Page 27 of Two Hearts' Ploy

He was surprised to realize how irritated he was with Kelly. She’d known about his infatuation with Wren Matthews in his early teens. So why hadn’t she ever told him that she knew her?

Of course, even though he and Kelly were twins, there’d been a time when they’d deliberately avoided each other while growing up. There’d been an awful lot of teasing through the years since they looked so much alike.

He supposed they still did, even though they’d both turned thirty. Although he had to admit – Kelly didn’t look a day over twenty. She still went out occasionally on modeling jobs when something special came along.

Six-year-old Danny yawned as he stepped onto the dry beach.

“Promise me you won’t fight your mom when she tells you to take a short nap.”

“Unca Jeff,” he muttered. “I’m too old for a nap.”

“No, you’re not. Besides, if you’re good, I’ll come by and take you skiing sometime this summer. Your dad said it would be okay as long as your mom was fine with it. If you behave, she’ll more than likely go along with the idea.”

“Really?” Danny asked in a whisper. “Okay. I’ll try to be good.”

“Then don’t say anything about it until your dad gets a chance to talk her into it.”

Danny huffed out a breath, nodding his agreement.

Jeff quickly dried him off, sending him over to where Kelly was sitting with Wren before picking up his clothes from the sand to join them.

“What’s so funny?” Jeff asked gruffly, taking a seat beside Wren on the sand.

Wren cleared her throat. “Just a few old memories. I told Kelly about the situation and told her that I probably shouldn’t hang out with her while I’m here.”

Jeff sighed, holding Kelly’s gaze. “Wren’s right. Trouble could be coming her way, so no one should even know that she’s staying here in town.”

“I’ll probably tell Luke.”

“That’s fine. He can keep a secret,” Jeff said, suddenly winking. “Well, most of the time, anyway.”

“I found that sometimes guys can be a lot worse gossips than women,” Kelly said dryly.

Wren grinned. “That sounds like a story for another day.”

“I guess we should be on our way. Luke is probably wondering where we are,” Kelly said, standing. “Danny’s going to be sound asleep before we get home.”

“No. I won’t, Mom. I’ll even take a nap,” Danny said, reaching for the blow-up donut he’d brought along.

Kelly looked at Jeff suspiciously. “Why do I have a feeling that your uncle promised you something that I’m probably not going to like?” She turned to Wren. “Wren? Let’s keep in touch, shall we? I’d love to know how you’re doing.”

“Yes. After this mess I’m in is dealt with, I’d love to get together sometime, Kel,” Wren suggested, looking surprisingly nostalgic.

“I’d love that too. Please take care of yourself. Okay?” Kelly said, reaching down and squeezing Wren’s shoulder before starting to walk away. Danny was getting impatient.

“Bye, Kel. Talk to you soon,” Jeff called out.

She waved, rushing to catch up with Danny.

“I can’t believe the baby slept the entire time they were here,” Wren said, grinning.

“From what Luke says, Adriana makes up for it at night,” Jeff replied dryly. “He always looks so sleep deprived when I arrive to work out with him in the morning.”

Wren laughed.

“I suppose we’d better think about heading back to the Inn soon,” Jeff said. “How about we stop at the concessions again and pick up some ice cream cones for the walk?”

“I’d like that,” she replied, standing to brush off the sand.

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