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Perhaps she was more attached to her lifestyle than she’d allowed herself to admit, then and now. She had loved River, but the truth was that she hadn’t thought everything through. What would she have done after th
e honeymoon? When they moved into their cheap apartment and had to cobble together a life with furniture from a thrift store and boxed macaroni and cheese? How long would the love have lasted then?
Thanks to her overbearing father, she’d never know.
“I suppose if someone hadn’t plotted against us, I might feel differently,” Jade said. “It’s hard to imagine my life being like this.”
“Isn’t your fiancé rich?” Morgan asked. She hadn’t spent much time talking to Harley Dalton socially, but the news stories about the kidnapping had mentioned his successful investigations and security company. He’d been able to pay a large chunk of Jade’s ransom and was on the trail of her kidnappers—something the police weren’t having much success with themselves.
“Yes,” Jade said with a large sip of wine. She looked down at her engagement ring as though she still didn’t believe a rock like that was on her finger. “I’m still getting used to the idea of that, too. Fortunately, he’s self-made, so he understands that there’s an adjustment period. We’ve been staying at his mother’s estate for a few weeks now while he continues the investigation. She has a housekeeper, but I still find myself tidying up before she can get a chance to clean anything. I tried to buy generic granola bars at the store the other day and Harley kept taking it out of the cart and replacing it with the brand-name kind. It’s just a different mind-set.”
“I feel the same way when I think of how my life was supposed to be. Where would I have ended up, you know?”
Jade nodded solemnly. “The more I think about our situation, the more questions I have. Those are the kind that can never be answered, so I try to focus on the ones that can. Like who did this to us? And why?”
“To be honest, there’s a part of me that wants the answers and a part of me that just can’t deal with any more drama in my life. I know my father—er, our father, your father?” She stumbled over what titles she should use with Jade.
“You can just call him your father,” Jade said with an understanding smile. “It’s easier that way.”
Morgan smiled back, noting just how much Jade looked like her mother when she did that. Her pale blond hair and dark eyes were Steele through and through. She didn’t have the confidence or the designer wardrobe, but it didn’t matter. She was one of them. The rest of those things would come in time.
Morgan tried to suppress a pang of jealousy as she looked over Jade’s striking features. Her father had spoiled her mercilessly, but there were a few things in life that Morgan couldn’t have. River was obviously one. Looking like her mother was the other. She knew now that she took after Jade’s mother, Carolyn, who was an attractive and curvaceous woman, with bright eyes and flowing dark hair. There was nothing wrong with that; it just wasn’t the willowy and pale look Morgan had always longed for from a young age.
It made her wonder if she’d be more content with herself, kinder even, if she hadn’t grown up in the shadow of the elegant and gorgeous Patricia Steele. Another question that would never be answered.
“Okay, I know my father is throwing money at your fiancé to get to the truth and that’s fine by me. I would like to know eventually. But I’m leaving all that investigation stuff to the two of you. My summers are wild and all of this couldn’t have come up at a worse time for me. As it is, I’m struggling to find the time to see your parents and Dean. I’m sure they think I’m avoiding them, but really, I’m not. Life just never seems to cooperate.”
Jade nodded. “I understand. And so do they. I haven’t spent much time with them, either, between work and helping Harley with the investigation. I think I have a bit more invested in this whole thing since the kidnapping made it more personal.”
“Of course. You were certainly baptized into the Steele family in a dramatic way. My eldest brother, Tom, was kidnapped, too, when he was a baby. Being a Steele comes with its share of benefits and complications. Do you and Harley think your abduction is related to the switch?”
“I don’t know how it couldn’t be. I’ve never been a target of crime in my life before I went public about my DNA results. We’ve just got to get the last pieces in place and hopefully it will all make sense. I’m looking forward to it being settled. I want to know the truth, I want the bad guys behind bars and then I just want to move on with our lives the way they are now. I want to get to know you and my new family. Plan my wedding. You know, focus on normal stuff for a change.”
“Normal is just a state of mind. But I understand. We’ve had a lot of big changes this year and not a lot of time to work through them. Getting to know your parents. And you...” Morgan hesitated. “I don’t know what to call you. We’re not related in any way, but we share families through an odd twist of fate. It seems like we should be sisters.”
“I think that’s what we should be. The truth is too complicated to explain to anyone else, and honestly, I’ve always wanted a sister. Dean is a great brother, but it’s just not the same.”
“Yes!” Morgan said with enthusiasm. “Growing up in this house as the youngest with three older brothers?” She groaned aloud. “When I was little, I was desperate for someone to play with that wouldn’t rip my Barbie’s head off and launch it on a catapult to take out a lineup of enemy toy soldiers.”
Jade laughed and picked up her glass of wine, finally seeming to be at ease. “I guess it’s decided then. We’re officially kin.”
Morgan raised her own glass and they brought them together with a satisfying clink.
“Sisters,” they said in unison.
* * *
Damn. Morgan was looking frustratingly fine today.
It was a surprise, considering that River hadn’t been entirely sure Morgan was going to show up. Partially because he hadn’t actually spoken to her about this little rendezvous. He’d left her a voice mail when he knew she wouldn’t be available to answer. Like a damn coward. They may have called a truce, but he still didn’t want to talk to her in person—for an entirely different reason presently.
Now, instead of getting irritated, he’d get all twisted up inside at the sound of her voice. His blood would start rushing in his ears and his thoughts would stray to their honeymoon night. He had been too busy this morning to lose his focus just to talk to her.
It was bad enough how much time he’d already lost to blatant fantasizing where Morgan was concerned. Watching her saunter toward him now in a tight pencil skirt, clingy knit top and stilettos was a memory that was likely going to headline in tonight’s thoughts. It made him wonder if she’d intentionally dressed this way to meet him. Just to make him crazy. With the sunset behind her, her outfit highlighted every womanly curve she had like the silhouette of a ’50s pinup girl heading his way.
And for that, he was very grateful. Even if it made him awkwardly tense for a few minutes while he got his libido in check. He hadn’t really considered this complication when he bid to work with Steele on the project. Now, he realized that being around Morgan all summer would be an extended exercise in self-restraint for him. He’d never been one to deny himself what he wanted, but this was definitely a case where indulging would be a bad idea.
It was a bad idea, right?
