Sonia awakened early on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, feeling fantastic.
That had never happened after her nightmare and she appreciated the change. Usually, she felt like she had a hangover the next morning, or had a sense of impending doom. On this day, she wanted to sing in the shower or learn to tap-dance.
It wasn’t just because of great sex, either. Sonia felt lighter and stronger, more ready to take on the world.
But then, she never went back to sleep after her nightmare.
Nate had fixed that.
She turned to look at him in profile. He was sleeping on his back, one arm thrown over his head, his hair tousled. Not photogenic. He had to have been joking. She thought he was gorgeous.
Kind.
Sweet and hot.
Protective and passionate.
The way he kissed drove every sane thought out of her mind, and led her mind straight to the gutter. When he smiled, just a little, her heart did crazy flip-flops, and when he dropped his voice low, her knees melted. That intense look he gave her, the way he listened to her, his ability to read her thoughts, all combined to make her feel that their emotional connection was what she’d been waiting for. It seemed that she couldn’t get enough of him, that having him made her want more, which made no sense. She liked his rules about sex and thought his commitment to pleasure was the most seductive thing in the world.
The way he described being in love was exactly how she felt when she was with him.
She’d dared to say the words out loud, but he had to have been asleep. It would have freaked him out if he’d heard her. It was a complete breach of his one-and-done rule.
She was tempted to awaken him with a kiss—or a whole lot more—but couldn’t forget his words about love, or the remnant of his tattoo.
Nate had been in love.
Nate was still in love.
Who had the woman been? Nate had loved her enough to get her name tattooed on his arm forever—and it was clear that he still felt the same way. Yet she wasn’t in his life, apparently. He didn’t want a relationship because no one could compare to the woman who’d captured his heart, once upon a time. Had she died like his dad?
It didn’t really matter because Sonia couldn’t change it.
Still, she was curious. She wondered what the other woman’s name had been, what she had looked like, why Nate had loved her. It was profoundly unsatisfactory that she’d never know.
Sonia frowned and eased out of the bed, recalling that she had only one banana. She should run down to the bodega before Nate woke up. On her way to the washroom, she noticed his wallet on the console by the door with his keys and sunglasses. She flicked a glance at Nate, still sleeping soundly, then peeked inside.
There were two pictures in the clear sleeves along with his credit cards. One was of a family of four, obviously his own. Sonia would have recognized teenage Nate anywhere. His sister was obviously older and more serious. His parents looked happy. The picture had to be twenty years old, judging by the way the color had faded and the clothes they were wearing. There was a dog, too, a black and white mutt sitting beside Nate.
The other picture was of an older Nate, one that could have been taken in a photo booth. This could be the rock-band Nate, with his hair a little longer and trouble in his smile. A young girl was behind him, her arms flung around his neck and her face alongside his. She was pretty, with dark hair and sparkling eyes, and she looked happy. No, she looked ecstatic. There was a diamond ring on her finger.
Nate had that cocky little gleam in his eyes that all was right in his world.
There she was.
She turned it over. Trish and Nate 2004 was written on the back.
Trish. Her name was Trish.
Pretty, happy, unforgettable Trish, with an engagement ring on her finger.
And still in Nate’s wallet.
Sonia swallowed the lump in her throat and put his wallet back as it had been. Trish might be out of his life, but she still reigned in his heart. That left no room for any other contenders.
Nate had been honest from the outset: this was a hook-up, no more and no less. He’d expected Sonia to want more, and he’d turned out to be right. Sonia glanced back toward him and seriously regretted that they hadn’t gotten together sooner.
Not that it would have mattered. He’d been in love with Trish long before he came to F5F.
They had a deal, and Sonia wouldn’t seduce him again. Let him dream about the one he loved. She wouldn’t be a substitute for anyone.
Nate would probably head out to Boston as soon as he woke up, but he should eat something first. She had only one banana and some instant coffee in the kitchen. He deserved more of a send-off than that. Sonia showered quickly and went down the block to the bodega on the corner, leaving Nate asleep in her bed.
