The Unknown Twin

The Unknown Twin
Kathryn Shay

Lauren Conway almost didn' t make it out aliveShe owes her life to Alex Shields, the handsome firefighter who carried her from the burning office building. But when Lauren wakes up in a hospital bed, everyone–including her rescuer–assumes she' s suffering from amnesia. They' re convinced her real name is Dana.But Lauren knows she' s not ill. What she doesn' t know is who this mysterious woman is. And when she finds out, it will turn her life upside down.

“So, Lauren Conway. Do you know you have a twin?”

Lauren hugged the hospital bedsheet closer. “No. But I gather this Dana looks like me.”

Alex cocked his head, then reached into his back pocket and withdrew his wallet. He leafed through several pictures before he stopped, pulled one out and handed it to her.

Lauren looked down. In the picture was a woman with long, luscious hair and curves to die for outlined in a wild-print bikini. She held a surfboard and leaned on the smiling, sun-burnished man whose arm was around her. The man was Alex.

The woman looked exactly like Lauren.

The similarity made her light-headed and caused her heartbeat to falter. What was going on here?

Dear Reader,

Welcome to my contribution to the CODE RED series. It’s been a pleasure to participate in this project—three Superromance novels, an anthology, a twelve-book continuity, then four sequels—all about my favorite people, rescue personnel. It was a joy to work with the other authors involved in this series. I liked getting to know them and contributing to the story lines. But don’t worry. The Unknown Twin can stand alone, too.

As many of you know, I wrote some firefighter books for Harlequin a few years back, and it was a pleasure to revisit America’s Bravest. I did have to do some additional research, though. Fire fighting in California is different from that in New York State, where I did my original research of riding the trucks, eating at the firehouses and participating in classes and drills. I met with a wonderful former California firefighter, who helped plan out the staff and station house for us. I also called on my other friends in the Rochester Fire Department, particularly Joe Giorgione, who was always there to help out with technicalities and plot elements. All of the firefighters I worked with were wonderful and gave me very important information.

Lauren and Alex’s story is a classic romance about opposites attracting—the macho, charge-right-in hero and the creative, sensitive heroine. I love to put people who are so different together and see what happens. I didn’t expect all of what transpired in the book. It was fun to watch Lauren and Alex wrestle with their relationship. I hope you enjoy their trek to happily-ever-after.

I love to hear from readers. My e-mail is kshay@rochester.rr.com and my Web site is www.kathrynshay.com. Though few use it, I still have a snail-mail address: P.O. Box 24288, Rochester, New York 14624. Write and tell me what you think.

Kathryn Shay

The Unknown Twin

Kathryn Shay

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

IT WAS TOUGH having an imaginary friend at thirty-two. Lauren Conway stared down at hers, now captured in living color in a brand-new comic strip, Dee and Me, that she’d agreed to create for the Courage Bay Courier. She’d moved to the California-seaside town two weeks ago to begin drawing the cartoon, which was based on the imaginary friend she’d first made when she was a child.

Looking down, she reread the strip she’d just finished.

Frame One:

You got yourself a job, Lily! Twelve-year-old Deirdre’s smile is pleasant. It always is, even when Lily does something stupid.

Lily looks nervous. Yeah, for the summer.

Frame Two:

Lily is first this time. I hope I don’t blow it. Like I do everything else.

Don’t be lily-livered. Dee laughs at her pun. You’re not gonna blow it.

Frame Three:

Flexing her muscles, Deirdre picks up the free weights and raises them in an arm curl. Lily stares helplessly at her.

Deirdre asks, You wanna try it?

Frame Four:

Lily appears horrified. Dee, please. I can’t.