The Unknown Twin

She sighed, thinking of James’s sensitive face and lying tongue.

“Tell me about the theft.”

“He has a gambling problem. He contends it’s an addiction and he meant me no harm.”

“As I said, torches often have prior criminal records.”

“I didn’t prosecute.”

“Why not?” Alex sounded outraged.

“Several reasons. One was because I got most of the money back. The others I’d prefer not to discuss, if you don’t mind.”

Prophet seemed okay with that, but Alex’s look said he minded.

“We’ll need to talk to him,” Prophet told her.

Her heartbeat sped up. “I don’t really want to see him again.” It was too painful to confront the man she thought she loved. And to confront her own feelings of inadequacy regarding James.

“No reason you have to,” Alex told her. “Right, Prophet?”

“Not that I can see.” He glanced at his watch. “Could you give me the particulars on him now, Ms. Conway?”

The litany Lauren gave of James’s vital stats—forty, divorced, no history of violence or uncontrolled rage—drained what little energy she had. Finally she finished, stood and bade goodbye to Prophet. As she and Alex left headquarters and drove to get her car, she could feel the strain in her sagging shoulders.

In the school parking lot, Alex pulled to a stop by her Accord and turned in his seat. He was really good-looking, with his sculpted features and strong jaw. “I’m sorry, Lauren. This stuff about James must be hard on you.”

“On my pride, maybe.” Now that he knew about James, she wondered how a man like Alex could still be interested in her.

Tenderly Alex reached over and smoothed his knuckles down her cheek. “The guy must have been nuts to blow it with you.”

“Thanks for saying that.”

“It’s the truth.”

Glancing out his windshield, she stared at the setting sun. At the clear blue of the sky. She loved this time of day in California, just before supper. “Alex?”

“Yeah?”

“How would you like a home-cooked meal tonight?”

His smile was so sexy it made her heart trip in her chest. “I’d love one. Especially if you’re gonna cook it for me, pretty lady.”

“I’ve already cooked it. I was restless this morning and made quiche, an ambrosia salad and fudge brownies.”

Again, the smile.

She gave him a sideways glance. “Unless you don’t eat quiche.”

“Is this some kind of test, Lauren?”

“Of course not. Guys don’t actually believe in the adage, ‘Real men don’t eat quiche’ anymore, do they?”

“No, ’course not, ma’am.” His eyes were twinkling. The red of his shirt highlighted their amber color.

“Have you ever had quiche, Alex?”

“Sure. Lots of times.”

“Did anybody ever tell you you’re a very bad liar?”

“Me, lying?” He nodded to her car. “I’ll follow you.”

Lauren hummed on the drive home. She and Alex laughed all the way up the steps to her house. The mirth stopped, however, when she opened her front door. And felt the breeze.

“Did you leave your windows open, Lauren?”

Fear paralyzed her.

“Lauren?”

“No, I didn’t leave any windows open.”

CHAPTER FOUR

VINCE WOJOHOWITZ LOOKED like a younger version of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Alex had called his friend, a police detective, when he and Lauren discovered the open window in her living room. Not wanting a repeat of last night, where the cop, who turned out to be Vince’s partner, had doubted Lauren, Alex had decided to call in his buddy.

“Okay, Lauren, let me get this down on paper.” Perched on the edge of her lounger, Vince whipped out a pad and grabbed the pencil from behind his ear. “Shoot.”

Lauren ran a shaky hand over her kitten Caramel’s back. The movement of her fingers was slow and languid, and Alex’s eyes were glued to it. Hannah, sitting next to Lauren on the couch, touched her friend’s shoulder. She and Vince had been about to go to dinner when Alex called.

Alex listened to Lauren’s melodic voice retell the simple facts: they’d come home, she was certain she hadn’t left the window open or unlocked, especially after thinking someone had broken in the night before, yet the window was ajar. Alex bent down and picked up Butterscotch, Lauren’s other cat. The appropriately titled feline burrowed into him, much like Lauren had when she’d discovered the window. He’d been moved by her vulnerability. “Be sure to tell Vince about last night.”

“I already did.”

“You need to again, so I get it right.” Vince glanced at his fiancée and smiled.

After they finished, Vince rose. “Well, I’ll be going.”

From where he stood by the window, Alex saw Lauren frown. “What do you mean, I?”

“Honey, I’m going to stay with you.” Hannah gave her a sympathetic look. She was dressed to the nines in a slinky black dress and killer heels.

“No way. I’ve already interrupted your evening. I’m fine.”

The couple looked torn.

Hannah said, “You shouldn’t be alone.”