Twin Temptation

by Cara Summers

  He lowered his mouth slowly until it was nearly touching hers. Then he paused.

  She should push him away, Maddie thought dimly. She’d always prided herself on having a logical, practical turn of mind. But she’d never experienced this kind of desire before. Each time he touched her or even looked at her, she wanted. It was just that elemental.

  “I can’t wait either.” The words tumbled out of her on a ragged breath as she slipped her arms beneath his jacket and rose on her tiptoes. Finally, finally, their mouths were touching, tasting, exploring as hunger deepened into a fierce need.

  The kiss was so much more than she remembered. What had happened between them during the night seemed more like a dream. This was reality. Each sensation was so intense—the hard planes and angles of body pressing her into the unyielding glass of the display window, the scrape of his teeth on her bottom lip, the heat of his hand as he slipped it beneath her jacket and ran it possessively from her waist to the side of her breast. Then he changed the angle of the kiss and she sampled again the flavor of his need. Irresistible.

  Jase ran his hand down to her waist and then back up again. It seemed that he’d been waiting forever to touch her. She was driving him crazy. That had to be why he was acting this way. It wasn’t that he hadn’t lived dangerously or taken risks before. He’d made his living so far doing both. But he’d always been in control. Maddie Farrell was draining that away.

  The taste of her surrender poured into him. He drew her closer until every curve of her body was molded against his. The thin material of her blouse was tempting, maddening. He wanted her out of it. Desperately.

  They were standing in the middle of a busy Manhattan street. In some dim corner of his mind that hadn’t yet shut down, Jase reminded himself of that. But it was almost impossible to keep a grip on reality when the concrete sidewalk beneath his feet seemed to shift as easily as sand on a beach. He struggled to keep his balance. Shocked, he tried to strengthen the slim grip he had on his control. He should be damning himself for acting like a hormone-driven teenager. He should be damning her for driving him to this. But all he wanted was more of her.

  When it finally struck him that he might not be able to stop himself from taking more, a sharp stab of fear gave him the strength to draw back. Releasing her, he took a step away. Even then he struggled, his mind battling against his emotions, and he very nearly dragged her back and kissed her again. He might have if a woman hadn’t chosen that moment to walk by them and enter the store.

  Jase backed up another step. The first completely coherent thought that slipped into his mind was that he wasn’t capable of controlling this. The realization stunned him.

  Maddie spoke first. “This is ridiculous.”

  Jase studied her closely. There was a vulnerability in her that he hadn’t noticed before. And because he wanted badly to reach out to her, he slid his fingers into the pockets of his jeans. “That’s not exactly the word I’d choose.”

  “I don’t understand what’s happening between us.”

  “It’s a puzzler all right.”

  “We’re on a crowded street and all I could think of was that I wanted to kiss you.”

  “The feeling was mutual.”

  She frowned at him then. “That only increases the problem. What we need is a solution. What are we going to do about this?”

  Jase dropped his gaze to her mouth, then met her eyes again. “I think we both know the answer to that.”

  She frowned at him. “I don’t like it. It’s going to interfere with everything. I have enough on my plate.”

  “Me too.” The fact that the frustration in her tone was such a perfect match to his own eased what he was feeling. He managed a smile. “I guess we’ll just have to compartmentalize and work around it. And speaking of work, Eva Ware Designs has been open for a good fifteen minutes. I suggest we resume this discussion later.”

  Maddie lifted her chin. “Fine. Good. We’ll keep our focus on our investigation.”

  Together, they threaded their way back into the stream of pedestrians.

  “I meant to tell you in the car that I have an idea about what we should do when we get to Eva Ware Designs.”

  Jase glanced at her. “Don’t keep me in the dark.”

  “We seem to have two goals. You’re primarily interested in figuring out who on the inside might have robbed the store. Of course, I’m interested in that too. I want to learn as much as I can about Eva, but I also want to find if there’s someone there Eva confided in.”

  “Someone who might have known about you?”

