He reached for her hand.
She resisted, wincing as her misshapen fingers fought to close. With a shuddered breath, she relented, allowing him to rest his hand on her wrist.
“There is no one else. I’m sorry I upset you.” Darcy’s smile flashed through his mind like sunshine glinting off glass.
Estelle calmed as he caressed her knuckles.
“I loved Samantha, and I love you.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “That’s why I brought you to Oklahoma with me. I wanted to make sure you were taken care of.”
She closed her eyes. After a few moments, her breathing slowed, and her fingers relaxed in his grip. He kissed her hand, easing away. A single tear escaped to her pillow as he tucked the blanket around her shoulders.
“Sweet dreams, Estelle,” he whispered, switching off the light and leaving the room.
In the parking lot he pulled his cell from his jeans pocket and dialed Richard to tell him something had come up. He wouldn’t be able to spend Saturday at the lake after all.
****
“Come in!” Scarlett’s shout penetrated the closed door.
Darcy cracked it open, popping her head through the gap. “Hey, remember I’ll be down at the boat dock if you need me today.”
“Have fun. Maybe I’ll stop by a little later.”
Darcy ignored the little voice whispering through her soul like a prayer, silently begging her twin not to come. Cabin would be there. Inside, she knew if Scarlett appeared, her hopes of connecting with him would disappear beneath the weight of her sister’s shadow. “Are you going to be okay by yourself?” Darcy asked, appalled by her own selfishness. What was the matter with her? A lunatic was stalking her sister, for heaven’s sake.
“Sure. I’m fine.” Scarlett showed no signs of her earlier terror. Was it denial, or had she grown so used to the threats that the effects didn’t last long?
Darcy gazed around the room as she opened the door and stepped in. “Wow...” Scarlett’s decorator had made amazing progress. “This is beautiful!”
Scarlett shrugged while plunging artificial flowers into an expensive-looking vase. “What can I say? Charles is a genius, and he knows other geniuses, even in Podunk-Oklahoma.”
“It looks fantastic.” Darcy patted Scarlett’s back through her fitted tank top. “Well, I can see you have your hands full, so I’m going to run. Can’t wait to see it when it’s finished.”
“Ciao,” Scarlett called, resuming her attack on the silk tiger lilies.
Darcy opened the car door and tossed her bag into the passenger’s seat. She slid behind the wheel, her pounding heart stirring the front of her bathing suit cover-up.
What am I doing?
After five deep breaths, she backed from the drive, then steered onto the winding road leading to the water.
She parked in the trees beside the little shed and stepped from the car, pulling her bag out with her. Inhaling the fresh air, she listened to the water lap the shoreline, polishing red dirt into smooth glass. Constant and unchanged, the lake remained a loyal old friend, holding within its banks a lifetime of memories.
She approached the shed and reached into her tote for the key, suddenly realizing she’d given it to Liz before their plans were finalized. Plunking the bag in front of the door, she turned and walked across the grass, then stepped onto the pier. After strolling to the end, she sat, dangling her feet above the water.
Teenagers splashed in the swimming area a quarter mile down the shoreline, their laughter carrying on the breeze. The youthful voices reminded her of Stephen, her first love, the boy she’d dated throughout high school and college.
Stephen had been tragically killed in a freak accident during USAO’s graduation commencement, at age twenty-two. She wondered how her life would have turned out had he lived. The only boy who’d ever had eyes for her instead of her sister, Stephen had remained somehow impervious to Scarlett’s charms.
A feat unachievable for Darcy’s ex-husband, Wyatt, who’d left after only five months of marriage, claiming he couldn’t handle the strange feelings Scarlett stirred inside him. Feelings he’d described as an unbearable combination of pleasure and dread. He was terrified, and didn’t want to cheat. So instead, he walked away.
She whipped her head toward the sound of an approaching vehicle. Liz beeped the horn of her bug and waved, barely killing the engine before hopping from the door and loping through the grass toward the dock.
“Hey, you!” Liz yelled as she leapt onto the pier, jogging toward Darcy with open arms, her halter dress dragging to her ankles.
“Hi.” Darcy rose and hugged her friend. “Where’s Richard?”
