Part 17 (1/2)

”Never.”

”Sneaking around. Hidden texts. That's not who you are, and honestly, that's not who I am anymore, either.” He sat up. ”Just tell her.”

Danica turned away so he wouldn't see her blush. She'd never been the one sneaking around before, and she had to admit that it did heighten the intrigue. The clock read 6:15. ”s.h.i.+t. You gotta go.” She pushed him off of the bed and jumped to her feet. Danica grabbed his jeans from the floor and tossed them to him. ”Here. Put these on. She'll be here in fifteen minutes, and you can't be here.”

”Okay, okay. Sheesh. Use me and toss me away.” He stuck out his lower lip in a supreme pout.

”Shut up,” she said with a grin. ”Just hurry up. The last thing we need is to have a big blowup tonight.” Or end up back in bed before she gets here. ”I'll tell her when you're not here.”

He c.o.c.ked his head and furrowed his dark eyebrows.

”I promise, okay?”

Blake wrapped her in his arms and kissed her hungrily. Danica's mind headed for the clouds. She no longer felt like Danica, Proper Therapist, but rather like a happier version of herself. Danica, Lovesick Woman and Therapist. She would tell Kaylie. There was no way she would mess up their relations.h.i.+p, or whatever it was.

When he finally released her, she was breathless and full of desire.

”Can I come back after she leaves, or do you have a hot date?” he asked.

A knock at the front door pulled Danica from her musing over the possibilities of what later might hold.

”s.h.i.+t. She's early.” She frantically gathered his shoes and socks and shoved them in his hands. ”Take these. Go out the back. Please.”

Blake sat on the bed, calm as a lily soaking up sun, a wide grin spread across his stubble-ridden cheeks. ”This could be interesting.”

”You wish.” She grabbed his arm and yanked him to his feet. He came up slowly to his full height, his chest a millimeter from her face. He placed his hands on either side of her face and kissed her again-hard. Then, he planted gentle kisses on her cheeks, forehead, and neck. Danica closed her eyes, taking in the scent of him and the feel of his palms on her face, and relis.h.i.+ng in the warmth that spread through her body.

”I'll be back,” he whispered.

She snagged a piece of licorice from the bedside table and gnawed on it while watching him walk out onto the balcony. He blew her a kiss and then disappeared down the back steps. Living in a town house has its advantages.

”Danica!” Kaylie pounded on the front door.

Having a sister has its disadvantages.

Danica pulled the door open, and Kaylie breezed by in a skintight, black dress that hugged her curves from the spaghetti straps on her narrow shoulders to the lacy hem that landed mid-thigh.

”What the h.e.l.l, Dan? I was freezing out there.” She crossed her arms, fuming at Danica. Her mask of anger fell away and her eyes grew big.

Danica felt her chest and neck flush with heat.

”Oh. My. G.o.d,” she said, her arms falling to her sides. ”Licorice?” She headed for the stairs.

”Wait, Kaylie!” Danica took the stairs two at a time behind her as Kaylie sprinted toward her bedroom.

”h.e.l.lo?” Kaylie called out in a singsong voice.

Danica caught up to her at her bedroom door, which she had thankfully closed.

Kaylie mouthed, ”Who's in there?” and pointed to the door.

”No one.” Danica pushed the last bit of licorice into her mouth, chewing too fast to savor the cherry flavor.

”Uh-huh. You only eat licorice after s.e.x. What did you used to call it? The perfect little after-party for your mouth?”

They both laughed. Danica hadn't called it that since she was in college, though she still believed it to be true. Kaylie pushed open the door and they both stood there, waiting for someone to appear. Kaylie stared with wonder as the door moved in slow motion to expose an unmade bed and Danica's bra on the floor. Danica closed her eyes and held her breath.

Kaylie walked into the bedroom. ”Well, well, well, which of the three bears was in here?” She spun around to face Danica with a snicker on her lips.

”No one. It's the middle of the afternoon.” Danica pulled at her sheets, nervously making the bed. ”I just didn't have time to clean up before you came over.”

”You can't fool me, sis. I see it in that hazy look in your eyes. s.h.i.+t, I can smell s.e.x in this room. Open a window, for G.o.d's sake.”

Danica's jaw dropped open.

Kaylie's finger wagged in her face. ”Aha! Got ya!” Kaylie roared with laughter. ”Who was it? Jonathan? Or, that really hot bartender? Or...”

Danica bit her lower lip and counted to three, mustering the courage to face her sister-and her confession. She gently touched Kaylie's forearm. ”Kaylie,” she said.

Kaylie silenced and stared at her expectantly.

Silent seconds stretched between them. Danica was about to break her sister's heart and maybe her trust. d.a.m.n, was she? What right did Kaylie have to place dibs on a man, anyway? She could have any guy she wanted. She'd be over Blake in a heartbeat.

”What?” Kaylie looked at the clock and headed for Danica's closet. ”Oh s.h.i.+t, forget it. I gotta get ready for my gig tonight. Where are those boots?” She crossed the bedroom, pa.s.sing the armchair with the olive-green throw tossed over the back, pa.s.sing the stack of books on the floor, and their grandmother's wooden wall mirror.

Danica gathered courage with every step her sister took. She watched Kaylie bend down to pick up the boots from the closet floor, her thong outlined by the slinky dress. She had to tell her. She couldn't take another minute of knowing her sister wanted her man, and more importantly, she couldn't watch Kaylie throw away someone who loved her for someone she'd never have.

”I'm sleeping with Blake.” The words spilled from Danica's mouth.

Kaylie remained in that bent-over position as if she hadn't heard her. Her fingers hovered over the heels she'd been searching for.

”Kay?” Danica waited for her to throw herself at her, yell at her about how she had dibs or some other utterly ridiculous claim she a.s.sumed was viable. Kaylie didn't move. ”Kaylie, I'm sorry. I didn't plan it. In fact, I tried not to let it happen.” Okay, maybe that wasn't exactly true, but I thought about not letting it happen.

She watched Kaylie's shoulders sag. Danica imagined her closing her eyes, willing away the tears, and it broke her heart. Why did her happiness have to be with someone Kaylie had set her sights on?

Kaylie turned around slowly, leaving the heels on the closet floor. ”You slept with Blake?” There was no hurt in her eyes, no cold, hard stare, only the question that came softly from her lips.

”Mm-hmm.” s.h.i.+t.

”You and Blake?” She walked toward Danica. ”s.e.xy, dark-haired, muscular, turned-me-down Blake?” She raised her eyebrows, planting herself inches from Danica.

Danica took a step backward. Kaylie was typically upbeat or angry-but never dead calm. Dead calm rattled Danica's nerves. She grasped at finding the right words. ”He...we...it just happ-”

”Just happened. I get it.” Kaylie walked around Danica and sat on the edge of the bed. ”Well, things happen.”

Who are you? ”Kaylie? Aren't you mad at me?”