“Just don’t tick her off,” said Ashton.
“How do you know her?”
“She was Jennifer’s roommate.”
“Jennifer?”
Ashton gave an exasperated sigh, lowering himself into the single guest chair. “I dated her for four months.”
“Did I meet her?”
“Yeah. At least once. I’m sure you met her. Blond hair, blue eyes, great legs.”
“You just described every date you’ve had since freshman year.”
“She was different. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. It’s going to go bad for Shane. I’d put money on it.”
“Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” Riley drawled.
Ashton grinned and cocked his head toward the interior windows. “Looks really good out there.”
“I can’t believe we’re finally up and running.”
“I knew you’d do it.”
“I haven’t done it yet.” Riley rose to gaze out at the factory himself. Machines were running. People were working. But it was a long, long road to any kind of profitability. He sure hoped he could make it.
Ashton stood beside him. “Yeah, you have. Before long, you’ll have more contracts than you’ll know what to do with.”
“Believe it or not, I’ve been thinking about Dalton.”
“Seriously?”
“I was thinking, he had to have started out like this, same risks, same fears, same hopes.”
It took Ashton a second to respond. When he did, his tone was thoughtful. “You’re more like him than Shane is, you know.”
“That’s not my ambition. Riley had no admiration or respect for his biological father. He hated the man.”
“Shane had it handed to him on a silver platter. You had to fight for every inch to get where you are.”
“Where I am is deep in debt and tip-toeing along a cliff of complete disaster.”
“That’s what makes it exciting,” said Ashton. “No risk, no reward.”
“Is that why you fly the way you do? The adrenaline rush?”
Ashton was a helicopter pilot, and he volunteered for search and rescue on his days off. He had a reputation for saying yes to the riskiest of flights.
“Sure,” Ashton said with a shrug. “That and it impresses the girls.”
“Like you’ve ever had trouble getting girls.” For some reason, Riley took another look at the picture of Shane and his bride.
“Her name is Darci Rivers,” said Ashton.
There was something compelling in the woman’s emerald eyes, a secret in her lush smile. Riley suddenly pictured her shiny hair splayed across a white pillowcase.
He shifted and quickly banished the image.
“You think he made a mistake?” he asked Ashton.
“Oh, he made a mistake all right. That creature’s got claws.”
“Well, I hope she distracts him,” said Riley.
He and Shane would be going after the same airline contracts from here on in. If Shane was newly married to a handful of a wife, it might give Riley an advantage.
* * *
Through the glass of the restaurant window, a good looking, neatly dressed man caught Kalissa’s eye for a second time. He was staring openly now as she wheeled a trio of azalea plants across the lighted patio garden.
It would be nice to think he was interested in her. He was extremely attractive, with dark eyes, a straight nose, and the kind of square chin that made a man seem powerful. But she was dressed in dirt streaked blue jeans, a faded green T-shirt and a pair of scuffed, serviceable work boots.
Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. At least it had started the day that way. By now, it likely resembled a rat’s nest. And the morning’s fifteen second application of mascara would have long since rubbed off.
No. The thoughts running through his head were not about getting her phone number. Judging by his growing frown, he was probably offended by her dirty, disheveled state as he tried to enjoy a refined meal.
She kept right on walking, focusing on the uneven cobblestones in front of the wheelbarrow tire, finally stopping at the raised garden bed between two magnolia trees.
“Two foot intervals look right to me,” said Megan, straightening from where she’d dug a trio of holes.
Kalissa focused her attention on the garden bed that stretched along the wrought iron fence. “As long as the evergreens stay properly trimmed, this is going to be stunning.”
Someday, her budget permitting, Kalissa wouldn’t mind dining out here, or even inside. Her gaze darted back to the bank of windows that revealed the elegance of the main dining room.
The man was still staring at her, and she quickly looked away. He was probably just curious about what they were doing—though it had to be obvious. It was also possible he was bored with his dining companion and seeking a distraction.
Despite herself, she covertly shifted her glance to take a look at his date. She was surprised to find he was sitting across from a man. The man looked serious, gesturing with his hands as he spoke. It could be a dull business meeting, she supposed. They were both wearing suits.
“Let’s do it,” said Megan, releasing the rope on the burlap sheet that surrounded the azalea’s root ball.
Kalissa quickly took the other side of the plant, lifting it and then adjusting it to position it in the hole.
Suddenly, a male voice surprised her. “What are you doing out here?”
Megan looked up, and Kalissa turned her head.
It was the man from inside the restaurant, and he was obviously angry. Her first thought was that they had somehow disturbed his dinner. But they weren’t making any noise. Surely planting azaleas wasn’t that objectionable.
She straightened to face him.
“Are you spying on me?” he demanded.