“Don’t you mean, ‘where’s Cabin?’” Liz jibed. “They were hooking the boat trailer to the truck when I left. They’ll be along soon.” She took a quick look over both shoulders. “By the way, your Cabin...H-O-T.”
“I wouldn’t call him, my Cabin,” Darcy said, dropping back down, arranging her cover-up around her thighs.
“Not yet,” Liz teased. “Speak of the devil...”
Darcy followed Liz’s gaze shoreward, to an approaching red truck. Her heart oscillated in her ribs like ripples around the dock. “What am I doing here?” Her eyes widened at Liz.
“It’s okay.” Liz smiled. “We’re going to have a great time.”
Darcy pressed her hand to her chest. “I think I’m having a heart attack,” she breathed.
Liz waved her arms at the truck. “Well, it’s a good thing Cabin’s a doctor.”
The truck circled, then backed the trailer onto the ramp. Richard hopped from the passenger’s side, waved to Liz, and jogged to the boat. The head of an enormous, red Irish setter replaced his in the passenger window. Richard unhooked the straps and climbed into the boat, motioning the truck back until the wheels of the trailer were submerged in water.
Cabin jumped from the cab, followed by the dog. He lifted his arm toward the pier in a wave as he hurried toward the water. The men’s laughter carried to the pier when the dog leaped aboard with Richard as they guided the vessel fully into the lake.
Holding a thumbs-up in the women’s direction, Cabin hopped into the cab and accelerated, pulling the trailer from the ramp.
Richard motored to the dock with the dog sitting beside him, its tongue and tail wagging.
“Hey, handsome,” Liz called as he approached.
“Hey, yourself,” he said. The dog whined, then leapt from the boat to the pier. Richard secured the vessel before stepping onto the platform.
Liz took his hand, and he kissed her lips.
Darcy drummed on the pier, calling the dog over to where she sat. It ran to her full force, knocking her back, licking her face while she giggled.
“Lucy, I see you’ve made a friend.”
Darcy’s breath caught as Cabin’s voice smoothed over her like water over the red shoreline.
****
With just one look, Cabin felt as though he were adulterating the memory of his deceased wife. He tried desperately to keep his eyes on Lucy, not on the swell of Darcy’s breasts peeking from the unfurling cover-up as she wrestled the dog.
As if reading his mind, she stood and adjusted her clothing, turning from him to tighten the straps of her purple bathing suit before cinching the cover-up. Lucy gazed at her, tail wagging.
“Good to see you again.” Cabin extended his hand, wondering when to make his rehearsed excuse—the excuse Richard obviously hadn’t passed along to Liz. Darcy took his hand, and he looked into her eyes, certain they were the most beautiful he’d ever seen.
“Is she yours?” Darcy slid her fingers from his, petting the dog.
“Yes. This is Lucy, as in, ‘Lucille Ball.’ The red hair, you know.” He joined her in stroking the dog’s shiny coat.
“She’s beautiful.”
He gazed at Darcy, bathed in morning sunshine, her hair golden. Water rippled in gentle waves behind her. “Yes. She is.”
Darcy blushed, then smile
d, stealing the sun’s glory. “I’m glad you came. Both of you.”
The excuse to leave fled his mind, and he heard himself say, “So am I.”
****
Liz handed Darcy the key. She unlocked the small building, then rolled out the barbeque grill as Cabin and Richard hauled ice chests from the truck and placed them on the picnic table. In less than an hour, Lucy sniffed the air and whimpered, awaiting her hamburger as the men turned the sizzling meat.
“So, are you having fun?” Liz whispered over the condiments, rolling a soda can across her sweat-beaded brow before popping the top.
“I’m having a great time. I enjoyed boating around the lake all morning.” She glanced at Cabin, his aqua eyes focused on the glowing coals.
“You two have something. A weird chemistry thing, going on,” Liz said, following Darcy’s gaze. “It’s cute.”
Darcy’s sun warmed cheeks grew hot. “Cute is good.”
The men brought the food to the table.
“Let’s eat,” Richard said, already plopping a burger onto a bun while shooing away a hovering fly.
Cabin dangled a hamburger patty into the air, coaxing Lucy onto her hind legs before releasing it into her strong jaws.
