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“Goodness.”
Satisfaction filled him at her surprise. The appliances were a bright turquoise but they all matched, well, except for the refrigerator. It was old as well, but white. He went to the cabinet next to the sink and pulled out a couple of mismatched plates of heavy crockery.
He turned just as she was setting their dinner on the wooden blocked table. She opened the bag and pulled out the wrapped burgers. He set the plates on the table for her, momentarily stunned by the delicacy of her hands.
“Could I get a knife?”
Aiden took one from the drawer and handed it to her, handle first. “Just don’t get any ideas of stabbing me with it.”
“I hardly know you,” she said, smiling. Her attention remained on her task. “Hardly any reason to attack you at this point, tempting as it is.”
Aiden stared at her, confusion swirling through him. Shaking his head, he went back to the fridge and took out a couple more beers and brought them to the table. What did she mean ‘she hardly knew him’?
“Did you have a lobotomy I don’t know about?”
Her head shot up, her sharp gaze piercing him. She ignored his half serious-half rhetorical question. “I’ll have water, if you don’t mind.” She turned back to her sandwich and lifted the top bun then peeled off the onion and the tomato with her forefinger and thumb as if touching something obscene. She took up the knife and cut the burger in half.
Aiden went back to the fridge and grabbed a couple of bottled waters. Back at the table, he lowered across from her. He unwrapped his own burger and offered her half of his fries.
“No thanks. That dress Iris had me wear this afternoon was a huge wake up call.”
Aiden’s mind went right to perfectly framed breasts in their low-cut bodice. “Did they make you wear a corset too?”
“Of course.” She took a small bite of her sandwich.
“I suppose you’re still one of those women who is obsessed with her weight.”
“You sound like you’re accusing me of something that we know is required to make it in this business.” She set her half-burger with the small bite aside and leaned back in her chair. “That’s not fair. Things are changing, true. But the business is still male dominated, and you know it.” Again, she leveled him with moss-green eyes that he remembered all too well. “What else did the director tell you this afternoon?”
“What makes you think he said something else?”
“We’re in the same room, aren’t we? You aren’t ripping me to shreds.” She lifted one shoulder. “He was insulting to the extreme.”
“You sound like your Regency era character.”
Tamera grinned. A sight that stole his breath. He didn’t remember this soft humor about her. Years ago, there was an intensity about her that was downright scary. “It helps me with my character.” A blush tinged her cheeks. “I practice at home.”
“Practice at home?”
“Talking to my cat. Oh, my god, my cat!”
“Your cat will be fine while you eat dinner.”
She shoved her plate away and stood up. “I’m finished now.”
“You took one bite.” He abandoned his own burger—he’d already eaten more than half—and followed her into his tiny living room.
She went to the bookcases and studied the titles. There was no rhyme or reason in how they were shelved. Most people he invited over were surprised to learn he just loved reading.
“Lots of self-help books here.” She glanced at him over her shoulder, and again he was struck by the change in her.
He leaned against the doorjamb, folding his arms over his chest. “You really don't remember me, do you?”
“I take it Tamera didn't mention a twin sister?”
Aiden frowned. “What?” That wasn’t possible. He moved to the bookcase and lowered to his knees and opened a cabinet door. He tugged out a box and dug through a stack of photographs and pulled one out. He handed it to her.
Slowly, she took the picture as if reaching toward a poisonous viper. She studied it quietly for a long time.
