"Today's the big day, Jesse."
Jesse Larson stared at her bubbly blond boss over a rack of scuba tanks. "Already?" she asked, as if she wasn't completely aware of what day it was. A bikini fashion show wasn't her idea of a roaring good time, but if it saved the park...
"We could really use another model. Are you "
"No!" Jesse, who faced killer whales on a daily basis, was terrified of even hearing the rest of that sentence. She reminded herself Tiffani with an i and subsequent heart instead of a dot over the i was the niece of SeaLife Park's director, so she forced softness into her voice. "I convinced my sister to star in the fashion show. That's the limit of my contribution." And she expected watching her sister in her element the center of attention would be the only fun part of the night. Everything else schmoozing corporate honchos, begging for dollars, small talk... Yick!
"But twins... I'm thinking identical leopard-print bikinis."
So says the woman wearing the blue bikini top with Sea printed across the right boob and Life printed across the left, both in neon orange.
No way, Jesse thought, pulling nylon shorts over the bottom half of her red tank suit. "I'm thinking I'll serve punch and cookies."
Tiffani pushed out her bottom lip even farther. "I'm not feeling your dedication to the park."
And the park needed dedication. For the past decade, they'd operated under a nonprofit umbrella, bringing the public exciting stunt shows, while supporting the real work of research and education on undersea life. But the latest figures had the park frighteningly swimming in red ink. They had to do something to raise money, or the park would close. Tiffani had decided a corporate sponsorship was the best avenue to big bucks, and somehow actually Jesse knew how the bikini fashion show sponsored by Killer Shark Beer and starring her identical twin sister, the famous swimsuit model Sabrina, had been born.
"Is Eric Brennan here yet?" she asked Tiffani as she pushed open the equipment room door.
"I " Tiffani who'd ridiculously decided to pick today to teeter about on high-heeled sandals stumbled into Jesse, and they fell through the doorway.
Before Jesse even had time to cuss, a pair of strong, warm arms enveloped her. She glanced up into wicked blue eyes and felt her face flush painfully, even as her heart leaped. "Hi, Eric."
He grinned, flashing a dimple in his left cheek. "You look like you got too much sun, babe," he said and tapped the end of her nose. Which was no doubt red as a beet.
As the familiar mixture of embarrassment and desire coursed through her body, she pulled away from him, noting Tiffani clung to his shoulder. As metaphors went, it was a pretty good one. Women had been falling all over Eric Brennan since the 10th grade.
Jesse tamped down the urge to comb back the tousled black strands of her old friend's hair and sternly reminded herself his interest lay with another Larson. Her sister.
The fashion show was just Eric's latest attempt at the chase. One he'd never win. Sabrina had gone out with him a few times last year, but she wasn't serious about their relationship. Playing the field was her secondary occupation, and even the powerful marketing director for Killer Shark Beer wasn't a big enough fish for Sabrina.
Tiffani finally straightened and plastered on her best smile. "Oh, Mr. Brennan, it's such a thrill to meet you. I'm Tiffani Huntington. We spoke on the phone."
Not really jazzed about observing the butt-kissing even of Eric's fine specimen Jesse scooted around them. She had work to do. Beer and bikinis? Sharks and dolphins? Watching Eric drool over her sister? Not an auspicious beginning to the day.
Eric grabbed her arm. "Running off so soon?"
She turned, glancing down at his hand before meeting his sparkling blue gaze. Her stomach rolled over, slow and easy.
"How about some coffee?" he asked.
Hanging around Eric, drooling over him while he rambled on about Sabrina? Not in this lifetime. "I gotta feed Coco."
"She's our star killer whale," Tiffani put in, her enthusiasm bubbling like a never-ending geyser.
"We've met," Eric said quietly, and Jesse stared at her flip-flop-clad feet, remembering Coco's tank was the site of her and Eric's only kiss. An accidental and awkward brushing of lips that had left her heart soaring and him apologizing. Not her greatest moment.
Though at least she hadn't blathered out something stupid like "Take me, take me now" and had Eric wondering what happened to his good buddy. Revealing her 17-year-old secret crush was a big no-no.
Thankfully, the receptionist prevented further humiliation by handing Jesse a note. Frowning, she turned over the pink phone message slip. Get backstage now! -S.
Great. What drama was Sabrina into now?
But, hey, she sure provided a convenient excuse to escape Eric's electricity and Tiffani's leopard-print bikini ideas. "I have to go see about my sister. See you."
Clearly torn between her star's needs and Killer Shark's barley-and-hops-scented money, Tiffani's gaze darted between Jesse and Eric.
"I'll just grab some lunch," he said. "You two go ahead with your work."
Tiffani's smile was dazzling. "Fabulous. How about we meet here in an hour, and I'll give you the full park tour?"
"Sure." Eric turned to leave, and Jesse and Tiffani headed down the hall. "Jesse," he called when they'd only gotten a few feet.
Jesse glanced back, somehow managing not to sigh at the amazing full-length view of him. Maybe he wasn't beyond her reach. It wasn't as if she were a troll. Technically, she looked exactly like the woman he wanted without the drama, and with the added benefit of being able to carry on a conversation that wasn't first cleared through her publicist, her agent, and her stylist.
"Tell your sister I said hi."
