The more of Mac’s body that remained covered the better.

Jessie had found it increasingly difficult to keep her mind on landscaping and off how he’d look stripped of his clothes and in her oversize tub. She had bubble bath, and more, she’d gladly share.

A bead of sweat dropped into her eye, pulling her out of her fantasy. Oh Lord, she was losing it. Too long in the sun. Too much exposure to a man wrong for her in too many ways to count.

She’d never intended to work on her backyard before the wedding. But she had needed a guaranteed distraction that would keep her too busy to think about, let alone fantasize about, a man completely off-limits.

Boy, had that plan backfired.

Dear Reader,

From hardworking singles to loving sisters, this month’s books are filled with lively, engaging heroines offering you an invitation into the world of Silhouette Romance…where fairy tales really do come true!

Arabia comes to America in the sultry, seductive Engaged to the Sheik (SR #1750) by Sue Swift, the fourth tale of the spellbinding IN A FAIRY TALE WORLD… miniseries. When a matchmaking princess leads a sexy sheik and a chic city girl into a fake engagement, tempers—and sparks—are sure to fly. Don’t miss a moment of the magic!

All work is lots of fun when you’re falling for the boss—and his adorable baby girl! Raye Morgan launches her BOARDROOM BRIDES miniseries with The Boss, the Baby and Me (SR #1751) in which a working girl discovers the high-powered exec she thought was a snake in the grass is actually the man of her dreams.

Twin sisters are supposed to help each other out. So when her glamorous business-minded sister gets cold feet, this staid schoolteacher agrees to switch places—as the bride! Will becoming The Substitute Fiancée (SR #1752) lead to happily ever after? Find out in this romantic tale from Rebecca Russell.

Rediscover the miracle of forgiveness in the latest book from DeAnna Talcott, A Ring and a Rainbow (SR #1753). As childhood sweethearts they’d promised each other forever, but that was a long time ago. Can these two adults get past their heartbreak to face the reality of a life together?

Sincerely,

Mavis C. Allen

Associate Senior Editor

The Substitute Fiancée
Rebecca Russell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Carole. I’m so blessed to have a sister to share childhood

memories with, and I’m looking forward to creating more

wonderful memories with each passing year.

And a big thanks to Vicki, Tammy, Karen, Judy and

Rob for all the brainstorming, critiques and

unwavering support. You’re the best!

Books by Rebecca Russell

Silhouette Romance

Right Where He Belongs #1575

The Substitute Fiancée#1752

REBECCA RUSSELL

Between racquetball, hockey, volunteering, writing and family, Rebecca Russell is an “at home” mom who is rarely home! She lives with her husband of nineteen years and a teenage son and daughter in Plano, Texas. Although grounded in her suburban life and small-town Ohio roots, Rebecca loves to spend time with flawed but heroic characters who find love and a happy ending.

Rebecca loves to hear from readers. You can write her at P.O. Box 852125, Richardson, TX 75085-2125, or e-mail her at rebecca_russell_22@yahoo.com.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

Prologue

“It’s bad luck to see your fiancée in her dress before the wedding, Mr. McKenna,” advised the woman draped in pearls and armed with a clipboard and pen. She stood dead center in a hallway decorated with wedding portraits of several famous pro football players.

Too bad the skilled but overpaid athletes couldn’t hop out of the pictures and run some interference right now, Mac McKenna thought wryly. He settled for a glare instead.

But the petite, obviously stubborn woman blocking his path didn’t blink, let alone budge.

“Are you sure I can’t convince you to wait out front?” the woman persisted.

Mac shook his head. He had no intention of spending one more minute than necessary in the main room of Brennan’s, the bridal boutique favored by the upper-crust of Dallas.

He’d never seen so many fussy, frilly things. Designer gowns tucked in clear plastic bags had taken over an entire wall. The satin shoes looked too pristine to wear, the intricate beading on the veils and gloves too delicate to actually use.

“Sir?”

“We’re not the superstitious type.” Besides, Jenna had asked him to come and give his opinion on the gown. For some reason, Jenna, usually independent and confident, had become a bundle of uncertainty since he’d proposed to her two months ago.

“Very well. Come with me. Ms. Taggert is in the first room.”

He followed the woman inside and stopped next to the couch; he wouldn’t be around long enough to sit. Jenna, wrapped in a swirl of cream-colored satin and lace, stood on a raised platform in front of a tri-fold mirror.

She looked stunning as always, her makeup perfect, every long blond hair in place. But instead of her trademark sexy smile, a pout marred her beautiful face.

“Are you sure this is the right dress for me, Mac?” She turned around slowly and studied the gown from every angle. “Maybe I should go with the Vera Wang. It has the beadwork I like.”

“It’s your call, Jenna, but this one looks fine to me.”

Jenna tossed her hair back and faced the mirror once again. “Fine? I don’t want a dress that’s just fine.” She sighed. “I’m marrying Dallas’s top trial lawyer. I need to impress. I guess I’ll just have to go through them all again.”

Mac checked his watch and fought a rising impatience. Jenna had given him the impression she had already made her decision and just wanted his approval. She of all people knew how his clients depended on him, how he committed one hundred and ten percent effort toward a win in the courtroom and didn’t have time to waste.

He caught the gaze of the consultant. “Can you give us a minute?”

She nodded and disappeared.

He approached his fiancée, who had always personified confidence but now seemed like some confused stranger. “I got to the number one spot because I’m tenacious about going after doctors and hospitals who are negligent.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “You have great taste. Just pick a dress, then meet me back at the office. We need to build an airtight case against the dirtbag of a doctor who almost cost the Carrolls their daughter’s life.”

