Falling for the Wrong Twin (25 page)

Darla echoed that, which made everyone laugh even as both mothers admonished their kids. Then Chrissy extended a gift to her.

“This is from me. And before you say it was too expensive, remember that you’ve spent half your time helping Mike with my kids. I really appreciate it, so thank you.”

“I didn’t mind in the least.”

Chrissy smiled at her. “Well, little things matter. So happy birthday Anna.”

She extended the package to Anna who took it with hands that were almost steady. She opened the wrapping slowly, her stomach twisting with guilt. Inside the box she found a simple charm bracelet with a tiny padlock and key.

Anna held it up, admiring the flash gold in the light. “It’s beautiful.”

Chrissy smiled. “You told me that your mother had a charm bracelet that she sold years ago. That it would jingle at night when she came home and you would finally be able to sleep. This is just a start, but I thought once it’s filled with charms, you’d be able to shake it yourself and remember her.”

Anna stared at the woman, tears clogging her throat. In actual fact, her mother had never had a charm bracelet. It would have been too expensive and too liable to be stolen. The sound that had reassured her so much as a kid was her mother’s key in the lock and then a bit later, the slide of the keychain into its slot. But when she’d seen Chrissy’s bracelet, she’d made up the story because it was prettier than the truth. And because she wanted a point of commonality with Mike’s sister.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said, feeling herself choke on her own lies.

“Just wear it and remember your mom,” said Chrissy while Mike gently fastened the bracelet around her wrist.

“And now,” insert Rick, “it’s my turn.”

Anna didn’t know how much more she could take if this, so she shook her head. “This is too much, everyone.”

“But this can’t wait,” Rick said with a laugh. “I’ve wanted to do this since Mom told me it was your birthday today.”

Anna swallowed, determined to face whatever gift came from her next lie. “Okay,” she breathed. “I’m ready.”

Rick grinned as he pulled out his phone with a flourish. Then he held it up and pressed a couple of buttons. He’d put it on speaker phone, so everyone could hear the phone dialing someone. Then a woman with a familiar accent answered the phone.

“Hello? Rick, baby, is that you?”

“It is,” he said, excitement shining through his eyes. “And I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Anna gaped at him, her heart sinking deep into her belly. It couldn’t possibly be true. Rick couldn’t possibly know the one lie she’d been telling since she was a child.

Rick grinned. “I’m standing right here with a very special person. She says you haven’t spoken since you were kids, but it’s her birthday so I thought I’d reunite you two.” Then he stretched out the phone to Anna. “Jennifer Lopez, say hello to your cousin Anna!”

Oh no. Oh no no no no no!

Anna didn’t know what to say, couldn’t form a word. Everything was about to be exposed. All her lies, all her little stories that had meant nothing. But Chrissy was right. Little things did matter, and this would matter a lot to the people who had suddenly become very important to her. What was she going to do?

And then a miracle happened. A miracle beyond anything she could have imagined. Jennifer Lopez squealed into the phone.

“Anna!” she cried. “Oh my God, how are you?”

A miracle. She was saved. Clearly there was an Anna in Jennifer’s past. And given that Anna had read practically everything that had ever been written on the woman, she could still brazen it out. She could pretend to be the mysterious Anna and then just cut the conversation short. Find a way to escape without tripping up. She could do it. She knew she could.

But then she looked into Aunt Dee’s eyes. And Aunt Tilde. And Rick’s and the boys and their parents and lastly, at Mike. She couldn’t lie to them. Not anymore. Even in the little stupid ways.

So with shaking hands, she took the phone and spoke. Though her chest was tight, her words came out clear.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Lopez. I’m truly sorry. I’m not really your cousin. I’m just a nobody who happens to share your last name.” She swallowed and looked up at Aunt Tilde. “I don’t know Alan Alda either. My mother never had a charm bracelet, and I’ve only seen Joss Whedon from a distance. I just wanted to pretend, and I was on vacation. I didn’t think it would cause any harm. I really--”

Her voice choked off. She couldn’t say anything more. And she sure as hell couldn’t look at Mike. God, little white lies. Just tiny lies that were exaggerations and imagination. She’d never thought they’d cause any harm. And now she’d lost everything.

