by C. M. Owens
Identical Disaster
By C.m. Owens
Identical Disaster
The Sterling Shore Series #8
Copyright 2016 by C.M. Owens
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without express written permission of the author. This eBook is licensed for your enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people.
The story in this book is the property of the author, in all media both physical and digital. No one, except the owner of this property, may reproduce, copy or publish in any medium any individual story or part of this novel without the expressed permission of the author of this work.
This book is dedicated to all the incredible people who have taken the time to read my work. Thank you for enjoying the Sterling Shore gang, and I hope you continue to follow their journey. I love the hell out of you.
To all the pirates reading/stealing this, expect no pity from me when a unicorn spears you through the heart and gorges on your bones before handing over what’s left to the scavenger zombies. Also, prepare for a horde of lovely ladybugs to come to shit on anything not consumed. May all those reading this from an ILLEGAL site forever taste wolf piss on your breath while the pirates hack your accounts and thieve your money. This can only be considered offensive if you’re a thief or a media pirate.
Totally said that. Deal with it. ;)
xoxo
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Chapter 1
BO
No. No. No. It’s a simple, one-syllable, commonly used word that rolls off the tongue with barely any effort... No. So why can’t I ever tell my sister no? Because I’m pathetic.
I glance down at the address, making sure this is the right apartment. It would suck if I broke up with the wrong guy again. Yes, again. It’s happened before, and it’s awkward, to say the least.
I take a steadying breath and check the mirror in the hallway of the grand apartment building. Yep. I look just like her—overdone makeup and all.
Most identical twins have some subtle differences. Bora and I look exactly alike. The difference between us? I’m an adult who can break up with my own boyfriends instead of having my twin do it for me.
Okay, so there’s one physical difference. I’m two inches taller, but no one ever notices, since she’s always in various high heels and so am I.
After shaking out my nerves, I knock on the door, ready to dump whatever loser Bora has been entangled with for the past two weeks. At least this one has his own place in a nice apartment building—a really nice apartment building.
I should be out of here in time for my lunch date—blind date.
When no one comes, I knock again. I never hear anyone say anything, or the warning patter of feet, before the door swings open. It’s not a grungy, hair-slicked back, half-dazed loser though… Not at all.
Holy hell.
My mouth is warring between going dry or watering enough for a pool.
“You okay?” the smooth, deep voice asks.
Dark blue eyes, soft, wet hair, and a perfect body that is only covered by a towel is my greeting. My eyes slide down his chiseled chest to his toned abs, and I get a peek at his V before the white towel hides the rest. Next to his perfect, deep tan, that towel looks almost blindingly white. He must spend a lot of time on the beach.
A few tattoos mark his chest and his right shoulder, traveling down his arm, making him seem just bad enough.
Jaxon Marshall is not the kind of guy you show up and dump. He’s the kind of guy you worship.
I didn’t prepare for this.
“Bora?” he asks, smiling while my lower lip trembles. “You coming in or drooling over me all day?”
“Yeah,” I say in a rasp whisper, answering both questions with one word. Because that’s all I can manage right now.
He tugs me in, draws me against his hard body, and presses his soft lips against mine, surprising me. I remember I’m playing Bora, and she really should give the guy a goodbye kiss. A really, really good goodbye kiss.
When his tongue sweeps in, my knees buckle, forcing him to grip me tighter to keep me from melting to the floor. I feel as though his tongue has an exposed wire embedded within it, because electricity is shooting through parts of me that have been dormant for too long. Hell, I can feel this kiss in my toes. It’s the most toe-curling kiss I’ve ever experienced, and it’s not even me who is being kissed—at least not in his mind.
How is it we look identical, yet she lands a guy like this, while I have to go out with some accountant my mother set me up with? And why the hell is she breaking up with him?
“Hi,” he says against my lips, smiling as his breath lingers deliciously close.
I’m desperate to resume that kiss, but then I remember why I’m here. Shit.
“Hi,” I say back, my voice shaky and unsure.
He’s all lean muscle and strategically placed tattoos. His jaw is strong, but subtle. His nose is slightly crooked—but sexy as hell—as though it has been broken before. And his eyes… Damn those blue eyes are amazing.
“Where’re your bags?” he asks while walking off, giving me a view of his back. Ah crap. It looks just as good as his front.
“Bags?” I ask absently, following behind him like a zombie in a trance, but he disappears into the bedroom.
Should I follow or stay? Stay. Definitely stay.
“Babe, we’re leaving in three hours. Don’t tell me you haven’t even packed yet.”
Packed? Leaving? Whaaa…???
I shake my head, trying to find some clarity, and ask, “Three hours?”