“You’re right.” Jenna called for the consultant, who quickly reappeared. “Bring me the other five dresses that I narrowed it down to last week, and can you hurry?”

Jenna kissed his cheek. “You go on, and I’ll be there shortly. Promise.”

Mac made a quick exit, annoyed over the wasted trip and still perplexed by Jenna’s behavior. He had heard that wedding planning could cause stress, but he’d assumed she would handle it with the same confidence and focus she’d shown in her work since her first day of internship four years ago.

Three months earlier, when he’d offered her a partnership with the firm as a reward for such dedication, she’d quickly accepted, then surprised him with an offer of her own. “Why not take the partnership one step further?” she’d boldly suggested.

Both of them were smart, ambitious and competitive. Why not date, see if they were as perfect for each other outside the law firm as well? Where else would he find a woman who wouldn’t resent the long hours he devoted to ensuring doctors, hospitals and insurance companies were held accountable when they screwed up? Separately, he and Jenna could do great things, but together, they’d be unstoppable.

Mac couldn’t find any holes in her theory. Besides, at thirty-eight he was tired of living alone, but too dedicated to his practice to make the time to meet women outside of work.

So, after several dates he’d ascertained they were compatible on many levels, the most important being that she was just as consumed by her career as he was and had no interest in ever having children. He then did the logical thing and proposed marriage.

But he’d never anticipated that she’d have a meltdown.

Surely after the wedding the old Jenna would reappear. Unless…had he jinxed his marriage by seeing his fiancée in her wedding dress before the ceremony?

He shook his head and chuckled at the uncharacteristically whimsical notion. No way. Jenna was the perfect woman for him; she and the high-priced wedding consultant had all the wedding plans under control and would leave nothing to chance. No silly superstition could compete, let alone win out, over logic.

Chapter One

Jessie Taggert reached into her locker at the health club for her swimsuit, eager to hit the whirlpool after an intense workout. The nearly scalding, bubbling water would feel great on her tired muscles.

An unfamiliar jingle erupted from her gym bag. She frowned in confusion as she retrieved her cell phone, then chuckled at the realization that her twin sister must’ve changed the ring again, an ongoing joke. Jenna was a true techie, while Jessie, who admittedly enjoyed the convenience of cell phones and computers, worked on a need-to-know basis. “Hello.”

“Jessie, thank God I caught you.”

Alarms went off in Jessie’s head. Her sister sounded frantic. Jenna didn’t panic easily. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything. Nothing. I mean, I need you to do me a favor.”

Jessie groaned. “Come on, Jenna, it’s my vacation.” She loved her job teaching third grade, but the summers off kept getting shorter every year for both teachers and students. “Can’t you get someone else to do whatever it is?”

“Not this time. I got called out of town. I’ll be back tomorrow morning, but it means I can’t make the final fitting for my wedding dress today. We’re the same size and since we’re identical, no one will know it’s not me.”

“But it’s only been two months since you bought the dress. Why would you even need another fitting?”

“It’s Brennan’s policy. Can you be there at noon?”

Jessie glanced at her watch. “You’re giving me an hour’s notice?”

“Please, Jessie. I really need you to do this for me. My wedding is in seven days. I’d do it for you.”

Jessie couldn’t argue that point. Two sisters couldn’t be more different, but they had always been there for each other. “I thought you were taking this whole week off to do nothing but get ready for the wedding.”

“I was, I mean, I am, but something important came up. You’re a doll for helping me. And one more thing, you absolutely cannot tell Mac or anyone else that I’ve left town.”

“But isn’t your trip business related?” Why else would her career-minded twin go out of town right before her wedding to the attractive but equally ambitious attorney?

“I’ll explain later. Just promise me.”

“Okay, I promise, but—”

“Thanks, sis.”

Jessie didn’t bother to protest, having learned long ago that her sister, older by two minutes, usually got what she wanted. Jenna had always possessed a penchant for intrigue, but a week before her wedding?

Jessie hung up and shoved the phone back into her bag, disappointed that she had to trade a relaxing soak and sauna for a quick shower, but at least it was for something worthwhile.

Since her engagement to Mac McKenna, Jenna had been busier than ever, but she seemed happy. She proudly claimed that Mac had finally met his match. He planned to stay on top as a trial lawyer who attracted Dallas’s most controversial cases, and her goal was to become every bit as successful.

They had begun the search for a house. No doubt, hired help would do the housekeeping, lawn and pool care so that the busy attorneys’ time and energy could be channeled into their careers. Neither wanted children—too much of a distraction.

They were perfect for each other.

Jessie couldn’t imagine a more empty existence, but this wasn’t about her. After a shower, she’d race the twenty or so miles from Plano to downtown Dallas. She’d take the tollway, the quickest route. Still, she’d be hard-pressed to make the drive to the bridal shop in an hour.

Jenna was going to owe big-time for this favor.

Jessie hurried through the front door of Brennan’s Bridal Boutique and her eyes immediately began to burn from the battle of heavy perfumes.

Women of all shapes and sizes decked out in Prada, Gucci and big hair milled about the room. A few customers even carried pets in designer totes.

Jessie suddenly felt self-conscious in her lightweight jogging suit, ponytail and no makeup, but at least she was clean.

Conversation competed with soft jazz that flowed from hidden speakers as she scanned the room for a glimpse of “the pearl lady,” Jenna’s description of her bridal consultant.