She pressed the phone into Rick’s slack hand and fled.

Chapter 19

Mike could see her clearly. She was sitting outside, hunched at the edge of the trees. Her back was to the house and he could already see that her jeans were getting wet. It wasn’t raining, but the ground was a muddy mess.

He shrugged out of his jacket as he crossed the soggy ground to her. She looked cold. That was his only thought because he sure as hell had no clue what he wanted to say to her.

It’s okay. I knew you were lying anyway.

It’s okay. The boys needed to learn that people often exaggerate for dramatic effect.

It’s okay. Mom and Aunt Tilde won’t remember anyway.

Obviously none of those things would work, but he hadn’t a clue what else to say. She had lied to them, if only by suggestion rather than outright statement. And that was bad in his book. And yet, as she sat there all hunched over and miserable, his heart broke for her.

He made it to her side, slipping his jacket around her. The wind had a bite to it here and he tightened his arms around his torso for heat. And then, just to make himself more uncomfortable, he settled down into the wet mud beside her.

“Don’t be nice to me, Mike,” she said without looking up. “It makes me feel like even more of a shit.”

“I know. That’s why I’m doing it,” he lied. “It’s your punishment. I’m going to bury you in kindness until you buy a hairshirt and a self-flogger.”

She twisted to look at him. “A self-what?”

“You know.” He gestured with his hand as if he were whipping himself over his shoulder. “For flagellation.”

“I know what you mean, but…isn’t it just called a whip? Or a cat-o-nine tail?”

“I have no idea.”

She snorted. “And you call yourself a Dom.”

“No.
You
call me a Dom. I just call myself Mike.”

She stared at him. He could tell she was fighting the humor, but he just gave her an ultra innocent look--complete with blinking eyes--and she snorted rather than laugh.

But then her gaze slipped from his back to the muddy ground. “As I said,” she said. “Being nice to me just makes me feel worse. Mike, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to lie to everyone.”

He sighed. “You know, Rick says it happens all the time. He thinks everyone pretends to know a celebrity at one time or another.”

She canted her head. “Have you?”

He shook his head.

“I didn’t think so.”

He touched her hand. It was ice cold, so he spread his fingers and tried to give her as much warmth as he could.

“Anna, I don’t care.”

“Bullshit.”

He smiled at that. “I know, I’m surprised as hell too. But you weren’t being malicious and you didn’t really lie.” He was splitting hairs and he knew it, but honestly, her stories didn’t bother him. “You were connecting with people--with my family--in a way that I never could.”

She dropped her head on to her upturned knees. “Making me feel worse, here. Look, I know you’re trying to be nice, but the truth is that I lied about who I am to you and your family. I just wanted…” She sighed.

“You just wanted to be one of us. I get it.” He gently tugged on her shoulder, trying to get her to look at him. She did reluctantly. “You’re a storyteller.”

She flinched, and he rushed his next words before she could misunderstand.

“It’s how you relate to other people. You tell the kind of stories they want to hear. It doesn’t matter if it’s the truth or not--”

“You’re the one who says it does--”

“Well, I was wrong.” Hell, he couldn’t believe he was saying this. Usually his world was very black and white, with lies landing very much in the black zone. “You never told the kids that you’d met Joss Whedon. Just that you had an event near him. And then you told them all sorts of things you’d read about the man, right?”

She nodded. “That’s what they wanted to hear. Just stories about their director idol.”

His hand slid to caress her chin. “So why didn’t you just say that you’d read everything?”

She huffed. “I don’t know. It’s more dramatic if I personalize the story. People connect with it better.”

“And with you. They connect with you better.”

She nodded, then she glanced over her shoulder at the house. “At least they do until they find out it was all made up.”

He sighed. “Look, would I prefer it if you found a way to be dramatic without stretching the truth? Yeah. I’d prefer that. But I understand why you do it. At least I think I do.”

She arched a brow? “Pathological liar?”

He snorted. “I hope not. You can tell the truth, can’t you?”

“I just did, didn’t I?”

“See. You’re not pathological.”

She sighed and looked up at the trees. “No,” she finally said. “I’m lonely. Really, really lonely Mike.”