The question took her completely by surprise. “Am I what?”
“You’ve been watching me.”
“Only because you were watching me.”
He gestured to the wheelbarrow and the plants. “What is all this?”
“Azaleas,” said Megan from behind her.
“We’re planting azaleas,” said Kalissa, squaring her shoulders and folding her arms across her chest.
He scoffed a sound of disbelief. “Outside my window.”
“You own the restaurant?” Her question was sarcastic. If he had anything to do with the management of the restaurant, he’d have known Mosaic Landscaping was working here all week.
“I meant the window next to my table.”
“I have no idea who you are,” said Kalissa. “What’s more, I don’t care who you are. If you’ll excuse us, we have work to finish.”
“You have no idea who I am?” There was a note of disbelief in his voice. He jammed his thumb over his shoulder. “And I’ll bet you have no idea I’m having dinner with Pierre Charron?”
Kalissa reflexively glanced at the window. Then she looked straight into the stranger’s eyes. “None whatsoever.”
His steel gray eyes narrowed.
“I’m getting the manager,” said Megan.
“No, you won’t,” said the man.
“Excuse me?” said Kalissa, widening her stance. “You think you can stop us from getting the manager?”
“You’re bluffing,” he told them with conviction. His critical gaze took in her outfit. “You’re not going to want to explain this to any manager.”
“Explain why we’re planting flowers?”
“Explain why you’re trespassing.”
Kalissa searched her brain for an explanation. He’d accused her of spying. What was he doing worth spying on?
“Are you breaking the law?” Perhaps they’d inadvertently stumbled on something to do with a crime o
r maybe national security. Should she be frightened?
“I can’t believe he sent you.” Then a flash of confusion came into the man’s eyes. His voice lost some of its edge. “Why did he send you? Why would he send you?”
Kalissa extracted a business card from her pocket and held it out. “Mosaic Landscaping,” she said. “See, that’s us.”
Looking suspicious, the man took the card and read it.
“Nice level of detail,” he said, sounding ever so slightly impressed. “But why you?”
She took a stab at answering the bizarre question. “Because I have a diploma in landscape design.”
He drew back. “Are you serious?”
“Completely serious.”
He took a long look at her clothes and her hair. “It still doesn’t make sense.”
“It makes perfect sense, when you think about it,” said Kalissa.
Her apprehension began to moderate. The man was clearly more puzzled than angry.
He shook his head. “Why send his wife? He wouldn’t send his wife.”
“I’m not married,” said Kalissa.
“Give me a break.”
“Kalissa?” Megan interrupted.
“No, seriously,” said Kalissa. She stripped the glove from her left hand and wiggled her fingers to show him.
“The diamond is probably in your safe.”
“Kalissa.”
“I don’t have a safe.”
Megan grasped her shoulder from behind, stepping closer. “Kalissa, he thinks you’re Darci.”
Kalissa twisted her neck to look at her friend. “What?”
“She is Darci,” said the man.
“Darci,” Megan repeated with a meaningful stare.
“Darci Colborn?” Kalissa asked, the lightbulb coming on inside her head.
“This is ridiculous,” said the man.
Kalissa turned back to him, realizing there was a simple explanation. “I get it. I’m not Darci Colborn. I look a little bit like her.”
“A little bit?” asked Megan.
“The jig is up,” said the man.
“There is no jig, and it’s not up. I’m Kalissa Smith. I can prove it. I have identification.”
He peered at her, and the minutes stretched by. It was obvious his brain was piecing through the situation.
“What have you got against Darci Colborn?” she asked him.
“I’ve never even met her.”
“Then, that’s why you’re confused. She’s quite different than me in person.”
“You know her?” he asked.
“I’ve seen videos.”
“They’re twins,” said Megan.
“We don’t know that,” Kalissa said to Megan.
“You should contact her,” said Megan.
“Shut up,” said Kalissa, having no intention of getting into that debate again, now or in the future.
“This is going to keep happening,” said Megan.
“It’s a fluke.”
“You’re a landscape designer?” asked the man.
“Yes.”
“Your name is Kalissa Smith.”
“Says it right there on the card.”
“And you don’t know Darci Colborn?”
“Didn’t even know she existed until last week. It’s weird, but it’s no big deal.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, looking like he probably was, even though he was still watching her intently.
“No problem.”
The strength of his gaze sent a shimmer through her chest. He really was an incredibly good looking man. He was tall, fit, and somewhere around thirty. Too bad she was such a mess. And too bad his interest had nothing to do with her personally.
“Can I keep the card?” he asked.
“Do you own a house?” asked Megan, stepping up beside Darci. “Do you have a yard?”
He pocketed the card. “I do. Goodnight, ladies.”
“Goodnight,” Kalissa automatically echoed.