“Yeah. Airport. Hawaii with my family for three weeks. You didn’t seriously forget, did you? We just talked about it last night.”
A vacation for three weeks? What the hell? Bora has only been dating him for two weeks, and she swore it wasn’t serious. I’m going to kill her!
No wonder she actually asked me to dump this one. Usually she just ignores them until I take it upon myself to go dump them for her—because she knows I will. I also get stuck with her phone for a while in case they call, because Bora can’t be bothered with such things.
How can I break up with him when he thinks they’re about to go to Hawaii for three weeks?
“I... didn’t forget... I just—”
He walks back out when I stop abruptly, losing all the courage I had before coming here. This was supposed to be a drive-by breakup.
“You’re nervous. Don’t be. My family isn’t that intimidating. Mom’s the one who invited you to begin with, and she’s the hardest to impress. Meeting everyone else will be a breeze. And it’ll be three weeks in the sun, playing in the ocean, and walking on the beach. Don’t back out o
n me now.”
He comes closer and tilts my chin up before I can object, and places those incredible lips on mine once more. When I shudder, he smiles again.
“You’re different today. Where’s that girl who acts so tough?”
That girl who acts so tough sent her sister to break up with you because she’s absolute chicken shit. I’m the tough one. I’m the one who takes care of all the real stuff.
Of course, right now I don’t feel so tough.
“I just... I don’t—”
Hawaii. It’s been a few years since I’ve been there. Should I... No. Definitely not. That’s crazy to even consider.
“I’ll drive you to your place, and we’ll grab your stuff. Come on.”
He kisses me again, and I exhale heavily. I’m going to kick Bora’s ass. She’d better be at home, because she’s going to Hawaii with him. There’s no way in hell I’m breaking up with him on the day his family expects him to show up with a girl.
I refuse to play the bitch this time, and I’m definitely not going to be the one in Hawaii. Nope. Not happening.
Chapter 2
BO
Two hours later, I’m in the security line at the airport.
I’m going to frigging strangle her. Forty times—I’ve called her forty damn times. No answer.
“We need to go through security,” Jaxon says, tugging at my hand. My stomach clenches with dread.
I packed her clothes, her hair stuff, her makeup... everything she needs. All she had to do was meet me here—like all of my messages have told her to do. I can’t go to Hawaii. There’s no way.
“I... um...”
“Bora, you’re starting to worry me. You look a little pale. If you’re freaking out that bad, we can stay behind. I’ll call and tell Mom we can’t make it.”
Shit. Just leave me behind.
“You should go,” I say with a harsh breath, doing all I can to not pass out.
“I’d never hear the end of it if I showed up without you. It would ruin the whole trip if they nagged me for every detail as to why you suddenly backed out, when you seemed so excited about it last week. It’s fine. We’ll stay.”
The disappointment in his eyes tells me it’s not fine. Why do those blue eyes have such a haunting effect? I don’t know him at all, and I don’t owe him a damn thing.
Inwardly cursing my stupid self and my selfish sister, I start pulling my carry-on toward the metal-detectors. I toss my shoes, keys, and purse into the bucket, and I step up to wait my turn.
Don’t even ask me why I have an extra license with Bora’s information on it. My life is just too weird.
I hear Jaxon laughing behind me as his hand slides around my waist, and then the heat of his breath warms me through my hair as he places a sweet kiss against the crown of my head.
“There’s my girl. It’ll be fun. I’ll make sure you enjoy every minute of it.”
His words are laced with a sensual promise and a seductive edge that sends chills all over my body. He pulls me tighter to him, letting me feel his length at my back, and I groan loudly—loud enough to draw attention my way.
That’s not awkward at all.
I need a safe place.
Jaxon laughs harder as he leans over to my ear and adds, “Every minute.”
This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all.
Fortunately, the elderly man in front of us suddenly lifts his leg and rips one. I’m talking about a full-on, nothing-held-back, unstoppable, butt-clapping fart from hell. I never thought I’d be so grateful for an old man fart.
Jaxon chokes on a laugh, releasing me, and thanks to the fart, all thoughts of sexual tension have vanished into the stinky air around us. I pinch my nose and try to breathe through my mouth, praying I don’t taste it. So gross.
As grateful as I am for his shamelessness at the moment, I really hope that guy isn’t on our flight.
Chapter 3
BO
“Wait here, and I’ll go see about our rental car,” Jaxon says as he pats my side.
As soon as he disappears from sight, I grab my phone—well, Bora’s phone—out of my pocket, and dial my phone number again.
We’ve been traveling for a while, including a boat ride to the other side of the “main” island, instead of driving. I start rifling through my purse to search for a mirror. But there’s too much crap in here to find anything.