He stroked her back. “I know you have been, but what about now?” He swallowed. “What about me?”

She shot him a look. “I just got exposed as a grand liar to your family.”

“They don’t care. Seriously, they don’t.”

She stared at him.

“Do you honestly think they’ve been scrupulously honest all their lives? Shall I tell you all the fibs Aunt Tilde spouts? Do you really think she’s related to the Grand Duke of Modrone?”

“She could be,” she said.

He snorted. “I doubt it.”

“But she could be,” Anna insisted.

“Just like you could be related to Jennifer Lopez. You do share a last name.”

She sighed, her expression turning sad. “So okay, maybe I can sweet talk your mother and aunt.”

“I told you, they’ve already forgiven you.”

“And the kids won’t remember it a week from now. Your brother will laugh it off--”

“And my sister has bigger things on her mind than the women I date.”

She looked up sharply at that, and her expression turned wary. “Are we still dating? Mike, out of your entire family, you’re the one who’s the stickler for details. You’re the one who--”

“Is sitting out here in the mud with you. Anna, you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. You laugh openly, you make everyone happy, and you…” He stroked his fingers across her lips. “You fascinate me, woman. And I can’t get enough of you.”

She bit her lip, and his eyes riveted there. He wanted to kiss her, but she obviously wasn’t ready yet. Then again, maybe she was thinking it too because her gaze slid to his mouth and she whispered, “We can’t build a relationship on just sex.”

He smiled. “We could try, couldn’t we?”

She opened her mouth to argue, but he held up his hand.

“I’m kidding, Anna. What can I say to prove to you that I think you’re amazing? That I want to keep seeing you? That I think we could be very important to each other?”

She closed her eyes and twisted away and at that moment, he realized how badly he’d erred. After all, she’d already said she loved him. It was up to him now.

“Did I tell you I decked Rick?”

She jerked her eyes open. “What?”

“Yeah. The minute you walked out, I up and decked him.”

Her hand flew to her mouth. “You didn’t!”

“I did. I was just so pissed off that he’d upset you.”

“But he was trying to do a nice thing!”

“I know. But he still hurt you. He still made you run out crying. So I decked him. Dropped him flat on the floor.”

Her gaze jumped to the back of the house, but then returned to him. “You need to apologize to him. This wasn’t his fault.”

“I know, and I will. But Anna, I don’t care. You told me last night that you love me. I can’t say those words yet. They don’t come easily to me. I can tell you I’m nuts about you. I decked my brother because I adore you. I’m changing jobs because I want to be near you. Is that enough for you right now? I really hope it is because I really want to be with you.”

She swallowed, and he could see that her eyes had teared up. But he wasn’t sure if it was in a good way or bad way. She abruptly leaned forward until they were almost kissing. Almost. Then she whispered. “You’re a better man than I deserve.”

“Well, that’s because you don’t know me well enough yet.”

She smiled. “I’d like to change that.”

“Me, too. Now can we kiss or go inside? I’m freezing here.”

“How about we do both?”

He grinned. “Like I said, I adore you.”

She started to laugh, but he didn’t give her the chance. He had to kiss her. He had to show her physically that he meant every word he’d said.

So as usual, he poured everything he wanted to say into his touch. And as usual, she seemed to understand. She certainly responded, and if they weren’t sitting on muddy ground, he would have laid her out and done what he really wanted.

But they were outside and his entire family was probably watching through the window. So he broke off the kiss. She was gratifyingly breathless. So was he, for that matter.

“So do you want to go back inside now?” he asked.

“No, but I don’t want to lose your balls to the cold.”

He laughed, then he twisted, squatted down, and the scooped her up off the ground. “Then for God’s sake, let’s save my future children.”

She laughed as he hoisted her higher in his arms. “Mike! You don’t have to--”

He silenced her with a kiss. And when they finally drew apart, he said soberly. “I do have to. I do want to. Now let’s go inside so I can give you my birthday gift.”

“Mike--” she began, but he shook his head.

“My gift. My choice. You can just shut up and take it like a man. Er…a woman.”

She laughed. “Yes, sir.”