  Maddie nodded. “The more I think about it, the more I believe she must have confided in someone. And that someone may be able to shed some light on why Jordan and I were separated.”

  Jase held his tongue. His impression of Eva Ware was that she was a very self-contained woman. He’d had some time to think in the shower earlier. As he’d turned it over in his mind, he’d become convinced that she’d had some idea of who had broken into her store from the very beginning, yet she confided in no one. Not in Jordan. Not in him. She was a private woman and she knew how to keep a secret. She’d kept a very important one for twenty-six years.

  “And I want to see Eva’s appointment calendar. It might be better when we get there to separate and gather our information separately.”

  It wasn’t a bad idea, Jake thought. “As long as I don’t have to let you out of my sight.”

  “I have a question,” she said.

  “Ask away.”

  “Do you have any thoughts on why my mother asked Jordan and me to change places?”

  Jase thought for a moment. “I think Jordan’s theory that she wanted the two of you to experience the life she and your father had separated you from is a strong possibility. Did the fact that you’re a talented jewelry designer play into it? Perhaps. But I also think she may have been experiencing some regret.”

  “It that’s true, why didn’t she just bring us together? Why put it in her will so that our coming together would only occur after her death? Now, I’ll never get to know her.”

  “I don’t know the answer to that question, Maddie. But this way she’ll never get to know you either. Her loss.”

  “I’m going to get some answers.”

  When they stopped at the corner, he ran a finger down one of her earrings. “By the way, I like these. For what it’s worth, your mother might have wanted you to experience Jordan’s life—but I don’t think she wanted you to stop being true to yourself.”

  7

  EVA WARE DESIGNS was housed in a building on the corner of Madison Avenue and 51st Street. Because her nerves had been steadily building during the last few blocks, Maddie slowed and focused her attention on the display windows. As distracting as the man beside her was, she was going to put him out of her mind and concentrate on what she’d come to New York to do—learn as much as she could about Eva and Jordan.

  The white marble facade of the building framed four two-foot-square windows, two on each side of the glass-doored entrance. Each window was artfully lit and showcased a single piece of jewelry.

  Bait, she thought. The minimalist approach intrigued her, especially when she recalled the more cluttered window displays in the boutiques that carried her jewelry in Santa Fe. Most of the shop owners had no acquaintance with the idea that less might be more.

  Maddie moved from one window to the next, not as a delaying tactic anymore, but because she was fascinated. Her eyes widened when they spotted the solitary emerald set in a delicately woven gold band. She guessed the ring to be at least two full carats, and yet the craftsmanship of the design made it look so delicate. Eager to see more, she bypassed the entrance and walked around the corner.

  “We haven’t even gone inside, and you look like a kid in a candy shop.”

  She grinned at Jase. “That’s exactly how I feel.” She waved a hand at a window holding a pair of earrings, each offering a mini explosion of tiny, multicolored gems. “Putting onl
y one piece in each window—it’s a brilliant marketing idea. It forces the viewer to focus solely on the artistry of the piece.”

  “It was Jordan’s brainchild. It took her almost six months to win your mother over. Your cousin Adam fought her tooth and nail.”

  The last window held a pendant, three inches square. The gold was hammered and though it was crafted on a much smaller scale, it still made her think of a breast plate that an ancient warrior might have worn into battle. Wanting to get a closer look, she barely kept herself from pressing her nose against the window. There was a diamond set in the center of the pendant and radiating out from it were four rows of turquoise stones.

  Something tightened around her heart. “I didn’t know Eva worked with turquoise.”

  “Sorry,” Jase said. “I don’t have much information on that. I knew about the display windows because Jordan vented about it for several months.”

  Maddie pressed her fingers against the glass, wanting very much to touch the pendant. “It’s a little like some of the pieces I’ve designed—except I don’t use diamonds or gold. I’d like to know how she developed that hammering technique.”

  “We should go in. That’s the kind of question your cousin Adam should be able to answer.”

