the Colborns at all.
Riley definitely wanted to see her again.
But now that she’d met Darci, well, sisters talked, even estranged sisters were likely to talk eventually. And when they did, it was game over for him. Because the minute Shane knew Riley was in her life, he’d do everything in his power to turn her against him.
“How did it go?” he managed to ask.
“It went well, really well. They seem terrific, very down to earth, way more down to earth than I expected.”
“Great,” he said, covering his expression with a drink of his beer.
The fireworks popped and cracked in the distance, and the crowd oohed and aahed. Riley wanted to put his fist through the table.
* * *
Kalissa could tell something had changed. It was subtle, but Riley was quieter during the drive home, and he wasn’t making any jokes. He drove directly to the Mosaic Landscaping storefront, swinging his sports car to the curb.
He hadn’t suggested stopping at his place. Not that she’d wanted to stop at his place. Not that she would have said yes to stopping at his place. But there was something weird about him not even asking.
He pulled on the emergency brake, leaving the stick shift in neutral and the engine running as he exited the driver’s door. He moved to her side of the car, opening the door and taking her hand while she stepped out.
“Thank you,” she said, wishing this feeling of dread would go away, wishing he’d say or do something to reassure her. “I had a very nice time.”
“I did too.” His expression looked sincere.
What was she missing?
She took another stab. “I’m sorry I can’t invite you upstairs. Megan’s there and, well, it’s a pretty small apartment.”
The opening was a mile wide, but he didn’t suggest an alternative to her place.
“I understand,” he said instead, easing a little closer.
“Is something wrong?” she couldn’t help asking.
“Everything’s great. You’re great.” He tucked her hair behind one ear, sliding his palm to the back of her neck.
Anticipation warmed her skin and increased her pulse.
“Goodnight, Kalissa,” he whispered. His lips came down on hers, soft and hot. But the kiss was slightly different. It didn’t hold the burning passion of the ones on the Ferris wheel.
She slipped her arms around his waist, and he did the same with his free hand. Angling her body against his, she deepened the kiss. He followed suit, and she could feel his muscles hardening against her.
His hand slipped downward, splaying over her rear, pressing her into the vee of his thighs. He kissed her deeper, his tongue plunging into her mouth. She welcomed the passion, answering back, arousal growing in waves inside her.
Her imagination took flight. If not his place, maybe a hotel. His car didn’t have a back seat. And she was too old for that anyway. But it had to be somewhere. He was a powerful, sexy, virile man, and the chemistry between them was all but combustible.
Then he broke the kiss, drawing back no more than an inch.
She waited for his suggestion, his solution. He had to be thinking the same thing as her.
“Goodnight, Kalissa.”
As his words registered, she bit back the yes waiting on the tip of her tongue. She swallowed instead, letting her arms go loose around him.
“I’ll see you next week?” he asked.
It was clear he meant when she came to work on his yard. “You will.”
“Great.” He gave her a nod. Then he stepped further back, and his gaze went meaningfully to the small door across the sidewalk.
It took her a minute to react. She opened her purse, fumbling for her keys, keeping her head down as she crossed the narrow sidewalk.
Beneath the streetlight, she pushed the key into the deadbolt lock, turning it full circle before twisting the knob and pushing the door open. As she worked up the strength to turn around, he gunned the engine, peeling away from the curb, accelerating down the empty block.
That was it. He was gone.
“Kalissa?” Megan called from the top of the stairs.
“On my way,” Kalissa managed in return, swallowing her disappointment and confusion as she secured the door behind her.
Megan came down a couple of steps. “How did it go?”
“Good,” said Kalissa, starting up the staircase. “Fine.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he try something? Was he a jerk?”
“No, nothing like that.” It was nothing even remotely like that.
Megan turned, and they filed into the one room apartment.
Kalissa tossed her purse on the table and plunked down on the worn sofa.
“We had a great time,” she said, walking through it in her mind.
“And?”
“He kissed me. He kissed me on the Ferris wheel, then again while we walked on the pier, then he kissed me goodnight.”
Megan took the other end of the sofa. “So, why do you look so bleak?”
