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As my mind switched from hormone overload to near-normal operation, a digital tone filled the room. Dylan fumbled in her pocket and pulled out her pink cell phone. “Oh. Paxton is almost here. I’ve, uh, gotta go. Let’s pick this up, um, later. Okay?” With one last hard if wistful look, she was gone.

Her light musk scent, I’d yet to identity, washed over me as she left. I stared at the spot she’d just occupied for so long, PJ let out a whine, reminding me it was his dinner time. Shaking off the last dregs of sexual tension, I made sure my equipment was all turned off before I led the over-indulged senior dog who’d helped me through some pretty low times after I arrived in Pineville, out of the apartment and to my cabin.

The Newfoundland was lucky the only soft spot I possessed was for him. Otherwise, I’d make him wait for his dinner until I finished texturing so I could get this job finished. I neededto ensure there’d be fewer reasons to be in Dylan’s crosshairs. Although she was quickly becoming my second soft spot.

A dangerous and sexy soft spot that tempted me constantly into forgetting every promise made not to cross that line with her totally and permanently useless.

But first, I was going to find out who in the hell Paxton was, and why my girl’s face lit up when she’d read his text? Just as I had the thought, I swore.My girl?

When the hell had I begun thinking of Dylan as mine?

THREE

DYLAN

“Why the frown,sis? Someone switch your coffee to decaf?” Lauren chuckled. A fluffy, dark gray kitten crawled out of her arms, then up her shoulder and snuggled into my twin’s neck.

It was Sunday. Apartment painting day. And the first time I’d be alone with Lars after the interruption of our newest client-guest’s arrival the other day. The frustrating man had been avoiding me since. I needed advice.

So, before I headed over to the apartment, I stopped at Lauren and West’s cabin for a cup, okay my third cup of coffee. I was looking forward to being so close to my sister again. Poor West. He was going to get a hopefully not too rude wake-up call on what it was really like being married to a twin once I was around day and night.

Growing up, Lauren and I had few boundaries. Might be worth hinting to him that if he didn’t want me walking in when they were “busy,” he might want to invest in a deadbolt or, better yet, a front door camera.

With a very unladylike snort, I replied, “Believe me, if that had happened, I’d be doing more than frowning. Anyway, what’swith the fur ball? Did you finally breakdown West’s ban on cats? And more importantly, what did you have to do to change his mind?” Yes, I changed the subject. I was still deciding how much to share with Lauren about my feelings for Lars. She knew I thought he was hot, but that was it. So far. I gave myself five more minutes, if that, before I spilled my guts.

“I didn’thaveto do anything. I happily complied with his demands.” More laughter. Then a wink.

My sister and her new husband were having so much sex, I doubted there was much more Lauren would have to do to sway her husband into anything. And since I knew they were holding off on having kids, so the kitten might be a good compromise.

Just as I had the thought, Lauren recovered from cracking herself up and said, “It was a compromise. He’s still not sure about fatherhood, so this little guy is our new fur baby.” Lauren nuzzled the kitten, then transferred it back to the pen she’d set up off the kitchen. Sitting back down, she narrowed her eyes and said, “Okay, spill. What’s really going on? I know you, Dyl. You’re the most sunshiny sunshine there is. Annoying, yes, but I’ve lived it. Give me the tea. It’s Lars, right?”

My head spun, and my guts churned. I’d missed this when I was off cavorting in Europe. She would always have my back, even as she kicked me in the butt when I needed it. “Get out of my head. And yes, it’s all about the Nordic bear. He seems to be cracking under my targeted campaign?—”

“But—”

“But just when I think he’s going to grab me and kiss me, he calls on some otherworldly strength and the flare of desire I’ve drawn from him poofs and he’s back to being his typical stoic self.” As I voiced out loud what I’d been feeling for months, I questioned if I was fighting an unwinnable battle.

Maybe Lars wasn’t that into me, and I was just seeing what I wanted to see. Or maybe his reactions were merely because hehadn’t been with a woman in a long time. That tidbit of info had been, according to Ridge, who’d sworn me to secrecy. Oh, well. Telling Lauren was the same as telling me. It was a twin thing. Two for one and all that.

“First. Wipe that doubt right out of your head. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. The way his posture changes whenever you’re near him. Heck, if you two are in the same room, even if you’re standing on opposites sides, there’s an invisible current between you two. So, forget that.”

I knew that. Had felt that pulse of energy the very first day when he’d hesitantly offered his hand when we met. His hand swallowed mine, and I’d instantly felt wrapped up in his warmth, connected on an unexpected level. I’d felt dainty for the first time, which at five foot ten was difficult for a woman. But he made me feel feminine, safe, and when I’d met his gaze, I suspected he was a fierce defender. A testament to his Nordic ancestry. And I wanted more of that feeling.

I’d been doing my best to show him how into him I was. And yet, for whatever reason, it hadn’t been enough. He had seemed indifferent at times, and I was feeling more defeated each day.

“Get naked.” Lauren made the statement so matter of factually it caught me off guard.

I spit out my last sip of coffee all over myself.“Akh!”That was unexpected and was thetruthiesttruth bomb ever. But as I grabbed the kitchen towel Lauren handed me and cleaned myself up, I realized it wasn’t a bad idea. I’d been waiting for him to make a move because I’d wanted to be sure he wanted me too. I’d totally overlooked the obvious.

Yes, it may be just a tad, okay, a lot calculated, but desperate measures and all that. Showing some skin had worked pretty much since Adam and Eve’s day, so I’d make it work for me.

I gave Lauren a hug and promised an update later tonight. She was off to help mom with a big event and West, Ridge andAddy would be working with various client-guests. That left Lars and me to tackle my apartment together.

Less than an hour later, I’d changed into clothes I wouldn’t mind getting paint on, and tucked my hair under an old baseball cap our dad had bought me at an Idaho Outlaws game we attended a few years back. I’d even added my favorite scent in some strategic places. I was as ready as I ever would be. And I hope Lars was ready to be swept off his size fourteen, waffle-stomper wearing feet.

He'd already begun painting by the time I arrived. He didn’t so much as flinch when I entered the apartment. The front door and the windows were wide open, letting in the late Spring fresh air. PJ was sprawled out on his side on the kitchen floor, all four legs pointing straight out as he snored. The kitchen area looked as if he’d already finished it.

How long had he been up here?“Hi. Um, where do you want me?” Hands in my back pockets, I rocked in my beat-up old running shoes waiting for him to finish the far wall. His impatient “hold on” was the only sound in the room, except for the squeak of the paint roller.