A petite woman in pearls seemed to appear out of nowhere and appraised Jessie over reading glasses. “Ms. Taggert, I almost didn’t recognize you.”

The woman’s scrutiny left Jessie squirming in her no-brand tennis shoes. “I had something come up at the last minute, so I either had to reschedule or come like this.”

“These things happen, I suppose. And since your wedding is next week, you made the right decision. I have a changing room all ready for you, so follow me.”

The consultant stepped into a short hallway that boasted thick cream carpet and white walls adorned with wedding portraits of local celebrities. “I double-checked that the fitter made the tucks in the waist just as you requested. I hope it meets with your approval, because we really are running out of time.”

Jessie smiled. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

The consultant stopped in front of the first door, gave Jessie a puzzled look, then motioned her inside.

Jessie entered a spacious room furnished with a couch, a huge trifold mirror and a circular raised platform in front of it.

A gown that screamed “Look at me” hung next to a plush white robe. Nestled below was a pair of off-white satin pumps dyed to match the dress.

Jessie frowned. Whatever happened to simple and elegant?

“Ms. Taggert, is something wrong with the dress?”

Jessie forced a smile. “No. Of course not.” Her opinion of the gown didn’t matter. “I’ll try this on and be out of your hair in no time.”

“Wonderful. Here, let me help—”

“Thanks, but I can manage.”

After another strange look, and obvious reluctance, the consultant left.

Jessie stepped into the fussy gown. The dress hugged and flared in all the right places, as far as she could tell. She checked the time. With any luck, ten minutes, fifteen tops, she’d be out of there and on her way home to play in her garden.

“Jenna, are you in there? I need to talk to you.”

Mac! She’d only met her sister’s fiancé once, but his deep, sexy voice was easily recognizable. “I’m sort of busy right now, Mac.” What was he doing at a bridal shop? “Later works better for me,” she offered. Much later.

“This is important.”

Oh, God. Mac didn’t sound as if he’d take no for an answer. What was she going to do? “But you can’t see me in my dress before the wedding.”

“Now I know something is wrong.” His voice sounded closer. “I saw you in it months ago. What’s going on?”

Why couldn’t her sister have been a more conventional, superstitious bride-to-be? “But that was before changes were made. I want it to be a surprise.”

“Forget about the dress. We need to talk. Now.”

An all-too-familiar queasiness erupted in Jessie’s sensitive stomach, her body’s typical reaction to stress. She had to come up with some reason to keep Mac out. Jenna never went anywhere without makeup and every hair in place.

“You’ve ignored my calls, Jenna. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you since yesterday when you missed your appointment to take the deposition for the Grant case. I had to send Adam to cover for you.”

Panic gave way to worry. Jenna always put work first. Something really must be wrong, but Jessie couldn’t ask Mac about it, since she’d promised to keep her sister’s absence a secret.

She needed to talk to Jenna, but first she would have to deal with the tenacious lawyer who would know she wasn’t his fiancée after one look at her fresh-scrubbed face. “Okay, Mac, but I need to see the consultant first. Will you find her and send her in?”

Silence followed Jessie’s request. What would she do if he just barged in? After all, she didn’t really know her sister’s fiancé, having met him the first and only time at the couples shower she’d hosted several weeks ago at the Green Room.

He had arrived at the popular Deep Ellum restaurant with Jenna on his arm. Every coal-black hair was in place, his manners polished, as he worked the room like a seasoned politician and flashed his winning smile.

Of course, a man that attractive, that perfect, would choose a woman like Jenna.

He’d kept his arm around Jenna’s waist or shoulders the entire time, an obvious sign of affection, but Jessie hadn’t been won over. Something wasn’t quite right about them as a couple, but she couldn’t define what it was and that bothered her.

“Don’t take too long, Jenna,” Mac warned.

The consultant rushed inside and Jessie shut the door. “I need your help.”

“Is something wrong with the dress?”

Jessie shook her head. “The dress is great. But I can’t let my fiancé see me like this. Do you have any makeup around here that I can use? I’ll be glad to pay you.”

The woman’s knowing smile might as well have been an “I told you so.” No self-respecting woman ever left the house not looking her best. “No need for that. Don’t worry, I’ll be right back.”

While waiting for the cosmetics, Jessie arranged her hair into an elegant knot. As kids, the sisters had often traded places to cover for each other when the need arose. While fooling others entertained Jenna, the charades usually left Jessie reaching for the closest bottle of antacid to calm her nervous digestive system.

Now that she was an adult, deception proved even more difficult to stomach.

“She’ll just be a minute, Mr. McKenna,” the consultant called over her shoulder as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. “You’d best hurry, Ms. Taggert. He’s wearing a hole in the carpet.” She held out a small black vinyl bag. “My makeup should work. We have about the same coloring.”

Jessie hugged her. “You’re an angel. Thanks.” She dug through the cosmetics and pulled out concealer, determined to do the best she could, despite being makeup challenged.

“Don’t take this wrong, Ms. Taggert, but you’re like a different person this afternoon. When you were here a couple of months ago you couldn’t make up your mind about which dress you wanted, and today you barely look at it and say it’s fine. Are you sure? Because we want you to be happy with the gown.”

Jenna, indecisive? Not likely. The woman must have her customers mixed up. “I’m sure about the dress. It was just wedding jitters before.”

Jessie made an attempt to apply the mascara, not surprised to find her hand shaking. What if Mac barged inside before she was ready?

The “pearl lady” smiled. “It happens all the time. Here, let me help you. Your hands are shaking so much you’re going to make a mess of it.”

