“Well, that’s an offer I’d be hard-pressed to refuse.” He popped open a beer. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Ice water would be great.”
He poured a tall glass of ice water for her and sat on the barstool across from her, taking a deep breath and releasing it. “So it’s like this. I told you I’m an identical twin.”
“Right.”
“My brother Landon and I get along like a house on fire. We always have.”
“That’s a funny way to put it as a firefighter.”
“That’s one of my grandfather’s many favorite sayings, and Landon and I are both firefighters. Anyway, he and I fought like billy goats with our other siblings but never with each other.”
His wording made her laugh. “How do billy goats fight, exactly?”
“Lots of head-butting, kicking and sucker-punching.”
“I see.”
“Bottom line, Landon and I have always been tight. And then this woman Amanda came to town to sell sex toys at the store, and suddenly—”
“Whoa! Sex toys at the store? You’re going to need to unpack that for me.”
His low chuckle echoed through the big kitchen. “I suppose that does warrant some explanation.”
“Ah, yeah. Please proceed.”
“My family owns the Green Mountain Country Store.”
“What? Seriously? I have an interview there this week!”
“Really?”
“Yes! It’s my first choice. I devoured the website. I’d love to work there.”
“I might be able to help.” He leaned in closer, adding in a conspiratorial whisper, “I know people.”
“You’re turning out to be rather good to have around.”
That earned her a huge smile. “Aww, shucks. I do what I can. Anyway, my dad got a big idea to offer an intimate line in the store. Amanda came to do training. Landon and I both asked her out, and she went out with me one night and him the next.”
“Why’d she go out with both of you? That’s kind of weird.”
“I think she was trying to be nice since her company is doing business with our family’s store.”
“Ah, okay. So what happened?”
“We had a really good time, but I think she likes him better than me. She came to our birthday dinner last night with him, and after that, I just wanted to get the hell out of there for a while. That’s why I’m here.”
“Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.”
“So which part is worse for you—that she might like him over you, or that you’re at odds with him?”
“That’s a good question.” He got up to check the pizza. “Probably being at odds with him is worse. I can’t stand that.”
“So then don’t be. If you’d pick him over her, then pick him. If she likes him better than you, so be it. You’ll find someone who likes you better. Isn’t that what you want anyway?”
“How do you make it sound so simple?”
“Because it is. Your brother is your best friend forever. He comes first over someone you both just met.”
“My grandfather said the same thing. You’re both absolutely right.”
“Duh. I know.”
Laughter lit up his gorgeous golden-brown eyes. The man was ridiculously handsome. She couldn’t believe that there was another one just like him. The two of them must’ve left a trail of broken hearts in their wake.
Dani shook off those thoughts. What did their trail of broken hearts matter to her? She had no intention of adding hers to their scrap pile. She’d had enough heartbreak for one lifetime. Allowing herself to be sucked in by a handsome, kind, sexy stranger would only lead to more.
He was providing her with shelter and frozen pizza for tonight and maybe a recommendation to his family’s business. That was all this was, and she couldn’t allow the pervasive loneliness she’d brought with her from Kentucky to turn this bizarre evening into something it wasn’t ever going to be.
The scent of the pizza cooking made her stomach growl.
“Someone is hungry,” Lucas said.
“That’s embarrassing.”
“Don’t worry about it. In my family, that’s the least of the sounds you’ll hear over an average dinner.”
“I’m very curious about what it was like to grow up with nine siblings.”
“It was loud and crowded and chaotic, but fun, too. There was always someone to hang out with or fight with or wrestle with.”
“Wrestling seems to be a key element to life in your family.”
“I have six brothers, all but two of them older than me, and one of my sisters could kick my ass until I hit high school. I learned to defend myself at a very young age.”
“What’s your mother like?”
“She’s very cool and was a fun mom, but she didn't put up with our crap. She really is a saint. Everyone says so.”
“She’d have to be. And your dad?”
“He’s awesome, super laid-back and chill at home, but intense and driven when it comes to the business.”
“It’s his family’s business, then?”
“Actually, it’s my mom’s family business, but my dad graduated from Yale’s School of Management. My gramps hired my dad after he and my mom got married, and he became the CEO when Gramps retired. The two of them are great pals, constantly interfering in the love lives of my siblings and cousins and generally thinking they’re in charge of us all. Did I mention that my mom’s sister has eight kids?”
Dani’s mouth fell open. “Holy crap!”
“The winters in Vermont are long and boring, or so my mom and my aunt always said.”
“That’s funny.”
“It’s true.” He retrieved the pizzas from the oven, cut them, got out plates and silverware and then joined her at the island.
“You know your way around this kitchen pretty well.”
“I come up here to visit a couple times a year. Craig and I were close friends in college, and it’s only ninety minutes from Butler when it’s not snowing. It’s an easy getaway. We’ve had some great times here.”
Dani marveled at how he ate five pieces of pizza in the time it took her to eat two. “Nice of him to let you use the place when he’s not here.”
“I agree. He’s a good friend to have.”
“So are you. Thank you for everything tonight. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t come along when you did.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
When they finished eating, they worked together to clean up the kitchen while she suppressed one yawn after another. Lucas opened a bag of Nestlé Crunch bars and offered her one.
Dani took a candy bar from the bag and opened the wrapper. “I should explain what happened before… In the truck.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I really should, though.” She took a bite of the rich chocolate and tried to collect her thoughts. “Almost a year ago, I started having panic attacks after a traumatic event. They come on out of nowhere, and I don’t have a lot of control over when or how it happens.”