Page 27 of Hard Focus
“Nelly was it? Well, Nelly, you and me, we’re going to be good friends.” His fingers gave Connie’s nape a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re okay, Connie.”
She looked up to see his eyes on her, then his grip tightened again and released. He moved to the door. “You take care, ladies.”
Before the door closed completely, her sister shouted, “Yes, I’m Nelly. I’m the sister.”
“Happy to meet you, Nelly, the sister.” Those words drifted through the opening along with more of his deep laughter.
I’m in so much trouble, Connie thought.
“You are insomuch trouble,” Nelly told her, proving they were definitely related.
***
It took two days, but she finally told Nelly the entire sordid story. How she’d met Jonas at the club, but then hadn’t talked for more than a month. Picking back up at the same club, then dinner. Another meeting at the club, and phone calls. Dates that finally wound up with breakfast following. Learning about his daughter, falling in love with Addy, even as Connie kept Jonas at an emotional arm’s length. Nelly was certain that meant Connie had a feeling about him, but she didn’t buy it. It still felt like her bad-guy radar was broken.
After the boozed-up meeting with Cole, having Nelly meet Taylor and Alden was almost anticlimactic. Connie grinned at the memory. They’d been at a local steak and seafood place that first night when Taylor texted, telling her he had something to talk about. She hadn’t warned him she had a guest, so when he and Alden had strolled up to the end of the table, his double-take was comical.
“Oh, no. There’re two of you?” He squinted and looked between the two sisters. “Heaven help us.”
“Oh, come on. We’re not that much alike.” Connie threw a fry at him,andhe batted it away.
“Yes, weare.” Nelly interjected herself into the conversation. “We’re totally alike.”
Taylor frowned and shook his head. “No, you aren’t.” Connie grinned. He pointed at Nelly. “My friend Connie is the prettiest one.” He slipped in beside Nelly, threw an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Hey bestie, how are you doing?”
“What?” Connie voiced her mock outrage and watched as her sister and friends laughed,Aldentaking the seat next to her. “God, I’m so lucky. I love you guys.”
She let the memory warm her as she stared at herself in the mirror. Comfortable clothes and makeup made a good armor, but for whatever reason, her stomach was awash with fluttering butterflies. Today marked back to work for her, and she was nervous as if it were her first day again.
“You’re going to be fine.” Nelly stepped behind her, leaning her chin on Connie’s shoulder. “Want me to ride with you?”
“No, I’ll be fine. I don’t know why I’m tweaked over this.” She shook her head. “It’s not like the accident happened at work.”
“No, but other than coming home from the hospital, it’s the first time you’ve been in a car since, isn’t it?” Connie shrugged. “Steakhouse was a block away, so we walked. TayTay”—Nelly smiled brilliantly in amusement at her personal nickname for Taylor—“said the doc’s office was nearby for follow-ups. So, I’m assuming you didn’t catch a ride there, am I right?”
“You’re right. But even the police said it was a million-in-one accident. Never happen again on their watch. Just the perfect set of angles and trajectories, and I happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.” She huffed out a breath. “I’m fine, really. Are you going to be okay stuck here with nothing to do all day?”
Nelly’s reflection smiled at her. “I’m job hunting right now.”
“Job hunting?” When Nelly nodded, Connie whirled, uncertain if her sister was joking. They’d had two brief conversations about what life might look like if Nelly moved closer, but this wasn’t expected. “Here? You’re job hunting here?”
“Yeah. I like your friends, and—” She leaned close and laid her head against Connie’s shoulder. “—I’ve missed my sister. I was kinda a dick for a while, you know? Time to mend fences and all that shit.”
“That would be absolutely perfect. I’m so glad.” Connie pressed her cheek against the top of Nelly’s head. “I missed you, too.”
A buzzing came from her phone on the counterandConnie glanced down to see an alert from the ride app. “I gotta go.”
“Knock ’em dead, killer.”
Connie tossed a grin over her shoulder at her sister and stopped in the doorway. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now go to work. Just in case I don’t find anything, someone’s gotta bring in the groceries.”
Connie rolled her eyes and pulled the door closed, standing still until she heard the deadbolt engage behind her. Only then did she head for the elevator, knowing her sister was safe.