The man was so beyond her reach he might as well be on Mars.
"Sure," she said. "You bet." In times like these, Jesse reminded herself she wasn't jealous of her sister. Really. She'd walk over hot coals before she'd strut around in tiny scraps of cloth before an audience of hundreds. She'd always admired her sister's guts.
Jesse continued down the hall, only half listening to Tiffani ramble on about how gorgeous and gracious Eric was. When they reached the dressing room she glanced at her sister, pouting in front of a brightly lit mirror. "What's " She stopped, moving closer to Sabrina, her gaze locked on her red, blotchy skin. "What the hell's all over your face?"
Sabrina's eyes welled up. "Poison ivy."
"Oh, hell." Jesse glared at her sister. Leave it to Sabrina to pull a stunt like this.
But as she looked around, she didn't see the usual audience no fawning publicists or assistants. In fact, her sister was alone, and Sabrina never traveled alone she thrived on being the center of attention. Maybe she wasn't faking it.
Sabrina didn't respond to Jesse except to let one perfect tear role down her cheek. She slowly pulled the huge Hermθs scarf from around her neck, exposing her shoulders and arms.
Jesse and Tiffani jumped back.
"You look like a troll!" Jesse gasped. This was clearly not staged just to get out of doing the show; Sabrina was way too vain to walk around looking like this voluntarily. Jesse had never seen a worse case of poison ivy. At least, not since they were 16.
"What happened? Were you out fooling around behind the Simmonses' house again?" Jesse asked in disbelief. Sabrina had gained a reputation in high school for "walking in the woods" with the captain of the football team, only to emerge covered in poison ivy. That was the only time she had seen her sister embarrassed, ever. And Sabrina's embarrassment had had more to do with her appearance than her ruined reputation!
"No," Sabrina sobbed delicately. "I went hiking with that blond German alpine guide." She snuffled prettily. "It didn't turn out as planned."
Jesse snorted. No kidding. She rummaged for a hankie and handed it to her sister. "Hey, Sabrina, it's okay. We can do the show without you. It won't be as beautiful, but we'll be fine."
Sabrina looked at her sister worriedly with large, watery eyes. "I'm so sorry, I feel awful about this. And I itch like all get-out."
"It's all right." Jesse rubbed the small area of her sister's arm that remained unwelted and wished she could give her a hug.
"You can't even see the worse of it," Sabrina wailed.
Jesse groaned. Only Sabrina would find new places to get poison ivy.
"I hope he looks worse," Jesse said wryly. "What kind of a guide doesn't recognize poison ivy when he sees it?"
Sabrina grinned with satisfaction. "He won't be doing a whole lot of hiking for quite some time."
"The show," Tiffani whispered finally. She had been rendered speechless, rooted to the floor in panic. "The show."
Jesse poked her. "The show will be fine."
Tiffani's eyes narrowed as she came out of shock and swiveled to look at Jesse.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Jesse asked, backing away a step. She was no match for her boss on a tear. Tiffani was half a foot shorter, but she was like a terrier after a rat when she needed to be. Relentless and fearsome.
Jesse glanced to Sabrina for support, but Sabrina's eyes had lit up fiendishly with instant understanding of what Tiffani had in mind.
Tiffani edged closer to Sabrina, sensing an ally. They both started nodding their heads and Sabrina tapped her lip speculatively.
Jesse put up her hands defensively. "No! No way! I will not do this. No way."
"You know, we used to do the switch as kids. Always worked, too, especially when Jesse took my tests." Sabrina assessed her sister critically.
"Has hell frozen over?" Jesse could feel the cold concrete against her back. She was cornered.
They advanced with a synchronized click of high heels. Sabrina turned to Tiffani. "It will take some work, but we can do it."
"In two hours?" Tiffani squeaked anxiously.
Jesse choked, insulted. "Hey, I'm not some slab of beef ready to be trussed up and garnished."
Sabrina ignored her. "When was the last time you shaved your legs?"
Jesse felt her face flush with humiliation and anger. She would not let them railroad her into this.
Tiffani leaned over and inspected Jesse's left leg. She gave a little shiver of disgust. "Ick, that's gross."
Jesse rolled her eyes. She wasn't that hideous. But it didn't matter. "I will not put on that bikini, no way."
Two concentrated gazes focused intensely on her.
"But think of the park we need you," Tiffani wheedled. Jesse shook her head, not even for the park would she prance around in two cents' worth of fabric.
"Think of my reputation, and all those people who are coming here to see me." Sabrina let another tear roll down her cheek and her lip trembled beautifully.
Jesse rolled her eyes, but felt her resolve start to slip. Sabrina would be professionally humiliated if word got out that she had been a no-show at a charity fund-raiser.
"And what about Coco? Do you want her to have to go live with strangers?" Tiffani added weight to the tipping scale.
Jesse glared at Tiffani. She hated to think of Coco in the wrong hands.
"Oh, and there's one more thing to consider," Sabrina said in a sugary, confident tone.
She shouldered Tiffani easily out of the way and leaned close to her sister's ear. Jesse saw the glint in her sister's eye and tried to pull away.
Sabrina put a hand against the wall blocking an escape and spoke quietly. "You wouldn't want to let Eric down, would you?"
Jesse's eyes flew to her sister's. How could she know? Sabrina shrugged.