Sonia learned about her parents’ reconciliation exactly the same way she had about their break-up when she was sixteen years old.
She read it in the tabloids.
If the check-out line at the bodega had been shorter, she might have missed the joyous tidings.
As it was, with social distancing, Sonia had plenty of time to read the headline and eye the pictures of her mother and step-father cuddling for the camera, apparently ecstatic.
It was impossible to tell with them, though, since everything was a performance.
She couldn’t even look at the image without her bile rising.
Derek Strong and Olivia Fairfax Together Again!
Romance Blooms on the Set of Their New Movie
This had to be what Katia had called about.
Why did the sisters need a plan? It had to have something to do with this.
What had Olivia and Derek planned?
Sonia had a bad feeling, so she grabbed an issue.
She felt that almost-banished urge to both run and to consume a gallon of chocolate ice cream in record time, which was a telling reminder of her family’s effect on her. She gripped her purchases and waited, wanting to tear open the issue and learn the worst of it, yet at the same time, not wanting to know. Her gut churned.
It was just like old times.
Damn them both.
Her interest, though, had been noticed.
“Isn’t it romantic?” the woman behind her in line asked. She sighed with rapture when Sonia glanced her way. “True love after those years apart. I think it’s wonderful.”
Sonia doubted that her step-father’s second wife took quite as rosy a view of the situation but she kept quiet.
“They were making a holiday movie together, you know,” the woman confided, apparently not needing any encouragement to continue. “About a second chance romance in a small town at Christmas—and they had their own second chance romance! It’s so perfect!”
At that point, Sonia could either speak up or go back for ice cream. She chose option number one.
“I wonder what his wife thinks,” she said and the woman’s eyes went round.
“I was thinking the same thing!” The woman eased closer and Sonia backed away. “Last month, I saw that Gloria had been pregnant again, but lost the baby. Do you think it was Derek’s child? Maybe it wasn’t!” Her fascination with the lives of strangers was faintly horrifying to Sonia. “Maybe he wanted a child and she couldn’t give him one. Maybe that’s why he left her, to have a baby of his own.”
Sonia indicated the cover picture. She knew that Derek wasn’t interested in babies. Young girls were more his style. “I doubt Olivia can have a baby now. How old would she be?”
The woman frowned. “Fifty, easily, although she doesn’t look it. But I’m sure she and Derek have children already.” She shook her head even as Sonia’s blood ran cold. “I wonder what ever happened to those kids. Do you remember?”
Sonia shrugged, keeping her secret, and paid for her order. She hurried out of the store so there was no chance of the other woman continuing their conversation, then headed for her apartment.
Reunited. The only thing her mother and step-father liked better than publicity was drama. That made sense in a way, given that they were both actors, but Sonia herself had a serious allergy to attention-seeking scenes.
It was a learned response.
Nothing had ever been normal when she was a kid: everything had been a performance, over the top, calculated for maximum effect. She found even the memory of it exhausting. There was no way she was going to stand by and let them wreak havoc in her life all over again. They still didn’t know where she was—they couldn’t know or she would have heard from them. They would have turned up, with cameras, insisting on a reconciliation captured forever on film. Sonia walked a little faster at that prospect.
The weak link was that Katia knew where Sonia was. And Sonia’s twin sister loved stirring things up as much as their parents did.
She had to make up with Katia.
After Nate left.
His car was still parked at the curb, so he hadn’t left in her absence, and it didn’t have a ticket, which was good, too. Maybe her day would turn around.
As she entered her building, Sonia had to wonder what her life would have been like if she’d been born into a different family. A sane one, for example. It might have changed everything.
But she was making her own life, away from them and the past. She was well on her way and no one was going to stop her now.
Nate awakened to find himself alone in Sonia’s bed. He could smell the body wash she had in the shower and the apartment was humid with steam. She wasn’t in the bathroom, though, because the door was open and the lights were out.