Jessie gladly let her guardian angel take charge of the impromptu makeover while she worried about the bigger problem of fooling Mac. Surely she could pull off the charade for such a short amount of time.

Minutes later, with her hair and makeup near-perfect, she felt ready to face the man on the other side of the door who had driven across town in search of answers, answers she didn’t have to give. After more heartfelt thanks, she sent the consultant outside.

Tomorrow, once her sister returned, life could get back to normal—calm and predictable—the way Jessie preferred it.

She closed her eyes and pictured in her mind how her sister stood, walked and talked, her facial expressions and gestures. Composed, glamorous, perfect.

Oh, God. She couldn’t do this, was crazy to think she could fool anyone, let alone Mac.

But she had to at least try. She took some deep breaths. “Time to begin the show,” she whispered, then opened the door.

Mac was already walking toward her, a frown etched on his tanned, handsome face. Tall, muscular and completely male, he looked terribly out of place in such a feminine setting, but not lost. Oh, no. The determined set of his jaw revealed he was a man on a mission and he’d reached his target.

She stepped back and gave him what she hoped was a sexy smile as she held out her hand in a stopping motion. “Don’t come any closer, Mac. This dress cost a fortune and I wouldn’t want any beads to come loose.”

She wanted to give him every reason not to touch her. She already felt bad enough about the deception and wanted to limit the contact.

As if he hadn’t heard, or simply didn’t care, he shut the door behind him and moved toward her until he stood close enough for her to notice flecks of gold in his brown eyes, reminding her of dark chocolate swirled with caramel.

His cologne made her think of fast cars, sure hands and slow, torturous kisses.

“I’ll pay for the repairs.”

He put his hands on her shoulders. An incredible warmth flooded her body. His intensity, completely focused on her, sucked all the air out of the room.

Her legs grew weak and she teetered on the borrowed high heels.

“Jenna, what’s wrong?” Strong hands guided her to the couch several feet in front of the trifold mirror and helped her take a seat. “Are you sick?” he asked as he sat next to her.

“N…no. I’m just frazzled, I guess.” And hating that I’ve been put into the position of deceiving you.

He held both her hands and studied her face for what seemed like hours. The innocent contact turned Jessie’s limbs more rubbery and useless than spending too long in the hot tub. Thank goodness she was already sitting down.

Why did the man have to be so gorgeous and sexy? Any woman with a breath left in her would have trouble remaining immune to his presence, she reasoned, and her own frantic pulse made it clear she was very much alive.

Jessie cursed her body for reacting to Mac, who wasn’t even her type. Bossy workaholics who had no interest in ever becoming a father held no appeal for her.

And besides, a hotshot lawyer such as Mac wouldn’t be impressed by a woman who was passionate about teaching, and preferred digging in a garden to attending a fancy party.

None of this even mattered, though. He was her sister’s fiancé, enough said.

“You never get frazzled, Jenna.”

Jessie thrust out her chin, the way she imagined her sister would. “Well, this is my first wedding. I’m entitled.”

“Okay, but that doesn’t explain why you missed an appointment yesterday, and didn’t return my calls.”

Jenna had arranged to have the following week off to focus on wedding plans; she would never start her vacation early without clearing it first. What was she up to? “Look, Mac, I’m sorry I let the firm down. It won’t happen again. I just needed some time to myself so I turned off all the phones. This whole wedding thing is making me a little crazy.”

“But why? You hired the best wedding planner in Dallas, all the choices have been made. And you’re already taking off next week to finalize the wedding plans.”

She sensed his patience was wearing thin. “I can’t explain it, Mac. Just accept that I’ll probably keep a low profile until this is all over, and that I might not be myself.”

“Since your desk is cleared, I don’t see a problem if you want to start lying low on Monday.”

Alarms sounded in her head once again. “I’m thinking I’d rather start now.”

He frowned. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Yes. Why?”

“It’s not like you to forget, let alone pass up, a photo op like the C.D.R. fund-raiser tonight or dinner with your family tomorrow.”

Jessie quickly dismissed the obligatory meal with her parents as a problem. Her sister would be back by then. But how could Jenna, who lived for the spotlight, have forgotten the Childhood Disease Research bash, the society event of the year? And it was tonight!

She’d get Jenna on the phone, remind her of the fund-raiser and insist she return home. Immediately.

Jessie forced a smile as her mind raced to find a believable explanation for “her” memory lapse. Of course he’d be surprised if her sister had forgotten an opportunity to rub elbows with the rich and famous, people she hoped would soon end up on her client list. “I guess I’m more frazzled than I realized, Mac. I completely forgot about the party tonight, and I just assumed you knew skipping the Sunday family dinner wasn’t an option.”

“I’ve never seen this side of you before.”

“Weddings will do that to a girl.”

“Are you sorry you let me off the hook and said you’d plan the wedding so that I could keep working up to the last minute, that all I had to do was show up?”

Jessie didn’t know which made her more sad, the fact he had zero interest in planning his own wedding, or that her sister preferred it that way. “No, not at all. You’d just be in the way.”

He smiled, but seemed distracted. “Now you’re sounding like the old Jenna. You were right. We do make a great team, and part of it is because you’re just as driven as I am.”

Jessie would never comprehend work being a person’s only priority, but guessed she didn’t have to. Jenna put her career first, as did Mac, and that was obviously the life they wanted. If her sister was happy, nothing else mattered.

