Ian clapped a hand on Lance’s shoulder. “Not that lucky. Let’s be really clear about something. None of us will ever get involved with any of Kenzi’s friends, no matter who they are or how close they are to any of our ages. Things like that never end well.”
Grant agreed. “It’s already hard enough to get Kenzi to come home.”
Looking unimpressed, Asher added, “If you’re lonely, come see me when we get back to Boston. Trust me, there are plenty of women who look just like that who you can be with without the hassle.”
Andrew gave Asher a skeptical look. “Twins? Who looks like that? I’d definitely be interested, but damn—”
Lance shook his head. He didn’t care what Andrew thought of Lexi—but Willa. He didn’t want anyone looking at her that way.
Andrew gave Lance a punch in the shoulder. “Don’t try to tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind.”
“They’re not even that alike.”
Andrew threw back his head and laughed. “Now I know you’re fucking with me. They’re creepy identical.” When Lance didn’t answer, Andrew gave him a curious look. “You can really tell them apart? How? Is it a mole or something?”
Lance watched the approaching twins and knew he’d never share his method. He’d confused them when they were younger, but since he’d seen them at their graduation a few months earlier he’d had no problem telling them apart. His body had a preference. When he looked at Lexi he saw a beautiful woman, but that was all. When he looked at Willa his whole body clenched like someone had punched him in the stomach and his dick throbbed painfully.
In the silence that followed Andrew’s question, Grant said, “Willa dresses conservatively. So, Lexi’s probably the one in the pink bikini.”
Asher made an impatient sound. “Does it really matter which is which? Are we going out on the water, or not?”
Ian picked up the cooler and put it back on the jeep. “We’re going.”
Andrew threw his empty beer can down. “Yeah, this is getting old.”
Willa and Lexi joined them. After shyly smiling at Lance, Willa walked over to Grant and handed him a cloth bag. “It’s sunblock. Your mother is worried that you’ll all burn.”
Lexi winked. “If any of you need help putting it on . . .”
Three eldest male voices rang out in unison, “No.” Grant passed an aerosol can around and each of them sprayed themselves down quickly before passing it to the next.
Lance didn’t realize it was his turn until the can hit him in on the arm and dropped to the ground beside his feet. He bent to pick it up and sprayed himself absentmindedly. He couldn’t look away from Willa. Hell, he could barely think. He reminded himself she was his sister’s friend. Untouchable.
Willa smiled at him, and he struggled to not simply stand there, drooling. Damn. “Have you seen Kenzi?” she asked. Her perfectly pink lips were mesmerizing.
Grant answered, “Earlier. She said she’d be here. There are chairs and umbrellas set up if you want to wait for her over there.”
“Oh,” Willa said and then seemed embarrassed to have uttered that aloud. She blushed. “I mean, that’s great.”
Lance saw the disappointment in her eyes and swallowed hard. “Do you like to jet-ski?”
Her eyes were wide and innocent. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried it.”
Ian interceded, “Kenzi should be able to show you. She goes out alone.”
Willa bit her bottom lip and hugged a towel to her stomach. “That’ll be fine.”
Lexi stepped forward. “Do you have enough for all of us? It can’t be that hard. I’d try it by myself.”
Asher walked away, clearly done with the conversation. Ian followed him. Before he left, Grant added in his irritating authoritative voice, “Only six. You can take turns with Kenzi.”
After he’d gone, Lexi made a face. “So much for chivalry.”
Willa hastened to smooth over her sister’s comment. “It’s fine, Lexi. We don’t have to do it at all. This beach is gorgeous. I’ll be happy just swimming and sunbathing.”
Not able to help himself, Lance offered, “You could ride with me.”
For a second excitement lit Willa’s eyes, then she lowered her lashes shyly. “I don’t want to take away from your fun.”
Lance’s mouth went dry and in a strangled voice he said, “You wouldn’t. Come on.”