He found a note on the counter.
Gone for bagels and coffee.
Back in ten.
She’d added the time, which was about five minutes before. He was amused that she was so precise. Nate had time to quickly wash and dress before she returned, then he’d leave. He was fastening his belt buckle when a key turned in the lock. Sonia came back into the apartment, moving really fast.
Had she been worried he’d leave without saying goodbye?
Nate couldn’t otherwise explain why she’d be so flustered.
“Hi!” she said brightly, then continued without waiting for a reply. “I realized I didn’t have anything for breakfast.” She had a take-out tray with two large coffees and a bag that smelled like warm bread, as well as a tabloid tucked under her arm. “Do you take cream or sugar?”
“Neither, thanks.”
“Okay.” She was avoiding his gaze, as if she wanted to keep from telling him something, and Nate couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong. Did she know she’d said those three words in the middle of the night? Was she embarrassed and wanting to take them back? Maybe that was it.
She put down the tabloid and unpacked what proved to be warm bagels and a tub of cream cheese. She also had a bunch of bananas. “Do you eat these?”
“The ideal breakfast food,” he said and got a couple of plates. He already knew her compact kitchen well enough to locate knives, too. He sliced bagels as she opened her coffee, glad to have something to eat. “Mmm,” he said. “Fresh. Thanks for getting them.”
“Mmm,” she said, closing her eyes as she swallowed the coffee. “Hot and strong.”
“I thought you didn’t drink coffee.” Nate was pretty sure Sonia had avoided it at the club.
“Not often.” Her lips tightened. “I need it today.”
Why? Nate had a bad feeling about that.
He’d just eat quickly and go.
He angled his head and read the headline on the tabloid even though it was upside down. “My mom loves these,” he said with a shake of his head. It had to be a neutral topic of discussion. “Tabloids and obituaries. She can’t get enough of either.”
Sonia didn’t say anything but seemed to be very busy putting cheese on her bagel.
“They’re proof to me that the rich and famous are the most seriously screwed up people around.”
“Absolutely.” Sonia was so vehement in her agreement that Nate glanced up. She frowned at the bagel and spread cheese on it with fierce gestures.
“I mean they have everything, or could, but instead they have all these problems.” Nate indicated the cover image with his banana. “Didn’t these two used to be famous?”
Sonia laughed, then put her hand over her mouth as if she shouldn’t have. “Don’t let them hear you say that,” she said and he knew his confusion showed. “They’re actors,” she said quickly. “I’m sure they all think they’re eternally famous. Occupational hazard.”
“Maybe.” Nate didn’t know anything about actors, but he sensed Sonia did. Since she wasn’t touching the tabloid, he turned the page. There was something about these two. She could have met them once or been a fan. Both seemed unlikely possibilities, but there was something going on and he wanted to know what it was.
This time, he was the curious one.
Maybe it was contagious.
The next spread was all about these two actors, how they’d reunited after having been divorced for years. There was another picture that Nate leaned closer to examine. “Their daughter looks like Katia,” he said without thinking.
“Does she?” Sonia seemed fascinated by her coffee cup.
What was he missing?
Nate frowned. There was another picture in the spread, an older one. Younger versions of the couple were dressed up for a gala, the woman in a red full-length gown, the man in a tux. They were smiling and waving for the camera, their poses almost identical to the picture on the front of the tabloid and their smiles just as bright.
There were two girls with them who looked like teenagers. The image was grainy, but the girls had expressions like they’d rather have been anywhere else in the world. Nate smiled, reminded of his sister when she was a teenager and didn’t want to be seen with the rest of the family. These two looked mutinous, as if they’d been dragged along against their will. One girl was really skinny and the other almost round.
He peered at their faces. “She does look like Katia,” he said. “That’s an amazing coincidence.” Nate would have turned the page, but the silence behind him was deafening.
What had he said?
He spun on the stool to face Sonia. She looked as if she’d seen a ghost and some points started to get in a line.
