Читать книгу The Twin - Jan Hudson - Страница 13

Saturday was one of those perfect Texas days that come most often in the spring or the fall. The colors on the hills toward the lake seemed brighter than usual. Because most of the trees were evergreen, and the climate didn’t generate many autumn colors, this was a rarity. She’d heard something about an especially dry summer and a number of cool nights turning the deciduous trees into a lovely palette of reds and golds against the blue sky.

Sunny followed a winding, blacktopped road toward the place where she was meeting Belle and the others. She hated that Cass wasn’t along and had tried to convince her sister to come in her place, but Cass wouldn’t hear of it.

“You know I’m not much on fishing,” Cass had said. “Go on. Go. Go.”

And truthfully Cass didn’t know one end of a rod from another. Brian had taught Sunny to fish, and she’d learned to love it. They’d spent many an hour on Lake Travis. She hadn’t wet a hook since he’d died. In fact, she’d had to do some digging in her storage unit to find a rod and reel and her tackle box.

After checking the number on the mailbox, she pulled into the driveway of a ranch house at nine on the dot. It was a rather ordinary place except that its backyard abutted the gorgeous panorama of the lake, and a helicopter rested in a large clearing beside the house. Who on earth did that belong to?

She pulled up behind a black SUV and got out. By the time she had retrieved her fishing gear, Belle had appeared from behind the house, and a willowy, short-haired blonde was with her.

“Hey,” Belle said, waving. “You found us. Great. Sunny, this is Sam’s wife, Skye. She’s a veterinarian, a vegetarian, my double sister-in-law and my best friend.”

Skye stuck out her hand and laughed. “Sounds ominous, doesn’t it? Welcome to our branch of the Outlaw gang. I’m sort of new myself.”

“How are you a double sister-in-law?” Sunny asked.

“Well, Belle married my brother Gabe, and I married her brother Sam. Seems like we were destined to be sisters one way or another. I’m sorry your sister couldn’t come, but I look forward to meeting her next weekend. Sorry I don’t eat chili because Sam says yours is fabulous.”

“We have a vegetarian version,” Sunny said.

“You do? Sweet!”

Belle grabbed the tackle box, hooked her arm with Sunny’s and said, “Come on out back. The guys have the boat about ready to shove off.”

In the back, they walked down a flight of steps to a pier where a boat was docked. Sunny was surprised to see three men instead of the two she expected. She immediately recognized Sam, who looked up and smiled. A handsome blond guy she didn’t know also turned and smiled. When the third turned around, she almost dropped her rod.

It was Ben McKee. He’d traded his Stetson for a blue ball cap and his dress shirt and tie for a jersey faded from red to almost pink.

“Sunny,” Belle said, “the blond hunk in the sunglasses is my husband, Gabe Burrell, and I think you’ve met the other hunk, Ben McKee.”

“Good to meet you, Sunny,” Gabe said. “I see you’ve brought your own rod. It looks custom-made.”

“Whoo-ee,” Sam said. “We’d better watch out, guys. She looks like she takes fishing seriously.”

“Sunny,” Ben said, simply smiling and touching the brim of his cap. “Closest thing I have to a custom-made rig is a cane pole I cut myself.”

Sunny felt her face blaze, and she felt an irrational urge to slap the silly smile off his face. “It was a Christmas gift from my husband.”

There was a sudden silence. Her comment had gone over like a toad in a punch bowl.

“Sorry about the crack,” Ben said, and he held out his hand to help her aboard. “It’s a fine-looking rod. Was it made locally?”

Sunny accepted his hand, and everybody started talking at once as they climbed onto the large boat.

“The biggest fish of the morning,” Sam said, “is exempt from cleaning the catch or cooking lunch. Except for Skye. She’s not included in the contest.”

“Because you’re vegetarian?” Sunny asked her.

“No,” Belle said. “Because she’d probably catch a whale. Fish jump on her hook.”

“You fish,” Skye said, pulling a paperback from her tote, “and I read.”

“Why is it fish jump on your hook?” Ben asked.

She shrugged. “Just one of those odd things.”

“She’s enchanted,” Belle said. “Critters of every kind adore her. Who’s got the worms?”

“Ben brought the worms,” Sam shouted as he pulled the boat away from the pier.

They spent the rest of the morning fishing and laughing and talking. Sunny thoroughly enjoyed herself. She couldn’t remember when she’d laughed or talked so much. Sam and Belle were natural cutups, and they were in fine form. A shame she’d only met them now.

Shortly before they were due to go in, Sunny cast her line near where someone had left a milk jug marker. Immediately, a fish struck, a big one by the feel of it. She played it, praying she wouldn’t lose what she hoped was a whopping-size black bass. When she finally pulled in the fish, Ben helped her get the huge black bass in the boat.

Ben held it up and said, “Unless I miss my guess, this looks like the day’s winner. At least seven pounds.”

“Or eight,” Gabe said. “Only fitting, Sunny, that you’re our winner.”

“I agree,” Skye said.

Sam looked at Skye and frowned.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Skye said. “I had nothing to do with it. I’ve been reading about the latest treatment for mange.”

They headed back to the lake house, where the guys lit the grill and cleaned the fish while Belle and Skye retrieved containers of side dishes from the fridge. Sunny tried to help, but they wouldn’t hear of it.

“You won, fair and square,” Skye said.

“Do you really attract critters?” Sunny asked. Although the thought of such a thing seemed a little odd, who was she to say? She talked to a ghost.

“Umm. Sometimes. When you’re a veterinarian, it’s helpful to have a good rapport with animals.”

