Since she was already running late, she limited her reply to a tight smile and a clipped, "You have a nice day." But as she turned toward the parking lot, she couldn't refrain from asking, "You are just twins, right? Not triplets or anything?"
His forehead crinkled in a frown. "Right."
"Good." She'd hit her quota on Grayson brothers for the day. Two was bad enough. Having to deal with a third would be enough to drive a girl to a psychotic break.
* * *
BEMUSED, BRYCE GRAYSON watched as the brunette bolted across the parking lot. His own vehicle was in the opposite direction, and he was due for a late lunch downtown.
As he started his car, he pondered Danica Yates; he'd made it a point to find out her last name after Sean shared his sordid tale. The real-estate agent was a far cry from Sean's last lover, the bubbly blonde who was involved with several good causes. Bryce had seen her at one or two charity events. He didn't know what to make of Danica, but she was not bubbly.
She'd seemed nice enough the few times their paths had crossed, but he couldn't imagine what he'd said or done that would have made her think he was trying to get her into bed. Bryce was appalled by his brother's actions. And since Sean had seduced her in his name, he couldn't help feeling a sense of responsibility. If he'd led Ms. Yates on, if he'd somehow had a hand in making his brother's lie believable...
When she'd stepped onto the elevator, he hadn't known what to do. He'd felt an irrational need to apologize. It grated, after so many years of trying to do the right thing, that he would find himself having to say he was sorry on behalf of his brother. Let Sean clean up his own messes.
He wondered if Ms. Yates's sharp-tongued responses were misplaced anger. Maybe she was taking out her frustration with Sean on Bryce since they looked alike. Bryce had no idea how to appease her, and not knowing how to proceed made him awkward. One of the reasons he was so good at his detail-oriented job was that he preferred clear cut policies that outlined exactly what to do. Trying to figure out what to say to Ms. Yates had knotted his stomach.
Judging by the way she'd stalked off, the conversation had been no more pleasant on her end.
Given how far out of his depth he was in this social situation, maybe he should start coming to work a few minutes earlier and leaving later. Avoiding her was manageable. The question of his brother, however, was more irksome. Buried among memories of Sean's thoughtlessness were also recollections of friendship. They'd been close once.
By the time Bryce had finished unwrapping that art print Sean had commissioned for his birthday, he'd had a lump in his throat. But when he'd picked up the phone to thank his twin, he'd been immobilized by his brother's words. You think about yourself enough for the both of us.
Part of Bryce mourned the loss of their boyhood friendship. But they were men now. If he weren't related to Sean and happened to meet him as an adult, was there any logical basis for friendship? As far as he could tell, they didn't have a damn thing in common.
* * *
DANI PULLED INTO the shaded parking lot, amazed that the capricious gods of Atlanta traffic had bestowed their favor on her. And I didn't even have to sacrifice a virgin or slay a Gorgon. She arrived at the attorney's office with time to spare.
Erik's office suite was on the third floor, and his secretary nodded a friendly hello when Dani stepped inside.
"He's in conference room two," the secretary said. "I'll send the Kenners back when they arrive. And nice shoes!"
"Thanks." Dani grinned. "Yesterday's impulse buy." Well, semi impulsive. She'd worn out her last pair of favorite black pumps, and she'd had an online coupon for that particular shoe store. Spur-of-the-moment wasn't her typical style. Coming on to Sean Grayson had been an anomaly.
Even then, there had been extenuating circumstances and she never would have done it if she hadn't already been somewhat attracted to Bryce. Based on his half-finished question in the elevator, when he'd wondered what he'd done to make her think he was interested, that attraction had clearly been one-sided. The funny thing was, having seen Sean and Bryce in the same day, it was hard to pinpoint why she'd found Bryce so attractive in the first place. Now, he seemed like a pale imitation of his brother. Sean was-
Off-limits. Remember?
Banishing him from her thoughts, she entered the conference room.
"Danica." Erik stepped forward to shake her hand, his smile warm. "Would you like something to drink?" A pitcher of water sat on a small counter to the side of the wide mahogany table, and a pot of coffee was plugged into the wall.
"Water would be great, thanks."
He poured her a glass, but when he handed it to her, a flash of apprehension crossed his gaze.
"Is everything okay?" she asked. There shouldn't be any last-minute surprises at closing. She glanced toward the papers on the table. "If there's some kind of problem-"
"No, no problem."
"Oh. Sorry. I thought you looked...nervous."
"Did I?" He rubbed a hand across his jaw. "Guess it's been a while since I asked a woman out."
Her mouth dropped open. "You wanted to ask me out?"
"It doesn't have to be a date in the romantic sense," he said quickly. "My sister's on the committee for an upcoming benefit, and she talked me into buying a couple of tickets. It's to raise money for a group that provides summer meals for kids who qualify for free meals during the school year but are left with a two-to three-month nutritional gap. Anyway. There's a summer-themed fashion show and dinner at the country club two Saturdays from now." He was trying to keep his tone casual, but there was a hint of vulnerability in his gaze.
She knew what it was like to put yourself out there, recalling the excruciating moment on Saturday when she'd assumed Sean's pause was a precursor for telling her no. Had he been trying to decide how to tell her she had the wrong guy?
"Erik, I appreciate the invitation, but you and I work together quite a bit. Dating someone who's a part of my professional life could be..." She relived the shock she'd felt when Sean walked around the corner of the model home this morning. It had hit her with nearly physical force.
"I understand. But I do still have that extra ticket." He smiled sheepishly. "And Margot's going to be there with her new boyfriend. I'd much rather take a friend than show up alone."
"Ah." The catch in his voice when he said his ex-wife's name was unmistakable. Maybe the reason he lacked practice asking out women was because he hadn't yet gotten over Margot. "In that case, let me check my schedule and get back to you. If I'm free, I'd love to go. As a friend."
Schedule permitting, she'd be happy to help him out. He was funny and articulate and well liked. Best of all, he wasn't a Grayson.
9
THE ANDERSENS WERE some of Dani's favorite clients. Several years ago, she'd helped them buy a house when they were the brand-new parents of a baby girl. Now they were expecting twins and ready to upgrade. The Magnolia Grove subdivision, which managed to blend high-end amenities with a burgeoning close-knit community feel, seemed right in their wheelhouse.
Dread filled her as she drove through the redbrick entrance to the neighborhood. "Well, here we are."
"Um..." From the passenger seat, Natalie Andersen slanted her a quizzical look. "Is there something we should know about this subdivision? I've heard your enthusiastic voice before, and that wasn't it."
"Sorry, I was thinking about something else. Momentary aberration." Dani could have kicked herself for the lapse in professionalism. Whether they ran into Sean today or not, her clients deserved her full attention. "This neighborhood has a lot of potential. Control is in the transition phase between the building company and eventual homeowner's association. People who move in now can help steer the direction of HOA governance."
She parked in front of the model home, trying to keep her gaze from darting toward the trailer. She failed. Almost as if he'd been watching for her-or as if fate were conspiring against her-the door opened and Sean stepped out with a man in a hard hat. The other man nodded at something, then departed in the opposite direction. Sean, however, smiled at Dani as she climbed out of her car and headed in his direction.
His grin was full of mischief as he called out, "If it isn't my favorite fairy god-agent."