Chapter Five
“Did you win the lottery and forget to tell me?” Hands on her hips, elbows sticking out like chicken wings, Emily scanned the bags and clothes scattered across the bed.
“For years, you’ve talked about Devlin this, Devlin that. For as much as I’ve heard, I actually know very little.” Setting down the black sheath dress she’d picked out, among many, she held up one hand and began picking off fingers with the other. “Handsome as sin—which we know at least the barracuda agrees with you. Successful—anyone willing to drop five digits on dinner had better be successful or else he’s certifiable. Loves his family—that one I’ll take your word for, but I think it says a lot about the man. He’s a sharp dresser—hence hitting every sales rack at Nordstrom’s and Neiman’s.” She waved the same hand that had been counting fingers, across the width of the bed.
“Don’t go setting your sights on Devlin Baron, the man is as much a perpetual bachelor as Warren Beatty or Leonardo DiCaprio. Except, of course, Devlin doesn’t date teenyboppers.”
“And Warren Beatty is married now.”
“That’s not the point. He didn’t marry young so, enjoy your dinner and call it a day.”
“Have you changed your mind about him?” At first Liz had thought that her twin had a crush on her handsome plus-one. Eventually, Liz figured out they were truly good friends, but maybe she’d been wrong.
“About what?” Emily’s gaze remained fixed on all the merchandise scattered across the bed.
“Not what. Who. Devlin.”
Emily’s head snapped around. “For the love of Jehoshaphat. Now I know you’ve lost your mind.”
It took Liz a long few moments to determine the expression on her sister’s face. In the end, love wasn’t it. The woman was truly exasperated with her twin. “Fine. So what’s the problem?”
“The problem is.” Emily picked up the strappy stiletto shoes with sparkles across one strap. “I love you both and don’t want to see anyone getting hurt.”
“Hurt? Why would we get hurt?”
“For one thing, you wouldn’t be the first woman swept away by the Baron lifestyle.”
“Lifestyle? It’s a dinner date. A bought and paid for dinner date, not even a hint of invitation there.”
“You say that now, but I’ve seen women fall over him when they realize how much money the Barons have. Then there’s Devlin.”
“What about him?”
“He’s a nice guy. Nicer than most people realize, and he takes family very seriously. Love too, which is probably why he isn’t married. I’ve seen the crushed look in his eyes when he really likes someone, I mean really, and then he realizes the only thing they love back about him is his bank account.”
“And you think I’m after his money?” Liz didn’t know whether to take her sister’s temperature or smack her upside the head.
“I know you’re not after his money, but I also know that you’re smart, and pretty, and flaunt it in a way that I never could. Even back in high school, boys would fall all over themselves to get your attention and not notice I was standing right there too. You have that way about you and I don’t want Devlin getting caught up in it.”
The serious tone of Emily’s voice and deep concern in her eyes reminded Liz so much of how even as little kids, Emily always protected her. “Don’t worry. This is just a fun chance to live like the other half I’ve been watching for years. Come Monday morning, I’m back to working nine to five and only getting glimpses into the wealthy’s homes, lifestyles, and budgets.”
Emily studied her sister.
“I promise. All will be well.”
Sighing, Emily turned her head back to the bed. “Then wear this one.” She held up the black dress. “Black goes with everything and it will show off your legs.”
“Done.” Liz threw here arms around her sister. “I love you.”
“Love you more,” Emily whispered, then pulled back. “Now get dressed. I forgot to mention that Devlin is always punctual.”
Never in her life had Liz gotten ready for a date, or sort-of date, so fast. There was no way she wanted to keep Devlin waiting and she’d spent more time than she’d meant to at the mall this afternoon. Taking a last-minute look in the mirrored closet doors, she had to admit, the black dress was the right choice. She could fit in anywhere that Devlin took them.
The doorbell sounded and Liz swallowed hard. This wasn’t exactly a real date, so why the heck was her stomach fluttering more than when the captain of the football team asked her to the homecoming dance?
In all the years that Devlin had picked Emily up for one event or other, never had he ever felt like swallowing his tongue. How could the two sisters be identical twins and yet look so very different. Not just the fashion, but the way they carried themselves. He’d always found Emily to be an attractive, well-dressed woman whom he was proud to have on his arm, but Liz? Liz made him feel like he’d fallen into a vat of peanut butter. His limbs too heavy to lift and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth.
“You’re right on time.” Even Liz’s smile was the same yet different. There was a twinkle in her eyes, almost mischievous, that made it hard to look away.
