HIS DOUBLE, HER TROUBLE

by Donna Sterling

  "I should be back by next Wednesday."

  A whole week. She glanced away from him, struggling to hide her disappointment that he was leaving. The time he'd be gone stretched before her like an empty chasm. Since when did one week seem so long? Since when did she hate for Jake Rowland to leave her? "Thanks, but I won't need the car."

  He looked as if he might say more. Instead, he bowed his head and studied the menu with intense concentration.

  Jake went home after work and packed, wishing he didn't have to leave. He'd hurt Brianna today in a way he hadn't understood. He wanted the chance to hold her, talk to her, find out why she'd cried over that damned car … and, of course, to make love to her. Sleep with her. Wake up in her arms.

  What the hell was happening to him? His time suddenly seemed divided into only two categories—time spent with Brianna, and time spent waiting to be with her. She was like an addictive drug. The more he sampled, the more he craved.

  She had him feeling things he'd never felt, doing things he'd never done—like trying to force cars on unwilling women—and saying things he'd never intended to say. Like telling her about the Dimitris. He hadn't mentioned their names since they'd left. Why had he brought them up now?

  You're not taking this affair with her as lightly as you should.

  He locked his suitcase and noticed the message light on the phone beside his bed. He pressed the play button.

  "Jake, I have only a minute in private." Evan's voice sounded hushed and hurried. "Things are looking up. That detective you hired has a few leads on Cassandra. Oh, and uh, listen, Jake, when I told you that Brianna and I had broken up … well, I might have been a little hasty. Don't try putting any moves on her, okay? I imagine you're bored to death by now and looking for a little diversion. Not that she'd have your sorry butt." His chuckle sounded a little strained. "She's probably ready to kill you, if I know the two of you. Anyway, if and when I get out of this embezzlement mess, I … I want Brianna back."

  * * *

  9

  « ^ »

  "So, did my candlelight dinner do the trick?" Chloe asked as she helped herself to Brianna's leftover chicken and rice.

  Brianna pushed the food around her own plate without eating. It was Sunday evening—Jake had been gone only four days—yet she missed him enough to call Chloe over to spend the night, something she hadn't done in years.

  She wished she could tell her that Evan had broken up with her, but then how could she explain Jake's presence without giving away the impersonation? She'd given Cy Rowland her word to tell no one, and she couldn't go back on her word. "Chloe, things are complicated right now between us. I'd rather not talk about Evan."

  "I knew something had to be wrong. But I can't believe that nothing came of last Monday night's dinner."

  She couldn't evade Chloe's perceptive gaze for long and soon felt a blush rise up her neck.

  "Something did come of it, didn't it?" deduced Chloe. "You finally went to bed with him. That's what we've been shooting for, isn't it?" She narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me you didn't like it."

  "I didn't say that."

  "So did you?"

  Brianna set down her fork, drew in a deep breath and gazed at the ceiling. "Yes," she conceded in a drawn-out whisper. "I liked it." Too much.

  Chloe studied her in puzzlement. "I figured you would, especially after I saw you two at the restaurant. He seemed a lot sexier than he ever has before. And you were kind of—I don't know—glowing."

  Setting her elbows on the table, Brianna buried her face in her hands. How could she miss Jake when he'd been gone only four days? When Evan had gone out of town, even for weeks at a time, she simply used that time to get things done. She hadn't counted the hours until he returned, or gotten distracted in her work with ideas of how to welcome him home. "I thought we weren't going to talk about this," she mumbled through her fingers.

  "But if the sex was good, why are you moping?"

  Brianna lowered her hands from her face. "I'm not moping. I'm confused. I'm not sure how I feel about … about Evan." Of course she really meant Jake. She couldn't get too attached to him! He distracted her too much from the important things. And he'd be leaving when Evan returned.

  "Where's Evan now?" Chloe asked.

  "Out of town on business."

  "That's your problem. You both work too much. All work and no play makes Jack and Jill a dull couple. I have an idea! You know what's coming up, don't you?"

