Page 13 of Sweet Harmony

“Fine. Justrunning late. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Sure,” shesaid.

He brushed past her, ignoring her look ofconcern.

Chapter Three

“A dentist? You’re gonna make my brother jealous by dating adentist?” Addison sat down on the couch with a graceful motion Kiraknew she would never be able to imitate.

She studied Addison for a moment. In contrast to Kira’snavy-coloured business suit, Addison wore a pastel pink, sixtiesstyle A-line dress that hugged her upper body and stopped justabove her knees. Like always, her auburn coloured hair fell in softperfect waves to her shoulders and her make-up wasflawless.

Her manicure matched the colour of herdress exactly, as did –Kira took a quick peek at Addison’s feet clad in peep-toe sandals –her pedicure. Addison toyed with the pearl necklace that was apermanent fixture around her slender throat. “Why are you lookingat me like that, Kira?”

“How is itthat you’ve been teaching seven-year-old kids allday and you look like you just stepped out of a modelling shoot,and I’ve done nothing more strenuous then sit at a desk and I looklike this.” Kira pointed to her wrinkled skirt and the stain on herjacket.

“Oh, please. You’re beautiful and you’re rocking those powersuits. Don’t change the subject – are you really going to date Dr.MacMillan to make my brother jealous?” Addison said.

“Fake date,” Kira said. “You’re missing an important keycomponent. It’s not real.”

“And this was Gracie’s idea?”

“It’s a good idea.” Grace walked into the living room, wearingjeans and a scrub top with her name embroidered on it. She washolding two bottles of beer in one hand and a half-full glass ofwine in the other. She handed Kira a bottle of beer and Addison thewine glass before sinking into the couch next Addison. “These werethe last two beers in your fridge, Kira.”

“Okay, but what happens if Danieldoesget jealous andrealizes he wants to be with you?” Addison took a sip of her wine.“This wedding that you’re gonna be Dr. MacMillan’s date for isn’tfor like a month, right? You know how my brother is just as well asI do, he’s not exactly the patient type.”

Kira nodded. “I know. Connor and I willtakea couple of weeksto get to know each other first and then announce we’re dating,which will only give us two weeks until the wedding. I mean, if wewant to sell this whole ‘we’re dating’ thing, we need to know eachother’s personal background, likes and dislikes, and… otherstuff.”

“Otherstuff?” Grace lowered her beer bottle. “What kind of…otherstuff?”

Kira knew she was blushing, but ifshe was honest withherself, she wanted to tell Grace and Addie what happened. She’dwavered between giddiness and guilt about kissing Connor all damnday.

“Kira? Spill your guts, girl,” Grace said.

“Okay, so, the first night I met withConnor to talk aboutdating, he kissed me.”

Addie paused with her wine glasshalfwayto her mouth.“He kissed you?”

“Yes. He said he wanted to find out if we had chemistry before wetried to sell this whole dating thing.”

Grace took a swig of beer. “Makes sense.”

“Or hejust wanted an excuse to grope Kira.” Addison gave her anaffronted look.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,”Grace replied. “Nothingwrong with a little mutual groping from time to time…”

Addison made an unladylike snort. “Go on,Kira.”

Kira took a big swallow of beer. “So, we did have chemistry,which is good, but I was bad at the kissing part.”

Addison frowned. “He told you that?”

“Not in a meanway,” Kira said. “More in a… practicalway.”

Addison gave her a blank look, but Gracelaughed. “Yep, thatsounds like Connor.”

“Still, if some guy tells you that you’rebad at kissing,” Addisonsaid, “he isn’t worth your time.”

“But what if he’s right? I’ve only kissedtwo guys before and neither of them kissed me like Connor kissedme, so…”

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