Willa fell into step beside him then stopped. “Oh, my clothes.” She stepped out of her flip-flops and whipped her T-shirt up and over her head. She folded it and placed it on her shoes then stepped out of her shorts.
Lance watched and wondered if he’d ever breathe again. Kenzi’s friend. Gorgeous, but still Kenzi’s friend.
Willa held out a hand toward him. “I probably need that.”
For a wild moment Lance imagined her hand caressing his bare chest, teasing its way down his stomach and closing around his dick. I need that, too. He realized she was waiting for him to hand her something and shook the fantasy off. Sunblock, idiot. She wants the sunblock. He handed it to her. She closed her eyes and sprayed her face. Then she sprayed the length of her neck, down between two of the most perfect breasts he’d ever seen, along her beautiful arms. She was in a one-piece bathing suit, which should have been less sexy than the slips of cloth her sister was wearing, but it hugged every one of her curves perfectly. He was an internal wreck by the time she was done spraying the front of her long legs.
She held the can toward him. “Would you do my back?”
He nodded and took it. When she lifted her hair and exposed the curve of her neck to him, it took every shred of self-control he had not to lean down and kiss it. He applied the spray then tossed it. Possibly to Andrew, who he thought was talking to Lexi, but really he had no clue. He was trying to remember his own name. Willa effortlessly reduced him to that state.
Willa turned to thank him, and once again he almost stopped breathing. Why did the one girl who turned his head have to be the one he couldn’t have? Couldn’t taste? The expression in her beautiful blue eyes was warm, inviting, trusting. Her lips looked soft and so fucking kissable he ached. He was forced to look away before he made a fool of himself and kissed her right there in front of everyone.
Andrew winked at Lance, and the look he gave him said it all. Andrew would take Lexi out on the water to show their brothers they didn’t control him. Lance doubted it would go further than that. Andrew might enjoy pissing off his brothers now and then, but he would never hurt anyone to do it.
Lance turned away. He would defy his brothers for a very different reason.
Willa smiled up at him with innocent desire in her eyes.
Right or wrong, he wanted her enough that nothing else mattered.
Chapter Two
Ten years later
Willa Chambers pushed a wayward blonde curl out of her eyes as she walked out of the Boston apartment she shared with Lexi. The warm August weather justified her white tank top and short jean skirt, but it was a more revealing outfit than she would have chosen for herself. She spoke nervously into the cell phone she was clutching near her ear. “I can’t do this.”
“It’s too late to back out now,” Lexi said.
“This isn’t like the radio spot you had me do last week. No one will believe I’m you.”
“People won’t have a reason to question who you are unless you give them one.”
“I could never dance as well as you.”
“Only because you held yourself back. You’ve got this, Willa. Besides, it’s not like we won’t get paid even if you mess up. You know Clay Landon. He’s a friend of Dax.”
“Which is another reason I feel weird about saying I’m you.”
“Stop. No one cares if it’s really me or not. Clay asked me to create an experience for his friend. That’s what we’re giving him. The dance company I hired is amazing. This isn’t their first flash mob. You rehearsed the moves with me. The rest is easy.”
“You should have canceled.”
/> “No, I should have taken the day out of this temp job to be there. Dancing for the suits in the financial district sounds a hundred times more fun than what I’m doing today.”
Willa heard a hint of discontent in her sister’s voice and was instantly worried. “I thought you said you liked working at Poly-Shyn.”
Lexi sighed. “I’m not quitting it, if that’s what you’re afraid of. It pays the rent, and one of us needs a steady income.”
Low blow, but after all the times I’ve spoken to her about the importance of sticking to one job, I guess I deserved it. I certainly didn’t imagine my future consisting of unemployment and taking gigs Lexi sends my way. Willa thought back to the art cataloging job she’d taken for an auction house. She’d thought it was secure when she and Lexi had relocated to Boston to be near Kenzi. Willa’s life had been right on track, and then, wham, they’d let her go. After ten months of looking for something in the art world, Willa was getting desperate. She was used to being the responsible sister, but somehow that had all gone to shit since moving to the United States. “I’m sorry, I’ll find a permanent job soon.”
