by A C Warneke
“Yep,” the hostess confirmed as she set the menus down. “Enjoy your meal. I hope you don’t have to wait too long for your sister. My own sister can be notoriously late, especially now that she’s married to Winter Mitchell.”
Ana fell into her seat with a plop, her suspicion confirmed. Not only was she the actress, she was also the woman from the tabloid articles she had read the year before. Her name was Fallon Rogers and her sister was the scandalous Flynn Rogers, whose rise to notoriety started with a sex tape she made with Winter Mitchell. While Ana hadn’t actually seen the entire video, she had seen enough, including the end where Winter had declared his devotion to the girl. It was actually kind of sweet, though she highly doubted it had been meant for public consumption.
Did everyone who came to Hollywood to become famous make a sex tape?
Shaking her head, she realized that in her rush to get to the restaurant on time, she hadn’t gone to the bathroom and she really had to go. Looking around in the hopes of seeing her sister, Ana debated whether or not she should wait it out.
“Hi,” a waitress said, stopping beside the table with a beaming smile on her face. Her name tag said Trini. “What can I get you started out with?”
“Could I get a sweet tea?” she said, trying not to think about the need to pee. “And a water for my fri… sister?”
“Sure thing,” Trini said, bouncing off without writing it down.
When Ana caught herself once again searching for her sister, she frowned. It was kind of pointless looking for Abby considering Ana had no idea what her sister looked like. Deciding the need was too urgent and it would take no more than two minutes, she made the decision to run to the bathroom, leaving her purse and lightweight sweater behind. Surely no one would steal her seat despite the long line.
Of course she should have realized a purse and a sweater weren’t much in the way of deterrents. She just hadn’t expected to see Nolan Mars sitting at her table, looking completely at ease in her seat. She also hadn’t spent fourteen years at her mother’s side not to have learned a trick or two for dealing with rich and arrogant men. Sitting down, she calmly grabbed her purse and put it next to her.
“Excuse me,” he crooned. “You’re sitting at my table.”
“So I am,” she returned, grabbing her sweater and trying to tug it out from behind him. Grimacing, she continued tugging until there was a loud rip and he finally leaned forward enough for it to break free. She couldn’t bear to see the damage so she put it on the back of the chair and then primly unfolded a napkin and smoothed it over her lap, all the while ignoring Nolan’s bemused grin. Arching her eyebrow, she said, “Your drunken ass can either accept it or sit elsewhere.”
“What’s your name?”
Narrowing her eyes at him, she asked, “Why?”
“There’s just something awfully familiar about you,” he said, stroking his chin as he contemplated where he might know her from. “Have we met before?”
Ana’s heart stopped for a split second and when it started back up, it was beating twice as fast. Maybe her mother hadn’t been exaggerating when she said Ana looked like her father. Maybe if she wore as much makeup as Maddox Cooper she’d look even more like him. “I can tell you right here and now that we’ve never met. Ever.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” he conceded, still watching her too closely. “But I swear I know you.”
“Nolan Mars,” that familiar voice said from behind Ana. “What are you doing in my chair?”
If Ana thought her heart was racing before, hearing her sister’s voice for the first time in real life, she thought her heart might explode. Her palms were suddenly slick and she was almost certain she was going to be sick. Trying to take a few deep breaths to steady her nerves before she threw up all over the table, Ana was about to open her mouth when Nolan let out a low whistle.
“Please tell me the two of you are sisters,” he said.
“Of course,” Abby said with ease, stepping into Ana’s line of sight and giving Nolan a hug as if they were old friends. Ana caught her breath as she saw Abby’s long, long electric blue and peacock green hair. From the side, she saw that they had almost identical profiles and that Abby was much, much younger than Ana had assumed, probably not much older than twenty-five or six. That made a lot more sense considering their dad’s age. Abby’s smile was tight as she said to Nolan, “But you haven’t answered my question. What are you doing in my chair?”
There was something else that was achingly familiar about her but Ana couldn’t quite place it. When Abby finally turned to her, Ana almost fell over except she was already sitting. Abby’s face was the same face that stared back at her every morning, albeit Abby was wearing a lot more makeup. She was also dressed in an outfit that Ana wouldn’t have believed worked together if she hadn’t seen it for herself. Tight, leather pants in black with a plaid top that was sleeveless, torn and tied, exposing the intricate tattoo on Abby’s torso. Ana’s mouth dropped open as she finally figured out who Abby Moore was: Absynthe Montrose.
She should have figured it out sooner since Absynthe was the name of Maddox Cooper’s band but she hadn’t known the infamous Absynthe was his daughter. Her sister. She had just assumed Absynthe’s mother named her after the band not the other way around. Unless it was concurrent?
Belatedly, she came to her feet as Abby continued to stare down at her, the smile faltering on her red, red lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Abs… Abby.”
Abby’s lips curved into a wry smile, “You recognize me.”
Ana blushed, though she didn’t know why. How come she never saw the resemblance before this moment? It was true that Absynthe’s makeup was toned way, way down and her signature short, platinum blond hair had grown out and was dyed blue and green, but Ana should have seen it sooner. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need for you to apologize,” Abby said graciously, sitting down next to Nolan. Waving her hand through the air, she dismissed the past, “That was a lifetime ago. It is, however, good to finally see you again, Ana. It’s been too long.”
