LITMIR.BIZ

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friend or turn away good business. “I’ll get somebody started on the contract,” Seth said. He got up from his desk at the exact moment his intercom buzzed. “Yes,” he said.

      “Megan North is here to see you.”

      “Oh, good. She made it,” Abigail said.

      “Thanks, Jane,” he said. “Bring her back, would you?”

      Abigail Chevalier waved her index finger to get his attention. “I probably should have mentioned this,” she said, her voice a mere whisper, “but Megan isn’t too happy about this.”

      And before he could ask why, in walked the brunette he’d stood in the rain with.

      Megan suspected she looked every bit as stunned as Seth Pike. “Hello again,” she said, working hard to sound nonchalant. She barely made eye contact, instead focusing on her younger sister.

      “Hi, Abigail,” she said, taking one of the empty chairs. She wasn’t surprised to see her sister standing. “How are you feeling?”

      “Fine,” her sister said. “No different from when you asked me two hours ago.” She said it without angst. She knew Megan worried. And tried to be a good sport about it. She was sweet like that.

      But under all that sweetness was a rip current of manipulation, Megan had realized, when two days ago, her sister had no trouble using Megan’s concern to her advantage to get Megan to agree to hiring security.

      Megan had been excited to be away from Carmel, away from the craziness that had permeated her life for the last few months. The craziness that nobody else had heard, seen or believed, especially the police. The craziness she hid from Abigail.

      The way her life had been going lately, she should not have been the least surprised that it was Seth Pike she’d shared a dry spot with earlier that afternoon. Coincidences, both alarming and not, seemed to abound lately.

      “Mr. Pike,” she said, extending her hand to him. He was still standing by the side of his desk. His shirt and pants were drying but he looked as if he could use a good iron. “Good to see you didn’t melt.”

      “Oh, I’m not that sweet,” he said.

      No, but he was a bit of eye candy. Lean and tall, but not too tall. Probably just under six feet. His dark brown hair was cut short and he had very light brown eyes. His skin was tanned.

      “Ms. North, I presume,” he said.

      “Please, just Megan. After all, we have history.”

      Abigail looked at Seth, then Megan. “Do you two know each other?”

      They both shook their heads. Megan turned to her sister. “Earlier today, I got caught in the rain. As did Mr. Pike.”

      “Seth,” he said.

      “As did Seth. We shared a canopy before I had to dash to the bank. Which, by the way, went well.”

      “Good,” Abigail said.

      “Now that I see the two of you together, the resemblance is definitely there,” he said.

      She was six years older, seven inches taller, and had dark hair. But she understood. Their eyes were the same shape and almost the same color. They both had their mom’s smile and their dad’s long fingers. “Most people don’t see it,” she said.

      “I have always taken some pride in not being most people,” he said.

      There was a pregnant, no pun intended, pause in the room. Megan looked from her sister to Seth Pike. “So, did you two get the details all worked out?” She tried hard to keep the irritation out of her voice.

      “I think I’ve got the basics,” Seth said. “You and I will need to work out some of the finer logistics. Which should not be as painful as your last root canal,” he added.

      Ouch. Maybe she wasn’t doing that good of job of keeping her feelings at bay. “Of course,” she said.

      “Two rooms have already been booked,” Abigail said. “Our assistant did that weeks ago when I thought I’d still be able to go.”

      “Excellent. If you’ll give me your email address, I’ll send over the contract this afternoon.” Seth pushed a piece of paper her direction and held out his pen.

      Once the contract was signed, it would be too late. This was her last chance to put a stop to this nonsense. She could find another way to give Abigail peace of mind.

      She stood up. “Actually, Seth. I—”

       Chapter 2

      “Oh, good,” Seth interrupted. “You made it.” He waved his partner in. Earlier, Trey had mentioned stopping by to say hello. Now his timing was impeccable, because Seth had a feeling that Megan North was about to pull the plug on the whole deal and all he knew was that he didn’t want that. “Trey, this is Megan North and her sister, Abigail Chevalier. Ladies, my partner, Trey Riker.”

      Trey shook both women’s hands. “Kellie’s mom mentioned that you were expecting, too,” he said to Abigail.

      “I can’t believe you’re having twins,” Abigail said.

      “We’re still sort of in shock,” Trey admitted. “But stoked.”

      Everyone laughed.

      “And Kellie is feeling good?” Abigail asked.

      “She’s a trouper,” Trey said. “Doc says both babies are over three pounds right now. Due date is two months away.”

      Seth was happy for his friend. Trey and Kellie were lucky to be alive. Kellie’s diabolical former boss had tried to kill them, and only because they were both supersmart and resourceful, they were here to tell the story.

      “It’s been a while since we’ve seen the McGarrys,” Abigail said.

      “Actually, that’s why I wanted to stop in. We’re having a little party tonight, a combined baby shower for Kellie and me and a wedding shower for Rico, another partner, who is getting married soon. We’d love to have both of you join us. It will give you a chance to catch up with Kellie.”

      Seth saw the quick look of distress in Megan’s eyes. “It won’t be pizza,” he said, reminding her that she’d let the cat out of the bag that she had a free night, “but I can promise the food will be good.”

      “That sounds like so much fun,” Abigail said.

      Megan turned to her sister. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”

      “Absolutely. Where and when?”

      “Here, and any time after six,” Trey said. “And please, no gifts. I know this is a last-minute invite and I don’t want you worrying about that.”

      “I guess we’ll see you then,” Megan said.

      “About that contract?” Seth asked. “Should I email it over?”

      Abigail nodded. “We’re just so grateful that you were able to see us on such short notice and that you’re available for the assignment.”

      He looked at Megan. She was staring at her sister.

      Finally, she turned to him and very deliberately picked up the pen that he’d previously offered. She scribbled down her email address. “Yes, so grateful,” she echoed. The pen dropped back onto his desk with a thud.

      “I’ll walk you out,” Trey said. Both women moved toward the door.

      And just that fast, Seth was alone. The room seemed dimmer somehow, as if the sun had slipped behind a cloud.

      He was going on a road trip with a beautiful woman. Hadn’t seen this one coming.

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