He glanced at his watch and stood. “I need to get back to the office. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

Oh, Lord. The fund-raiser. If Jenna followed her recent pattern of not returning calls when it proved convenient, Jessie would have no choice but to continue the charade into the evening.

Her sister would know the appropriate attire for the gala, but Jessie had no clue. “What suit are you wearing? I don’t want to clash.”

“My Armani. Dark blue,” he said, then absently brushed his lips across her cheek, his mind obviously already focused on the work waiting for him. He opened the door, then disappeared into the hallway.

As Jessie closed the door, she fought back the urge to call after him and ask if he planned to work on his wedding day and during the honeymoon, then quickly reminded herself it wasn’t any of her business.

Besides, she had bigger, more immediate issues to worry about. The party was only seven hours away.

“Will you be taking the dress with you?” the consultant asked through the door. “Or do you want it sent to your apartment?”

“Send it, please.” Jessie had enough to deal with right now. With great care she hurried out of the dress, then grabbed the phone from her purse and called Jenna. Voice mail. Not a good sign.

Jessie left an urgent message for Jenna to call back immediately, along with a reminder about the fund-raiser that evening.

“Is there anything else I can do for you, Ms. Taggert?”

“Not unless this store sells fairy godmothers,” Jessie mumbled as she threw on her own clothes. She wasn’t a pessimist by nature, but she couldn’t summon much hope that her sister would call, let alone return home in time to attend the fund-raiser.

She never should have promised to keep her sister’s absence a secret.

“Did you say something, ma’am?”

“No. I’m all set. Thanks.”

All set for disaster, Jessie silently added, if her sister remained out of touch and out of town.

Jessie had to prepare for the worst, which meant that in the next seven hours she needed to come up with a plan for how to transform “Plain Jane” Jessie into “Glamour Gal” Jenna.

Chapter Two

“I have a bad feeling about tonight.” Jessie took a seat on the small bench in front of her sister’s bathroom mirror. Her two closest friends, Carla and Dana, stood on either side of her.

“Think positive thoughts,” Carla replied. “And quit frowning. You’ll get wrinkles.”

Jessie reached for the can of soda in front of her, struggled to flick the tab, but soon gave up rather than risk ruining her newly painted nails.

She stared at her hands and the French manicure. Tips had been added to her own nails to make her even more identical to her mysteriously absent sister. Already she was beginning to feel like someone else and she didn’t like it one bit.

Dana reached for the soda, opened it and gave the can back to Jessie.

“Thanks, Dana.” Jessie took a drink and hoped the carbonated beverage would calm her stomach. “How does Jenna, or anyone for that matter, function with nails this long? I can’t even open a soda with these things.”

Carla shook her head and sighed. “Jessie, hon, you’re missing the whole point about the advantages of being a glamorous woman.” Petite, curvy and beautiful with big blond hair, Carla had “former Dallas debutante” written all over her.

She was also self-deprecating and generous to a fault, which made her a great neighbor and an even better friend. “Men will fall over backward to do whatever you need done, whether it’s opening a can or a door. But glamour is as much about attitude as it is looks.”

“And I’m sure you’ll get used to the nails,” offered Dana, a fellow teacher and terrible liar.

“In two hours? I doubt it. Since Jenna has refused to return my calls, it would serve her right if I just told Mac the truth.”

“It would, but you won’t,” Carla chided. “You made a promise and besides, she’s your sister and family sticks together.”

“Sister or not, once I know she’s okay I’m going to strangle her for putting me in this position.” Jessie pulled her friends close. “Thank heavens you’re both here. I wouldn’t have a chance of pulling this off without your help.”

Carla had called in favors to get a last-minute nail appointment and Dana, who had put herself through college working as a hair stylist, had tugged and poked Jessie’s hair into an elegant updo.

They had driven in separate cars to Jenna’s downtown loft apartment, since they needed access to her makeup and clothes and that’s where Mac would pick Jessie up for the party.

The entire time, Jessie had kept her cell phone on and within sight, praying that she’d get the call saying Jenna was back in town and ready to jump back into her life.

“Trust me, this is more fun than doing laundry, my usual Saturday plans.” Dana peered into a basket on the counter filled with sample-size soaps and lotions. “Hey, isn’t that Jenna’s engagement ring?”

Carla reached for the ring and held it up for all to see. The huge, clear diamond sparkled under the lights. “Sure is. But why would she leave it behind?”

Dana’s eyes grew wide. “She wouldn’t, unless she knew all along she wouldn’t be back in time for tonight. Jessie would need it to pull off the switch.”

Jessie’s stomach protested at the possibility that her sister had planned to be gone for the fitting and the party. That she’d set up her twin to be a part of such an uncomfortable deception.

“According to Mac, Jenna’s been acting strange all week, but she hasn’t mentioned anything to me.” Jessie wished she knew if her sister was just experiencing a severe case of cold feet or if she was in real trouble, or something else entirely.

Carla frowned. “Don’t twins have a special connection, you know, where you sense what the other one is thinking or feeling?”

Jessie nodded. “I’ve experienced some of that, but it’s not so simple.” When they were younger, she had competed against Jenna for their parents’ attention. As teenagers, their desire to be seen as individuals had kept her and Jenna from being super close, like many twins. “I think I’d know if she was in real danger,” Jessie added, “but all I got from her last phone call was that she was under a lot of pressure.”

“It probably doesn’t help that you’re both so different. You’d never go for a rock like this for an engagement ring. Your house is so warm and cozy, and while this place is beautiful…” Carla’s voice trailed off as she studied the funky chrome light fixtures suspended from the ceiling. “It’s a little—”

Dana leaned against the green marble vanity. “Cold and pretentious?”

