Page 2 of Sweet Twins For My Brother's Best Friend

“What case? What are you two talking about?” I look from Tyler to Chris and see Chris slouch a little.

I can feel my green eyes sparkling with excitement as I realize that Chris needs something from me.

He sees my realization and shakes his head slightly, sighing.

“Oh, do you need financial advice, Christopher? From little ole me?”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Hannah, I would never call you little,” Chris jabs. I roll my eyes.

Maybe that insult would have worked in high school when I was incredibly insecure, but now at 25, I know that being tall is beautiful and most women envy me my stature.

Of course, when I am trying on jeans in a department store fitting room and subsequently piling them back into the saleswoman’s arms because they don’t go down past my ankles, I usually hear the refrain about how men simplylovetall women.

“And a redhead to boot,”they gush. “You must be beating them off with a stick!”

I’m always tempted to ask where these men are, but I just smile and thank them.

Most girls are told the same lie I was told as a kid: that maybe I was being bullied now, but just wait! I’d grow into a beautiful woman and men would be all over me!

Yeah, right. Well, I’m still waiting.

“Great, well, how about you both get the fuck out of here so I can get some work done? You know, some people in Los Angeles actually have need of my financial acumen and want my advice.

“You may not believe that, but I do have a lot of work to do and I am just starting to build this business, so…it was nice catching up with you as always but I’ve gotta get back to work.” I stand up to emphasize my point, waving my hands in an upward motion towards Chris.

“Hey, I make money! I’m an orthopedic surgeon, for heaven’s sake. And I take your advice a lot, so don’t give me that.”

Tyler protests from the floor, laughing as I shoo Chris toward the door and close it, leaving him standing outside.

“Come on, Ty. Play time’s over. I’ve got a mountain of work here.”

“Come on, let him in!” he laughs.

In response, Lucy pricks her ears back and forth.

“Sorry,” he tells her, quieting down. Lucy lifts her large head and whines while looking at Chris through the window.

“Let him in. He needs your help. Please, Handy?” he implores.

I stand with my hands on my hips, still in front of the door but facing Tyler, who pulls Lucy’s long, floppy ears through his hands.

I sigh and turn to face the mirrored door. Chris checks his hair in the two way mirror, and I roll my eyes.

“Fine.” I open the door and let Chris back in.

“Christopher,” I begin as he straightens and drops his hands to his sides.

“Hannah,” Chris responds in an equally serious tone.

“I will let you in and help youifyou apologize, beg for my help, tell me you’ve always been jealous of me —”

“—done,” he says, pushing his way further into the office.

I stop him before he can come in, “and promise to never call me Handy again.”

Chris twists his lips which, mere moments ago, I had felt were juicy and luscious, and cocks his head at me, his stare boring through me with his bright blue eyes.

“If that’s really what you want.”

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