Page 16 of Twins For My Bestie's Brother

Tia’s cheek twitches. “Yes, that’s what I was going to say. Looksgreat. And green is . . . your color.”

I glance down at my dress. A dark green A-line dress with velvet floral appliques. A thrift store find that happened to fit me so perfectly I felt it had been made for me. “Thank you, Tia.”

Jackson’s fingers trail up my shoulder delicately. “Definitely your color.”

My heartbeat quickens. I like his compliments. They sound genuine even if they’re not.

“Well, you should go get a drink before dinner service,” Tia says. “Since you arrived a little late.”

“My fault, I’m afraid,” Jackson says, pressing his hand to his chest. “I insisted on steaming my shirt. We would have been on time otherwise.”

I hold in a laugh at Tia’s obvious annoyance. She’s trying so hard to throw a dig my way, and Jackson is heading her off at the pass every time. “Come on, honey, let’s go get a drink,” I say to him with a gentle pat on his stomach. “Don’t want to miss any of dinner; I know you’re hungry.”

“She knows me so well,” Jackson beams. “We’ll be back.”

We swing away from the table toward the bar set up off to the side of the gym. “Oh, my God, you’re doing so well!” I tell him.

“You too!” he whispers, pulling me closer under his arm. “She’s so annoyed.”

I laugh. As we walk, we don’t let go of one another. I know we’re pretending, but we don’t have to pretend this well, do we? “You should see all the women looking at you; they’re so jealous of me.”

“You should see all the guys jealous ofme.”

“Oh, shut up.”

“I’m serious!”

“You’re just being nice,” I say, waving my hand through the air.

Jackson stops us just short of the bar and spins me toward him, hands on my shoulders. “Wait a second, Lily. Do you really not know?”

I frown. “Not know what.”

He takes a step back. He laughs as he threads one hand through his golden hair. I’m jealous of that hand. “You’re beautiful, Lily.”

My stomach tightens, and my eyes widen.

“I’m not the only one who sees that. I promise you.”

Jackson thinks I’m beautiful? That’s not just cute, not just attractive. That’s . . . a big word.

I haven’t been called beautiful in a long time.

My turn to ruffle my hand through my curls. “I mean, I think I’m beautiful, and in Seattle, I fit in better, but I’m not beautiful in like a Cider Bay way.”

“What’s a Cider Bay way?”

I glance at the room full of dyed blonde hair and the same sheath dresses and high heels.

Jackson touches my chin and guides my face back to look at him. He’s closer than before. “Just because you’re different than the rest of them doesn’t mean you’re not beautiful. In fact, that makes you a rarer beauty than the rest of them. Why wouldn’t everyone want you?”

Wantme? We’re addingwantto the equation?

Jackson realizes at that moment his hand has been on my face far too long for a pretend relationship. He flinches back like I burned him. “Let’s get a drink.”

We get into the line, both of us unsure what to say. Thankfully, Jackson strikes up a conversation with one of his old teammates, Tim Quincy. They start talking business and numbers, and Tim says he has an investment pitch for Jackson, and it would only take a minute. Jackson gives me a look. Is he asking for permission?

“Go ahead, I’ll get the drinks and meet you back at the table,” I say.

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