Darcy smiled as she watched, her heart encompassing both of them.
He caught her looking and grinned, his eyes stealing her breath.
“I smell cigarette smoke,” Liz said, turning on the bench. She clutched her chest, her eyes widening as Scarlett approached through the trees. “Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe the resemblance,” she whispered.
“Well, we are identical twins,” Darcy said, struggling against the sudden tension in her muscles as she stiffly rose to greet her sister.
Lucy growled low, prompting a light slap on the haunch from Cabin.
Scarlett tossed her cigarette to the ground and stomped it under a high-heeled sandal before stepping to the table. “Sister-dear, you didn’t tell me it was a party.” She moved her sunglasses to the top of her head with both hands, her augmented cleavage lifting inside her cherry red bikini top.
“Everyone, this is my sister, Scarlett.” Darcy stood beside her twin, her hopes falling to the dirt alongside Scarlett’s cigarette butt. “Scarlett, meet Liz, Richard and Cabin.”
“Pleasure,” she said huskily, her gaze lingering on Cabin.
“Are you hungry?” Darcy asked, offering a burger.
“Positively famished.” Scarlett slid onto the bench across from Cabin, then took the plate from Darcy’s hand, setting it on the table. She removed the top bun, dipped the plastic knife into the mayonnaise, and spread it with deliberate strokes. Eying Cabin, she slowly licked the tip of her finger clean before replacing the bun. Ravenously, she sank her teeth into the hamburger.
Cabin cleared his throat. “So, was it fun growing up as twins?” he asked, flicking glances between them. “Did you ever pull the old ‘trading places’ routine?”
“Not that I can remember,” Scarlett said, her eyes searching Darcy’s. “Do you recall?”
Darcy walked around the table and squeezed onto the bench between Liz and Scarlett. “No, I don’t suppose we ever tried that. I don’t think it would’ve worked anyway, our mannerisms are completely different.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Scarlett agreed, and resumed ravishing her food.
Darcy reached for a napkin. “You haven’t heard any more from Malcolm, have you?” she asked, the ketchup on her fingers reminding her of the tomato sauce she’d trailed through the house that night. Scarlett’s face drained of color, and her mouth pinched. “No. I haven’t heard any more from him. Let’s just forget about that.”
“Malcolm?” Liz asked.
“Scarlett’s ex-boyfriend. He’s abusive and—”
“I said I didn’t want to talk about it.” Scarlett shot to her feet, glaring at Darcy.
“I’m sorry. But everyone needs to know he’s around, especially if he’s that dangerous.”
Cabin frowned. “Where is he?” His gaze rested on Darcy. “He didn’t hurt you did he?”
“He threatened me.” Scarlett cut in. “She wasn’t even there.”
Darcy tried to ignore the thrill of hope she gleaned from Cabin’s concern. “No one was hurt. He took off. We didn’t call the police, figured they probably wouldn’t do anything since he didn’t actually hurt her.”
“Just be careful. Both of you,” Cabin said as he rose from the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make a couple of adjustments on the boat.”
He looked at Darcy as he spoke, melting her heart. She smiled and nodded. Heat engulfed her as she watched him walk away, shirt unbuttoned, blue swimming trunks slung low on his narrow hips.
Liz stood and collected paper plates from the table, tossing them into the trash barrel. “Oh! I almost forgot!” she exclaimed, grabbing her apple-charm keychain from the table, then jogging through the grass to her little blue car.
Darcy watched in disbelief as she unfolded a fully inflated two person raft from her the tiny vehicle and hoisted it over her head. Richard ran to help her. “I thought we’d tie it to the dock and lay out,” she told Darcy as Richard slid the raft into the grass beside the table.
Darcy gave an enthusiastic nod. “That sounds perfect.”
“But first...” Liz craned her neck through the trees behind them. “Is there a bathroom around here?”
“I see a whole forest full of them!” Richard teased, looking around at the trees, then kissing Liz on top of her head.
“Yeah...that’s not going to happen,” she responded, raising her chin to kiss his cheek.
“The bathrooms are just up the road, within walking distance. I’ll come with you.” Darcy rose from the table. “Are you coming, Scarlett?”