"What about your dates last year?" Jesse asked hoarsely.
"Nothing, absolutely no spark. He just thinks he wants me, because I'm the only woman on seven continents who's not drooling over him."
Jesse swallowed. "Will this really work?" she asked.
Sabrina grinned mischievously. "Trust me. It always works."
Nodding, Jesse said, "Okay."
Tiffani clapped and gave a little hop. "Can you do this, Sabrina? Can you really transform her?"
Sabrina groaned theatrically. "If she didn't already look just like me, I would say there's no way." She bent down to pick up her makeup case. It was the size of a small Chevy, so she handed it to Jesse.
Jesse took the case blindly. What had she just agreed to?
An hour and a half later an hour and a half of yanking, shaving, painting, and a lot of complaining from the model Sabrina stepped back and announced, "I am so awesome!"
Jesse squeezed her eyes shut, not daring to face the mirror. "I can't believe you talked me into this," she said, teeth gritted. "I'm a scientist, for crying out loud!"
Sabrina stomped her foot in exasperation. "Will you just look?"
Jesse sighed. Time to assess the damage. She slowly swiveled around to face the mirror. Her mouth dropped open.
Sabrina had worked a miracle. Jesse's eyebrows, which hadn't been bushy, but definitely didn't have an arch to speak of, were perfectly plucked, giving her a sophisticated, almost haughty expression. Sabrina had applied a shimmery shadow that set off Jesse's deep-green eyes, which were usually hidden behind wraparound sunglasses. There was a hint of sparkle on Jesse's cheekbones, making her golden tan more sexy than athletic. Her lips were shiny and matched the polish on all twenty nails. Sabrina had highlighted Jesse's brown hair in record time using lemon-scented hair lightener and a blow dryer set on ouch-you're-burning-my-scalp!
And then there was the bikini. When Sabrina handed the skimpy pieces to her, Jesse shouted, "Where's the rest of it? This could fit in a first-class envelope! You can't expect me to walk out there undressed in this."
Sabrina had just waggled her finger at her indignant twin. "Do it for SeaLife Park," she cooed, hitting Jesse right where she knew she'd have an impact. "Do it for Coco." The sly sparkle in her eye added silently, Do it for Eric.
Jesse put on the bikini.
Now, all done up like a Miss Universe contestant, she refused to take off the robe Sabrina had loaned her. "I feel naked."
"Yeah, isn't it great?" Sabrina chirped. "I get paid to feel like that every day!"
The door opened and Tiffani barged in, clipboard in hand and headset microphone on. She had left Jesse's makeover to Sabrina, while she saw to other details, like feeding Coco and touring Eric around the park. "Ooohh, Jesse, you look like your sister! Great job, Sabrina. Nobody will ever know the difference! You've totally saved our butts!"
"What about me?" Jesse protested, but Tiffani was already barking into her headset. "Gary, are you there? Cue the music!" Then, turning to the twins, she giggled, "Twenty minutes till show time!" Then she sailed out of the room.
"You're all done," Sabrina said, fluffing Jesse's hair. She wrapped a silk scarf around her head and neck to conceal the rash and put on her shades. "I'm going to sit in the front row and watch. Don't be nervous."
"Wait!" Jesse grabbed Sabrina's arm as panic rose in her throat. "I don't know how to do this!"
Sabrina winced, disentangling her itchy arm. "There's nothing to it! Just walk. Even you can do that."
"Not in these, I can't," Jesse growled, raising one stiletto-clad foot. "I go barefoot most of the time, remember?"
"Just look straight ahead," Sabrina said. "You'll be fine. I have to go or I won't get a good seat! You're on after the girl in the navy blue tank. Bye!"
"What?" Jesse shrieked. "Someone else gets to wear a tank?"
But Sabrina was gone, and it was too late to back out. Jesse sank deeper into her chair, feeling nothing but dread. She felt like pacing, but was afraid she'd break her ankle before the show even started. How did she get herself into this crazy situation?
"It's because you love SeaLife Park," Jesse said to her reflection. "You care about the animals."
And she cared about Eric. A little shiver ran up her spine as she thought of him in the audience, watching her every move. Those sensuous eyes, fixed only on her
"You look gorgeous!"
Jesse nearly jumped out of her seat. Eric was at the door, which Sabrina had neglected to close on her way out. He was so tall that he had to duck as he came inside.
"Eric!" Jesse gasped, clutching her robe. "I, uh "
"Is something wrong, Sabrina?" He looked instantly concerned, and stepped closer.
"No! Uh I mean, no, I was just mentally preparing myself," Jesse said in her best imitation of Sabrina's girlish lilt. "I do before every show."
"Oh, of course," Eric said, relaxing but not moving away from her. "I just came to wish you luck. You know, break a leg."
Jesse gulped. He had no idea how accurate a prediction that probably was.
"Thanks." She said weakly.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Jesse sighed, losing herself in the depths of his eyes. He was so sensitive and caring, so concerned for her well-being then she snapped back to reality. He was concerned for Sabrina's well-being, not hers. Let's keep that straight, she scolded herself. This man this amazing man has no interest in you whatsoever.
She smiled sweetly. "Perfectly fine. Would you excuse me? The show starts in ten minutes and I still have to meditate."