She’d left home at first opportunity.
She’d moved to a new town and changed her name.
This couple had twin daughters, one of which looked like Katia.
She’d lost a lot of weight, enough to have those sweatpants and those scars.
She’d avoided social media like the plague at F5F, even though she was popular and photogenic.
She’d turned down the first invitation to do a podcast because she hadn’t wanted her family to find her.
“It is Katia,” he guessed without one shred of doubt.
Sonia exhaled shakily before she nodded then put down the coffee cup.
Nate’s finger trailed to the other girl and Sonia’s lips tightened as she watched.
“Two hundred and thirty-seven pounds,” he said quietly. He didn’t know whether it was harder to believe that Sonia had ever looked any different than she did now or that her parents were famous actors.
She didn’t say anything.
And he looked different than he had in high school.
Sonia exhaled, then came to stand beside him. Nate saw that she was trembling when she reached out to tap on the headline, and his protective urges roared to the fore. “This must be what Katia wanted to tell me last weekend. I haven’t been to the store since then.” She flicked a look at him, then spoke lightly, as if trying to make a joke. “The only good thing is that they think I still look like this.”
She actually looked like she might be sick.
Nate didn’t know what to say. He knew he should leave, but, one more time, he couldn’t just walk out and leave Sonia alone. “It’s your superpower,” he said to her.
“What is?”
“Mixing me up. I know I should do one thing but when I’m with you, I want to do the other. It happens all the time.”
She smiled, against every expectation. “Really?”
“Really. It’s a gift. The Sonia Effect.” He shook a finger at her. “Remember that with great power comes great responsibility.”
Sonia’s smile widened. “I didn’t think you were ever indecisive.”
“I’m not, except when I plan to leave nine times in a row, like last Sunday, and fail to do so each and every time.”
“Just three times,” she said as if to reassure him. “You haven’t completely lost your edge.”
“And one-and-done, but here I am.”
“Because you’re a good friend.” She smiled and kissed him quickly, too quickly. “Thanks.”
“Are you going to be okay?” Nate stood up, uncertain.
“I don’t know yet. I’ll sure try.” Sonia moved to clean up their breakfast. “I guess I should be glad I had such a good run.” She started to pour the coffee down the sink. “Thanks for coming last night. I’m glad things are working out for you in Boston.”
She was talking as if she wanted him to leave, but she didn’t sound convinced of it. “Want to talk about it?” he offered.
“Oh God, no.” Her eyes rounded. “You don’t have enough time to listen to that story.” Sonia shook her head and took a steadying breath. “And I wouldn’t ask you to listen. It would be an imposition. You’ve already done so much.”
Predictably, Nate’s mixed feelings tangled up a little more. He wanted to help, but he didn’t want to be drawn into emotional territory. He was glad that Sonia understood that, but in a way, he wished she would confide in him. He suspected it would make her feel better.
She gestured to the door when he didn’t move. “Say hi to Pierce and the others for me and drive carefully.” Her eyes were doing that dark blue thing again, a sign that she was upset.
Nate didn’t move.
“What exactly did they do?” he asked softly.
“I’ll be fine. Really. I’ve been doing fine all these years.” Nate wondered who she was trying to convince. “I’ve just been surprised and I need to find my rhythm again. I can do it.”
“I know you can.”
She met his gaze.
“I think you can do anything.”
“You are sweet.”
“Argh!” Nate said, making a caveman noise and shaking his fists in mock frustration, hoping she’d laugh. “Sweet!”
She did laugh. “Sweet and hot, remember.”
“I’m not sure that’s so much better.”
“You should be.” Sonia smiled and it lit her eyes just a little. The air sizzled between them again, making Nate want to stay and make love to her again. Her smile broadened as if she’d read his thoughts. “Go,” she said. “Please.”
She was destroying him.
“Yeah,” Nate agreed, but he lingered with his hand on the door knob. He couldn’t look away from her, barefoot in her kitchen with her hair loose, her eyes bright and her chin high. She had that vulnerable but powerful look again, and he was impressed by her all over again. Not a temptress, his ass.
