The Girl of His Dreams

by Susan Mallery

“But he knows me.”

  “Exactly. So don’t be yourself. Be me. We used to trade places all the time.”

  Kayla wrinkled her nose. “That was in junior high school. We haven’t done it in years. Besides, I was never good at that game.”

  Elissa waved away her concerns. “He won’t be expecting this at all. It’s just dinner. The alternative is one of us calls him up and tells him I can’t go. Frankly, I think he deserves better than that.”

  Kayla stared at her reflection in the mirror and had an eerie sensation of deja vu. Her hair had been pulled to the top of her head in a ponytail. Electric curlers pressed against her scalp. Instead of a towel, she wore a short white robe, but otherwise, she could have been Elissa getting ready for her date.

  Elissa handed her the mascara. She took it, but didn’t put it on. As much as she wanted to go and spend a romantic evening with Patrick, there was one ugly truth she had to face. “He asked you out, not me.”

  “That’s hardly important.”

  Kayla turned to face her. “It’s very important. He’s never asked me out. If he was interested in me that way, he would have.”

  “Are you sure about that? Have you ever given him a hint that you were interested in him in that way? Aren’t you the one always talking about what good fri

  “Then why would he ask you out? It’s not as if you’re secretly longing for him. Right?”

  Longing for him. She liked the sound of that. It fit her feelings perfectly. Longing wasn’t as big as love, but it seemed larger than friendship. She thought about him all the time, and didn’t understand why. She longed to be with him, near him, maybe even held by him. She longed to repeat those amazing kisses.

  “It’s all very confusing,” Kayla said, avoiding her sister’s question. If Elissa noticed, she didn’t let on.

  “The bottom line is, he’s your friend and you don’t want to hurt him. Isn’t that all that matters?”

  “I guess.”

  Kayla finished applying her makeup, then pulled the curlers and rubber band out of her hair. By the time she’d slipped on the dress, applied a final layer of hair spray and hunted down her dressy black pumps, Patrick was due to arrive.

  Tiny shudders rippled through her. She knew they were just a combination of nerves, excitement and a bit of dread. Would she be able to pull this off?

  Elissa handed her a small black handbag. “He should be here any minute,” she said. “I’ll go wait in the bedroom. Our plan has a better chance of working if he doesn’t see us together. After all, he knows you well enough that if we’re next to each other, he might be able to tell us apart. And we don’t want that.”

  “Okay.”

  Elissa kissed her cheek. “Have a great time. I won’t wait up.”

  “We’re not going to be out that late.”

  “You never know.”

  There was a knock on the front door.

  “Don’t forget you’re supposed to be me,” Elissa murmured, then waggled her fingers and disappeared into the bedroom.

  Kayla walked to the front door, took a deep breath and pulled it open. Here goes nothing, she thought.

  Until he saw her standing in front of him, Patrick wasn’t sure Elissa would actually be able to pull off the switch. But the moment the door opened, he recognized the woman in front of him. The relief was instant, as was the anticipation.

  “Hi,” he said, as Kayla stared at him. “You look amazing.”

  “Ah, thanks. So do you. I’ve never seen you—” She stopped suddenly. “That is, you look great in a suit.” “Thanks.”

  He stepped toward her and glanced over her shoulder. “Where’s Kayla?”

  “What? Oh, she’s in her bedroom. Um, lying down. She has a headache.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I should probably pop my head in and say hi.”

  Kayla grabbed his arm, then, just as quickly, let go. “I don’t think she wants to be disturbed.”

  “All right. Be sure to tell her I hope she feels better.” “I’m sure she’ll appreciate your concern.” He held out his arm. “Shall we go?” Kayla stared blankly for a moment, then slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. As they walked down the steps to the driveway, he felt the faint tremors in her fingers. Turning his head so she wouldn’t see him smile, he sent a silent “Thank you” back to Elissa.

  At first he’d had his doubts about her plan. Would it make a difference if he was out with Kayla pretending to be Elissa? But now he saw the possibilities. For the first time, they were on a date.