“Not at all,” Carla protested. “I was going to say modern.”

“Stay focused ladies,” Jessie pleaded. “It’s because my sister and I are so different that I’m in a panic.”

“Jessie, hon, I don’t want to add to your worries, but have you thought about what happens tonight after the fund-raiser? Let’s face it, you and Jenna are completely different when it comes to relationships, too. You like to play it safe and take your time getting to know someone and she’s more, well, adventurous. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but she and Mac are probably sleeping together, don’t you think?”

An all too familiar queasiness crept up on Jessie and she clutched her stomach. She’d been stressing over minor things like nails and makeup, when a much bigger problem existed. “Oh, God. You’re right. I mean, she’s never talked about it, which is strange for her, but still, odds are you’re right. What am I going to do?”

Dana patted Jessie’s shoulder. “With your nervous stomach, by the end of the night you’ll probably really be sick and then you won’t have to act.”

Jessie groaned at the prospect and hoped she had plenty of antacids in her purse.

“I know it looks like Jenna has set you up and lied,” Carla said. “But you’re the one who’s always telling me to keep an open mind until I have all the facts.”

Carla gently cupped Jessie’s chin and turned it until she faced the mirror. “Jessie, as crazy as Jenna makes you sometimes, she’s your sister and is depending on you. You can do this. You’ll just be playing pretend for a couple of hours and I doubt you’ll have to worry about opening cans of soda at a posh fund-raiser. And you can take your pick of excuses—a headache, cramps, upset stomach. Unless he’s a jerk, he won’t press spending the night, right?”

Jessie forced a smile and cursed the fact that her friend knew how much family meant to her. “Right.”

“That’s my girl.” Carla grinned. “Now, put on the ring before you forget.”

Whatever her sister’s reasons for leaving behind her engagement ring, Jessie had no choice. As she eased the three-carat ring onto her finger, uneasiness and panic raced up and down her spine. No prior deception, no prank had ever felt so wrong.

Still, Jessie couldn’t let her sister down.

“I’ll help you with the makeup, Jess. Dana, you choose an outfit, something dressy, but not too flashy. And try to find one that’s tea length so she doesn’t have to worry about hose.”

Dana saluted and hurried into the walk-in closet. “Wow,” she called out. “I feel like I’m in designer-label heaven.”

Carla rubbed her hands together, her expression gleeful as she surveyed a drawer crammed full of every cosmetic imaginable. “Trust me, Jessie, you’re going to knock Mac off his feet.”

Jessie believed her friends had the skill to make her look the part, but she had tons of doubt regarding her ability to pull off the act if, as Carla claimed, being glamorous required attitude more than anything else.

On the positive side, the awkwardness of her new nails now seemed a minor problem compared to the concern over her sister’s absence, Jessie’s guilt for deceiving Mac and the worry of how she was going to keep him out of her bed at the end of the evening.

Mac fought a sense of foreboding as he rang the doorbell to Jenna’s apartment. Who would he find tonight? The confident, bold Jenna of old or the new, uncertain, vulnerable Jenna of late?

He disliked disruption in his routine and was still on edge from this morning when, for the first time ever, he’d found it difficult to concentrate on his work after he’d returned from the bridal shop.

His mind had continually drifted back to his reaction to Jenna’s confession to feeling overwhelmed by wedding plans. An immediate protectiveness had surfaced out of nowhere, unnerving him to the point he’d made the quickest possible exit from the store.

Unfortunately, all he’d managed to accomplish that afternoon was rearranging the piles on his desk and reading the same brief three times without one word penetrating his unfocused brain.

He heard a clinking noise, a muffled curse, then the door opened. Jenna’s one hand gripped the tips of the fingers of her other hand, but at least she was dressed and looking her usual glamorous self. Relief ate away at some of his uneasiness.

“You look amazing, as always, Jenna,” he said as he drew her close and kissed her on the cheek.

She pulled back and chuckled. “I have to, or everyone will be looking at you!”

“Not a chance with you in the room.”

Mac swore he detected a slight flush on Jenna’s cheeks, but discarded the idea since she didn’t embarrass easily. Must’ve been the lighting.

“It’s settled then, Mac. We’re both gorgeous!”

Her smile seemed forced. She reached for her evening bag on the end table and held it against her stomach as if the minuscule purse were a protective shield. But what or who was she guarding herself against?

Jenna wasn’t afraid of anyone and was certainly no blushing innocent, so he blamed his vivid imagination tonight on either the lighting or exhaustion.

“Ready?” she asked.

“I was born ready, Jenn,” he replied in typical fashion, already anticipating one of her glib comebacks.

Instead, an unmistakable rush of color spread across her face and he could no longer deny something was different about Jenna today. Their usual banter had never caused a reaction before, not even the times they attempted to outdo each other with sexy double entendres.

Was her odd behavior a result of her having second thoughts about getting married?

He gave himself a mental shake. Jenna was the type of woman who knew what she wanted and went after it, a trait he admired. She’d be the last person to question her decision.

“Let’s go then,” Jenna finally replied. “We don’t want to keep the cameras waiting.”

The right words poured from her mouth, but they somehow sounded awkward and her smile seemed too bright. What had happened to her sassy attitude and poise?

She was doing it again, showing a vulnerability he’d never imagined she possessed. What the heck was he supposed to do with vulnerable?

He suddenly knew what he’d like to do. Skip the fund-raiser he’d been in charge of just so he could spend the night kissing the forced smile from her mouth, muss her perfect hair and help her out of the body-hugging pale green dress that matched her eyes.