This was how Marc Antony had felt when he was summoned back to Rome.
Nate crossed the apartment and touched Sonia’s chin with a fingertip, tipping her face up to his. “You’re amazing,” he murmured and her gaze warmed. “Remember that. Thank you for last night.”
“Thank you,” she replied with a smile. “It was great. Best ever.” Sonia turned her head and kissed his palm, her lips so soft against his skin that Nate was ready for another round.
His chest was tight. “Call me if you need me,” he said on impulse. “That’s what friends are for, right?” He saw her eyes light and knew that once again, he’d gotten it right.
“I just might.”
Nate suspected that Sonia never would call. She’d hang tough, on her own. She was used to fighting her own battles and doing it alone. As much as he admired that, he couldn’t just abandon her when she was in the middle of this big change.
Maybe he’d call and check on her.
The rightness of that impulse had him bending to capture her lips in a kiss.
The incredible thing wasn’t that Sonia kissed him back. The incredible thing was that the kiss was just as hot and potent as if it was the first time, as if they hadn’t done it repeatedly. The incredible thing was that Nate wanted even more.
He was seriously tempted to stay.
But there was a sound of approaching footsteps, like an elephant climbing the stairs. Sonia broke their kiss and looked at the door, her expression wary.
“No,” Nate said, instinctively fearing the worst.
“I’m afraid so,” she said and opened the door.
Katia was on final approach in the corridor, dressed in leather and huffing like a locomotive. She was dragging a cherry red wheelie bag, which explained the noise, and probably why she was out of breath.
“Why doesn’t this place have an elevator?” she demanded by way of greeting, then pushed past Sonia into the apartment. She did a double-take when she noticed Nate. “You again,” she said, giving him a quick survey.
“Me again,” he agreed easily and settled against the counter, arms folded across his chest.
Turned out he had no intention of leaving just yet.
Sonia couldn’t believe that Katia’s timing was so bad. If she’d just arrived ten minutes later, Nate would have been on his way—and unable to witness their conversation. He leaned against the kitchen counter now, looking hot and dangerous, and as likely to budge as her fridge.
She couldn’t believe her twin had turned up early on a Saturday morning to share anything good.
Things had to be going to shit.
Katia was wearing spike-heeled black boots and slim black leather pants. She had a tight leopard print T-shirt and Sonia could see her black bra through it. Her leather jacket was cherry red and matched her lipstick—as well as her suitcase. Her hair was loose, long and blond the way Sonia’s had been just a week before.
After greeting Nate, so to speak, Katia halted in the middle of Sonia’s apartment and parked the suitcase there. She flung her jacket over the big chair, tried to catch her breath and failed, then rummaged in her designer purse. In a matter of moments, the entire apartment would be covered with her stuff. Sonia knew how this would go and she was determined to stop it.
“No cigarettes here,” Sonia reminded her. “We agreed.”
“But you always let it go.”
“I’m done being a pushover.”
Something in her tone must have revealed that she meant it. Katia swore and put the package back in her purse, then glared at Sonia. She pushed her jacket to the floor and dropped into the big chair, still breathing heavily. “And you couldn’t live on the first floor, or even the second,” she grumbled.
“I like the view,” Sonia said, waiting for trouble.
“Walls,” Katia said with a dismissive gesture.
“Sky,” Sonia corrected, since the buildings opposite her windows were shorter, at least for now.
“Whatever.” Katia glared at Sonia. “What did you do to your hair?”
“Cut and color. Like it?”
Her sister grimaced. “We don’t match anymore.”
“That kind of works for me.”
Katia made a little growl of dissatisfaction.
Nate gestured with his prosthesis, indicating the suitcase, and Sonia didn’t think it was an accident that he chose that arm. “Looks like you’re moving in or staying until Christmas.”
“I am moving in,” Katia said. “It’s the only possible solution.”
