Mistaken Identity

Be

“Not that I saw.”

“Thanks,” Be

The large bodyguard jogged to Be

“I’ll check McDonald’s, you check the bookstore.”

“Can’t do that. Have to stay with you. The contract.”

“Then put on the afterburners.” Be

Be

“She’s gone,” he said, finally panting.

“She can’t be.”

“She is. We looked everywhere.”

“We’ll wait. She’ll show up. She has to.”

“No, she doesn’t.” Mike laid a heavy hand on Be

“We could wait.”

“She won’t show up.”

“Shouldn’t we wait?” Be

“Time for you to go home,” the bodyguard said. He looped a strong arm around Be

94

Be

“Be

Be

“You won the case. Congratulations.” Grady’s arms flopped at his sides, but he didn’t move to kiss her. “I was thinking maybe we could go out. Celebrate. Get reacquainted.”

“Look.” Be

“You’re kidding.” Grady brushed his hand on his jeans, leaving sawdust handprints on his thighs. “You want me to open it for you?”

“No.”

“You sure you want to know?”

“Sure.” Be

Grady nodded. “Sit down, then.”

Be

“An excellent point.” Grady pulled over a box of tile, and Be

“Okay.” Be

“Well?” Grady asked, standing apart from her, his hands resting on his hips.

“I can’t tell.” Be

“Let me see.” Grady stood behind her and scrutinized the paper over her shoulder. “It isn’t very clear, is it?”

“You’d think they could make it easier.” Be

Grady looked up from the paper. “You’re twins. Lord, you’re really twins.”

Be

“What?” Grady asked, and Be

“Co

“But she’s my twin. I know it now, for sure. She should know that, too.”

“It doesn’t sound like she cares, hon. She treated you terribly. You almost got killed because of her, and she dumped you at the station. Why would you want to seek her out?”

“Because she’s my sister.”

“And what of it?” Grady asked softly.

“She’s my family, my blood, and right now, she’s the sum total of it.” She gulped her coffee, not wanting to cry.

“You know what I think, Ben? I’m not like you, with this blood thing and all. Maybe it’s because I’m not Italian, I don’t know.” Grady pulled his legs up to his chest, looping long arms around his knees. Bear slept soundly next to him, curled into a ci

“What do you mean?”

“My brother is a jerk, you know that. A materialistic, mean-spirited jerk. He’s not family to me, even though he’s my only brother.”

“That’s not good.”

“It’s the way it is.” Grady shrugged, his fingers still interlaced. “I don’t feel tied to him just because he’s my blood and shares my genes. Who’s your family? Family is who you feel close to, who you love, and who loves you in return. Gives to you. You aren’t stuck with the family you’re born with. At some point, you grow up and choose your family, Be

Be