Christmas Babies

“Bryan…I’ve wanted this….”

“Me, too,” he murmured against her throat. He was impeded by some long, silky scarf she had draped around her neck. She was all dressed up, but he liked her better when she wore jeans. Not to mention her tool belt. He went on holding her…he went on touching her.

She tensed all over again and pulled away.

“Bryan, this isn’t supposed to happen. I just thought if I could see you again…if only for a moment…if I could ask you…”

Clearly she was in turmoil, and Bryan tried to help her. “Ask me anything,” he said.

She took a deep breath. “Bryan, do you find me…desirable?”

“You know I do.”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t. Not really.”

“I’ll show you.” He brought her into his arms again. And he proceeded to show her. It was a very long while before she broke away again. Her face was flushed.

“No,” she whispered. “I can’t do this! It’s not right.”

He didn’t agree. As far as he was concerned, nothing had ever seemed more right.

“I want to make love to you, Danni,” he said. “I think it’s time.”

She took in a deep, quavering breath. “Oh, Bryan…”

It was several kisses later when he began un-buttoning her dress. Too bad they were very small buttons, and there were so many of them. Meanwhile, the scarf thing kept getting in his way.

“We have to stop,” she said, placing her hands over his. “This isn’t right.”

“It’s right,” he said. “Trust me.” He finally got rid of the scarf. It drifted to the floor, allowing him much better access. He kissed the places he’d managed to expose, and was rewarded with a sigh from Danni. She curled her fingers in his hair.

“Bryan, if you knew what it meant to me…to have a man want me…a man like you…”

“Yes,” he said. “I want you.”

Something sparked in her eyes, a flash of spirit. “It can’t really be wrong. Not when…It just can’t be wrong.”

She was talking in riddles again, but he figured the time for talking was past. He drew her toward the bedroom. She hesitated another second, but then she gave an almost imperceptible nod—as if she’d just won some argument with herself.

And then she came to him.

CHAPTER FOUR

IT WAS THE DAY AFTER Thanksgiving, and very early in the morning. Danni buried her head under the pillow, refusing to acknowledge the knocking at her apartment door. “Go away,” she mumbled crankily.

But the knocking wouldn’t stop. Whoever it was demanded an answer. Stumbling out of bed, Danni went to the door and squinted through the peephole. Bryan McKay stood on the other side.

Her pulses surged, as if responding to some magnetic force. For a crazy moment, she considered scurrying back to bed and pulling the covers up over her ears. But she knew she couldn’t hide from Bryan forever. He knew the truth now. Kristine had told him about the subterfuge—how she had duped him into believing the two sisters were one—and that she’d been playing the part of her twin. If he never wanted to forgive either one of them, that was his privilege. If he wanted to berate Danni for having such an uncontrollable twin sister, that was also his privilege. Taking a deep breath, she put her hand on the door knob and began to turn it.

But then her courage failed her. She couldn’t face his disillusionment right now. His disappointment…his anger. And so she did retreat to bed. She did pull the covers over her head. And she hoped with all her heart that Bryan would simply go away.

BRYAN MCKAY STOOD outside the door to Danni’s apartment. He knew she was in there. He’d seen a shadow through the peephole—he’d seen the door knob start to turn. But now all was silence, no answer. Why was she hiding from him?

Okay, so perhaps he knew the answer to that. Last night, his lovemaking with Danni hadn’t gone at all well. She’d been guarded, almost furtive, as if afraid to let any passion show. They’d gone through the motions together…but there’d been little pleasure between them. Afterward she’d left as quickly as possible, hardly saying a word.

So now, understandably, she was embarrassed. She didn’t want to see him—didn’t even want to talk to him. Somehow he had to reassure her that their lovemaking would go much better next time. And he had to convince her there should be a next time.

He knocked again…and again. He waited, knocked some more.

“Danni,” he called out. “I know you’re in there.”

A few more knocks, and a few moments later, the door swung open at last, revealing a rumpled Danni in rumpled pajamas.

“So now you know everything,” she said without ceremony. “And I’m sure you’re here to tell me how disappointed you are. Believe me, I understand.”

“Disappointed,” he echoed. “Perhaps. I know there’s a problem. But I think we can deal with it.”

She stared at him distrustfully. “You’re taking this much better than I thought you would. I thought you’d be so mad you’d never want to see me again.”

“Mad…why would I be mad?” he asked, puzzled.

“Why wouldn’t you be,” she muttered.

Danni was taking it far too seriously. This type of thing happened—the first time you made love to someone could be awkward.

“We just need a little practice,” he told her, smiling.

She frowned. “Practice…?”

Bryan searched for exactly the right words to reassure her. “A person would be a fool,” he said, “to throw away an entire relationship because it got off to a rocky start. And Danni…you should know by now, I’m no fool. Despite what’s happened, I believe there could be something between us. If we get to know each other better…get closer…I think we can work it out.”

She didn’t seem convinced. “Bryan, maybe we can talk about it, but—”

“I didn’t come here to talk,” he said gently. “I don’t think that’s the solution. We should just spend some time together.”

“That’s not the best idea in the world,” she said. “Not after everything—”

“Just spend some time with me,” he said. “We’ll drive somewhere. I’ll wait here while you change…although I do like you in pj’s.”

She drew her eyebrows together. “You make it all sound too easy. But I know you’re angry, no matter what you say.”

If she thought that, she really did feel bad about their lovemaking. “I don’t think anything is going to be easy,” he said. “But let’s try to give things a fresh start, Danni. Let’s give ourselves a chance, at least.”

Her look seemed to waver between hope and sadness. At last, though, she gave a reluctant nod. “You wait…I’ll change.” The door swung shut on him—but, despite Danni’s overreaction to their physical miscue, he felt a hopefulness lighten his mood.

THE RASPBERRY VEST or the tartan blouse…? Uninspired, Danni tossed both across the base of her bed and began rummaging through her closet. But then she happened to glance across at her bureau, and saw the photo there; herself and Kristine, smiling into the camera.

Danni walked over to the bureau and glared at the photograph. He’s trying to act like he’s not angry anymore, Kris, but that’s just not possible. After what we did to him…of course he’s angry. Why did you have to pretend you were me? Why did you try to steal my life?