“No,” Sonia said. “You’re just on your way somewhere, catching a private jet to a readers’ conference.”
“No,” Katia insisted, her gaze locking with Sonia’s. “I’m moving in.”
“No,” Sonia replied. “This place is too small for both of us…”
“It’s the only thing that will work.” Katia spoke firmly.
“It’ll never work. I’ll kill you in your sleep.” Sonia was aware of Nate looking back and forth between them, as if he was watching a tennis match. She didn’t want to have this fight in front of him, but she also didn’t want to have Katia in her place.
“No, you won’t, because you’re leaving,” Katia said as if that was completely reasonable.
“You can’t just show up here and kick me out of my own place after everything else you’ve done.”
“This situation is not my fault,” her sister insisted, interrupting her.
“That you’re here, in my place, with a suitcase? Of course, that’s your fault. You chose to come. You’re choosing to interfere in my life.” Sonia glared at her sister. “Again.”
“It’s not like I cast them in those roles so true love could conquer all,” Katia argued. She rolled her eyes, a sign that she also thought this was a publicity trick. “As if either of them ever loved anyone they didn’t see in the mirror each morning.” She reached for the cigarettes again. “Just one?”
Sonia shook her head and Katia sighed. “I’m not so sure you didn’t arrange this.”
“Be serious. It’s easier when they’re not talking to each other,” her twin said, which was true. “Then neither of them wants any reminders of time spent with the other one, which includes us. Why would I screw with that?”
“What about Valentine’s Day? That was definitely your fault.”
Katia winced. “Okay, but this, this is not my fault!” She pulled off one of her boots. Nate was watching her with a kind of fascination, the way Sonia might study a big spider on her wall. “The thing is that you don’t know Tobias blew it.”
“Blew what?” Sonia was afraid she could guess.
Katia’s boot hit the floor and she shook a finger at Sonia before tugging off the second one. “Not on purpose. He thought he was being helpful. Olivia called him and he told her that you were in New York. He just doesn’t think about ramifications.” She shook her head. “I can’t figure that out. I mean, he writes books. Characters make choices and things happen. It’s all cause and effect, but Tobias never connects that to real life. He’s just too fucking nice.” She looked at Nate.
“I know how that goes,” he said and Katia smiled.
Sonia meanwhile had gone cold. “He told her?”
“He did. And they’re coming and we can’t stop them, which means there’s only one thing to do.”
“I hate when you say things like that,” Sonia said. “It never goes right.”
“Well, this time it will.” Katia pointed at Nate. “Don’t let her leave.”
“This has nothing to do with me,” he protested.
“No, but I’m asking for your help. We have to trade places. It’s the only thing that will work.”
Nate lifted a brow, which made him look both skeptical and bemused. “Since it worked so beautifully last time.”
Katia, to her credit, flushed. “A miscalculation. Sorry.”
Nate picked up the tabloid and pointed to the picture of Olivia and Derek on the front. “This would be them?”
“That would be them,” Katia agreed. “Satan and his handmaiden.”
Sonia saw Nate frown and stand a little straighter, his eyes brightening like lasers.
“Katia!” she chided, as much for giving him a clue as anything else.
“It’s true,” Katia protested, then turned to Nate. “You’re probably going to tell me that you ended up with the wrong twin in February.”
“I did.”
“And you’re with the right twin now?”
Nate shook his head and stepped away from the counter. “I was just leaving.”
“You can’t,” Katia protested.
“Trust me, I can manage it. Three steps to the door and down the stairs. Easy peasy.”
Katia caught his sleeve. “But you have to take Sonia with you. You have to help her make an escape. She has to pretend to be me, and I’ll be her. And you’re the missing link to make it all work.”
“I take exception to being called the missing link,” Nate said, deadpan.
“You know what I mean.”
His smile flashed. “I do.”
“Why are you suggesting this?” Sonia asked Katia, her tone drawing Nate’s gaze.
