The Right Twin For Him

Chapter Two

Despite Maddie’s assurance that she knew the way back to town, Patrick arrived ahead of her. He got out and leaned against the Blazer as he waited. A few minutes later she drove up, one eyebrow raised in challenge.

He suppressed a smile as she slammed the door closed. “I know a few shortcuts,” he said.

Apparently, Maddie couldn’t stay annoyed, because she grinned at him. It was the most relaxed she’d seemed since he’d made the mistake of kissing her, and Patrick had time to notice the six small freckles on her nose, which were adorable.

Adorable?

He rolled his eyes and tried to think of something—anything—else.

Maddie Jackson was as cute as a baby kitten and had an appealing vulnerability beneath her colorful dress and the defiant tilt of her head. But he wasn’t in the market for appealing vulnerability, he kept his socializing to sophisticated women who didn’t have any interest beyond the here and now. Besides, his tastes ran to cool, classy brunettes, not impulsive, scatterbrained blondes.

“Are you ready to meet your double?” he asked.

Maddie gulped down a flutter of nervous excitement. She shouldn’t expect too much. Patrick was probably wrong and she didn’t look that similar to his sister-in-law.

They walked inside the Mom and Kid’s Stuff clothing store and Maddie stared at the woman behind the service counter. She swallowed again.

They really did look like each other.

“Beth, this is Maddie Jackson,” Patrick said. “Maddie, this is Beth O’Rourke.”

“Oh, it’s like seeing myself in a mirror,” the other woman gasped.

“Exactly,” he murmured.

Shockwaves rolled through Maddie’s already unsettled nerves. First she’d found her fiancé in a clinch with the punch girl, got kissed by a stranger and now…this. She felt an irrational desire to move closer to Patrick, as if he was a safe harbor in the middle of chaos.

Beth seemed to recover first, because she smiled and walked forward. “Welcome to Crockett. I understand you’re looking for your real mother and father.”

“My real mother and father are in New Mexico,” Maddie said, automatically sticking out her hand. “I’m just looking for my birth parents.”

“I see.”

They stood awkwardly until Patrick intervened. “Why don’t you start with your birthdays?” he suggested.

“July twentieth,” they said simultaneously.

Maddie swallowed and took an involuntary step toward Patrick. She didn’t know what she’d thought she would find when she left Slapshot, but it wasn’t seeing a woman with her same birth date and eyes and face.

“That’s interesting,” said a voice from behind them. “You were both born on the same day.”

“Kane!” Beth turned, her face transformed at the sight of a tall, dark-haired man with a striking resemblance to Patrick. She threw herself into his open arms.

“That’s my brother,” Patrick murmured. “You’d think they hadn’t seen each other in years, instead of hours. Of course, they’ve only been married for six weeks, so I guess we can excuse them for getting carried away.”

The wry, humorous tone of his voice was lost on Maddie, and her restlessness deepened as the couple shared a lingering kiss. She didn’t begrudge them their happiness, but it was hard seeing them at the same time her own life had fallen apart and she didn’t know how to fix it. Besides, there was something so…luminous about Beth O’Rourke when she looked at her husband.

When was the last time she’d looked at Ted like that? Certainly not the morning she’d found him with the punch girl’s D-cup bra hanging from his pocket.

Darn him, anyway. She could accept they’d both been having second thoughts. She could even accept he’d never been unfaithful before. So why did he have to make that comment about neither of them doing any comparison shopping…then make it clear what part of the feminine anatomy he was interested in comparing?

Honestly. She didn’t understand why men were so hung up about the female body. It wouldn’t matter to her if Patrick was short or tall or anything in between.

All at once Maddie frowned.

Patrick?

No. That was wrong.

Patrick O’Rourke was a temporary acquaintance, even if he did have a nice smile. She didn’t have any interest in his body.

At least, not much.

Though she had to admit it was a great body. The kind that inspired fantasies.

“Are you okay?” a quiet voice murmured.

She glanced upward and saw a concerned expression on Patrick’s face. Beth and her husband still hadn’t come up for air, and a sigh rose from Maddie’s chest.

“They really seem to love each other,” she said, hating the forlorn tone in her voice.

“I should hope so,” he said humorously. “What with them having a baby, and all.”

“Yeah.”

Patrick groaned silently. He didn’t have a clue how to console an upset woman, particularly when he didn’t know why she was upset. All he knew was Maddie had that quivery look to her bottom lip again, and it made him feel awful. He came from a family accustomed to physical displays of comfort and affection, so his first thought was to give her a quick hug. On the other hand, his desire to hug Maddie wasn’t entirely altruistic; maybe it was smarter to keep his hugs to himself.