“Don’t be sorry, Willa, be spectacular today. Even after we pay the dance company, you’ll make enough to pay off some of the debt we’ve accumulated. Which we wouldn’t have, by the way, if you’d taken the job Kenzi’s fiancée offered you at his company.”
“I didn’t go to college so I could be a glorified typist.”
“Like me.”
Willa wiped away a bead of sweat from the back of her neck. She wasn’t trying to diminish what her sister was doing. In fact, she was impressed Lexi had stayed as long as she had. Lexi was notorious for going through jobs as quickly as she went through men. It was only recently that she’d become serious about earning a steady income. Willa also wasn’t used to arguing with her sister, at least never about anything serious. Not since—well, not in a very long time. None of this is worth fighting over. “I’m proud of you, Lexi. Ignore my mood. I’ve never been comfortable being the center of attention. You know that. What if I trample the person next to me and embarrass you?”
Lexi made a supportive sound. “You’ll be fine. Stop thinking about everything that could go wrong, and let yourself enjoy today. Clay said he wanted to make his friend laugh. Above everything else, it’s supposed to be fun.”
Fun. Willa laughed nervously and flagged down a cab. She gave the driver the address Lexi had given her. Life isn’t about having fun. It’s a game of survival. Hold on the best you can because it can be one hell of a rough ride.
She would have said that aloud, but Lexi would never understand. How they could be so alike physically and have such different personalities never ceased to amaze Willa. She knew Lexi felt the same. Her sister made it her mission to push Willa into situations she thought would help her “break out of her shell.” The problem was, Willa didn’t want to break out. She’d tried to be like Lexi once and had learned her lesson. Never again.
Except today, but this is different. It’s just a job. Willa groaned as she tugged at the hem of the skirt Lexi had left out for her to wear. She looked at the high heels that were a good two inches higher than she normally would have worn. “I hope I don’t fall flat on my face.”
“If you do, the video will definitely go viral.”
“Video?” Willa’s stomach did a nervous flip. “I’m serious. I have a bad feeling about today.”
With an impatient sound, Lexi said, “God. Should I say I’m sick and cut out of here?”
Willa gave herself a mental slap. Lexi was finally doing well. I need to do this—for both of us. “No. You’re right. I practiced the moves with you. I’ll be fine.”
“Yes, you will be. Remember, everyone will already be there, and they’ll know what to do. I told them what you’re wearing so even those who’ve never met me will recognize you. All you have to do is go up to whoever Clay is standing with and congratulate him.”
“Who am I congratulating and for what?”
“Clay didn’t say, but does it matter? As soon as you speak, the crowd will freeze. The first few dancers will come out and circle around you. Don’t move until the music starts. We have about eighty-five people scheduled to join in different waves until you’re all dancing together.”
“And I’m in front the whole time?”
“I would be.”
If this doesn’t make my ass willing to take whatever next job I’m offered, nothing will. “Okay.”
“When the song ends everyone will stop dancing and return to doing whatever they were before, as if nothing happened. You can leave then. That’s it. It’s the easiest five grand you’ll ever make.”
The taxi stopped at a light, and Willa felt foolish for making such a big deal out of it. Lexi had walked her through the choreography and the moves. It would be easy enough to fall into step with those around her. Clay’s client wouldn’t know if she took a wrong step as long as she flowed with them. I can do this. “I appreciate the work you put into this, Lexi. I may not sound grateful, but I am.”
“I know, Willa. And, seriously, I would have canceled if I didn’t think you could do this.”
“You’re making dinner tonight.”
“I can’t. I’m working late. But I’ll do the grocery shopping this week. How’s that?”
