Falling for the Wrong Twin Read Online Free PDF Page B

and bits about my life. Nothing as exciting as three-for-alls. I promise.”
    “Oh good. That would be tacky.”
    Yes, because tacky was what he was worried about. Meanwhile, Anna pointedly turned her back on him, grabbed her boxed breakfast and walked away. He told himself he was watching her leave because he wanted to be sure she left the B&B. Yup, that’s what he was doing. It had nothing to do with her long legs or the way she walked in those low heeled sandals. The way her pants sculpted her fine bottom or that she was nearly as tall as he. That her hair was neatly coiled in an artful knot, but that he was imagining pulling out the clip just to see it tumble down her back.
    Was he being too harsh? Well, of course he was. But he had to protect his brother. Didn’t anyone else see that? He said the words to himself. Even muttered them, but in his heart he had one question: Had he just tossed out the closest thing to elegance that he’d seen in a long time?
    “I really don’t think she was a fan, honey,” said his mother. “She didn’t talk about sports at all.”
    “There are clever loonies too, Mom. That’s why Rick has a security detail.” That his mother’s words closely echoed his own thoughts bothered him way more than it should.
    Meanwhile Aunt Tilde sniffed. “How are you ever going to meet a nice woman if you accuse all of them of being crazy stalkers? Your brother lives in Los Angeles, dear. And no one in the US really cares about soccer.”
    If only that were true.
    “Besides,” added his mother. “Rick isn’t even here. If she were simply a fan girl, she would have found that out and left. No muss, no fuss.”
    Actually, he knew from personal experience that that was absolutely not true. He’d learned in high school that many women thought he as the identical twin was as good as the real thing. Or close enough. And most fangirls had a habit of ignoring the word, “no.”
    But instead of saying that, he focused on what his mother really needed to know. “Actually, mom, Rick showed up last night.”
    “What?” gasped both ladies at once.
    “But he cancelled,” continued his mother. “I got the email just yesterday.”
    “Yes, I know. But he broke up with…” He pointed at the photo spread. “Kym.” Didn’t any of these women have a normally spelled name? “Hopped the first flight and got in a few hours before dawn.”
    “But-- but where’s he sleeping? Beth gave his room to Anna.”
    “With me,” he said dryly. And sharing a room with his professional athlete brother was not his choice in bed partner. Thank God the B&B had a trundle bed or it would be really awkward. Not a prayer that the two of them could fit on one bed.
    “Uncle Mike,” inserted the sweet voice of his niece. “Is all the yelling done now?”
    He winced. He hadn’t been yelling, had he? Well, no, he hadn’t but to a five-year-old, his angry tones would have been just like a gang fight.
    “Yes sweetie, it’s all over. I’m sorry I got angry.”
    The girl stood up in her chair and easily climbed into his arms. “You have to yell at bad ladies.”
    “Yes, honey, I have to.”
    “Just remember,” inserted his mother, “that Uncle Mike sometimes guesses wrong about people. And much too quickly.”
    With those unsettling words, he turned his attention to what he did best: taking care of his family. And that included ordering a healthy breakfast for his niece and nephew.
    …
    Anna moved with as much dignity as possible out of the room, but her insides were quaking with rage. What the hell was wrong with her? In her years as a party planner, she’d faced angry drunks, psychotic exes, and worst of all, arrogant caterers. She’d handled them all with her usual calm charm. She’d managed to cajole, threaten, or just trick them into doing what she wanted. And yet faced with one not-superstar from her dreams, and she was frozen into silence.
    The reason wasn’t hard to figure out. It was because he’d