“Because, because—” Katia made a growl of frustration then cast her hands skyward. “Okay, February was my fault. I fucked that up and I owe you.” She exhaled, her gaze simmering. “He always liked you best, and it wasn’t fair,” she said, her tone fierce. Sonia was aware that Nate was listening intently. “I never believed you and I should have been there for you. I’ll be there for you this time.”
“But…”
“I might die of boredom, but I will try to make this right. Even if it kills me.” Her gaze bored into Sonia’s, then she marched to the wardrobe and threw it open. “How can you have so many boring clothes?”
“Liked her best in what way?” Nate demanded, his voice low.
“Oh, please,” Katia said. “We don’t have time for confessions and tears. Just trust me on it.”
Nate looked uncertain about that and rightly so.
“Pink,” she muttered. “Why do you like pink so much?” Without waiting for an answer, Katia grabbed a pair of faded jeans and a T-shirt from Sonia’s wardrobe, sending a whole pile of clothes tumbling to the floor. She didn’t pick them up, just headed for the washroom. She left the door open, treating the washroom like a fitting room. Her leather pants were the first things to come flying toward Sonia. Sonia caught them instinctively, blinking at the strength of her sister’s perfume.
Katia peeked around the door frame. “You’re going to have to dress the part,” she chided, gesturing to Sonia’s outfit. “No one will believe you’re me when you look like that. The suitcase is for you, filled with all the good stuff. They’re coming to New York with their entourage of photographers.” She gave Sonia a hard look.
Sonia sat down hard on the bed, the leather pants piled in her lap.
They were coming.
She would see them again.
He was coming.
But she wouldn’t freak out. She was an adult and her life would be the one she chose. It would be the way she wanted it to be.
“This is your chance to make a run for it,” Katia continued. She came out of the washroom in Sonia’s jeans and her own shirt, using a make-up wipe on her face. Once her eyeliner and lipstick were gone, she rummaged in her purse again. Sonia couldn’t remember when she’d last seen her sister without make-up. “We can even swap ID. The only person who will know is the war hero here, and I’m going to guess that he can keep a secret.”
“You can’t just rope Nate into your scheme,” Sonia said sternly. “He has an actual life…”
“All he has to do is take you away from here and not tell me where. If I don’t know, I can’t spill it.” Katia did Sonia’s eyeliner in two expert swipes, then stepped back to check her work. “You need the eyelashes,” she advised, then turned to Nate. “You up for that?”
“Not the eyelashes,” he said. “So not my style.”
“Smart ass,” she said when Sonia smiled. Nate winked at her and she smiled a little more. “You know what I meant,” Katia muttered.
“I did and do.”
“And?”
“Sure, if Sonia wants,” he said to Sonia’s astonishment.
“I like him, after all,” Katia confessed, then retreated to the washroom.
“You would take me with you?” Sonia said to Nate. “What about one-and-done?”
“What about friends?” he countered. “Changes happen when there’s more information.” He dropped his voice to a whisper and the heat in his tone made Sonia catch her breath. “Satan and his handmaiden?”
“It was a long time ago.”
“Tell me what you want me to do,” he said with an undercurrent of steel.
Sonia could seriously get used to having a hero in her life. She knew better than to ask Nate for more than he wanted to give, though, so despite his obvious expectation, she didn’t ask for it.
This was her problem.
She would solve it herself.
“Stay a few minutes?” she asked and he nodded, settling back against the counter again.
The leopard print T-shirt flew toward Sonia and she caught it by reflex. It just might have been the tackiest garment she’d ever seen. A moment later, Katia flung her black bra at Nate.
He didn’t immediately realize what it was, from his expression, then smiled when he had it untangled. “It’s totally you,” he said, then tossed it to Sonia.
“I don’t dress like this,” she said, looking down at the spike boots and leather.
“That’s the point,” Katia and Nate said in unison.
“You can’t be agreeing with her,” Sonia said.
“No one is more surprised than me,” Nate confessed. “But if you need my help to escape Team Satan, I’m in.”