Kalissa was starting to question herself. “Okay, it’s not like I wanted to fight him off with a stick. But he didn’t make a move.”
“You just said he kissed you.”
“He didn’t try to get me back to his place.”
Megan grinned. “Let me get this straight. You’re upset because he was too much of a gentleman?”
Now, Kalissa was starting to feel embarrassed. “It’s always nice to be asked.”
“But you would have said no.”
“Yes.” Kalissa paused. “Maybe. Probably. Yes. I would have said no. But he seemed really into me, and then pfft, this little kiss goodnight.”
Megan peered at her. “Your lips are red and swollen.”
Kalissa’s fingertips went to her mouth. They were hot to the touch, and they did still tingle.
“He might just be a nice guy,” said Megan.
“Even nice guys want sex.”
“You’re funny. And you’re making too much of it. Did he say he’d call you?”
“He said he’d see me at his place.”
“Which, he will.”
“Not until Monday. Well, maybe Sunday afternoon.”
Megan pulled her legs beneath her. “Ah yes, the sleepover.”
“Do you think that’s weird?” Kalissa asked.
“Darci wanting you to spend the night at her mansion?”
“It’s less than two hours away.”
“You’re not going to want to drive home Saturday night. But the answer is yes. There’s nothing about you going to stay at your secret, billionaire, twin sister’s mansion that’s not a little weird. You don’t have to work at all on Sunday, you know.”
“We’re so busy,” said Kalissa. She wasn’t about to stick Megan with extra work. And she wanted to see Riley. She needed to talk to him again, to look him in the eyes and figure out exactly what had happened between them.
Four (#ulink_3855910f-5f51-5ebb-ac73-113bd2e71fae)
Sunday afternoon, Riley was planted on his front steps while a dump truck noisily deposited a load of topsoil at the front of his yard. Megan appeared, caught a glimpse of him and altered her course. She trotted up the concrete staircase and sat down beside him at the top.
“How’s it going?” she opened.
“It’s fine.” It was quite a bit below fine, but he wasn’t about to share his worry with Megan.
Earlier, she’d mentioned that Kalissa had spent last night at the Colborn mansion, and Riley had been stewing ever since. He kept playing an imaginary conversation in his head, one where Kalissa told Darci she’d been on a date with Riley Ellis, and Shane reacted like a madman, warning her off, demanding she never see him again.
Maybe he shouldn’t have been so quick to walk away Friday night. He sure hadn’t wanted to walk away, and Kalissa had sent some pretty unmistakable signals. He should have acted on them. He should have taken her to his place to see where things would lead.
He’d worried that getting closer was a mistake. The closer he got, the more likely it was she’d mention him to Darci. But maybe that was a backward strategy. Maybe he’d blown the only chance he’d ever have to get closer to her. It might have been better if they’d spend the night together before Shane had a chance to turn her against him.
“You waiting for her?” asked Megan.
Riley fidgeted, getting the uneasy feeling Megan was reading his mind.
She glanced at her watch. “She said she’d be here around four.”
A denial seemed pointless. “You’ve talked to her?”
“A couple of hours ago.”
He swallowed, fighting his curiosity but immediately losing. “How did it go for her last night?”
“I think it went okay.”
“She’s in a good mood?” If Shane had told her the truth about Riley, surely she’d be angry.
Megan stood up and waved her arms to attract the attention of one of the gardeners. “The maples go in the back!” she called.
The guy nodded and strode toward a pickup truck where the workers appeared to be unloading the trees at the front of the driveway.
Megan sat back down. “You’d think they could take a minute to read the plans.”
Riley couldn’t care less about the yard layout. The maples could go on the roof for all he cared. He wanted to know about Kalissa.
He clenched his jaw to keep from repeating the question. He didn’t want to draw attention to his curiosity.
“A good mood?” Megan asked, re-opening the topic.
“Happy?” he elaborated, feeling like he was back in high school.
“With visiting her sister?”
He gave her a sidelong glance to see if she was messing with him. What was with the third degree? “Yes, happy with visiting her sister.”

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