What was he thinking? No woman, not even his fiancée, had ever tempted him to put pleasure before business.

With a mental shake, he offered his arm. “Let’s go,” he said more gruffly than intended, but dammit anyway, he’d proposed a merger of talents when he’d asked her to marry him, not an emotional relationship that would distract him from his work.

He’d tolerate her odd behavior for now, but it was countdown time. One week. Just seven more days and his world, and Jenna, had better return to business as usual.

Mac struggled to control his frustration as he searched the crowded ballroom for a sign of Jenna. Not that he’d expected her to remain glued to his side, but she’d been acting so odd lately, he really wanted to keep an eye on her.

He was in his element, so why couldn’t he relax? Attendance had doubled in the past three years since he’d become the sponsor of the annual Childhood Disease Research fund-raiser and moved the gala to the Congress Hotel, one of the oldest and finest in downtown Dallas.

He’d obviously chosen the right people for the decorating committee. The ballroom decorations met his standards of simple yet elegant, and the food appeared to be a hit as well. The band, set up in a rear corner, played just loud enough to be heard and not discourage conversation.

Reps from several local TV stations and the newspaper had arrived as promised with camera crews, so the event would get great coverage in both medias.

Where was Jenna?

“You sure know how to throw a party, McKenna.”

He turned to discover John Nashco. The district attorney had a reputation as a notorious, but harmless, flirt. “Anything for a good cause. Filled out that check yet?”

John nodded. “But I’d rather let your fiancée sweet-talk me out of it. Won’t hurt so much. Where is the captivating Jenna?”

Mac wasn’t about to admit he’d been wondering that himself. “You know her, she’s working the room.” He caught a glimpse of light green fabric. “I see her, John. Stay here and get your checkbook out. I’ll be right back.”

Mac made his way through the crowd toward Jenna. The closer he got, the more his senses came alive. Her tentative smile charmed, her feminine curves captivated. He was surprised by the warmth in her voice as she spoke to an elderly man he recognized but couldn’t place. She usually “worked” a crowd and rarely stopped for a lengthy one-on-one chat.

He put his arm around her shoulders. She immediately stiffened, looked up and smiled, then relaxed against him, their bodies a perfect fit.

Her soft hair tickled his chin and the subtle floral scent kicked his hormones into high gear. Had she recently changed shampoos or had he just somehow failed to notice before? “I need to steal you away for a minute, Jenn.”

“Sure.” She turned to the man she’d been conversing with. “Tell your wife I hope she feels better soon, Mr. Boreman.”

“I will, young lady.” He nodded at Mac. “Mr. McKenna, you’re a lucky man. Take care of her, you hear?”

“I intend to, sir.” Mac took Jenna by the elbow and weaved through the throng of dark suits and sequins. “John Nashco wants to arm wrestle you for a donation.”

“Arm wrestle? You’re kidding, right?”

Mac raised his eyebrows. “Of course. Just charm the check out of him like you usually do.”

“Um, sure. No problem.” She glanced around the room, as if looking for an escape. Or had his imagination kicked in again and she was just thirsty and simply looking for a waiter?

“Can I get you anything to drink or eat?”

“I couldn’t eat, but a soda would be great.”

“A soda?”

She nodded and placed her hands over her stomach. “My stomach is a little unsettled, so I’m going to pass on the wine.”

“There you are, Jenna.” John kissed her first on one cheek then the other. Her green eyes grew wide for just a second. “You look ravishing, as always.”

Those same eyes now sparkled with delight as she curtsied. “Why, thank you, kind sir. And you look rather dashing yourself.” She reached for his tie and straightened it. “Great tie.”

Mac clenched his jaw to keep from saying anything, then left to find a soda for Jenna instead of her usual Chablis. He needed something stronger for himself before he acted like a fool and wedged his body between theirs.

What was wrong with him? Jenna was just doing what she’d done many times before, stroking a man’s ego. Mac trusted her and had never felt the least bit jealous before.

Him, jealous? No. Not possible. They didn’t have that kind of a relationship. More than likely, Jenna’s weird reaction to the stress of the upcoming nuptials had rubbed off on him.

“How about a couple of pictures, Mr. Nashco, of you and Ms. Taggert?”

Jessie turned to find a young man wearing a media badge and carrying a camera. Her sister lived for these moments in the spotlight, so Jessie put all thoughts of the uncomfortable push-up bra and high heels out of her mind and smiled.

“Any excuse to put my arm around a beautiful lady.”

Jessie had to admit that she really did feel beautiful tonight. Before Mac had arrived at the apartment, she’d practiced walking in the high heels as she silently chanted, “Look at me! I’m glamorous. I’m sexy,” hoping she could at least fake it until she made it back home.

Of course, the sexy dress and a few drops of her sister’s expensive perfume helped to boost her confidence as well.

When she’d opened the door for Mac and observed the approval reflected in his gaze, she’d been relieved. But somehow Jessie had expected more. After all, men who were complete strangers lusted after Jenna, but Jessie didn’t detect any such blatant desire in her sister’s fiancé.

She just wished she didn’t find him so darned attractive. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d claimed just as many eyes would be on him as her tonight. The navy suit, along with his black hair, dark eyes and tanned face proved a striking combination.

His sexy banter had flustered her even more and she was surprised she had to keep reminding herself that he was flirting with his fiancée, not her. Since he wasn’t her type, she never dreamed that detail would prove so hard to remember, any more than she would’ve imagined that his constant, innocent touching would make her feel protected and cherished instead of controlled or possessed.