“Do you treat many fish?”

Skye chuckled. “Not many. In fact the only patient I can recall was a goldfish, and I wasn’t able to revive him. We had a funeral service instead.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep. With songs and prayers and the whole shebang.” Skye picked up a plastic container. “I’m going to take these veggies out for the guys to put on the grill. Want to bring the paper plates?”

LUNCH HAD BEEN SO MUCH FUN that before she knew it, it was midafternoon. “Oh, wow,” Sunny said, jumping up. “I didn’t realize it was so late. I have to get back to town.”

“Big date?” Sam asked.

Sunny almost laughed when she saw Skye kick him under the table.

“No. I have to work tonight. Most Saturday nights are full. Let me help with this real quick.”

She picked up the empty bowls from the patio table, and Skye picked up the ice-cream maker. Belle got the rest of the remnants, and the women carried the things inside to the kitchen.

“Are you working tonight at the café?” Skye asked.

“No, I play with a band on most Saturday nights.”

“A band?” Skye said, her eyebrows going up. “Like with instruments?”

“Guitars, drums, keyboard. Real instruments. We’re the Copper Pistols.”

“What fun!” Skye said. “How did you come up with the name?”

“Seemed like a logical one for police officers—and everybody in the group is a working cop. They let me stay in the band after I left the force.”

“I forgot Belle told me you were in law enforcement,” Skye said as they walked back outside. “What did you do on the police force?”

Hearing Skye’s question, Gabe asked, “Sunny, were you really a cop?”

“Sure was. For several years. I was in uniform for a while, working traffic, and later I became a detective. Listen, everybody, today has been wonderful. I’m so glad you invited me, and Cass and I are looking forward to next Sunday. In the meantime, if you drop by Chili Witches, your next meal is on the house. Now, I’ve got to run.”

After goodbyes were said, Ben picked up her rod and reel and tackle box and followed Sunny to her car.

“You really did have a previous engagement,” he said.

“Did you think I didn’t?”

“I wasn’t sure if it was a brush-off.”

“It wasn’t.”

He stowed her things in the backseat, then turned to her. “How about tomorrow night?”

“For what?”

“For dinner. With me.”

That clawing panic was back. She tamped it down. “I’d like that.”

“Where do I pick you up?”

“I live over the café. There are stairs around back. I’m A.”

“A what?”

She smiled. “I’m apartment A. My sister is apartment B.”

SUNNY WORKED HERSELF INTO a lather trying to find something to wear. She didn’t have any dating clothes, especially when she didn’t know where they were going. Of course Austin was a super casual town, but she really didn’t have much besides jeans and church clothes.

Her wardrobe, like her apartment walls, was pretty plain and boring. Her walls were beige; her carpet was beige; even the countertops in the kitchen were beige. The only spot of color in the living room was her light blue couch with the grape juice stain, and that was old—both the couch and the stain. If she was expecting company, which was rare, she draped a beige throw over the stain.

She’d never gotten around to hanging drapes or pictures. She kept meaning to, but she just couldn’t muster up the interest. The wooden blinds were nice and they provided privacy.

Finally, after she’d tried on every stitch she owned, Sunny gave up and called the clotheshorse for help. In less than two minutes Cass was at her door with a pair of black pants and a fussy blue-patterned blouse with fluttery sleeves.

Sunny frowned. “Cass, that’s not me.”

“Yes, I know. That’s why you don’t have anything appropriate in your closet. It’s perfect. Try it on before you decide. Have you got any heels?”

“Of course I have heels.”

“Let me see them.”

Sunny pulled out her best black pumps, and Cass groaned. “Those are old-lady shoes. Try these.” She pulled off the spike-heel peep-toes she wore and held them out.

“But they’re red.”

“Duh.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll try them.” Sunny strode to her bedroom with Cass trailing after.

She stripped off her best jeans and was about to step into the black pants when Cass said, “Oh, gawd! You’re not going to wear those are you?”

Confused, Sunny said, “I thought you brought them over for me to wear.”

“I meant those panties. They look like Aunt Min’s.”

“Forget it.” Sunny zipped the pants. “Nobody is going to see my underwear.”

“Well, you never know.”

“I know. Trust me. Nobody is going to see it.” She put on the blouse and the ankle-buster shoes. As she stood in front of the mirror, she had to admit she looked very nice. Not clownish as she feared. In fact, she looked—and felt—a little sexy.

“See?” Cass said. “I told you. You look terrific.”

“I look like you.”

“Is that so bad?”

Sunny grinned. “Actually, no. I look pretty darned good.”

Cass took off her dangling gold earrings. “Try these.”

They were perfect.

“Know what you need?” Cass asked.

“What now?”

“You need to go shopping if you’re planning to date this guy again.”

“Why?” Sunny gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I can borrow everything I need from my sister.”

“You wish. Buy your own clothes, sweetie. I hope you were planning to put on some eye shadow and liner.”

“I’m not sure if I even have any.”

Cass rolled her eyes. “Now I know you’re going shopping. Be right back.”

Twenty minutes later, after Cass had worked her magic and left, Sunny leaned close to the bathroom mirror and checked her makeup. She had to admit the difference was amazing and not overdone at all. Mostly she’d made do with lipstick and a little blush. Live and learn.

The doorbell rang and she startled. Was Ben here already? She took a deep breath and walked slowly toward the front door. Why was she feel so guilty doing this? Was she dishonoring Brian’s memory?

Just as she put her hand on the knob, the Senator appeared for just a second. He shook his head, smiled and vanished.