His First Choice

Afraid, she knew she had to stop the downward hurtle. “People have always preferred Kacey to me,” she told him. If he was going to be blind, she at least needed to tell him what he wasn’t seeing. Better now than later. “From acting directors to the high school prom committee—both junior and senior years—to...men.”

“Or maybe it was just that she was the easier one to reel in.”

“What does that mean?”

“If you see a doughnut right up on the front of the tray, and there’s another equally delicious-looking one in the back, which one are you going to take?”

“The one in front.”

“Exactly.”

“Kacey and I aren’t doughnuts on a tray.”

“She’s accessible. You aren’t so much.”

She sipped and eyed him, wanting so badly to fall under his spell. To believe what he was telling her. “You’re saying I’m hard to get.”

“I’m saying you’re more discreet. Which makes you more interesting to a discerning guy like myself.”

She was in severe danger of adoring this man.

And his wine, of which she helped herself to a little more, with hands that shook.

“When Mom and Dad called for us, they always said her name first.”

“Who was born first?”

“Believe it or not, I was. For six minutes and ten seconds, I was the only one of me.”

“You’re still the only one of you.”

She knew that. More now that she’d moved out on her own. And she was lonelier since then, too.

“I love having my sister around,” she said. And was just discovering how much. When her resentment of Kacey had begun, she didn’t know, but she knew it was gone. “I miss her like crazy.” The wine had to be loosening her tongue.

And her brain, too.

“I didn’t realize how much coming second all the time had affected me.”

“Who got better grades?”

“I did.”

“So you didn’t come second there.”

“Yeah, I guess, but grades were never that big of a deal in our household.” She and Kacey were already earning enough to support themselves before they’d entered high school. “You know, it’s one thing if your sister is taller than you, better endowed, with prettier features...you get that fate gave you other graces. Hopefully. But to have your looks be exactly the same—from the same egg—and still be overlooked...”

She sounded pathetic and wouldn’t blame him if he was second-guessing his choice of sisters. A part of her almost hoped he was.

It would make life so much easier. Safer.

“Would you rather be Kacey?” He was studying her.

“Of course not. Her life would drive me crazy.”

“Plus you prefer softer shades to brilliant white.” Information gleaned from their paint-chip expedition the week before.

“Yep.”