  He’d had his car washed. It gleamed in the porch light. When he held open the passenger’s door, she glanced at him before slipping in. Confusion darkened her eyes. He understood her apprehension. Nerves had a grip on him, too. But this was a time for them to get to know each other in a whole new way.

  He waited until she’d secured her seat belt, then walked around the back of the car and got in beside her. Before starting the engine, he glanced at her.

  He’d seen her in makeup before, and he was reasonably sure he’d seen her dressed up. Yet in some ways it was if she were a stranger. A beautiful, mysterious stranger he’d just discovered.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked, her voice low and husky.

  “No. I was just thinking how beautiful you are.” He touched her bare shoulder. “The dress isn’t bad, either.”

  Color flared on her cheeks. Her gaze lowered as she murmured, “Thank you.”

  He hoped for that one moment she’d forgotten she was supposed to be her sister. He wanted her to know the compliment was meant for her, and no one else.

  Perhaps the reason they had never clicked as a couple was that they had never allowed themselves to see each other that way. Tonight was their chance. They could show that side of themselves. The night, he thought with a smile, had many possibilities.

  ***

  The small, dimly lit waterfront restaurant was as romantic and seductive as satin sheets and chilled champagne. Their table sat in front of the window. Lights from the building and a nearby dock reflected on the inky ocean, providing just enough illumination for Kayla to see the pale foam of waves breaking against the pilings.

  The place settings had been arranged close together, allowing them to talk intimately and stare out at the view. The last fingers of sunlight had disappeared as they were seated, and the darkness outside gave Kayla the impression that she and Patrick were alone.

  It wasn’t true. Bits of quiet conversation drifted to them from other tables. A four-piece band played in the far corner, and several couples moved together on the dance floor. The night, the place, the music and the man were all perfect. Except he thought he was with someone else.

  The waiter returned with a bottle of white wine and a free-standing ice bucket. He presented the selection, holding the foil-wrapped top with one hand while resting the bottle against his opposite forearm.

  Patrick glanced at the label. “That’s the one,” he said.

  The waiter opened the bottle and poured a small amount into Patrick’s glass. He sipped, then nodded. After the wine had been poured, Patrick raised his drink.

  “To a wonderful evening.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” she said, and tasted the wine. “It’s very nice.”

  “An old favorite,” he said. “I like it on special occasions. But don’t expect me to be an expert. I know a little about wine, but I’m more a beer or soda kind of guy.”

  Kayla remembered their celebration when he’d received his grant. They’d opened a bottle of champagne. “How do you feel about champagne?” she asked, trying to act innocent.

  “I like it. In fact, I had some recently. When I—” He broke off and shook his head. “I don’t want to talk about me. I want to hear about your life. You work in a hospital? What do you do there?”

  Kayla gave him a brief description of Elissa’s job, leaving out technical details because she didn’t know them. It would be easier, she decided, if they talked about things she knew abou
t.

  “I toured the clinic today,” she said. “I was impressed. You’re doing good work there.”

  “Thank you. It’s not just me. I have a great staff. Did Kayla take you back into the kennels?”

  “Yes. I met several of your permanent residents.”

  Her forearm rested on the padded arm of the captain’s chair. He shifted in his seat, moving closer. As his body angled toward hers, he stroked his fingers against the back of her fingers. The sensation was so unexpected, so electrifying, she lost her train of thought and couldn’t pay attention to what Patrick was saying.

  Not that she cared. No words could be as life-changing as the feel of his hand touching hers. He moved slowly, gently, teasing her. Nerves ignited. Untouched, undiscovered parts of her body began to make their presence known.

  She stared into his blue eyes and knew that if she found a way to crawl inside Patrick’s heart, he would hold her close and keep her safe forever. The thought should have terrified her. Perhaps, when she thought about it later, it would. Except this was Patrick, and she trusted him with her life.

  “…so there stood Kayla, facing down this guy,” he said, as if he’d been talking for several minutes.