“Deal,” Willa said. The taxi pulled up to a spot outside a tall glass building that had a grass courtyard, an unusual luxury in an otherwise stale background of buildings. Willa paid the driver then did her best to get out of the car gracefully, not an easy feat, considering her outfit. She studied the people in the area. Outside of the number of people gathered, there was no hint they didn’t belong there. Anyone walking by would have thought a conference or meeting had just released its participants for lunch. Their professional attire made Willa feel even more out of place. If the dancers were already there, they blended in well. Unlike me.
Willa felt the gaze of several men follow her as she approached the building. She was used to a certain amount of male attention, but she felt exposed. How does Lexi live like this? As she walked toward the building, she wished Lexi were there to draw the attention away from her.
She caught her shoulders hunching forward in response to her natural shyness and forced herself to straighten them. I’m Lexi—at least for the next fifteen minutes.
There was no sign of Clay, and for a moment Willa worried she might have given the driver the wrong address. She was getting ready to ask the woman closest to her if she knew Clay Landon when a black sedan pulled up in front of the building. She’d met him a couple of times through Kenzi but only briefly. The more nervous she became the less she could remember what he looked like. A tall blond man stepped out of a limo and looked around. He was attractive in a European chic kind of way. Although he was dressed in jeans and a collared shirt, he had an aura of someone at the top of the one percent. He smiled when he saw her and nodded.
Willa wobbled on her high heels when she recognized the man who got out of the car next. No. No. No.
He’s Clay’s friend? Surely Lexi hadn’t known who would be here.
There was only one man Willa would not dance for, one man who had hurt her deeply enough that she’d protected her heart ever since.
Lance Barrington.
Willa took a step back and the movement caught Lance’s attention. He cocked his head to one side and raised a hand in greeting to her. Willa retreated another step. Clay urged Lance forward.
“You’re going the wrong way,” a man whispered to her. The way he said it made Willa certain he was with the dance company.
Willa didn’t care. Her impromptu plan was to get as far away from there as quickly as she could. “No, I’m not.”
There was a buzz of hushed talking around her until she backed into a woman who didn’t move. She smiled at Willa as if she were apologizing for being in her way, but her voice was a cold challenge. “What are you doing?”
“I’m leaving,” Willa said hones
tly, apologetically.
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t hire a cameraman so you could flake out at the last minute. You’re the cue for us to start. You can either walk over there as planned or pay the videographer yourself. Your choice. My dancers will also need to be compensated. We signed a contract.”
Willa swallowed hard. She barely had the rent money for next month. She couldn’t pay anyone’s salary. She looked back at Lance and mild panic set in. Both he and Clay were walking toward her.
Next to Clay, Lance looked rough around the edges. Two athletic builds, but Lance was the rugby player and Clay more of the golf type. Why couldn’t Lance have gotten a potbelly and gone bald with time? Why did he have to get better looking every time Willa saw him? Just as it had when she was younger, her body warmed with a craving only he could feed.
Why does just looking at him excite me more than any other man’s touch ever has?
He came to a stop in front of her, a puzzled look of concern on his face. “Willa?”
His question flamed an old anger within her, and on impulse she said, “Lexi.”
He frowned.
Willa told herself to let the past go, but she was shaking from the emotional charge of old memories. Why can’t I put it behind me? Because he’s always there, part of my life even if I wish he weren’t.
Lexi knew better than to mention his name. Willa loved her sister, but even as close as they were, they’d both done things to hurt each other—things they regretted, things apologies didn’t fully wash away. Lance was a reminder of a time Willa never wanted to relive. She didn’t feel bad about telling him she was Lexi. He didn’t deserve the truth. The quicker she started this fiasco, the quicker she could leave. “Congratulations.”
With large, dramatic moves, an assortment of male and female dancers tore off their suits, revealing casual street clothing. Clay stepped away. The dancers encircled Lance and Willa. The opening music to a song began to play loudly.
The scene felt unreal. Lance looked around in surprise then back at her. The words from the song had meant nothing to Willa when she’d practiced the dance moves to them with Lexi, but suddenly, hearing them while so close to Lance threw Willa off balance.
Trade It All (The Barrington Billionaires Book 3) Page 2