“Excellent!” Katia said, emerging in one of Sonia’s favorite T-shirts. She gestured to Sonia’s arm. “Thank God they don’t know about your ink. We’ll pretend it’s mine. They’ll believe it.” She surveyed Sonia. “And I could be more likely to do that to my hair than you. We can sell it.” Satisfied, she dumped the contents of her purse on the bed. Sonia could have sworn that the mattress dipped low under the weight. “Ha! I knew I had another set of eyelashes. Here. I’ll put them on for you.”
“No.” Sonia stood up and took a step back.
This had gone far enough.
“You need them,” Katia said. “Trust me.”
“No. Let them come.” Sonia met Nate’s gaze across the room. “I’m not hiding anymore. I won’t be bullied by them.”
His smile was slow but warm, putting a gleam of admiration in his eyes and making her want to kiss him senseless—then jump his bones. “It’s never going to work anyway,” he said quietly.
“It’s the only thing that will work,” Katia insisted.
Nate shook his head. “No one is stupid enough to confuse the two of you, even if you trade clothes.”
“Nick did,” the two sisters said in unison.
“Nick?” Nate repeated, looking between them with narrowed eyes.
“Nick,” Sonia said and sighed that she’d been so dumb to still have hopes about Nick, years after high school. She’d walked right into that on Valentine’s Day, heart on her sleeve.
“Nick,” Katia said sadly. “That great big, gorgeous dope. It’s just wrong that a guy could be that gorgeous with so little between his ears.” She nodded at Nate. “He has the IQ of a cinnamon bun.” Then she turned to Sonia. “I was sure I could fix you two up so you could finally have your way with him, but cinnamon buns tend to forget their lines. Actually, he didn’t have any lines, for exactly that reason.”
Sonia didn’t want to talk about it.
She barely noticed Nate’s expression turning impassive. “Well, since you’ve got this covered, I’ve got to go,” he said, heading for the door. “I’ve got a long drive ahead of me.”
“But you have to take Sonia,” Katia insisted.
“No, he doesn’t,” Sonia argued.
“But what are you going to do instead?” Katia asked Sonia and Nate paused to look back.
“Not follow your plan,” Sonia said. “I’m not trading places with you. Go home, Katia, and take all your stuff with you. You never would have survived a day here without being able to smoke.” She crossed the room to Nate and kissed his cheek. She felt the tension in him but assumed it was due to Katia’s presence. “Thanks again. Have a great drive to Boston.”
He almost smiled. “You’re kicking me out?”
“Yes,” Sonia said, even though she was wishing he’d stay a little longer. She would have liked to have talked to him, but she knew he didn’t want to be anywhere near Katia. “I’m making sure you’re not conflicted this time.”
“Win to you,” he said with a soft heat she couldn’t explain. Before Sonia could ask, Nate opened the door. “You want me to leave the bag downstairs?” he offered to Katia, then scooped it up with the Hook.
“No!” Katia said.
“Yes,” Sonia said. “Great idea. Thank you.”
Then Nate was gone, moving quickly down the stairs as if he couldn’t wait to escape. Katia stared at Sonia, incredulous, then shoved everything back into her purse and followed him.
“You’ll regret this,” she warned.
“I don’t think so,” Sonia said.
“If you’re sure.”
Sonia nodded. “I unblocked you, by the way.”
Katia gave her an intent look. “Well, it works both ways. Call me if you need anything.” She pulled on her boots again and followed Nate with obvious reluctance. She stopped in the corridor and turned back. “For what it’s worth, my plan was brilliant. You could have gone to St. Barts as me.” She waited, as if hoping that would sell the plan, but Sonia just shook her head. Her sister sighed and stomped down the stairs.
Sonia stood listening until they were both gone, the door to the street slamming and locking after them. Then she closed her own door and leaned back against it, realizing that her palms were damp.
She had to solve this, herself.
It was her battle, her war, and she was going to win.