“So, Diane couldn’t tell you two apart?”
“Apparently not. At least not while I was around. I’m not sure if she figured it out once he got her to the room or not. But the way she was looking up at him told me she hadn’t a clue.” I turned my body to face her. “How did you know so fast?”
She shrugged.
“Mason, let me be blunt, okay? It is very hard to tell you two apart. You two are spitting images of each other. But if a person really cares about the two of you, they can tell the small differences in the way you two walk, talk, smile, the look in each of your eyes. I mean, I feel protected with the both of you. But with you, it’s more like brotherly protection. I can see that you love me and care about me. There’s no question about that. But that’s it. With Marc, I can see and feel how much he loves me. I get excited and nervous at the same time when he’s next to me. There’s no mistaking the charge I feel from being with him, and I don’t feel that with you. Now, I don’t know how AB can tell, but that’s how I can.”
She touched my leg.
“I’m sorry Diane can’t. Maybe she just needs more time.”
I didn’t reply. Diane has known me longer than Marie has. But even putting aside the time frame, Max picked me out of a picture when we first me. When I show that photo to everyone else I know, they can’t tell the difference. But she could. I wondered if I affected her the same way Marie was affected by my brother. Once I thought it, I knew the answer instantly, and it was like another punch to my gut.
Marie and I talked a little bit more about my nieces and nephew, when my brother knocked on the door. I went to answer it, and he looked strangely at me.
“What? Did Diane hit on you, or something?” I asked, trying to figure out what had him so upset.
“Nah, that’s a hopeless cause. I don’t know if it’s the alcohol or not, but she thought I was you all the way. She said she’d be waiting up for you and to not be too long.”
I nodded.
“Okay, so what’s up? Why are you looking at me like I’ve done some egregious act or something?”
“Well, since I knew Diane couldn’t recognize me, I went to see Max.”
I stood up straighter. “And?”
He shook his head. “And I know I said this before, but you’ve really fucked up big time, bro. I mean really screwed up. You need to go find her.”
I walked toward him.
“What did you say to her?”
He put his hands up in surrender.
“Hey, don’t be pissed at me. I didn’t do or say shit. This is all you, man. She didn’t let me say a word. She just went off, thinking I was there to give her a message from you again; just like I did with the letter.”
I was stunned. I asked, even though I knew the answer, “She knew it was you?”
“Yes, she knew as soon as I walked in the door.”
I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths. I said, “Where is she?”
He shrugged again. “I don’t know. She headed toward the beach. Man, I bought you some time with Diane; you need to do something to make this right.”
I nodded and left their room as quickly as I could. I didn’t know what I would say to her. I just hoped it would come to me when I saw her. I made my way out of the back of the hotel and walked down the wooden walkway to the beach. I looked around at first and finally spotted her down by the water. I trekked to her, not caring about the sand that was getting in my shoes. When I finally got to solid sand, she turned as if she knew I was going to be there.
I saw the tears in her eyes, and I instantly felt the ice around my heart melt. I got to her as quickly as I could and wrapped my left arm around her. My right arm went instinctively into her hair, and I tilted her face up as I devoured her in the most desperate kiss I have ever felt.
She was stunned but only briefly, as I felt her hands go in my hair. Damn, tasting her again has fueled the fire in me. It’s coursing through my body like the most potent drug known. I wanted more. I needed to feel her. I traveled my left hand down to her butt and pulled her closer to me, without breaking this kiss. I then took my hand over her beautiful ass and went under her shorts and felt her bare ass. I deepened our kiss even more. Damn it, my dick felt like it was going to explode from the pressure.
I had to calm down, or I would take her right here on this beach without a care in the world. I pulled back slightly, but rested my forehead on hers. I caressed her hips and arms, trying to get my heart rate lowered. I finally found my voice, and I said her name. I felt her head shake, and she tried to move away from me, but I didn’t let her go.