Cara Summers - Twin Temptation - Twin Temptation

Over Maddie’s shoulder, Jase saw Arnold Bartlett pick up a phone.

“I’m so out of my league,” Maddie said.

His eyes cut to Maddie’s as anger moved through him. It wasn’t directed at Maddie, but at the two people who’d put her in this situation—her parents. He grabbed her shoulders. “You’re not. You belong here every bit as much as Jordan does. You remember that.” Then he pulled her close for a quick hard kiss.

Maddie tried to keep her focus as her brain clouded and her knees went weak. He was playing a role, she reminded herself. And she had to do her part. Plus, she had to keep her mind on her goals.

A deep masculine voice said, “Ms. Farrell.”

When Maddie turned toward him, the dignified-looking man smiled and extended his hand. “Arnold Bartlett—store manager. I want to welcome you to Eva Ware Designs.”

Beaming a smile at him, Maddie shook his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Bartlett.”

“Call me Arnold. Your sister does.” He studied her for a moment. “Even though Jordan told us about you, I…The resemblance is striking. When you first walked in, I was sure you were Jordan. She sometimes wears her hair pulled back.”

Still smiling, he shot a look of polite inquiry at Jase.

Jase threw a friendly arm around Maddie and pulled her possessively close. “Jase Campbell. I’m an old pal of Jordan’s.”

“Ah, yes. But I assumed Maddie would be coming here alone.”

Jase gave Maddie a little squeeze. “Since she’s only going to be here three weeks, I just can’t bring myself to let her out of my sight. I’m sure you can understand why.”

“Yes, well…”

“Madison?”

Maddie’s gaze shifted to Adam Ware who was striding purposefully toward them.

“Adam told me to notify him the moment you arrived,” Arnold Bartlett explained. “He wants to give you a personal tour.”

Maddie stifled a surge of nerves as her cousin approached. He was even more classically handsome than she recalled. Today he wore a pale gray suit and a silk shirt and tie in varying hues of the same color. His longish chestnut-brown hair was shoved behind his ears revealing a single diamond in his right earlobe. His features were chiseled, his skin tanned and his profile might easily have graced some ancient coin.

Adam reminded Maddie a bit of the real estate agent, Daniel Pearson, who’d been so intent on getting her to let him list and sell her ranch. Both had a sheen of smooth sophistication. Adam was a bit more volatile, but she was reluctant to put her trust in either of them.

The man standing at her side with his arm around her was anything but smooth. Though if he decided to act the role of the city sophisticate, Maddie had no doubt that Jase could pull it off. Her father would have liked Jase, she suddenly realized. If for no other reason than that he seemed to be able to lie like a trouper.

When Adam reached her, he gave her a smile that didn’t succeed in reaching his eyes. That was another difference between the two men. Jase’s slow and easy smiles always reached his eyes.

“If you’ll come this way, I’ll show you to Jordan’s office.” Then he turned to Jase. “You’ll have to stay here. We don’t allow anyone but employees or family beyond the main salon.”

A little flare of anger began to build inside Maddie. Jase tightened his arm around her, and Maddie knew he was going to say something. To warn him off, she shifted her balance and pressed one of her narrow heels into his foot.

He stiffened, but he kept silent.

Maddie brightened her smile. She wasn’t going to allow herself to be intimidated. She might not have been a part of Eva’s life for the past twenty-six years, but she was here now.

“I came here for more than a tour, Adam. I’m stepping into Jordan’s shoes for the next three weeks, so you’re going to see a lot of me and Jase. And Jase will be accompanying me beyond the salon as my special guest.”

Drawing Jase with her, she strode toward the elevator she’d seen Adam step out of.

“Nicely done.” Jase spoke in a voice only she could hear.

She jabbed a finger into the call button. Once they were all in the elevator, Maddie said to Adam, “Before you take me to Jordan’s office, I want to see where Eva worked.”

Her cousin stared at her. “No one is allowed in there except members of the design team. That’s a strict rule that Aunt Eva made.”

Maddie raised her eyebrows at him. “I’m sure that Jordan has been allowed into the workroom?”

Now Adam frowned. “Occasionally, but she doesn’t work there. She’s not a designer.”

“Well, I am. And since I’m Eva Ware’s other daughter and a fellow jewelry designer, I’m certain she wanted me to visit.”

“Oh, very well.” Adam’s tone was less than gracious as he punched the button for the second floor. “Our workroom is adjacent to our office.” Once again he shot a look at Jase. “But I can’t allow your friend access to the design studio. It’s one of Aunt Eva’s hard and fast rules that outsiders are never allowed in her workroom. No one is permitted to see works in progress. She’s even kept my parents out.”

“The thing is, Eva Ware isn’t in charge here anymore,” Maddie said.

Adam’s face turned red. He opened his mouth, shut it and finally said, “Very well.”

The elevator door slid open on a small, high-ceilinged room with three offices opening off it. Desks and cabinets were partially visible through the open doorways. Oriental rugs in muted pastel shades dotted the marble floors. Sunlight poured through narrow windows. An antique cherry desk sat in the center of the room, and a young Asian girl glanced up, then rose and moved toward them. “Welcome to Eva Ware Designs. I’m Michelle Tan.”

Maddie summoned up the name from the notes Jordan had given her as she shook the hand the young woman extended. Then as the Michelle’s gaze shifted to Jase, Maddie said, “This is my friend, Jase Campbell.”

“Ah. Jordan’s roommate,” Michelle said. “She’s spoken of you.”

“I hope in a positive way,” Jase said.

Michelle smiled, but Adam interrupted before she could speak. “They’ve asked to see Aunt Eva’s workroom. We’ll be back shortly.” Then he turned and led the way down a short hall.

“You’re doing a nice job of handling your cousin, darlin’,” Jase murmured for Maddie’s ears only. “The pushier you are with him, the more easily I can fade into the background.”

“His mother isn’t here to prompt him. He seems more assertive when she is.” Then she shot him a look. “Darlin’?”

“Payback for my foot.”

The short exchange eased the nerves in Maddie’s stomach.

“When we get in the studio,” Jase continued, “I’ll distract your cousin so you can take your time.”

Adam opened the door and strode into the room. Over his shoulder, Maddie could see Cho Li, her mother’s long-time assistant, bent over something at a desk. He wore jeans and a loose-fitting chambray shirt.

“Cho, what are you doing working in Aunt Eva’s space?”

Adam’s voice had the small man swiveling in his chair.

Cho Li wore rimless glasses.

“I was finishing a design that Eva was working on,” Cho replied in a calm voice. “She would want it completed.”

For a moment the gazes of the two men clashed. In the end, it was Adam who dropped his. “You remember Madison Farrell.”

Cho rose from his chair and moved toward Maddie. When he reached her, he bowed.

Jase released Maddie’s hand as she also bowed. He knew from Jordan that Cho Li was in his midseventies, but he looked younger and his eyes were smiling. Jase quickly scanned the room. It was large, nearly twice the space of the office area where they’d left Michelle. Tall narrow windows along two walls let in plenty of light, and there were three clearly defined workspaces.