"Of course," Eric said. He glanced down. Probably imagining what was under "Sabrina's" robe, Jesse thought. "Listen, Sabrina, I wanted to tell you "
Jesse's breath caught in her throat. Even if Eric wasn't talking to her, she couldn't help but get swept up in his husky voice. "Yes, Eric?"
Suddenly, loud rock music and Tiffani's bubbly voice exploded over the P.A. system. "Helloooo! And welcome to SeaLife Park, where everything's going swimmingly!"
Eric looked grateful for the interruption. "Uh, it can wait. I'll see you later. You look fabulous." Then he was gone.
Jesse sighed. What did Eric want to tell Sabrina? Outside, she could hear the excited chatter of the crowd and a burst of applause as the first models stepped out. She imagined Eric finding his way into the audience, sitting just a few feet from Sabrina in her disguise, while eagerly waiting to see her onstage.
Well, this is it, Jesse thought, standing up and untying the robe and letting it fall to the floor. Please, please, don't let me break a leg. Especially not in front of Eric Brennan
Jesse took her tenth deep breath in succession, hoping she wouldn't end up hyperventilating and falling off her idiotic four-inch heels. She glanced down and realized with some dismay her shoes covered more of her than the skimpy bikini did.
The sound of Tiffani's voice blaring over the rocking music caught Jesse's attention again.
"Ladies and gentlemen, showcasing the latest in one-piece swimwear is Suzette. Suzette's modeling a sporty navy tank ."
Navy tank. She was supposed to go on after the model in the navy tank.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Okay, maybe it wasn't meditation but it was as good as Jesse could do at the moment.
Jesse approached the entrance to the stage and peeked at the crowd. Sabrina sat undisturbed in the front row, her disguise working. And two seats away, front and center, of course, was Eric.
Perhaps if she focused on Eric she could get through this. Maybe if she meditated on his sparkling blue eyes or his firm butt it would calm her more than any mantra or deep breathing.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Tiffani shouted enthusiastically, "the highlight of our show, the woman who made the microbikini famous, a model of extraordinary flair and talent "
Jesse rolled her eyes. This wasn't a lifetime achievement award for heaven's sake. Get on with it Tiffani.
"I'd like to introduce the one, the only, Sabrina!"
For the park, for the animals, and for Eric, Jesse stepped through the curtain, Sabrina's famous pout plastered on her face. The incessant popping of camera flashes momentarily blinded her, halting her forward progress. How was she supposed to walk the long runway if she couldn't see a damn thing in front of her?
Well, hell. Sabrina did it all the time. If Sabrina could do it, so could Jesse. She pointed herself straight ahead, planted her hand firmly on her hip, and shook her booty to the best of her ability as she glided down the runway.
Jesse leveled Sabrina's "come and get me if you want it" look directly at Eric's gorgeous smile and mesmerizing blue eyes. She played to him, tossing seductive glances and focusing every ounce of sexuality she could muster in his direction.
She flaunted everything she had and why not? Most of it was visible to the entire universe anyway. She sauntered and twirled to the driving beat of the music, never once letting her eyes leave Eric's.
As she turned and stopped, posing for the cameras one last time, she caught Eric's look of utter shock. His jaw had dropped the moment she shot the first "I'd like to have sex with you" look in his direction, and with a feminine sense of power, Jesse smiled as she realized he hadn't closed his mouth since.
With a final wink at the man of her every fantasy, Jesse gave the audience her haughtiest supermodel flounce, and exited the stage to the sound of thundering applause, whistles, and shouts.
As soon as she was out of the line of sight of the audience she whipped her stiletto heels off and all but ran to the dressing room. The first thing she did was throw on the robe she'd had to discard, wrapping the silk around her more like a security blanket than a bathing suit cover-up.
Jesse plopped down at the dressing table and laid her head in her hands. The adrenaline pumping through her was enough to make her limbs shake. But she'd done it. It was over, and now she could go back to being plain old Jesse.
Plain old Jesse. Thinking about the way Eric had looked at her, the jaw dropping, eye popping, fixated gaze he'd had on her no, make that Sabrina slapped her into reality.
She wasn't his type. No matter how she felt, Eric was obviously drawn more to glamorous Sabrina than to average Jesse.
"You were fantastic," Eric said from the doorway.
Jesse turned around, once again realizing the door hadn't been shut behind her. She didn't need this now.
"Thanks," she said, trying to sound as bored as Sabrina would.
"What was with those looks, though?" He closed the door behind him and approached the dressing table.
Jesse stood and pulled the belt of the silk robe tighter around her near naked form. "What looks?" she asked, batting innocent eyes in his direction.
"You know what looks I mean." Eric leveled a deep blue gaze at her. "You surprised the hell out of me."
"Did I?" If only you knew, she thought. You'd really be surprised then.
"Yeah." He grabbed her shoulders lightly and turned her to him, forcing her to gaze into the depths of the blue pools that never hesitated to make her heart skip a few beats. "Were you trying to tell me something?"
"Of course not," she lied. Yes, you idiot. I'm trying to tell you it's me Jesse. If you were really interested in me you'd already know that, you'd be able to tell the difference. But it's not me you want, it's Sabrina.
"Well, I've been meaning to say something to you all day," he said as he took both her hands in his.
