Page 12 of Masquerade

“I’m still waiting.” Liam crossed his arms.

“Your advance press didn’t do you justice.” Anna went on attack.

Liam let the bait slip past. Niall must be her source of gossip. He might complain that Liam had become a hard-arsed loner. Niall didn’t know the family story of being screwed, both metaphorically and literally, by con women.

“He”—Anna pointed a finger at Niall—“said you were focused and very private. He should have said whip-dog mean.”

“Not relevant.” Liam sent his brother a sideways look, absurdly comforted by Niall’s restraint. “Can we move on?”

Anna dragged her hands through her hair and tugged hard. The resulting effect shattered her tough persona and increased her physical resemblance to Kate. Bizarre, given Kate was bank-clerk neat with her hair combed off her face, plaited and tucked into a neat roll. His fingers itched to unravel it. Preferably across his pillow.

“I got the message an hour ago,” Anna confessed.

“What message?” Kate’s innocent inquiry implied ignorance of her sister’s next move. She played the part of an ingenue well, but Liam wouldn’t be fooled a second time.

“The campaign has exceeded Genosearch’s most optimistic expectations.” Anna sounded like she was quoting someone. “They’ve received a favourable reception from government and are looking to attract big money to fund further research.”

“That’s wonderful.” Kate grabbed her sister and did a little victory dance, wiggling her sedately clad backside. Liam wanted his hands on her, on it.

He glanced at Niall, whose smile was a mile wide. No lust. Liam had zero interest in the Turner twins beyond the advertising campaign and any impact on George’s business. No way was he getting involved with another woman who pretended to be someone else.

“And?” Liam’s sharp voice sliced through the celebratory air.

“And”—Anna scowled at him—“they’re thinking of taking it on tour, maybe some more use of social media channels and possibly some personal appearances including our twins.”

The colour drained from Kate’s face.

“You’ve gone dead white.” Liam urged Kate into the chair. Her sudden loss of colour and disorientation couldn’t be faked. “Head between your knees.”

“I’m sorry, honey.” Anna sank to the ground in front of Kate and gripped her hands. “I should have prefaced that by saying I gave an absolute negative to our twins being involved in any way.”

“Why does she get an apology and I don’t?” Liam asked no one in particular.

“I’m sorry.” Although Anna’s pleading look was for Kate more than him. Another puzzle piece making no sense to him. “It’s unlikely Genosearch would have pulled it. The cost to substitute another male at this stage is beyond our budget. My best offer was going to be that it would be finished in a week to ten days.”

Liam had known the unveiling of the billboard had to play out. But he’d been hoping for days, not months.

“That’s what I get for skipping meals.” Kate lifted a wan face to her sister and gave a strangled half-laugh. “Does this make you a successful advertising guru now?”

Liam didn’t buy the deflection. “She gets a fail on ethics.”

“You just crossed a line, Liam.” Niall stepped to Anna’s side.

“Liam’s right.” Anna pushed to her feet. “I should have insisted on speaking to you myself.”

“Afraid some of your fancy clients will think twice about hiring someone who looks like a bloke on a billboard?” Niall pushed his hands in his pockets as if the alternative was putting a fist in Liam’s face.

“Did you do this in the hope it would cost me clients?” Liam had thought the worst was behind him. Niall’s betrayal was a Judas’ kiss.

“There doesn’t seem to be much room in your life for anything except work.” Niall’s jaw clenched. “Hard to impact greed.”

“You’re judge and jury now, brother?”

“I’ll talk to my boss some more. See what I can do to contain this.” Anna stepped between them. “If Niall and I both pull the pin they can’t continue.”

“It needs all three of you.” He’d be damned if he let the lie sit unchallenged. He turned to Kate. “Anna Turner isn’t the woman on the billboard. Kate is.”

Kate flinched, wrapping her arms around herself. But her eyes were unfocused, seeing something beyond him.

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