Another long moment passed before Beth and Kane could drag their attention away from each other.

“Did I hear right, you both have the same birth date?” Kane asked at last, his arm snugly planted around his wife’s waist.

“July twentieth,” Maddie said. “It could be just a coincidence.”

“But we look so much alike,” Beth protested. “I was born at the old Crockett General Hospital at 12:25 a.m. What about you?”

Maddie squirmed. “Uh, same hospital, at 12:35. My birth certificate doesn’t say anything about it being a multiple birth.”

“Neither does mine, but they reissue the certificate when you’re adopted to make it look like you were born to your new parents. Twelve thirty-five? That makes me the eldest. I’ll bet we’re twins.” Beth smiled.

“It’s too soon to know that,” Maddie said. Judging by the way she lifted her stubborn chin, it didn’t look as if she was eager to find a twin sister. “Maybe we’re cousins. Cousins can look alike and be born close to each other.”

Beth shook her head. “It’s too big a coincidence. There was talk when I was a kid, but you hear so many wild rumors when you live in foster homes, I stopped paying attention. Wouldn’t it have been wonderful to grow up together?”

Maddie didn’t say anything for a long moment, but her mouth was set stubbornly. “Twins usually aren’t separated when they’re adopted. Mom and Dad would have taken both of us, so we can’t be sisters.”

Realization dawned as Patrick remembered Maddie’s firm declaration that her real mother and father were in New Mexico. She obviously loved and respected her adoptive parents; to accept the possibility of a twin was to accept the Jacksons might have chosen to split them up.

“Hey,” he said, lightly tugging a lock of Maddie’s sun-streaked hair. “You mentioned it was a private adoption. Your birth mother could have decided she could make two childless families happy by separating you guys. I bet your parents didn’t even know there was another baby.”

“Tell us about yourself,” Beth urged. “What do you like to do? Are you married? Do you have children? Kane and I just got married and we’re already starting a family.”

Patrick groaned.

Married?

Children?

Both were topics destined to upset Maddie again. Things were going from bad to worse.

“I’m not married,” Maddie said, but her voice shook. “I was…that is, I was going to be, but it didn’t…Oh, dear.”

Sure enough, a fat tear rolled down her right cheek. If Patrick hadn’t been so fond of Beth, he would have glared at her. Never mind that his sister-in-law didn’t know that marriage and kids were sensitive subjects, she’d upset Maddie again and he was thoroughly put out about it.

Besides, the last thing he wanted to know were the details of Maddie’s broken romance. She’d probably talk about it with Beth at some point—if they actually turned out to be sisters—but he wanted to be miles away when it happened.

He liked Maddie, he just didn’t want to…like her. He’d learned years ago that he wasn’t some gallant knight on a snowy-white charger. Hell, he’d gotten into more trouble than the rest of his eight brothers and sisters combined.

“I’m sorry,” Beth said, looking equally distressed. “Is there anything I can do?”

Maddie shook her head, grateful for the warmth of Patrick’s fingers clasping her own. She wasn’t sure how their hands had met, but he had a strong, firm grip. It was comforting. A man ought to have hands that did hard work and had the calluses to prove it.

Boy, was she a dope.

“I’m through with men. That’s all,” she said hastily, trying to send her thoughts in another direction.

Patrick seemed like a good guy, but it didn’t change anything. She was through with both men and romance. She’d feel melancholy for a while, which was natural, then she’d get back to normal.

Beth opened her mouth, but whatever she’d planned to say was lost when the door of the shop opened and a woman walked inside, wrestling a baby carriage ahead of her. With an apologetic glance, Beth went to assist the customer, who was casting curious looks from Beth to Maddie and back again.

More customers came into the store, and Beth rushed over to Maddie. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I’ll put the Closed sign out and get rid of everyone.”

“No.” Maddie was secretly grateful for the interruption. Finding a sister was the last thing she’d thought would happen when she left New Mexico—not that it was certain they were sisters, she reminded herself. “Don’t do that. I’ll come back tomorrow…or call. I’m staying at the Puget Bed and Breakfast Inn just outside of town.”

“You could stay with us. We’ve bought a wonderful old house and it’s huge. We’re remodeling so it’s a little dusty, but we’ve got lots of space.”