Then again, tonight she seemed like a stranger even to herself.

“Thanks for the pics. I’ll send you both copies.”

“Thank you, young man.” John gave Jessie’s shoulder a squeeze. “Jenna, honey, tell me the truth. Why do you want to tie yourself down to a man like Mac when I’m available?”

The guy seemed harmless enough, but she wasn’t used to being “on” for so many people and for so long. “John, I know you and Mac are friends so I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. It’s time to give it up. How much are you going to contribute this year to this extremely worthwhile cause?”

John pulled out a folded check from his pants pocket and handed it to her. “Will this suffice?”

She noted the generous amount and kissed him on both cheeks. “My hero. Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome. Say, since Mac seems to have deserted us, why don’t we—”

“Oh, Mr. Nashco,” an elderly woman dripping in diamonds called out as she approached him. “You simply must come meet my darling niece Gracie.” She turned to Jessie. “You don’t mind, do you, dear?”

“Of course not.” Jessie nudged him toward the determined woman. “And thanks again for the donation, John.”

The woman practically dragged him off, giving Jessie a much-needed respite from the entertaining but exhausting banter with the infamous prosecutor.

Where had Mac disappeared to? She scanned the crowd for a sign of him, but only because he supposedly had fetched a drink for her, not because she wanted to spend time with him. The more they were together, the higher the risk she’d slip up and reveal her true identity.

In search of something cold to drink, and a diversion, she approached a group of kids hovering around the linen-covered tables laden with exotic finger foods and sparkling bowls of punch.

She poured a cup of the pink liquid for herself and took a long drink. “Hey kids, why the long faces?”

One tall, older boy shrugged, another mumbled under his breath.

The young guests seemed more pale and thin than normal, but what really stood out was their complete boredom.

“I thought this was going to be a real party,” a young girl with big brown eyes offered.

“Yeah,” the mumbler added. “This is lame. I’d rather be back at the hospital playing video games with my buddy.”

The tall boy elbowed the “mumbler.” “Did y’all forget it was our idea to come tonight?” The spokesman for the group turned to Jessie. “We get so tired of not being able to do anything to help. Lots of our friends can’t leave the hospital, but we’re in remission, so we talked our parents into bringing us with them tonight. They had to fill out all sorts of papers so we could and now it looks like it was all for nothing.”

She didn’t doubt their sincerity but was still confused. “It’s wonderful that you want to help. What was your plan?”

The tall boy shrugged. “We figured if we talked to some of the guests about how we got sick and what we need to get better, that people might understand and give even more. But it’s harder to go up and talk to strangers than we thought.”

Jessie’s heart went out to the brave young souls who had obviously been through more than most kids their age, and to their parents. How did a mother or a father deal with watching their loved one suffer daily as well as live with the fear of losing their child at any moment?

She wanted to do more to help than make a monetary donation, but what? “These people do care or they wouldn’t be here tonight,” she offered. “And I think they’d love the chance to talk with you, but they have no idea that’s why you’re here, so we need to get their attention somehow.”

She glanced about the room for ideas. At the end of each table sat a balloon bouquet made up of one Mylar balloon and half a dozen of the latex. “Come on, kids. Follow me.”

She untied one bouquet and, carrying it like the Olympic torch, headed for an empty corner of the ballroom.

All but the two older boys followed, no doubt too cool for any activity that involved balloons. The rest of the kids, three boys and seven girls ranging from ages six to twelve, she guessed, gazed at her expectantly. “Have you everdone balloon relays?”

All shook their heads.

“Pick a partner, face each other, and form two lines.”

As they positioned themselves, she freed two of the latex balloons from the bunch and tied up the ribbon streamers so no one would trip. “Now, the object of the game is to carry the balloon between you and your partner’s bellies to the wall and back to the beginning of your line. You can’t use your hands. Got it?”

Heads bobbed up and down. Wide eyes sparkled with excitement. Faces beamed.

Jessie helped the first four get into position and then gave the signal to begin.

The kids clapped and cheered for each other as teammates squished the balloons between their bodies and tried to move forward. The balloons fell and were retrieved and repositioned many times. Both groups made it back to the line about the same time and the next four kids took off.

Jessie observed the little brown-eyed girl glancing at one of the older boys. When she failed to get his attention, she hurried over and raised her arms. He shook his head and grinned, then scooped her up and headed over to the game, with the other boy following.

“Squirt here wants me to help her, says she can’t go fast enough by herself. Is that okay with you?”

“Of course,” Jessie replied. “And your friend here can help, too.”

The “mumbler” picked up a small boy and waited for their turn.

To keep the game moving, Jessie helped retrieve the dropped balloons and repositioned them between the bellies. Within minutes, her high heels morphed into torture chambers. Another balloon escaped, but her feet protested the idea of one more chase.

Forget glamour. The kids were having too much fun. The shoes had to go, she decided, and kicked them off. The carpet felt like a caress against her aching bare feet; her toes wiggled with delight at their newfound freedom. Why hadn’t she done that earlier?

As the relays continued, Jessie noted the grins that covered the kids’ faces. Whether or not her idea worked to draw attention to the children, at least for a little while they had forgotten their reality of doctors, hospitals and treatments.

A hand gripped her elbow, leaving every nerve ending exposed and screaming for more than an innocent touch. Only Mac had that effect on her, much to her surprise and dismay, and she had nowhere to hide.

She was busted.

“What’s going on, Jenna?”

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