Page 9 of Passions & Peonies

I’m the quieter, more serious one. Josh and I own this marina, Twin Anchors, along with our Uncle Leo, who also owns this resort. Josh and I run the show here, and making sure it’s a success is more important to me than dating.

I have an MBA and a degree in advertising; Josh’s degree is in marketing. I like the behind-the-scenes work, while he enjoys going out with the people—entertaining the guests and selling our services. It works for us.

He opens up his laptop and turns it on. “So how was your flight? No weirdos sitting next to you?”

I cough, then pick up the stapler and drop it in a desk drawer. Do I tell him about Lacey? I usually tell him everything. But I don’t think I want to talk about that right now. He wouldn’t take it seriously. And if I don’t get the picture, there’s no story to tell. I’ll put her in the back of my mind and try to forget her. Maybe I’m making more out of it than what it was. I blame it on exhaustion.

Suddenly something smacks my forehead, then lands on my laptop keyboard. A Yankees stress ball.What the hell?I pick it up and whip it back at him like it’s a real baseball.

He catches it and tosses it on his desk. “So what’s up with you? You just zoned out.”

“The flight was pretty bumpy. The people who sat around me were freaked out and green.”

He laughs. “We’re lucky we don’t get motion sickness. We’d never be able to do what we do—we travel too much. Plus, water is our life.”

“Yep. Thanks again for letting me take that early flight.”

“You know me. I don’t care. As long as I have my phone, music, or something to read, I’m good to go. As soon as you left, I went up to the executive lounge and waited patiently.”

“Anyway, I need to wade through this stuff… clear off my desk. Can you do the rounds? There’s a party of eight coming to pick up their motorboat early tomorrow.”

“Which boat?”

“White Pearl. Slip twenty-five. It should be cleaned and stocked already.” I hand him a clipboard. “Here’s the paperwork for it.”

He takes it and strolls to the door. “Oh!” He turns around. “Remember my senior prom date?”

Well, that’s random.I scramble through my memory bank. “The one Chloe said looked like Reese Witherspoon, and we made her cry because we pretended I was you so you could run off withmydate?”

Our sister was and still is obsessed with Reece Witherspoon—her movies and now her book club.

“Yes! I ran into her when we were in New York. I forgot to tell you the other day because of everything else that was going on.”

“You didn’t separate on good terms. Did she knee you in the nuts? Did you tell her you were me or you?”

He bursts out laughing. “Me. We aren’t that much of assholes anymore. You aren’t, anyway. But I did cover them just in case. She looked good—she’s married with two kids.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Why are you telling me this?”

“I don’t know. The way that chick reacted to me today reminded me of all that shit we used to pull.”

It took him another ten minutes to leave because we laughed about other ridiculous things we had done. Even to our parents and sister. But I guess that’s what identical twins do.

Chapter 6

Lacey

Sky had to drag me to the pool after Wi—that guywalked away. At first, I was stunned into silence, then mortification seeped in. I could’ve sworn he was Will. But now I’m questioning my own judgment. We were only together for a couple of hours. But we were face to face, lip to lip. We left the airport not too long ago. How could I have been so wrong?

“Hurry, look! Two people are leaving. Let’s go before someone else snags those loungers!” Sky grabs my hand again and pulls me with her. We weave through narrow rows of white chairs. “And look, right by the swim-up pool bar. Bonus!”

We lay our towels on the chairs and take off our coverups.Whoa!“Awesome bikini, Sky. Love that mint-green color.”

“Thanks. I’m on a green kick right now. It looks good with my olive skin and green eyes.”

A lot of women are jealous of Sky. She has a gorgeous face to begin with and has one of the most beautiful bodies I’ve ever seen. Instead of running an art gallery, she should be a model. Her large breasts are naturally perky and her abs are perfect for the belly ring she wears. Guys describe her as tall and voluptuous. I tend to agree. She claims she’s big boned. I’ve never been jealous of her before, but after I sawthat guychecking her out, maybe I am now.

I take a deep breath and count to ten. Too many fucked-up emotions are screwing with my first day of vacation. I’ll tell Sky everything to get it out of my system, and that’ll be the last time I talk about Will.

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