Maddie shifted uncomfortably. Beth might well be her sister, but she didn’t know the O’Rourkes or what they expected of her. What she did know was how difficult it would be to stay in the same house with two newlyweds who couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Being a third wheel—on what should have been her own honeymoon—didn’t sound like fun.

Besides, Beth would undoubtedly want to know more about her almost-a-wedding. She would ask with the best of intentions, but it was too humiliating.

No.

She couldn’t talk about Ted and the way he’d cheated on her. Not with Beth. It would be easier confessing to Patrick than tell a woman whose husband obviously thought the sun rose and set in her eyes. Maybe Patrick could help her understand men better, because right now she didn’t have a clue about the opposite sex.

Oh, yeah, that was a great idea.

Maybe she could ask his opinion about her less-than-generous bustline. He could tell her if it was really inadequate or just sort of inadequate. Heat crawled up Maddie’s face at the thought. She was losing her mind—totally bonkers.

“Take it easy,” Patrick murmured in her ear.

Maddie realized she was gripping his fingers with the fierce hold of a drowning woman. With an effort she let go and shook her head.

“That’s kind of you, but I can’t,” she said to Beth. “Uh, stay with you. But thanks. I’ll call tomorrow.”

Beth’s face fell with disappointment, Kane seemed thoughtful, and Maddie deliberately didn’t look at Patrick. She backed out of the shop and hurried up the street, her only thought to get away.

This just wasn’t her week.

Patrick looked at his sister-in-law’s upset face and his brother’s worried eyes, and sighed.

He was going to get in deeper with Maddie, he just knew it. Beth was ready to welcome her with open arms, while Kane was concerned about his pregnant wife getting upset. Somebody would have to run interference.

That would teach him to take the afternoon off. Officially he worked Monday through Friday, but lately he’d been at the station seven days a week. Right now he was researching radio transmitters, trying to determine the best way to double KLMS’s receiving area. It was a big investment, but it would pay off if he planned right.

“I’ll go talk to her,” he said, trying not to sound reluctant. He liked Maddie, but getting messed up with her would play hell with his peace of mind.

The reward for his offer was a kiss on the cheek from Beth and an approving nod from his brother.

Well…maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

After all the times Patrick had screwed up, it felt good to be the one helping out.

Maddie’s rental was parked at the curb, which meant she was on foot. He spotted a flash of turquoise and scarlet down the street. She hadn’t been wearing her jacket and the temperature was dropping, so he checked the rental. Sure enough, it wasn’t locked. She’d probably tell him that nobody locked their cars in Slapshot and be surprised to hear she ought to do it here in Washington.

Slapshot.

Who ever heard of a town being called Slapshot? There was a story behind that name, which he’d undoubtedly hear if he spent enough time with Maddie. Deep down Patrick thought the way her tongue ran away with itself was charming. Most of the women he knew were trying so hard to be sophisticated you couldn’t tell what they were really thinking.

Patrick pulled a jacket from the front seat. A faint scent of sage rose from the garment, mixed with a sweet fragrance that had to be Maddie’s own perfume. He draped the jacket over his arm and headed for her with a long stride.

“Hey, Maddie,” he murmured when he’d gotten close enough. “We have to stop meeting like this.”

She regarded him gravely, without the slightest suggestion of a smile at his weak joke. “Do you really think Beth is my sister?” she asked.

“Maybe.” Actually, he thought it was likely, but since Maddie seemed ambivalent on the subject, he didn’t say so.

“She seems nice.”

“She is.”

“And your brother is really in love with her.”

It was the second time she’d said something about love, and Patrick felt as if a lightbulb had gone on over his head. That was the problem. Maddie’s heart had been broken. Now she’d met a possible sister who was happily married and newly pregnant. No wonder she didn’t want to stay with Kane and Beth.

“Tell you what,” he murmured, abandoning his resolve not to have anything to do with Maddie’s obviously troubled love life. “If you show me the low-down louse that made you cry, I’ll beat him up.”

“You…” Maddie stopped and actually smiled. “Would you do that?”

“In a cold second.”

Patrick meant it, too. His best defense was to think of Maddie like another sister, and he’d defend his sisters with the last breath in his body. All his brothers felt the same; guys learned not to mess with the O’Rourke women if they had any brains in their heads. Of course, their sisters didn’t seem to appreciate the effort and complained every chance they got about them being overprotective Neanderthals.

“Here, it’s getting cold.” He dropped her jacket around her shoulders.

“Thanks.” Maddie caught the lapels together.

“Do you want to get some lunch?”

She shook her head. “Thanks, but not today.”