Jesse looked down at his tanned hands, hoping she wasn't about to hear Eric's declaration of love for Sabrina. It had already been a stressful enough day and she was barely holding it together. She wasn't sure she could bear another blow.
"Say it then." Might as well get it over with. Jesse dropped her head and looked at his hands, unable to meet his eyes as he poured out his feelings for her sister.
"It's about Jesse."
Wendy Etherington comments on the winning chapter:
Another winner! I think Julie does a great job letting Jesse step out of
herself during this scene and showing Eric how she really feels but is too
chicken to do as herself. I also like the way the action moves so quickly. Great
job!
Okay, fellow writers, I'm thinking we all have the need for steam. Think hot and funny, and I can't wait to find out what Eric is going to confess about Jesse!
Jesse's head snapped up. "What about Jesse?"
Eric sighed, his deep blue eyes filled with apprehension. "I don't know how to say this, except to just go ahead and say it, so..."
Jesse resisted the urge to grab Eric by his broad shoulders and shake the rest of the sentence out of him. Unfortunately, that would be totally out of character for Sabrina. There was only one sort of physical activity she would risk her manicure for, and it was of a much more...intimate nature.
Though Jesse's patience had just about reached the breaking point, she tapped one bare foot against the floor, feigning boredom. "I've got to change, handsome, so make it snappy."
"The last time we went out you asked me about Jesse, remember?"
Jesse suppressed a growl. She pictured Sabrina and Eric breaking off a passionate embrace to discuss the sorry state of her love life.
"Of course I remember," Jesse muttered crossly. "I was there, wasn't I?" She glared at Eric, forgetting that she was supposed to be sexy, relaxed Sabrina.
Eric looked as though he was about to be sick. His face had turned green, and he was avoiding her eyes. "I told you that Jesse and I were just buddies, but lately my feelings have been changing."
Jesse drew in a shocked breath. She couldn't have been more surprised if Eric had informed her that he had just taken a vow of celibacy.
"Look, Sabrina, I'm sorry things didn't work out between us," Eric continued, his hands still clasped tightly around Jesse's. "I honestly didn't think you were interested in me until I saw the way you were looking at me tonight. I would never deliberately hurt you, but I can't fight these feelings for Jesse. I've never felt such a strong connection with anyone. It's like she's my...my soul mate."
It was the moment Jesse had been fantasizing about since high school what should have been the most romantic moment of her life. She wanted to throw her arms around Eric, look deep into his gorgeous blue eyes, and confess her undying love. But Eric thought she was Sabrina.
Even though the obstacle was entirely of her own making, Jesse couldn't suppress her anger if Eric really was her soul mate, then he should at least be able to tell her apart from her sister!
Jesse pulled her hands free of Eric's grasp, grabbed him by the shoulders, and shoved with all her might. Caught by surprise, he stumbled back several paces. Jesse closed the gap between them, wishing that she hadn't taken off her stiletto heels so that she could really get in his face.
"You've got a lot of nerve!" she bit out, poking him in the chest with one perfectly manicured fingernail.
"What!" Eric gaped at her in shock, his face drained of all color.
"You have no right to come waltzing in here, telling me that you're falling in love with my sister when you can't even..." Jesse's voice trailed off it was going to be tough to finish that sentence without clueing Eric in on the switch. And she wasn't quite ready to do that yet she was too angry to admit her deceit.
"I came to you tonight because I didn't want to hurt you!" Eric yelled, poking his finger right back at Jesse's chest. He was starting to get some of his color back. "God knows I wasn't planning on falling for Jesse. I don't make a habit of dating sisters. And after the mad chase you led me on, the last thing I wanted to do was get involved with another Larson. But I just can't fight it any longer. I didn't think you'd have a problem with Jesse and me, since nothing ever really came of our dates. You haven't bothered to return my last five calls. The only time you've even bothered to look at me in the past few months was at the show tonight. If this is some sort of weird infatuation, then "
"Infatuation?" Jesse gasped, her voice pitched about three octaves higher than normal. "I'm not the least bit interested in you."
"Don't lie to me, Sabrina! I saw the way you were looking at me during the show!"
"Oh yeah? How was I looking at you?"
"You were giving me the I've-got-what-you-want-so-come-and-get-it look."
Jesse's face was inches from Eric's. "The only thing you're gonna get from me," she growled, "is "
In the heat of the moment it seemed perfectly natural. One minute they were shouting at each other. The next minute, Eric's lips covered Jesse's. The kiss was rough, each of them trying to achieve domination over the other.
But at the first touch of skin against skin, they forgot why they were fighting, and the kiss became more tender. Eric's lips moved against Jesse's with a barely perceptible pressure, then moved to her eyelids, then the nape of her neck.
Jesse let out a small moan. Eric's arms came around her reflexively, molding her body against his. She pressed her lips against his, her need growing.
Jesse's legs were starting to give out, and the tiny dressing table was starting to look like a viable alternative to a king-size bed, when Eric abruptly broke the kiss and pushed her away.
His dimple flashed as he slanted his trademark wicked grin. "Maybe you should tell me which sister I'm talking to," he murmured. "You look like Sabrina, but you feel like Jesse."
