“What?” she asks, getting annoyed.
I can’t reply. I’m laughing too hard.
“What’s so funny, Shepard?” she asks, walking closer like she’s going to beat me up.
I hold my stomach as I try to get my laughter under control. “My date,” I start, but can’t finish because the laughter is back full force.
“Yeah, you brought a date. Who does that?”
I shake my head. “She’s,” more laughing. “My,” I manage to get out. “Sister.”
“What?” she asks.
I force myself to stop. “She’s my sister,” I say, wiping the tears from my eyes.
“She’s your sister?” She asks again, louder.
I nod. “She’s my sister, not my date.”
“Oh,” she finally says, eyes falling to the ground between us.
“Come here,” I say, grabbing her waist and pulling her chest against mine where our lips meet. I kiss her with everything I have, and she takes my breath away, but she doesn’t pull away. Instead, she wraps her arms around my neck and my hands move to the small of her bare back. I slow the kiss and pull back slightly. “I hope you know that I’ll be ripping this dress off you later. I hope it isn’t special.”
She laughs, but I cut the sound off with another kiss.
“Come on. Come meet my sister, you jealous woman.”
“Shut up,” she says, bumping her shoulder against my arm as we walk back to the hotel. “What was I supposed to think? It’s not like you called or anything while you were away.”
“I’m sorry. I was working late every night, and when I finished up, it was too late to call.”
“Well, a text wouldn’t hurt.”
I smile. “Okay, next time I’ll send you a text.”
I lead her back inside and over to the table where my sister is sitting. “Amy, this is the woman I’ve been telling you about. This is Destiny.”
Amy gasps as she reaches out for her hand. “You’re real! I was sure my brother was making you up. He’s never talked to me about a woman in his life before. It’s nice to meet you.”
Destiny puts a smile on her face and shakes her head. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
“We should get out of here so the cleaning crew can get to work. Are you sure you’re okay staying at the hotel alone?”
Amy rolls her eyes. “It’s a ski resort. I’m sure I’ll find something to occupy my time.”
“Yeah, well you’ve had quite a bit to drink tonight, so no skiing. Understand?”
She rolls her eyes. “Brothers are always so overprotective,” she tells Destiny. “Yes, I won’t ski tonight. Now, did you call that taxi?”
“It’s outside waiting.”
“You came here in a taxi?” Destiny asks.
“No, we came in my rental.”
“Then why is she taking a taxi?”
“Because she’s going back to her hotel room and we’re not.”