  Yes. She turned to look at him and saw that he was leaning against the white marble wall, regarding her steadily.

  She cocked her head to the side and regarded him right back. “You’re thinking that I’m stalling. And I have to admit, my window-shopping started out that way. And then I just got caught up in out-and-out gawking. I’ve been in awe of Eva Ware’s jewelry ever since I started to dream of designing some myself.”

  Straightening her shoulders, she moved past him and around the corner. “And you’ve made your point. I didn’t come here as a besotted fan. I came to get some answers.”

  She pulled the front door open, then paused and shot him a look over her shoulder. “When I talk to Adam about Eva’s techniques, I can ask him other questions too.”

  Before she could enter the store, Jase took her hand.

  Maddie tried to tug it free and failed. “I thought we agreed to postpone our…personal situation until later.”

  “Our personal situation?” Jase grinned. “Yeah, we’ll deal with that later.” Thoroughly, he thought. “This is work related. Remember my cover?”

  When he leaned down to kiss her nose, Maddie froze. She was aware that two people in the store had turned to watch them—a sturdily built, well-dressed woman at one of the display cases and a very distinguished-looking man who must be the manager.

  “You’re making a scene,” she breathed.

  “That’s the plan. The first time I spotted you, I fell hard. Haven’t been able to think straight since. As long as we’re in the store, I’m your besotted boy toy. If everyone buys in to that, I won’t come off as any kind of a threat.”

  Boy toy? That much she could see. But even with the windblown hair and wearing jeans and a blazer, it was hard for Maddie to imagine Jase Campbell not coming across as a threat.

  ONCE THEY were inside the store, Jase released Maddie’s hand. Touching her in any way clouded his thoughts, and he needed a clear head. The rather flip description of the role he intended to play as her besotted admirer was a bit too close to the truth to suit his liking.

  But he’d worked enough special ops and cases to know that it was sometimes essential to make use of the cards you were dealt. He kept the two occupants of the store in his peripheral vision. The man in the pin-striped gray suit and ruthlessly knotted tie was staring at Maddie now.

  Jase searched his memory. Jordan had introduced him as the store manager at a party she’d dragged him to at her mother’s apartment. What was his name? Arnold? Albert? His face was tanned, his graying blond hair carefully styled, and he still reminded Jase of Sean Connery.

  Arnold Bartlett. That was it. Jase noted that the portly woman who favored the kind of outfits Queen Elizabeth wore, right down to a pink pillbox hat, had turned her attention back to the display case.

  Three steps in front of him Maddie twirled in a circle. A kid in a candy store didn’t quite do justice to the expression on her face. It was such a mix of wonder, excitement, pride—and jealousy?

  He could understand all of those. Jewelry was a business to Jordan, but it was clearly Maddie’s passion. This was her mother’s world. What must it feel like to have been cut out of Eva’s life? To have been denied the experience of growing up beside her sister? And now, she would never have the chance to talk to Eva about it.

  He thought of his relationship with his own family—his sister Darcy, his mom, his brother D.C. What would his life be like, what would he be like now if he’d been denied a relationship with them?

  Maddie moved back to him. “It’s so lovely.”

  Once more she let her gaze sweep the room, drinking in every detail. He’d only been in the store once before, after hours, when he’d come to check out the security system his firm had installed. He’d been impressed. The floor was white marble, the walls a creamy color broken every five feet or so with raised carvings of Greek columns. Potted plants and vases of fresh flowers were scattered throughout the room.

  Even here the jewelry was displayed discreetly—just a few pieces in each of the five display cases. That too had been Jordan’s idea. Since so much of the store’s business consisted of special orders, she’d argued that the display cases as well as the windows should have the purpose of giving their customers ideas.

  Scattered throughout the main salon, antique couches and chairs were grouped in conversation areas. On an intricately carved sideboard near the front of the store sat silver urns offering coffee and tea. Another sideboard offered chilled sparkling water.

  Over Maddie’s shoulder, Jase saw Arnold Bartlett pick up a phone.