"Let's stop playing games," Jesse shot back indignantly. Not certain which answer Eric was looking for, she wasn't ready to answer his question.
"I'm not the one playing games here, am I?" Eric's smug tone only enhanced the gleam in his eyes. He brought his hand up and began to twirl a piece of Jesse's hair around his finger.
"I I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, but I think you do," he whispered, as he leaned in close again.
Jesse could feel her heart thudding against her chest. It seemed her lungs had inconveniently forgotten how to take in oxygen. Her skin was still sizzling from their earlier embrace and, modesty be damned, she suddenly wanted to unwrap herself from the confining robe.
"You were great!" A bubbly Tiffani pranced into the dressing room, oblivious to the tension between the current occupants. "The show was an undeniable success. Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Brennan?"
"Quite a show," he replied coolly, making Jesse wonder if he was talking about more than the swimsuits he'd just seen showcased on stage.
"And our model here was superb," Tiffani continued, wrapping a friendly arm around Jesse's shoulders. "In fact, I was hoping that you might be able to join us for dinner. Sort of a celebration."
"I can't. I have to check on my sister." She had almost said Coco. "Uh we have plans."
"Nonsense. We'll just all go out together. We're all friends here." With that remark, Tiffani shot Jesse a telling look. No way would Tiffani compromise a corporate sponsorship that meant big money for SeaLife. No doubt she was determined to wine and dine the man that held the purse strings to the park's financial future.
"I, for one," Eric interjected, "would love to go for dinner with both the Larson sisters."
Oh, I just bet you would, Jesse thought. The man was merciless. Who did he kiss? Who did he want? Jesse's temper started to boil again. Forget the fact that she'd deceived him by making him believe she was Sabrina. He was the one with the screwed-up intentions. How dare he confess he had feelings for her! And then proceed to kiss the woman he thought was Sabrina. He did think she was Sabrina, didn't he? Jesse's mind whirled. She'd have to come clean and tell him. The truth. Everything. She rubbed her temple to soothe the beginnings of a headache.
"It's settled then," Tiffani chimed in, breaking the awkward silence. "I'll go find your sister and we'll meet up in about ten minutes." Ignoring Jesse's sigh, Tiffani glided out of the room.
Jesse knew that it was now or never. The time had come for her to tell all to Eric. Confrontations were certainly not her forte, but she needed to be honest. And if he just waltzed out of SeaLife Park, and Jesse's life, forever She suppressed that thought as quickly as it surfaced.
"Listen, Eric," Jesse stammered. "Uh, it's not what you think."
"Oh, I don't think you have any idea what I'm thinking right now." Eric's voice wrapped around her like honey. Smooth and sweet. He stepped toward her and, before she could step back, fastened his hands around her waist to hold her in place. "Game's up, sweetheart."
"Game?" Jesse's voice all but squeaked the word.
"I'd know you anywhere, Jesse. And if I'm not mistaken, I walked through a cloud of that expensive perfume Sabrina wears on the way to my seat earlier."
Jesse gulped, audibly. Oh God, he knew!
"You know, Jesse, I'm quite flattered that you'd go to all this trouble to get my attention."
Jesse snapped from dazed and confused, to insulted. "Is that what you think? That I got gussied up to traipse down a runway in heels resembling ice picks to impress you?"
"What I think is that you lied to me, and to a crowd of people who came to see Sabrina model that swimsuit you're parading around in."
Reflexively, Jesse tightened the belt on her silk robe and scowled. "I did it for SeaLife and for Coco. And for Sabrina."
"So it was all an act, Jesse?"
Jesse fumbled for an explanation. "Sabrina came down with poison ivy so I had to fill in. And "
"And the come-and-get-me looks? Was that part of the performance, Jesse? Or do you have feelings for me?"
She couldn't have scripted the scene any better if she'd written a screenplay herself. This was the moment she'd been waiting for. To tell the man she dreamed about every night that what she felt for him was more than a casual friendship.
"Wow, what an actress. Those looks you were feeding Eric were really convincing. I saw them from the front row and "
Jesse's heart sank. Eric's hands immediately dropped from her waist as they both turned toward the doorway where Sabrina stood.
"Oh. Hi, Eric! I didn't see you there," Sabrina said, purposely ignoring the lethal looks her sister was throwing at her. Then she smiled wickedly. "Wasn't Sabrina great?"
Eric raised an eyebrow. "She's doing pretty well right now, I'll admit. But on stage I've got to give all the credit to Jesse.
"You're right " he looked at Jesse pointedly " she's quite an actress." And with that he slid past Sabrina and out the door without looking back.
Sabrina looked at her sister's downcast face and then after the retreating Eric. "You mean he knew?"
Jesse glared at her.
"I suppose it was obvious you weren't me.... I would never have given one man that much attention."
Jesse picked up the closest thing to her, which happened to be a swimsuit.
"And maybe your walk was a little off."
The suit wasn't heavy enough, Jesse decided, and dropped it in favor of a towel. Oblivious, Sabrina rambled on. "Besides, I never pout like that."
Jesse let the towel fly toward her sister. "He knew it was me because he kissed me!"
Ducking, Sabrina gasped, "He kissed you?"
"But he let me think he was kissing you."
"Oh, well..."
"It happened right after he told me he had feelings for Jesse."
"He... what?"
