Holiday In the Hamptons (From Manhattan with Love 5)

“It certainly does.”

Chase slapped him on the shoulder and slid into the car. “You have one hell of a complicated love life, my friend.”

Seth glanced toward the house. “Not yet, but I’m working on it.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“KILL ME. Just kill me now.” Fliss lay on the bed with her eyes closed. She felt as if she’d been tangled up in a coil of webbing and couldn’t work her way free. “You need to come and swap places with me.”

“So that I can sort out your mess? I don’t think so.”

“You’re my sister.”

“I’m doing this for your own good. You need to talk to him, Fliss.” Harriet was firm. “This is the perfect time to do it.”

It didn’t feel perfect to her. “When Johnny Hill teased you about your stammer, did I make you punch him yourself?”

“That’s different. I didn’t want to punch him.”

“I wanted to punch him enough for both of us.”

“We have a different approach to problem solving.”

Fliss sighed. “This is partly your fault. Since when have you been besties with Matilda Adams?”

“Since I started walking Hero. She’s a writer, so she’s often at home. Sometimes we have a coffee. I adore her.”

“And you didn’t think to mention it?”

“I’m sure I mentioned it.”

“I don’t think so. I would have remembered a business opportunity like that. Do you know how rich Chase is? I mean, the guy practically owns Manhattan.”

“Yes, but they only have one dog, so I don’t see the business opportunity.”

“Neither do I yet, but there has to be one.”

“Seth isn’t exactly struggling.”

“He’s not a business opportunity. He’s a bad decision from my past.” One of the many. “Chase seemed pretty down-to-earth.”

“So is Matilda. And they’re so in love.”

Fliss heard the note of envy in her sister’s voice. That was the problem with never having been in love, she thought. It was all too easy to turn the idea into something wonderful, whereas the reality was more often than not painful. “I hope it lasts.”

“Don’t be a cynic. Are you sure Seth doesn’t know who you really were?”

“He doesn’t have a clue. What sort of things do you and Matilda talk about? Fill me in.”

“You cannot pretend to be me when you’re with Matilda. I really like her. This has to end right now, Fliss!” There was a sharp note in Harriet’s voice that Fliss wasn’t sure she’d heard before.

“If I tell her the truth she’ll tell Chase, and he’ll tell Seth.”

“This is like a run in your panty hose. It starts small and then spreads.”

“Which is why I never wear panty hose.” Fliss rolled onto her stomach, and her hair slid over her shoulder. “What breed of dog is Hero?”

“A Doberman.”