  "No." Brianna suspected she didn't want to know, either. "What?"

  "My birthday is Friday and Evan's is Saturday."

  "That's right, it is. How do you know Evan's birthday?"

  "It's the day after mine. Every year we used to hand out lollipops in elementary school—me first, then him."

  Guilt descended on Brianna. Evan would spend his birthday alone, held against his will in France. How could she have been so wrapped up in Jake as to forget about Evan's anguish? He'd been a good friend to her for many years. With surprise, she realized the nature of her feelings for him—sisterly. Why hadn't she seen that before? She wanted to call him, talk to him, comfort him, but Cy had forbidden all contact … and she didn't have a phone number for him.

  "Hey, I'm not thrilled about having another birthday myself, but let's not mourn over it." Chloe munched on a bread stick. "I think we should throw a party. We'll hold it Saturday night at my house."

  "I'd love to celebrate your birthday, Chloe, but the way things are with Evan and me—"

  "I'll invite the guests. All my friends know I'm shameless enough to throw myself a birthday party. We'll keep it a surprise for Evan, though. I love surprises. All you have to do is get him there." With another glance at Brianna, Chloe's expression fell. "Of course, if you don't want to celebrate my birthday, we don't have to." Rising from the table with a distinct sniff, she carried her dishes to the sink, looking very much the martyr.

  Brianna doubted that Chloe's feelings were really hurt. At least, she didn't think they were.

  "I haven't had a birthday party since I was a kid," Chloe mumbled, rinsing the plate. "Thought it might be fun. But if you're too busy, or too wrapped up in Evan…"

  "Okay, Chloe," Brianna relented, "I'll come to your party. But I'm not sure if I can bring Evan."

  "If you don't bring him, I'll find a way to get him there. I can be very inventive, you know."

  Foreboding filled Brianna. Jake had passed as Evan at the office because Maude and she ran interference, screening his calls and visits, filling him in on anything Evan should know. What would happen at an intimate gathering of friends? He wouldn't know most of them; they weren't his kind of crowd. The impersonation could be blown.

  She'd have to warn Jake. Maybe he could give Chloe some excuse that she'd accept. From the determined sparkle in Chloe's brown eyes, though, Brianna guessed that it would have to be one doozy of an excuse.

  Alone in a Boston hotel suite, Jake ordered a bottle of Jack Daniels from room service, grabbed the TV's remote control and switched to the Tuesday night movie. He'd had invitations from his business associates for every evening—one an attractive female who was obviously in heat—but he'd declined.

  He was in no mood for company, unless that company happened to be Brianna. Which, of course, it couldn't be. She was hundreds of miles away from him, and not only in the physical sense. Much more than distance separated them.

  Evan wanted her back.

  Jake cursed and turned off the television. Why the hell had Evan waited so long to decide he missed her? If Evan had told Jake how he felt about her during that first phone call, Jake never would have gone after her. Never would have taken her to bed, never would have gotten hooked on making love to her.

  That's a crock. You'd have done it anyway.

  He honestly didn't know if he would have or not. He'd always considered Evan and Brianna to be friends, platonic friends. Her claim that they'd been dating had taken him by surprise, like a pit bull going for his throat.


  But then Evan had broken up with her, and she'd become fair game.

  Jake paced across the hotel room, caught in an inner crossfire. Who was he kidding? He couldn't pursue Brianna if his brother loved her.

  Maybe she wouldn't want Evan. Maybe the intimacies she'd shared with him, Jake, had changed her mind. Then again, maybe not. He leaned his forehead against the cold plate-glass window that overlooked the Boston skyline and forced from his mind the worst scenarios.

  Keep it light. Hadn't he learned that lesson by now? Life didn't hurt as much once that skill was mastered. He simply had to lighten his attitude toward this whole ordeal.

  He needed to talk to Evan, to ask him about his feelings for Brianna and base his actions on that. But what could he say if Evan did love her? Sorry, but she and I have wild sex every chance we get. I'd really like to keep on with that. Hope you don't mind too much, bro.