It was one of the rare moments in her life when Jesse was actually angry enough to raise her voice. "What? Is that so hard to believe? If you haven't noticed, I look just like you. I just prefer to stay in the background. That's all." And then she did something that was completely humiliating. She sniffed.
"Oh, baby, don't cry. Let me explain." Sabrina tried to put a red, welted arm around her shoulders, but Jesse shrugged it off.
"I'm not crying. It's just...allergies. Probably all that perfume you wear." Jesse made a face. "Which, by the way, was another way he knew I was me."
"I didn't think of that. Hmm." Sabrina looked down at her feet. It was time to come clean. "I think maybe I might possibly, in a far-off distant sort of way, have made a tiny miscalculation."
Jesse raised one of her now perfectly arched eyebrows. Did her sister, her perfect sister, just admit she might have made a mistake? Impossible!
"See, I knew once you had the confidence to show Eric how you feel, he'd realize he didn't really want me, he wanted you." Jesse glared at her. "Right, so when I was coming to see you, I walked in just as Eric asked you if you had feelings for him. I thought he thought he was asking me. And I certainly didn't want him to think I had feelings for him."
"Did it ever occur to you that the way you're dressed and that poison ivy all over you were dead giveaways that you weren't me? He'd have figured it out as soon as he saw you."
Sabrina turned a bit redder than she already was. "Actually...no, I hadn't thought of that."
She tried. She tried really hard to stay mad, but Jesse just couldn't do it. "God, what a mess." She sat down and slouched in the chair in a very unmodel-like fashion. "So what do we do now?"
"We go to dinner and knock Eric's socks off." Sabrina started pulling clothes off hangers. "Let's get you dressed."
"Oh, no! You've done enough of that already today, and look where it got me."
Sabrina smiled wickedly and started for her sister. "Exactly."
Jesse raised her eyes toward the ceiling. She hated when her sister was right.
They were exactly five minutes late. Jesse could have been there on time, but Sabrina had insisted on putting a few more pounds of makeup on her and doing something creative with her hair and changing her clothes and
Tiffani was, of course, draped on Eric's arm looking for all the world like a moonstruck teenager hanging on his every word. Jesse felt a little twist of, no, it wasn't jealousy. Couldn't be. But her hand fisted at her side anyway.
She was actually surprised to see Eric standing in the parking lot. After the events of the day, she wouldn't have blamed him for writing off the Larson twins and SeaLife Park.
He didn't, however, look particularly thrilled to be there. About to be surrounded by three beautiful women, he looked as though he might prefer to be surrounded by three man-eating sharks. Maybe that's what he figured would be encircling him anyhow.
As she and Sabrina approached, Jesse took a deep breath as she felt her fortitude of only an hour before waning.
Tiffani alone seemed not to notice the tension, her mind no doubt focused on the corporate sponsorship. "There you two are! Eric and I were just discussing how wonderful it was that Jesse could fill in for Sabrina. Next year we'll have to get you both out there together."
Jesse closed her eyes. She would probably try to push those leopard-print bikinis again, too. Right now, even that seemed a better fate than an uncomfortable dinner with Eric.
"Now wait a minute, Tiffani. This was a one-time deal." Even Sabrina protested the suggestion.
But not Eric. "I like the idea." He had an odd gleam in his eye. "You two work so well as a team, and performing must run in the family."
Tiffani beamed.
Sabrina glowered beautifully.
And Jesse, realizing that once again she had let herself be thrust into a role she didn't really want to be playing, turned and made a mad dash back to the sanctity of SeaLife Park.
Wendy Etherington comments on the winning chapter:
Super chapter! I like that so much happens and that Sabrina thought she was
helping her sister. A lot of the misunderstandings and motivations were cleared
up, too. Also, I like the dramatic ending. Now, if I can just get Eric and Jesse
together....
Jesse retreated to the same place she always did Coco's tank.
Dangling her bare feet in the cold seawater, she fed the killer whale a small fish.
Coco pushed one of her floating water rings toward Jesse's hand.
But Jesse shook her head as she stroked Coco's nose. "Not today, sweetie."
Brooding. That's what she was doing. She didn't brood, especially over men. She was always too busy and focused to waste time on regrets. But then Eric wasn't just any man.
But then, she wasn't Jesse. She caught her reflection in the water: She was a bikinied, highlighted, mascaraed liar. Was it any wonder Eric was furious? Playing Sabrina for the fashion show was one thing. Flirting with Eric when she was too chicken to do so as herself was quite another.
Her love for him should have warned her to
Whoa. Love?
She liked Eric. She was attracted to Eric. She valued their friendship. But love?
No way.
She sighed. Yes way.
She even had to admit she'd loved him for years. Her heart ached for him to realize the romantic potential of their relationship. Her mind wanted to share its opinions. Her body longed for his touch. Her soul needed his presence.
And Eric? How did he really feel?
She sorted through the afternoon the conversation in the dressing room specifically and realized that he'd obviously thought he was talking to Sabrina when he confessed his feelings about her, Jesse. It was only after they'd kissed a kiss she'd instigated, if she was honest with herself that he realized her identity. He'd said he recognized Sabrina's perfume, but now Jesse wondered if that was a retrospective conclusion.
It's like she's my...my soul mate.