  She realized he probably had. With an effort, she wrenched her attention away from the delicious sensations he produced with his touch and tried to focus on his words.

  “He was huge,” Patrick continued. “Six-four, maybe six-five. A former linebacker with a pro football team. At least two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle. He’d bought a house in the area, had a successful business, and wanted to adopt a cat.”

  Kayla’s mind cleared long enough for her to remember the incident. Working with a couple of local shelters, the clinic had sponsored an Adopt-a-Pet afternoon one Sunday last year. Kayla had put together the event by herself, and she’d been very picky about who took home the animals. She didn’t remember anything extraordinary about that day, and wasn’t sure why he was telling the story.

  “It was late in the afternoon,” he said. “We were down to a couple of dogs and one kitten.” He grinned at the memory. “It was a tiny thing. All black, with big yellow eyes. A female, barely seven weeks. You know, when they still look like fur balls rather than small cats.” Kayla nodded.

  “This one was a tiger at heart. She spit at everyone. Families with children had been afraid to take her home.” “She was too young to be with a household of children,” Kayla said without thinking.

  At Patrick’s inquisitive look, she sank back in her chair. “I’ve, ah, been around small kittens. It’s easy for them to get hurt.”

  “Oh. You’re right.”

  She exhaled slowly and reminded herself she was Elissa. Elissa didn’t work at the clinic. Pretending to be her sister was harder than she’d thought.

  “So in walks this guy. I can’t remember his name. Peter, I think.”

  His name had been Paul, but Kayla didn’t dare correct him.

  “He took one look at the kitten and fell in love. Of course, when he tried to pick her up, she spit and scratched until the poor man was bleeding.”

  Kayla smiled, remembering the crushed look on Paul’s face. It was as if he’d been kicked by his own mother.

  “What happened?” she asked, still not sure what intrigued Patrick about that afternoon.

  “Kayla told Peter that the kitten had been handled all day and was scared. He had to show her he was safe. She made him lie on the floor on his back. Then she put tuna in his palm, his forearm, and a tiny dab of it on the front of his shirt.” Patrick grinned. “No napkin, no plate, just tuna on the man’s shirt.”

  Kayla felt herself flush. She hadn’t thought about using a napkin until later, when Paul tried to rub away the smell.

  “I was in the corner, trying not to laugh. This little tiny kitten, maybe three whole pounds of fur and not much else, came sneaking up to this big guy. She ate the tuna on his hand and arm, then climbed up to his chest. Now, kittens have needle-sharp claws. They really hurt. Peter flinched with each step, but he didn’t budge. The kitten ate the tuna on his chest, stared into his face for a minute, then curled up and went to sleep.”

  Kayla smiled at the memory.

  “Peter didn’t want to get up and disturb her, so he stayed on the floor for about a half hour, until we were ready to leave.”

  “Did things work out with the kitten?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

  “Absolutely. That cat runs his life. He brings her in every six months for a checkup. I keep telling him he only needs to come in once a year if she’s not sick, but he won’t listen.” He shook his head. “Kayla is the only person in the world who would have dared to tell this rich, successful, famous guy to lay on the floor and then smear him with tuna, all because of a damn cat.” Amusement crinkled the lines fanning out from the corners of his eyes. “She’s one unique woman, and she’s going to be impossible to replace.”

  Pleasure filled her. She wanted to thank him for the compliment and for thinking so highly of her. She held the words back, knowing that he wouldn’t like her nearly as much if he knew she was here masquerading as her sister.

  He squeezed her hand. “Sorry, Elissa. This night is so you and I can get to know each other, and here I am talking about your sister. You must think I’m a jerk.”

  “Not at all,” she said quickly. “I like Kayla, too. Besides, she is the one person we have in common.”

  He stared at her. “You’re right about that.”

  She wanted to ask what he meant, but the waiter appeared with their menus.