  No, he couldn't discuss the matter with Evan yet. But he could call Brianna. To keep peace with his conscience, he'd managed to resist calling her for almost a full week.

  The clock on the bedside table read eleven-fifteen. She might still be awake. He could let her know the good news about the business, and of course, that he'd be away longer than he'd planned.

  He had to call her. He needed to hear her voice again.

  She answered on the second ring with a soft, sleepy, "Hello?"

  "Hello, yourself."

  "Jake! Where are you?" Her warmth eased something inside of him, but only for a moment. Would her welcome turn to awkwardness when she knew Evan wanted her back?

  "I'm in Boston." He supposed he should tell her about Evan's message—and gauge her feelings by her reply—but he didn't think he could deal with that issue right now with the necessary objectivity. "The computer crew came through for us. I talked to Irene Cahn today. They've corrected the embezzler's manipulations in the system. Our customers' accounts are balanced, and chances of an investigation here in the States are now slim to none."

  "That's wonderful!" Her gladness made the news even more satisfying than it had been when he'd heard it himself.

  "Things are coming along okay here in Boston, too, but it looks like I'll be stuck here longer than I'd planned."

  "Oh." Was that disappointment he heard? He couldn't be sure. Was she missing him? "When will you get back?"

  "Late Saturday, maybe even Sunday."

  "Ah." She paused. "Well…"

  He waited for her to finish her reply, but she didn't. The silence seemed charged, as if she were groping for something to say. He closed his eyes. He wanted to be there with her so badly. When he finally broke the silence, he asked in a voice a little too hoarse, "Are you in bed?"

  "Yes."

  The image of her appeared to him so vibrant and clear that it made him ache. "Have you taken your shower yet?" He had no business asking her that, no business thinking about the shower they'd taken together, the love they'd made.

  "I took a bath."

  "Ah." He paused. "Well…" He gazed blindly at the far wall, imagining what he had missed by being away. He couldn't go on like this! He was driving himself nuts. Keep it light. Jokingly he queried, "So, do you miss me?"

  Seconds ticked by as he waited for her rejoinder, and he found himself swallowing against a dry throat. It wasn't as if he hadn't asked that question to hundreds of women, sometimes the day after a casual date, just to be cute, just to hear them breathe flirtatious things into the receiver like Desperately or You know I do, honey…

  "It's only been a few days." She hadn't answered right. He hadn't even heard a smile in her voice.

  He couldn't quite manage one, either. "That's not what I asked."

  In a barely audible murmur, she allowed, "I wouldn't mind if you were here."

  He shut his eyes. "I wouldn't mind being there."

  Again, the almost painful silence. He was afraid she might say goodbye. Crazy to stay on a long-distance line and say nothing. But he didn't want to break their connection, even a silent one.

  She cleared her throat and came to their rescue. "In case you get back early enough on Saturday, I guess I'd better tell you—Chloe is throwing a party for her and Evan."

  "Her and Evan?" That certainly helped to distract him from the longing that was gnawing at his gut.

  "Her birthday is Friday and his is Saturday." His, she'd said. Not yours, as in, Evan's and Jake's. She seemed to have forgotten he was Evan's twin—almost as if she'd forgotten he existed outside the impersonation. Oblivious to her omission, she went on, "She's invited our closest friends. She wants to surprise Evan." A note of relief crept into her voice. "But since you're coming in too late, we won't have to worry about it."

  Jake frowned. He didn't like her putting a positive spin on his absence. "Are you going?"

  "I promised Chloe I would."

  "But you don't want … Evan … to show up for his own party."

  She let out a little laugh. "Evan himself would be okay. I'm not too sure about you."

  Jake set his teeth on edge. He couldn't let an unacknowledged birthday or a simple comment get under his skin; she'd said a lot worse over the years. He couldn't let the woman herself get under his skin. "Then I guess it's a good thing that I probably won't be there in time."

  A different kind of silence followed his quiet remark. "Jake? Is something … wrong?"