He'd actually said that to her.
The wonder of his confession finally rolled through her. In fact, he'd been in the process of rejecting the woman he thought was Sabrina when she'd grabbed him and the all-telling kiss had begun.
He didn't want Sabrina. He wanted her, Jesse.
"Well, damn, Coco, I've got to get my man."
Coco's head seemed to bob with enthusiasm.
"Too bad he's mad as hell at me."
"Okay, girl, I get it. Time to get busy." And the first step was becoming herself again. She drew a deep breath, then leaned over, dipping her head into Coco's tank. She waggled her head from side-to-side, reveling in the release. She scrubbed her face, wondering if she'd cloud the water from the layers of makeup Tiffani and Sabrina had pushed on her.
Underwater, Coco nudged her, still anxious to play. Jesse was smiling broadly as she raised her body, flipping back her mop of long wet hair.
"Hey, watch it," a familiar voice called.
Her heart gave her a good, hard kick as water gushed down her face and neck. She turned. And seeing him standing there, so close, so completely gorgeous, she promptly forgot she was supposed to be charming. "Do you know you have the worst timing of anyone on the planet?"
Eric simply smiled. Water spotted his shirt, slacks and face, sparkled through strands of his jet black hair. He walked slowly and deliberately up the portable staircase Jesse had rolled to the edge of Coco's tank. Kneeling, he cupped her wet cheek in his palm and stared into her eyes. "My timing's perfect. We're finally alone."
Jesse swallowed. "Well, I "
He kissed her, his lips moving over hers with a deliberate intent to seduce and absorb. Then he clutched her against his chest. Through her thin, wet sundress he could no doubt feel the instant tightening of her nipples, and she couldn't hold back a moan from deep in her throat.
He left her lips briefly to plant kisses along her jaw, then her throat. "I love you, Jess."
Jesse blinked. "Since when?"
"Since " Laughing, Eric shook his head. "Only you, Jesse, would demand further explanation from a declaration of love."
She poked him in the chest. "Hey, buddy, I've loved you for years, and you've ignored me."
He grinned. "For years, really?" Then the rest of her statement hit him. "I did not ignore you."
"You dated my sister."
Eric winced. "Briefly, thank God."
Even though she'd realized earlier Eric wasn't interested in Sabrina, it was extremely nice to hear it from his own, perfect lips. Lips she wouldn't mind tasting again. If she just leaned forward...
Cut it out, girl. All of a sudden good buddy Eric loves you? When did that happen? Get the details.
She leaned back and drew a bracing breath. The man was positively lethal from two inches away. "When?"
"That kiss in the dressing room pretty much sealed it for me."
Her heart flipped. "Really?"
"I realized several months ago that my feelings for you went beyond friendship, but I didn't know how to tell you. We've been friends a long time, Jess. I didn't want to screw that up."
Familiar with that line of thinking, Jesse nodded.
"I thought I'd talk to your sister about it, see if she knew how you felt about me. But then she well, actually you kept flirting with me at the fashion show. So I wasn't really sure about asking her for advice. Then she I mean you grabbed me in the dressing room. I was in a panic on how to get rid of her, until I realized how familiar your kiss was. Then, I remembered about the cloying perfume when you I mean Sabrina sat next to me during the show. And I realized I had the right sister after all. And bang " he snapped his fingers " goodbye, panic and hello, love."
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "That's a pretty good explanation."
Smiling, he stroked her cheek. "One for our grandkids."
"Is that a proposal?"
"Mmm." He rained kisses over her face. "How 'bout it? Marry me?" Coco slapped her tail on the water.
Jesse laughed. "I think that's a yes. From both of us."
Eric glanced at the killer whale. "We're going to need a really big backyard pool for this one."
As if she understood Eric's words and Jesse sometimes thought she did Coco flipped her tail up and down on the water, drenching her and Eric again.
With their arms still locked around each other, Eric pulled Jesse to her feet. "But she is not allowed on the water bed."
"It's about damn time!"
Jesse turned to see her sister striding toward them. Waving her hands like mad, Tiffani teetered just behind Sabrina.
"I say we jump in with Coco and swim for an island," Eric whispered in her ear.
His desire to be alone with her gave Jesse an added boost of confidence, one she always seemed to need when dealing with her sister.
Sabrina stopped at the base of the ladder and planted her hands on her slim hips. "Well, you two finally found each other."
"Finally. Thanks," Jesse added, knowing her sister had been trying to help. "Wanna be a bridesmaid?"
Sabrina's smile widened. "I'll be the maid of honor. Tiffani can be a bridesmaid." She paused, then added, "And I get to pick the dresses."
Planning a wedding with her pushy sister. Jesse sighed. She might as well throw the whole business Sabrina's way.
"Um...Mr. Brennan," Tiffani began, wobbling on her sandals. "I'm really happy for you and Jesse, but, well...about the sponsorship for the park. I know things didn't really turn out the way you'd planned, but "
"You'll get your sponsorship," Eric said, then looked down at Jesse. "I've got what I want."
As Tiffani squealed and Sabrina launched into a lecture on silk versus linen a lecture that probably no one was listening to Jesse leaned her head against Eric's chest. The comforting beat of his heart reminded her that this is where she wanted to be forever, and she could handle anything else that came their way.
The End