Ana tilted her head to the side, “We’ve met before?”
“When you were a baby. I’ve even held you,” Abby said with a warm smile. Crossing her arms on top of the table, she said, “But that is neither here nor there. You know who I am now; do you still wish to be my PA? I mean you’ve been doing a stellar job for the past three months but I’d understand….”
“I want to stay on, more than anything,” Ana said without hesitation. Absynthe Montrose was even more scandalous than Flynn Rogers. Absynthe’s story had held the entertainment world captive from the time she showed up on the stage when she had been eighteen to the time she fell less than three years later. Twenty-one years old and her life had been destroyed. Somehow, her sister had risen from the ashes even brighter than before. God, Absynthe Montrose was one of the most amazing people Ana had ever heard about and she was her sister.
Abby’s shoulders relaxed a little and her smile brightened as she said, “Excellent.”
From the first time Ana had heard about Absynthe, she had been fascinated, following the reckless starlet’s exploits from the privacy of her room. If she remembered correctly, Absynthe was only three years older than her because Ana had been eighteen when Absynthe’s world imploded. While the press had been merciless with Absynthe in her fall from grace, Ana had always, always sympathized with her. There had been such sadness in her eyes that Ana had been able to see so clearly she wondered why no one else had. Afterwards, Absynthe had disappeared and Ana felt as if a part of her vanished as well.
Now she was dying of curiosity, all of the questions that had plagued her as the whole sordid story played out returning with a vengeance. It took all of her effort to hold her tongue because she wanted to know all of the secrets that she had seen in Absynthe’s eyes, secrets that she could still see in her eyes. God, they had the same eerie green eye color. Unfortunately or fortunately, it was probably the presence of
Nolan Mars that kept her silent.
“Do you realize that we would have met sooner had you arrived when you were originally scheduled to start at Madd?” Abby said, her eyes twinkling. “You would have been able to go on tour with me and the band instead of getting stuck in the office.”
Tilting her head to the side, Ana asked, “Why did you agree to a later start date?”
“Truthfully?” Abby asked, leaning closer to Ana. At Ana’s nod, she answered, “I was terrified at the thought of finally meeting you so I took the coward’s way out.”
“I can’t imagine you being afraid of anything,” Ana blurted before she could stop the words from coming out. Nolan snorted on the other side of Abby, a smile playing at his full lips. For a moment, Ana wondered if there was something between the two of them but they behaved more like brother and sister than lovers. Jesus, she hoped Nolan Mars wasn’t some long lost brother because she had had some inappropriate thoughts about him over the years. Swallowing, she leaned closer to her sister and said, “Please tell me that he’s not related to us, too.”
Soda flew out of Nolan’s nose as he flew back in his chair, his face beet red. He was either laughing or choking and Ana was too embarrassed to be of any assistance. Apparently he wasn’t related, thank god, though if he didn’t recover soon, she’d be the one responsible for his early demise.
Abby turned to Nolan and ignored his coughing fit as she asked, “Tell me again why you’re sitting at our table?”
Pounding on his chest, Nolan got his choking under control, his smile never fading as he chuckled with delight. “That’s where you’re mistaken, Abs. This charming lady sat down at my table.”
“Only after you stole it from me,” Ana countered, not quite able to believe she was sitting between these two people. Her mother had certainly done a very good job of sheltering her and after meeting Abby, Ana could almost understand why.
However, the only thing she could say for certain was that meeting her sister had taken her mind off Harrison for a few minutes. She really hoped they got to spend some time together but that really depended on Abby’s schedule. Needing to know, Ana asked, “How long are you in town?”
Abby smiled, a slow curve of her lips that was radiant with inherent sensuality. “That depends on how well we get along. If it goes well, I plan on hanging around for a while, check out a few of the local bands, that sort of thing. Tell me, how in the world were you able to get reservations here, especially today?”
Tilting her head to the side, Ana asked, “Was this a test?”
Abby shrugged unrepentantly but she didn’t answer. “Well?”
“Why does it matter?” Ana asked.
Abby’s grin widened as she said, “Today is Happy Harry’s Hump day Mystery Special.”
“Jesus, that’s a mouthful,” Nolan interrupted while Ana fought the urge to laugh at the name.
“What’s that?” Ana finally managed to ask.
“Every Wednesday, Harry creates something new and extraordinary but he only has it available for a limited time,” Abby explained. “Everyone in this town shows up so they can say they tried whatever culinary masterpiece that Harry has cooked up. Harry’s doesn’t take reservations so anyone can get in, the lines are absurdly long, especially on Wednesdays, and while A-listers don’t wait in line, their assistants often do. So how did you get a seat?”
Ana could feel the heat in her cheeks as she glanced at Nolan before she admitted, “I made a reservation.”
Abby stared for a moment, blinked her green eyes, and then threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, Ana, we’re going to get along famously.”
