Page 6 of Perfect Order
She shakes with laughter. “Now that, my darling sister, is a dare.”
I groan. “What did I just do?”
“For once, you were impulsive. Now, let me be practical in return. Make an offer on the building. It’s exactly what you’ve been looking for.” Kylie pulls back, and we communicate without words.
It’s the beginning of the rest of our lives. And as always, she’s there for me.
Just like I’ll always be there for her.
A few weeks later, I’m down in Manhattan to spend a long weekend with my twin. We’re wandering around the city to walk off her nerves due to the show she’s performing that night. Impulsively, she’s decided she has to have the outfit on display in the window of the largest Free People I’ve ever seen. Just as she dodges in between the people meandering at Rockefeller Center to make a dash for the door, my phone rings. Glancing at it, I see it’s my Realtor.
Indicating I’ll follow her in just a moment, I answer it and ask Shari, “Give me some good news.”
“If you truly believe acquiring that run-down building is good news, I guess that’s what I have. I even got it for lower than asking.”
The emotions coursing through me must be better than having won the lottery. My pulse is leaping, and my heart is pounding. I know I just won the first battle in the many wars I’m about to fight on behalf of what I know is fair and righteous—a mission that’s been instilled in me for years. And when my plans are complete, the people I plan on recruiting to join me will be ready to charge a ridiculous amount for the things we’ve already been doing. “It’s perfect for what it will be.”
“And that is?” Shari probes.
I ignore her question and instead ask, “When do we close?”
“Well, if you’re financing, that could take some time.”
“I’m paying for the building outright.” I learned years ago to leave as little of a footprint on the internet as possible. I plan on paying for as much as I can in cash. Fortunately, between an inheritance left to me and Kylie by our grandparents, plus the money I’ve stashed away, I should be able to afford everything I need.
Just barely.
“Oh, well, if that’s the case, then terrific. I’ll call you back with a date.”
Before I can respond, I accidentally hang up on her when I’m bumped into by someone on the sidewalk. “Umph!” I let out an inadvertent sound as I stumble to the left.
A barrage of footsteps passes by me even as strong arms clasp mine. “Are you all right?” The intensity of this man’s ocean-blue eyes causes my heart to bounce my ribs around, making me forget what the hell I even cared about.
Almost instinctively, I reach up and cup his shoulder. “I’m…fine.” God, what a lame word for the man who transformed my insides into a melty pool of liquid wax.
His lips compress, doing nothing more than drawing my attention to them. My own part of their own accord in a primal reaction.God. What the hell is this feeling?
But before I can wrap my mind around it, he’s stabilizing me, declaring, “Good.” Then without another word, he strides away with a fluidity that pulls his dress slacks lovingly against long legs that lead to the most remarkable ass I’ve ever seen.
I don’t know what causes me to do it—he’s a damn stranger—but I shout after him, “Too bad I didn’t catch your name, buddy. Maybe you’re a ‘get them off and go’ kind of guy, but I’m not that kind of girl.”
He freezes midstride before whirling around. The only people looking at us are the tourists, which means pretty much everyone. His lips curve into a facsimile of a smile. “I actually do know who you are, Ms. Miles.” And it’s with that, he slips into a black SUV in the passenger seat.
“How on earth does he know…holy crap!” Overwhelming excitement for my sister overrides the flutters in my stomach over an encounter with an incredibly hot guy that still has my stomach doing somersaults. I dash toward the door of Free People, shouting, “Kylie! I think you were just recognized!”
Our twin senses in complete sync for the moment, she happens to be coming out the door. When she hears me, she screams, “What do you mean?”
After I recount what just happened, we jump up and down, hugging in the middle of the sidewalk. And I spend the better part of the afternoon while she gets ready for the performance stripping the internet of our impromptu dance. Just like I promised.
Of course, I look for Ocean Eyes in the audience that night. And the next when Kylie, as Erzulie, blows the roof off the same club before I drive back to Saratoga to fork over a hunk of my savings to begin a new road in my life.
Ah, well. I can’t cry over what wasn’t meant to be. And what’s meant to be right now is lurking in the shadows to allow people to sleep easier in their beds at night.
Even if they don’t know it.
FEBRUARY- TWO YEARS LATER
Kane
