LITMIR.BIZ

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chocolate on a cold day. I felt his nearness. He didn’t shift away or move closer.

      “Come sit down.” I led him into the den, and he lowered himself to the sofa, not far from the right end. I started to protest. Second thoughts made me keep my lips tight. I couldn’t tell him not to sit there because I needed to be near my sister’s weapon.

      “I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you to sit first,” he said. “Sometimes I’m not much of a gentleman.”

      Remembering to be Eve, I said, “I don’t always want a man to be a gentleman.” I winced, especially when his lips turned up at one edge. “I’ll just…sit, too.” I nodded toward the tiny space to the right of him, where I could grab that gun if I needed it. He adjusted, sliding away a little so I could squeeze in. The pulse in my temple counted off seconds. He carried a light scent of spearmint, maybe toothpaste or a mint. And an enticing smell of male.

      Enticing? Where did that come from?

      The phone on the end table rang. I yanked it up. “Yes?”

      “Is everything okay?” Eve asked.

      I glanced at the person I’d thought I might fear. “Things here are fine.”

      “Good. His truck was parked in front when I pulled out of the garage, but he was already going in the house. I don’t guess he noticed me, and I’m sure he doesn’t know we’re twins.”

      “Excuse me. I’ll just be a minute,” I told Dave, who nodded and shifted farther away on the seat. With more space, I stood and carried the phone to the kitchen.

      “Sunny,” Eve said, “are you sure you’re all right?”

      “Yes. I’m just moving so I can talk without him hearing. Do you think there’s a chance he knows it’s me and not you?”

      “He doesn’t know I have a twin. Have you gotten close to him?”

      “Yes, on the sofa.”

      “Then scoot even closer. I’ve done that. Dave doesn’t seem to mind.”

      I considered how close I would need to scoot. My hip would squash his.

      “You aren’t scared of him,” my twin pointed out.

      “What makes you think that?”

      “You haven’t even hummed.”

      She was right. In fact I’d felt fairly comfortable with the man. “I haven’t decided on my feelings yet.”

      “Okay, just don’t get too confident. Go and tell him what we said about your sister coming over with police who’ll have information about the break-in. I’ll stay right here. Keep the phone close.”

      “So you think—”

      “He’s fine. Go join him.”

      Once she hung up, I considered her confusing comments: Get closer to him; don’t get too confident. I marched back to the den. “That was my sister. She’s coming over with the police.” When he nodded, seeming unconcerned, I added, “Somebody broke the backdoor. They’re going to find out who it was.”

      He didn’t flinch or show any sign of fearing the law. “Then that’s why there’s wood instead of glass on the sliding door frame. Nobody ran into it or batted a ball.”

      “Right. So the police will come over soon with my sister E—” I cut off the rest of her name once I realized what I was doing.

      “E?”

      I shrugged. “A nickname.” Remembering to be Eve, I wedged my behind between the arm of the sofa and him. My hip rubbed his thigh, making heat spread across mine.

      “Have you decided yet?” he asked.

      I stared at him, thoughts scrambled.

      “Do you know whether you want a burglar alarm installed? That’s why you asked me to come back here, right?”

      “Yes. Absolutely. That’s why.” What would Eve want? She didn’t say for sure. I lifted the phone I still gripped.

      Dave watched me. Oh great, what was I thinking? I couldn’t call her and ask. I set the phone on the end table that held a pistol she had suggested I might need to point at this person. Was he a threat? I didn’t think so, but didn’t know threatening people, so I could barely judge one. Maybe I even knew Daria’s killer.

      Dave’s gaze gripped me in place, making me excited, afraid.

      I forced myself to break eye contact. “Tell you what. Let me think about it a little longer. I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

      “Of course.” He pushed up to his feet. “But then I won’t be able to schedule you in for a couple of months. We have a full slate coming up. A job we were supposed to start tomorrow got postponed, so I was going to be able to work you in this week.” His boyish grin softened my heart.

      I stood, my chest inches from his. “Yes, do it.” A chill scrambled through me.

      “Great. I think it would be good for you.”

      I nodded and closed my eyes, experiencing my breaths and his warmth.

      “I’ll call my office and get started,” he said, walking away.

      I wanted him close again. I jerked my head back. Good grief, Sunny, what’s going on? But I was supposed to be Eve, I told myself. She liked him. A lot, it seemed. Still, I found myself wanting to go with Dave. I should watch him and make certain he wouldn’t do anything wrong.

      He stepped toward the shut door leading to Eve’s studio.

      “Not in there,” I said, voice suddenly quivering.

      He shoved the door open and stared at the ruined paintings and writing on the wall. Dave turned to me, his dark gaze piercing. Fear skittered through my chest, catching a tune in my throat. This stranger could be the person who broke into that room but hadn’t been able to get to what he wanted.

      Yet.

      Chapter 6

      “Sorry,” he said. “I shoved on the door before I heard you say not to.”

      Was that true? Being around him was supposed to make me forget death. It wasn’t happening. He stepped into Eve’s studio, scanned the damaged paintings and wall, and turned to me. “The glass can be changed, of course, but a sliding glass door won’t keep out a person who’s determined to get in.”

      “I know, but neither will most windows or doors. One day I might close in that space.”

      “Good because even our best system will only give a warning. It won’t stop a smart thief or worse.” He allowed me a minute to contemplate his words. “So you’ll want us to install the system we talked about?”

      He and Eve must have discussed a certain one. “Yes.” I thrust out my hand, letting him know he should go first. He stepped into the den. I didn’t invite him to sit but mentally saw the pistol Eve set in the drawer and remembered how easy she said it was to shoot. Was he a bad guy or great one? I hadn’t decided.

      “I’ll check the windows and exterior doors and the wiring in the attic,” he said.

      I nodded. “Can you check the windows and doors from outside?”

      He gave me a hard stare. With a brief nod, he proceeded out the front door. My breath relaxed. I would keep him in open spaces where other people would be near.

      The phone rang, and I grabbed it.

      “You’re okay,” Eve said.

      “I am never switching roles again.”

      “Fine. I saw him come out the front looking unhappy. I was afraid he hurt you and then searched for what was written on the wall but couldn’t find it and stormed outside.”

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