  "Wrong? Not at all. But it's been a long day and I'm, uh, ready to turn in."

  "Ah. Well…" She paused. "Good night."

  He forced out a cool, "Good night."

  He landed at the Columbus airport around seven on Saturday evening and drove to Pleasantville. His trip, although successful, had been hell. He hadn't slept much. Hadn't eaten much. Hadn't even bothered drinking much, barely touching the Jack Daniels he'd ordered from room service. Nothing seemed to satisfy. Nothing helped lighten the heaviness pressing down on him.

  He had to give up Brianna … at least until he knew whether or not she and Evan loved each other. After all the justifications he'd found to keep on seeing her, he couldn't betray his brother that way.

  The question that nagged at him was, did Evan really love her? If so, why hadn't he said it when Jake asked him about her? Evan could have been angry with her at the time, he supposed. Brianna had mentioned that they'd had a fight. She'd also written about those mysterious inhibitions that blocked them from intimacy—inhibitions he himself hadn't seen a sign of. Evan might have given up on their relationship, then thought better of it.

  Something about that didn't ring true to Jake. If Brianna were his, no amount of anger or frustration would make him tell another man that he was finished with her. If a man even hinted at an interest in her, he'd tell the bastard to keep his hands off her or risk death. Above all, no fight with her or problem in bed would lead him to break off their relationship.

  Evan had been a fool to let her go … if he loved her.

  Then again, Evan had been acting like a fool about everything lately. Letting his business run into trouble and an embezzler walk off with his cash. Was a troubled love life the cause of his preoccupation? Jake wished he knew.

  The other question that nagged at Jake disturbed him even more. Did Brianna love Evan? She'd come to his apartment to make up. She'd written him a letter asking for another chance. But if her love for Evan was so damned true, why had she gone to bed with his brother?

  He'd promised to help her overcome sexual problems, but he found it hard to believe that she would turn anywhere outside of her relationship with Evan to solve them … if she really loved him. That wasn't the Brianna he knew. When he held her, when he loved her, he felt in his blood and in his bones that she belonged to him.

  But she didn't. And he couldn't go to her, couldn't love her again, until he knew he was right in doing so.

  Please, God, make it right.

  Shortly after eight o'clock, Jake pulled into the garage of his town house. It wouldn't be easy staying home this evening when he knew he could be with her a
t the party … and afterward. He'd just have to try not to think of her.

  Not a great way to spend the evening of his birthday.

  As he locked the door of Evan's Mercedes, a slight form approached in the shadows outside of his garage. A woman. She wore a black vinyl coat and spike-heeled boots. "Evan?"

  Jake pocketed his keys and stepped forward to see her face better by the dim glow of a street lamp. "Yes?"

  "Oh, Evan!" Before he had a chance to see her clearly, she threw herself against him in a fierce hug.

  * * *

  10

  « ^ »

  Staggering slightly from the unexpected impact, Jake gaped down at the stranger in his arms. She looked to be in her early twenties, petite, with long dark hair and exotically made-up eyes. "I missed you so much," she whispered. "I've been burning for you. I didn't think I'd ever get away." Her lashes lowered and she leaned in for a kiss.

  He pulled back with awkward dismay. What the hell to do now? He couldn't compromise the impersonation by admitting he wasn't Evan.

  She opened her eyes, looking bewildered. "Are you angry with me? I'm sorry I haven't called you for so long. My husband's been in town for weeks. He finally left for his hunting cabin. I tried last night and today to reach you." Her voice lowered in a nervous whisper. "Have you broken up with Brianna yet?"

  Jake blinked. "Did you expect me to?"

  "You said you would." She pulled back from their loose embrace and studied him with displeasure. "You're waiting for me to tell Mike first, aren't you? Don't you believe I'm serious about our relationship?"

  "Are you?" he responded, highly curious.

  "I live for the times we're together. But it isn't easy to ask for a divorce, even in a marriage like mine." Frowning, she tilted her head. "If I leave Mike, you … you will still want me, won't you?"