“No thank you, I’m going to get some sun.” She untied the sarong from her waist, revealing the silver navel ring in the center of her taut abdomen.
Beneath her bathing suit cover-up, Darcy instinctively sucked in her stomach.
Liz tugged at her dress, looking uncomfortable.
“Does anyone have sunscreen?” Scarlett asked.
“Use mine,” Richard offered, pulling a yellow and blue tube from the pocket of his long trunks.
“Thank you, dear.” She took the lotion from his hand and slathered it over her tan body.
“We’ll be right back.” Darcy waved, steering Liz toward the road. “I am so sorry,” she said, once out of earshot.
“What’s her deal?” Liz pouted, kicking a beer bottle cap across the asphalt.
“I don’t know... She’s oversexed, or something. She’s always been that way. I’ll get rid of her as soon as we get back.” She glanced toward the water. Thankfully, Cabin was tinkering with something on the boat, not ogling her nearly naked sister.
“I just hope she doesn’t devour our men while we’re gone. That would suck,” Liz said.
They stepped into the mildew scented bathroom. Dozens of daddy-longlegs crept along the walls. “Wow, Richard had a point about the trees,” Darcy said.
Finished in record time, the women banged through the stall doors. “Let’s get out of here!” Liz squealed as they washed their hands in the rusted sink. “No paper towels, of course.” She flung her hands through the air, spattering the mirror with water.
Liz complained about the condition of the bathroom all the way back to the campsite as Darcy shook her head and chuckled over her friend’s colorful observations. “...I mean, seriously, on the ceiling? How did it even get there?” Liz stepped from the blistering asphalt to the grass.
“I can’t wait to get into the water. It’s going to feel great.” Darcy lifted the hair from her neck.
“Hey...where’s my raft?” Liz scoured the area, narrowing her gaze at the lake. “What the hell?”
Scarlett floated in the water, her bronze body splayed on Liz’s raft.
Darcy’s jaw hardened. “I’ll get her,” she said through gritted teeth. She marched to the shoreline and
cupped her mouth. “Hey! Scar! Come back with the raft!”
Scarlett lazed motionless on the water.
“Scarlett! Come in!” she yelled again, her throat burning along with her temper.
Inside the boat, Cabin popped his head up, glancing at Darcy, following her gaze to her sister. “Scarlett!” His shout reverberated across the water. He looked at Darcy and shrugged.
“Is she safe out there?” Liz asked, turning to Darcy. “Look how far she’s drifted.”
Darcy, fuming, strained her eyes as her sister shrank in the distance. “She’s fine,” she answered. “Scarlett’s a good swimmer. She used to be a lifeguard.” Darcy wasn’t a bad swimmer herself, and had half a mind to plunge into the lake and drag her sister all the way back to shore by her overly processed hair.
Liz turned an irritated gaze back to Scarlett, her eyes enlarging at the empty raft. “She’s under! Oh my God, she fell off!” she shouted.
Darcy turned her widening gaze to Cabin just as he jerked his head toward the raft and jumped from the boat, slicing the water, swimming with powerful strokes. Faint screams traveled from Scarlett. Darcy frowned as she watched her sister flail her arms, her head bobbing up then disappearing below the surface as Cabin swam toward her.
Richard ran from the shed and scanned the lake, his eyes wide.
“Cabin’s got this,” Liz said. “Goodbye, raft,” she sighed, pointing toward the orange rectangle nearly halfway across the lake.
Cabin swam toward shore, Scarlett tucked under his arm.
Richard jogged knee deep into the water to meet them, Lucy at his heels.
“Is she all right?” Richard called as Cabin rose from the lake, cradling Scarlett’s limp body.
Cabin dropped to his knees, laying her gently on the shoreline.
Darcy had seen it all before—trembling eyelids dying to peek, cheeks sucked in to accentuate cheekbones, lips arranged in a slight pout. Scarlett was faking.
Lucy sniffed her and growled. Richard caught the dog by the collar and led her away.
“Oh my God. She’s topless!” Liz shrieked, lunging for a dirt-caked towel abandoned on the shore.
Skinbound Page 3