“Do my best.” For a fraction of a moment, he debated what to do next. This wasn’t really a date and yet it was. When in doubt, remember everything his grandmother and grandfather and parents ever taught him about being a gentleman. Which meant extending his elbow to her. “Shall we?”
The way Liz glanced down at his arm, for a few seconds, she seemed to be weighing whether or not it would bite her. In another beat, her gaze lifted to his, her smile broadened, and her hand curled around his elbow. “All set.”
There had barely been enough time to close the passenger door behind Liz when Devlin’s phone dinged. Scurrying around the hood of the car, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. In the front seat, he snapped his seat belt in place with one hand and scanned the text with his other. “Blast.”
A frown creased Liz’s brow.
“I hate to say this, but we have to make a quick stop.”
Lips pressed tightly together, her head bobbed. She was doing the same thing Emily did, studying him, measuring her words.
“It’s the alarm company on a new project.”
Her one brow shot up.
“There may have been a break in. The alarm sounded and the police are on their way.”
“Is it far?”
“No.” He shook his head. “About five minutes.” If he pushed the car and the lights cooperated.
Her gaze on the road, Liz didn’t say a word, which suited him just fine at the moment. His mind was reeling with possibilities of what he would, or would not, find. The city traffic lights were on his side tonight. Every one was green or yellow as he approached and they made it to the house in just a few minutes. Multiple police cars were already parked in front and his stomach did a momentary dive.
“Shall I wait here?”
He considered for a moment if she’d be safer here alone or inside with him. Since all the police seemed to be in the house, inside made more sense. “Lousy way to start a dinner date, but we might as well face whatever awaits together.”
“Safety in numbers,” she teased softly.
Despite the bird swooping in his stomach at the thought of the potential damage that might greet him, her words were exactly what he needed to relax a smidgeon and even drew a small smile from him.
The front door wide open, he sucked in a deep breath and without thinking, reached for Liz’s hand as if it had been his longtime friend with him and not her sister.
“Oh,” Liz spoke first. “This is lovely.”
His gaze quickly danced across the entry and view of the living room to spot an officer with a flashlight in hand coming toward them.
“Mr. Baron?”
Devlin nodded.
“We’ve checked the premises, upstairs and down. Whoever broke in isn’t here now. Can you tell if anything is missing?”
Another officer came from the kitchen, and Devlin could see a couple more officers in the backyard. “My assistant would know better than I would. Is there any damage?”
The officer shook his head. “If you’re asking me if your a/c unit is gone or holes in your walls, no.”
That was a relief.
“May I look around?”
Turning to face the officer, before Devlin could say anything, the policeman nodded at him. When he spun around to talk to Liz, he realized she was actually waiting for him to let go of her hand. Gently letting go and taking a step in retreat, he sighed. “Sorry, please feel free to walk around. I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”
It took all of five more minutes to get an update from the police and him to find Liz upstairs.
“Nice house. Anything missing?”
“I don’t think so, but my assistant will have a list of staged items.”
Bobbing her head, she took in the spacious game room. “I thought you did commercial development?”
“Normally, yes. Not too long ago a friend of mine approached me with an opportunity to buy out a builder who had gone belly up. He’d built one spec house and was putting up two more when, thanks to a messy divorce, his finances went south and he had to shut down. Once the divorce was settled, the three houses and several lots became available for a song.”
“And you can’t resist a good deal.” She smiled.
“Emily mention that?” He grinned back, liking the way she seemed to like what she was seeing.
Her smile widened. “Among other things.”
“Uh-oh.” He crossed his arms. “Would you like a guided tour of the rest of the house?”
“I’d love it, but,” she paused at a built-in bookshelf, “mind if I move something first?”
“Move?”
Shaking her head, she backed away from the shelving. “Never mind.”
“No. I wasn’t following you.”
“Have you ever heard the expression ‘less is more’?”
He nodded.
“It applies to staging. Sometimes if a stager over fills the house with tchotchkes, it can distract home buyers, and not always in a good way.”
“I see.” Not that he had any idea why knick-knacks mattered.
“Watch.” She raised her hand at him before walking away. “Close your eyes.”
He did as he was told.
“Okay. Open them.”
Blinking a couple of times, he studied the shelf, then he looked at the matching one on the other side. She was right. There was too much on the other shelving. One unit had just enough to highlight it—the other one had him looking at all the decorations and not at the house. “How do you know this?”
She chuckled. “Has my big sister not mentioned that I’m an interior decorator?”
“No.” At least he didn’t think so. Stifling a laugh, he shrugged at her. “Maybe?”