  “I’m so out of my league,” Maddie said.

  His eyes cut to Maddie’s as anger moved through him. It wasn’t directed at Maddie, but at the two people who’d put her in this situation—her parents. He grabbed her shoulders. “You’re not. You belong here every bit as much as Jordan does. You remember that.” Then he pulled her close for a quick hard kiss.

  Maddie tried to keep her focus as her brain clouded and her knees went weak. He was playing a role, she reminded herself. And she had to do her part. Plus, she had to keep her mind on her goals.

  A deep masculine voice said, “Ms. Farrell.”

  When Maddie turned toward him, the dignified-looking man smiled and extended his hand. “Arnold Bartlett—store manager. I want to welcome you to Eva Ware Designs.”

  Beaming a smile at him, Maddie shook his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Bartlett.”

  “Call me Arnold. Your sister does.” He studied her for a moment. “Even though Jordan told us about you, I…The resemblance is striking. When you first walked in, I was sure you were Jordan. She sometimes wears her hair pulled back.”

  Still smiling, he shot a look of polite inquiry at Jase.

  Jase threw a friendly arm around Maddie and pulled her possessively close. “Jase Campbell. I’m an old pal of Jordan’s.”

  “Ah, yes. But I assumed Maddie would be coming here alone.”

  Jase gave Maddie a little squeeze. “Since she’s only going to be here three weeks, I just can’t bring myself to let her out of my sight. I’m sure you can understand why.”

  “Yes, well…”

  “Madison?”

  Maddie’s gaze shifted to Adam Ware who was striding purposefully toward them.

  “Adam told me to notify him the moment you arrived,” Arnold Bartlett explained. “He wants to give you a personal tour.”

  Maddie stifled a surge of nerves as her cousin approached. He was even more classically handsome than she recalled. Today he wore a pale gray suit and a silk shirt and tie in varying hues of the same color. His longish chestnut-brown hair was shoved behind his ears revealing a single diamond in his right earlobe. His features were chiseled, his skin tanned and his p
rofile might easily have graced some ancient coin.

  Adam reminded Maddie a bit of the real estate agent, Daniel Pearson, who’d been so intent on getting her to let him list and sell her ranch. Both had a sheen of smooth sophistication. Adam was a bit more volatile, but she was reluctant to put her trust in either of them.

  The man standing at her side with his arm around her was anything but smooth. Though if he decided to act the role of the city sophisticate, Maddie had no doubt that Jase could pull it off. Her father would have liked Jase, she suddenly realized. If for no other reason than that he seemed to be able to lie like a trouper.

  When Adam reached her, he gave her a smile that didn’t succeed in reaching his eyes. That was another difference between the two men. Jase’s slow and easy smiles always reached his eyes.

  “If you’ll come this way, I’ll show you to Jordan’s office.” Then he turned to Jase. “You’ll have to stay here. We don’t allow anyone but employees or family beyond the main salon.”

  A little flare of anger began to build inside Maddie. Jase tightened his arm around her, and Maddie knew he was going to say something. To warn him off, she shifted her balance and pressed one of her narrow heels into his foot.

  He stiffened, but he kept silent.

  Maddie brightened her smile. She wasn’t going to allow herself to be intimidated. She might not have been a part of Eva’s life for the past twenty-six years, but she was here now.

  “I came here for more than a tour, Adam. I’m stepping into Jordan’s shoes for the next three weeks, so you’re going to see a lot of me and Jase. And Jase will be accompanying me beyond the salon as my special guest.”

  Drawing Jase with her, she strode toward the elevator she’d seen Adam step out of.

  “Nicely done.” Jase spoke in a voice only she could hear.

  She jabbed a finger into the call button. Once they were all in the elevator, Maddie said to Adam, “Before you take me to Jordan’s office, I want to see where Eva worked.”

  Her cousin stared at her. “No one is allowed in there except members of the design team. That’s a strict rule that Aunt Eva made.”