With a nod, he turned to walk back to the restaurant.
“He was hot,” said Megan.
“He was strange,” said Kalissa, watching his broad shoulders as the glass door opened and then swung closed behind him.
But she had to admit, he was also hot. There was something extraordinarily sexy in his deep voice. Part of her hoped he might actually call. Against all logic, that same part couldn’t help but hope it would be about more than just landscaping.
Two
The next evening, sitting on his deck with Ashton, Riley was still trying to figure out Kalissa Smith.
His brother’s wife had a sister. She had a sexy, feisty, secret twin sister. And nobody seemed to know she existed.
“Setting aside the ‘how on earth’ questions,” said Ashton, helping himself to a slice of pizza from the carton on the wood slat table between them.
The sun was setting beyond the park, over the vast stretch of orderly rows of houses north west of Chicago. The lengthening shadows showed Riley’s yard as plain and stark.
“Setting that aside,” he said, though he’d pondered the very question in bed last night, then again at work today.
He’d also pondered Kalissa, her crystal green eyes, those deep red lips, and what looked like a perfect body, nearly but not quite camouflaged by her work clothes. He’d checked social media sites today, but there were no tagged photos of Kalissa Smith. Her name was on the Mosaic Landscaping site, but it didn’t have her picture.
“Could she have been spying for her sister?” Ashton asked.
Riley had considered and discarded that theory. “If she was, she deserves an acting award.”
“And it seems pretty elaborate,” said Ashton, propping his feet up on one of the wooden stools.
Riley had to agree. “There’s no way she overheard our conversation from out on the patio. All she could report was that I met with Pierre Charron, and maybe for how long. And why would you use a Darci clone to do that? There are far easier ways. Bribe a waiter, for example.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
Riley reached for his cell phone. “I’m thinking about doing some landscaping.”
Ashton smiled. “Keep your enemies close?”
Riley fished into his shirt pocket for the Mosaic Landscaping business card. “I don’t think she’s the enemy. I don’t know what the heck this is all about.”
“You think they’re really twins?”
“They’re absolutely identical.”
“You sure it wasn’t Darci?”
“I’m positive. I checked. Shane and Darci were at an art gallery last night, a charity event on the other side of town.”
Ashton was silent for a few minutes. “Then why pursue it? What’s in it for you?”
Riley dialed with his thumb. “I don’t know yet.”
Ashton shifted in his chair, turning sideways to face Riley. “You’re attracted to her.”
“She’s attractive,” Riley admitted.
“This isn’t about wanting what Shane’s already got.”
Riley frowned. “I’ve been over that for a very long time.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Mosaic Landscaping,” came Kalissa’s breathy voice.
“Is this Kalissa?” He already knew the answer.
“Yes, it is.” She sounded like she was slightly out of breath.
“This is Riley,” he hesitated over his last name. “Have I called at a bad time?”
“Not at all. How can I help you?”
He pictured her pushing a wheelbarrow, flushed cheeks, a bead of sweat at her temple. “I was hoping to make an appointment with you.”
>
“Okay. Are you looking for a site visit? Or do you want to come into the office?”
“The office. Is today a possibility?”
“Um.” She blew out a breath. “We’ll be back there in about an hour. Is that too late?”
“An hour is fine.” He glanced at his watch and realized it was coming up on seven. “Long work day?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“About normal,” she said. “Riley...?”
“We met last night.”
There was silence on the other end.
“You asked me if I had a yard.”
“Megan asked you if you had a yard.”
“Well, I do. Have a yard.” He gazed out over it, knowing the front yard was just as neglected. “I’ve been thinking about it, and it could use some landscaping.”
“Is this a joke?”
“No joke. I need some landscaping.”
Ashton rolled his eyes and lifted his beer to take a swallow.
There was another pause before she continued. “What’s the lot size?”
“Seventy by one-hundred and thirty. I have an oak tree.”
“Bully for you.”
“I mean that’s all I have. It’s a patchy lawn with a single oak tree. It’s pathetic, really. I don’t know how you’ll save it.”
“Maybe we should come out and take a look,” she suggested.
“I’d rather talk first. You know, toss around some general ideas.”
“Whatever you prefer. Seven forty-five? Mr...”
“Seven forty-five sounds good. I’ll be there.” He disconnected.
“Smooth,” said Ashton.
Riley reached for his own beer. “I don’t want to tell her my last name.”
He didn’t want her to know he was Shane’s competitor. She might not know the Colborns yet, but Riley was willing to bet she’d meet them soon.
“Make one up,” said Ashton.
“I don’t want to lie to her either.”
“Ha, there’s a challenge. She’s coming to your house, and you’ll have to write her a check.”
Seduced by the CEO Page 2