Page 4 of Girl Between
“Guilty,” he said.
It was her turn to look confused. She swore she saw him walk in with the rowdy bachelor party that forced her to call it a night.
“I did,” he answered, making Dana blush with embarrassment.
“Didn’t mean to say that out loud,” she muttered.
He shrugged, flashing a dimpled smile. “That’s okay. I prefer transparency. You’ll find I’m a straight shooter.”
“That implies I’ll be spending more time with you,” Dana replied.
“Well, I was sorta hoping you might.”
Dana crossed her arms. “So, youarehitting on me?”
“More like asking a favor.”
“So, tell me,” she said, leaning close. “How much is riding on me leaving here with you tonight?”
He laughed, rocking back on his heels. “Am I that obvious?”
She smirked, somewhat charmed by his sudden embarrassment.
He gave a nervous laugh. “Sorry, I don’t normally do this kinda thing, but they’re relentless,” he said, nodding toward the group of onlookers now shouting cat calls in their direction. “Bachelor party. Makes ‘em even more obnoxious than usual. I promised I’d make an appearance and now that I have, I’m looking for an excuse to leave. I’m hoping you might be that excuse.”
“Well, I don’t normally do this kind of thing either, but tonight’s your lucky night,” Dana said, accepting the unspoken invitation.
“For real?” he asked, eyebrows meeting his dark hairline.
“Let’s be clear,” Dana specified. “I’m saying I’ll walk out of here with you. That’s all.”
His easy smile showed he was game, and he offered his arm. “I’d call that a win.”
Dana hooked her arm through his elbow, and they left the din of debauchery behind.
5
A moment had never felt heavieras Jake climbed the winding, ornate staircase to unit 16. The pink carpet covering the Carrera marble flooring was dusty from the on-going construction in the building. But this was Paris. Construction was as expected as rain.
The agent in him made him avoid touching the elaborate gold handrails winding up the staircase. But that didn’t stop him from arriving in front of the bleu clair door before he was ready.
Jake steadied his breath as he worked up the courage to swing the gold lionhead knocker. He felt ridiculous. This wasn’t a raid, but he would’ve been more comfortable with his Sig Sauer drawn. That was until a mirror image of himself answered the door. Jake stood frozen, staring at himself. Or the version he might’ve been if he’d never joined the Army.
The slimmer, early thirties doppelganger received Jake with an open expression, the long fingers of his left hand wrapped around the brass of a trumpet.
“Bonjour,” the man greeted.
Jake stood there, immobile in his disbelief. He’d been hoping to see his father. But being faced with an alternate version of himself was shattering.
The man before him had the same brown hair and blue eyes as Jake, stealing all the questions he’d prepared.
“Puis-je vous aider?”Can I help you?The words registered, but Jake still couldn’t find a response. Luckily, the man facing him seemed to make the same connection regarding their similar features. His perplexed frown matched Jake’s. “Est-ce que je te connais?”Do I know you?
Jake jerked back to reality. “Bonjour. Je m'appelle Jake Shepard. Do you speak English?”
The man nodded.
“I’m looking for Adam Miller,” Jake said.