“Come on, Maddie,” he wheedled. “It’s been hours since breakfast, and I hate eating alone.”

Maddie doubted it. Patrick O’Rourke seemed comfortable with himself, though he was hardly a lone-wolf sort of guy. He could probably have all the feminine companionship he wanted, so she ought to be flattered he wanted her companionship. But since she was through with men and romance, she wasn’t the least bit flattered.

Well, maybe a little.

And her ego was certainly bruised enough to crave some bolstering.

Only, she couldn’t. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings or anything, but she wasn’t…all at once her heart fell to a new low, along with her bruised ego. The invitation didn’t have anything to do with her, just the fact she might be related to his sister-in-law.

“Men,” she muttered.

“Excuse me?” Patrick said, astonished.

“You’re just being nice because I might be Beth’s sister.”

“Is there anything wrong with that?”

“Well…no, but…no. It’s just that things are a little mixed up right now, and I shouldn’t be here at all.” Maddie sniffed. She wanted to be strong and independent, but a strong and independent person would be home now, dealing with the aftermath of her ruined wedding. At the very least she should have helped her mom put all that food away instead of flying halfway across the country.

“You’re not going to cry again, are you?” Patrick asked suspiciously. “Tears make me nervous.”

“No kidding.”

If there was anything Maddie did know about men, it was that they didn’t like to see a woman crying. Her father was a terrible softy when it came to a wobbly mouth and tears, and her mother had explained at an early age that it wasn’t right to get things just because she cried.

Problem was, Maddie cried at the drop of a hat. It snowed and she cried, because it was so pretty. A baby kitten standing on unsteady feet turned the waterworks on big time. And she went through boxes of Kleenex at Christmas and Easter.

“I’ll try not to upset you any more than necessary,” she assured him. “Which won’t be a problem at all, because it’s not like we’re friends, or anything, though you did kiss me. And even if Beth is my sister, I’m not sure that makes you family. I mean, it would in Slapshot because family is family, but I don’t know about Washington.”

Patrick groaned.

He’d never met a woman whose emotions were so close to the surface. She blurted out every thought that came into her head, and everything she felt flitted uncensored across her face. Now he felt like a jerk for acting as if her tears were an imposition.

“Don’t worry about it. Why shouldn’t you be here?” he asked, figuring he should make up for his big mouth, though it probably meant hearing things he’d rather not know about.

“Oh.” Maddie looked unhappy again. “It’s just that I left Mom and Dad to take care of everything. I should have stuck around for a while, then left.”

He shouldn’t ask, but he couldn’t help himself. “Take care of what?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Two hundred pounds of coleslaw, potato and macaroni salad. Three hundred pounds of cheese, ham, turkey and beef. Over a thousand of those dumb little crusty rolls. Gallons of mayonnaise, fancy mustards and a bunch of other stuff.”

“Really?” Patrick didn’t have the slightest idea what she was talking about.

“Some of the ‘other’ stuff was a four-tier wedding cake,” Maddie added, then bit her lip as if she regretted saying anything at all.

He whistled beneath his breath. He’d guessed she was recovering from a bad romance, but he’d never expected something so dramatic. Something had happened on her wedding day? Once again he decided he should keep his mouth shut, but his vocal cords were having a day of glorious freedom.

“What happened?”

“I caught my fiancé kissing the woman we hired to serve the punch.”

Patrick winced. Still, it could have been a misunderstanding. “Maybe—”

“Maybe nothing.” Maddie scowled and stuck her chin out. “He had her blouse off, and her D-cup bra was hanging from his pocket. What is it with men, anyway? Breasts are breasts. Why does size matter so much?”

Patrick gulped.

He liked women’s breasts—big ones, little ones, they were all terrific in his opinion. But it was hardly a discussion they should be having on a public street. At the same time a surge of anger swept over him, anger at the unknown man who’d callously cheated on his bride-to-be. How could that guy take advantage of an innocent like Maddie and still look himself in the mirror? At his worst he’d never taken advantage of a woman, and he certainly wouldn’t cheat on his bride-to-be.

“I think your fiancé has the brains of a squirrel,” Patrick said. “I could say something about another part of his pea-size anatomy, but I won’t since I’m in mixed company.”

Maddie giggled, though a bright pink flooded her cheeks. “I’m sorry about that ‘men’ comment. You really are nice.”

Nice?

Patrick gave her a measured look. Having watched four sisters go through some unhappy romances, he knew women were vulnerable when their hearts were broken. His sisters always talked about meeting a “nice” man after breaking up with a boyfriend.