I managed to sleep—or pretend to sleep—the whole plane ride, because I’m not an actress, so sleeping was the only option. Bora had better get her ass on the first flight she can book and swap places with me.
The boat ride was easier because the man driving us was telling Jaxon all about the local tourist things on the side where we’ll be staying. Jaxon stayed with him while I fought back nausea.
It’s dark but I have no idea what time it is. Considering the time zone differences, the five or six hour flight, then the boat ride, I’m assuming it’s late.
I really am exhausted now.
As Jaxon deals with the rental car agency—which I’m thankful stays open really late—I head into the bathroom to check my face, since my mirror refuses to be found.
I wish I had checked it earlier when I see the ridiculousness that is staring back at me.
Drunk clowns have better makeup than this.
Scattering the contents of my purse, I immediately start trying to get rid of the dead-bride look.
As soon as I finish, I dial Shanna. She can help me find my absentee sister.
“What’s up, Bora?”
“It’s not Bora.”
“Bo? Why are you calling from... Never mind. She made you break up with another one, and now you have to keep her phone for two weeks in case he calls. Got it. When are you going to realize your sister is using and abusing you?” she yells.
Yelling is so annoying.
“Realized it nineteen years ago when the five-year-old version of Bora broke Dad’s guitar and blamed it on me, then begged me not to tell the truth because she was already in trouble for something else. That’s not the issue right now. I need you to find Bora and make her call me right now.”
“O...kay... What has she gotten you into?”
I get my purse reassembled as a woman walks in, and I walk out to finish talking to Shanna. However, Jaxon is walking toward me, which means I have to cut this call short. That smile of his is unnervingly perfect. But I can’t let it distract me.
“Just have her call me. I’m in Hawaii on her vacation. Can’t talk right now.”
I hang up when Shanna starts yelling again. Jaxon wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“Got the SUV paid for. They should be driving it around. I’ll need to buy some tanks and fill them up before we head to the house, because Dad rented some toys for the stay.”
I just nod, scared if I say too much he’ll realize I’m not Bora. My acting skills aren’t up to par with long-term roles. I’m just the breakup girl, damn it.
“You’re starting to worry me, Bora. You never stay this quiet,” he says with a small laugh as he drops down to search through one of his bags.
The act of him leaning over makes me groan inwardly. I wish he had worn something besides a sleeveless shirt. I need to see less of his body. His shorts fit him perfectly, and hang just right. It’s as though he knows exactly how to look desirable and forbidden at once.
“Long flight,” I mutter, watching the way his muscles flex as he twists and bends as he closes his bag back up.
I’m such a girl in this moment.
“We can wait outside if you want,” he says, grinning at me again.
That smile is lethal. It should stay in the arsenal.
Why doesn’t Bora want to date him?
“So... the plane ticket…” My words trail off as we step outside.
A SUV pulls up just as Jaxon answers me.
“What about the plane ticket?”
The driver gets out and walks around, and Jaxon hands him a paper. I wait patiently while
they discuss details.
After a beat, the guy hands Jaxon the keys and walks away. Jaxon starts loading up the back with our luggage, and I join him, pulling my purse out.
“Now what about the plane ticket?” he asks as he tosses in the heaviest bags first.
“I can’t remember if I’ve paid you yet or not.”
He looks up, staring at me as though I’ve sprouted a deformity from my face. It almost makes me self-conscious.
“You’re serious,” he says incredulously, then shakes his head. “I took care of the ticket, Bora.”
He laughs as though I’m an idiot for even mentioning it.
“I don’t care to pay. In fact, I’d rather pay.”
He laughs harder while tugging me at the waist to be closer. When his lips brush mine, I actually shiver despite the tropical heat.
“Stop acting so weird and loosen up. Pretend it’s any other day.”
Any other day I wouldn’t be standing here with a guy who is off limits. I also wouldn’t desperately want to break the rules.
He ushers me to the passenger side and opens the door for me. A simple action speaks multitudes about a man, and he’s done this at every door or car door since we left this morning.
He reaches his side and lets out a deep breath before cranking the SUV and pulling out on the road. Nerves wad up in my stomach, and I pray I hear from Bora soon.
The sooner the better.
My heart thumps wildly when he reaches across and grabs my hand, sweetly caressing it in his. Bora has been with more guys than I care to count, and I’ve never once been jealous of her... until right now.
“Look,” he says on an exhaled breath. “I know this is crazy. We’ve barely been seeing each other for two weeks, and now we’re on a three-week vacation in Hawaii. With my family. I get it. I know the rules, and I promise we’re still taking this training-wheels kind of slow. I’m glad you’re here, though. I promise it won’t confuse anything.”