Chapter 17
Harrison stared at the phone, willing it to ring. Jolie was tucked in bed and he should be writing but instead he was waiting for Ana to call him. For some reason, the words always came easier after he got off the phone with her. It had gotten to the point that he rarely turned his computer on until after he talked with her and he knew how pathetic that made him. But if he had ever had any hope of his life returning to normal after Ana, those hopes were long gone. Every day she called him or he called her and it was like having her right beside him as they talked about everything and nothing. It was enough to hear her voice on the other end of the phone or see her face on the monitor. But then they’d say goodbye and she’d be on the other side of the universe. He didn’t realize it was possible to miss someone so much.
When the phone finally rang, he answered it much too quickly but he didn’t care because he was about to talk with her. “Ana.”
Her low, throaty chuckle eased the restless beast inside of him and he relaxed back into the chair. “Harrison. It’s good to hear your voice.”
“Yours, too,” he said, unable to think of a thing to say now that she had called. He just wanted to listen to her breathe.
She was silent for a long moment and his blood started to pound through his veins because it was the kind of silence that led to an unpleasant revelation. When he had spent the weekend with her, he had seen the subtle changes living in California had wrought in her, even after such a short time. She had glowed with self-confidence and poise and he had held onto her afraid of losing her should he let go. Leaving her on Sunday evening had nearly killed him but he had a child, a job, and he couldn’t stay.
What if she realized there was so much more out there for her? Even if she hadn’t had the benefit of being Maddox Cooper’s daughter, Ana could conquer the world. There was no limit to what she could accomplish and he couldn’t imagine her finding lasting happiness with a small town cop.
“I met my sister today,” she finally said into the silence, the words taking a moment to register because his thoughts were on the possibility of losing her.
Clearing his throat, he asked, “What is she like?”
Another weighted silence and he swore he could hear the gears working in that beautiful mind of hers. “Well, my sister is, um, Absynthe Montrose.”
Whatever he expected, it wasn’t that and his already hazy mind went completely blank. He finally said the only thing that popped into his head, “I thought your sister’s name was Abby Moore.”
“She says she uses that name to distance herself from her past,” Ana answered, not needing to say more. Even people who didn’t follow celebrity gossip knew the story of the infamous Absynthe Montrose and Harrison couldn’t fathom the idea that Ana and Absynthe shared anything, much less genetics. God, if Abysnthe took Ana under her wing, he could lose her to something far worse than another man; he could lose her to the rock and roll lifestyle of hard partying, hard alcohol, and hard drugs. In a softer voice, as if aware of his thoughts, she added, “Not everything they say about her is true, Harrison.”
He tried to keep an open mind but when it came to Ana, he found all of his protective instincts going on high alert. If she gave any indication that she felt she was in any danger, he would fly out there, pack up her stuff, and bring her home. His voice was tight as he tried to speak, “I’m sure.”
“You don’t believe me,” she said, though there was no accusation in her voice.
“I just worry about you,” he returned, the words coming out with more emotion than he expected. Heaving a sigh, he rested his forehead in his hand as he added, “I’m not out there to protect you….” He could hear her start to protest and he spoke a little louder, “I know you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself, Ana, but it’s my nature to protect those whom I love and I’m not going to apologize for it.”
“God, I can’t wait to come home to you,” she said, her words whisper soft with the deepest passion. They eased the tightness in his chest but he knew that he wouldn’t breathe easily until she was good and truly back home. Or he was out there with her if that was what their future held, even if he hated the idea of raising kids in the city. What if she decided she didn’t want children? Not that they were planning on having kids any time soon since she was only twenty-three and there was plenty of time but he had always thought h
e’d have more than one child.
Jesus, he had forgotten about the condom that had ripped when he was there. Clearing his throat, he carefully asked, “Um, were there any unexpected developments from the weekend I was there?”
It took her a moment to answer but she finally laughed, “No. I got my period this afternoon. I probably should have told you the moment you picked up but I was so excited about meeting my sister.”
Why was he sort of disappointed she had gotten her period? He should be glad she wasn’t pregnant but in the back of his mind was the annoying voice telling him that if she had been pregnant, she would be bound to him for the rest of her life. It was stupid, considering what happened with Carrie, but he never said the voice was rational. Clearing his throat, he croaked out, “That’s understandable. It has to be pretty exciting to discover you’re related to Absynthe Montrose…. Wait, does that mean Absynthe is Maddox Cooper’s daughter, too?”
“She is,” Ana confirmed and Harrison felt the dread growing in the pit of his stomach. Ana was not only the daughter of rock royalty, she was the sister of it. “You’ll adore her, Harrison. She has that slightly twisted humor that you appreciate.”
Her soft chuckle washed through him but it didn’t completely erase the fear that he would lose her to the glitz of the glamorous life her sister and her father promised. What could a small town cop offer in comparison to that?
“She asked me to go to Europe with her to check out a Norwegian band that is making some noise,” Ana continued, unknowingly twisting the dagger he hadn’t realized was buried in his chest. “I told her I hate to fly but she insisted I should go.”
“How long would you be gone?” he asked, the words coming out almost normally despite the desert dryness of his throat.