  She glanced over the selections. Everything looked delicious, but she knew she was too nervous and excited to eat much. Patrick commented on several items, and they discussed the fresh fish of the day, then placed their orders.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” he asked when the waiter had moved off, leaving them in relative privacy.

  “First dates make me nervous,” she said, knowing she spoke the absolute truth. She and Patrick might have been friends for years, but this was their first official date. Except for the fact that she was lying about her identity, she thought it was going pretty well.

  “Are you going to be leaving your job at the hospital?” he asked.

  She stared at him. “No. Why do you ask?”

  “I wondered if all three of the Bedford triplets would be taking off for parts unknown once the trust money was released.”

  Privately Kayla thought her two siblings were unadven-turous and missing a great opportunity—but both had chosen not to come with her to Paris. Still, she couldn’t say that.

  “We all have plans,” she said cautiously as she realized she wasn’t sure what Elissa wanted to do with her money. Her sister had always been frightened of wealth. “But Kayla is definitely the traveler. In some ways, I envy her the trip she’ll be taking in a few weeks.” She took a sip of wine. “We plan to spend the holidays together in the Caribbean. That will be fun.”

  Patrick’s mouth straightened. “You’ll have to forgive me for not sharing your enthusiasm. Kayla’s been a part of my life for a long time. I can’t remember what the clinic was like without her, and I’m not looking forward to having to rediscover it. She’s going to be impossible to replace. I’ll miss her.”

  Kayla met his gaze. She read the sorrow in his eyes, the promise of pain he would suffer on her behalf. Her chest tightened. The knowledge that Patrick cared about her wasn’t new; they’d always cared about each other. Maybe it was the depth of his feelings that surprised her…or the fact that he was telling a stranger things he’d never said to her face.

  “I’m—” She cleared her throat. “She’s really going to miss you, too.”

  “I doubt that. She’ll be too busy chasing after European aristocracy. She wants to marry a prince.”

  “No, really. She is going to miss you. You mean a lot to her. She talks about you all the time. You’re an important part of her life.”

  His mouth turned up in a faint smile. �
�You’re being kind.”

  “I’m telling the truth. I swear.” She made an X over her left breast. “Kayla thinks you’re wonderful.”

  “I think she’s great, too. I’ve always wondered one thing.”

  Her breath caught. What had he wondered? Why they’d never gotten together? She was starting to seriously ask that question herself. Being with Patrick felt so right. She could talk to him about nearly anything. It might have been difficult to admit her feelings to him as herself, but as Elissa it was amazingly easy to confess everything. That she liked him more than he knew. That she replayed his kisses over and over in her mind. She smiled. Okay, maybe it would be nearly impossible to work the comment about the kissing into a casual conversation, but she really wished there was a way to let him know.

  “Kayla is so bright and funny. Nearly as good-looking as her sister.”

  He flashed her a grin designed to add to the compliment. Kayla wasn’t sure if she was flattered or insulted.

  “And?” she asked, hoping he would lay it all out on the table, confess everything. Then she could tell him the truth, and they would—

  “Why hasn’t some guy swept her off her feet? She never goes out. I keep hoping for someone special to come into her life, but it doesn’t happen.”

  Kayla sagged back in her chair. Great. Patrick thought she was a lonely old maid in need of a social life. Not exactly the romantic declaration she’d anticipated.

  Before she could formulate an answer, he touched her hand again.

  “Elissa, you must think I’m the biggest jerk around. I keep talking about your sister, when you’re the one I’m interested in. Can you forgive me?”

  “Sure,” Kayla mumbled, even though it wasn’t true. Forgive him? For being interested in Elissa? Not likely. Didn’t he get it? Didn’t he sense the connection between them? Oh, yeah, of course he did; he thought the chemistry was between him and Elissa, not between him and her.

  “Let’s dance,” he said, standing up and holding out his hand.

  She let him lead her to the small floor in the far corner, all the while not sure what to make of her feelings. In a way, she should be happy that he couldn’t stop talking about her. But it annoyed her that he kept apologizing for it. Nothing made sense.