Holiday In The Hamptons. Sarah Morgan

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СКАЧАТЬ made her heart and pulse thunder a protest. It was a fight-or-flight response, and her body seemed to be choosing flight.

      “Do you want me to come with you?”

      “What I really want is for you to pretend to be me so that I don’t have to do it at all.” She saw Harriet’s eyes cloud with worry and cursed herself for saying too much. “I was joking!”

      “Were you?”

      “Of course. If I let you do that I’d lose the last shred of my self-respect. I have to do this by myself.”

      “Remember what Molly said. You should control the meeting. Make an appointment for one of the animals. That way you have a reason to be there and something else to talk about. If it’s awkward you can keep it professional.”

       “If?”

      “Memorize one line. ‘Hi, Seth, good to see you. How are you doing?’ I can’t believe I’m saying this to you. You’re the one who is great with people. I’m the one who is tongue-tied and awkward.”

      “You’re right. It should be easy. So why isn’t it?”

      “Probably because you left so much unresolved.”

      “We’re divorced. How much more resolved than that can you get?”

      “You were in love with him, Fliss.”

      “What? Don’t be crazy. It was a teenage crush, that’s all. Sex on a beach that got a bit more hot and heavy than we’d planned—” Her voice tailed off as she met Harriet’s unwavering gaze.

      “You’re doing it again. Hiding your feelings from me.”

      “Believe me, you don’t want a dose of my feelings.” She stiffened as Harriet stepped forward and gave her a hug. “Oh. What’s that for?” She felt her sister’s arms tighten around her.

      “I hate seeing you hurt.”

      Which was why she never let her twin see the true extent of her hurt. “Of course you do. You’re the good twin. I’m the bad twin.”

      “I hate it when you call yourself that. I would love to have your qualities.”

      “You don’t have room for any more qualities. You’re already loaded with them.”

      “I hate it when you call me ‘good.’ I’m not good, and one of these days I’m going to do something really bad to prove it.”

      “You couldn’t be bad if you tried, although if you ever decide to give it a try I hope you’ll call me. I’d like to see it. You’re strangling me, Harry. I can’t handle affection before I’ve had at least two cups of coffee.” And because she didn’t trust herself not to say more than she wanted to say. Harriet’s affection was like a key, unlocking a part of herself she preferred to keep secured.

      “You’re not bad, Fliss.”

      “Try telling that to Seth and the rest of the Carlyle family.” And to her father. “He had a glowing future until I came along.” She poured herself another glass of water.

      “He’s a vet. His future looks just fine from where I’m standing. And why do you take all the responsibility for what happened? He made a choice, Fliss.”

      Had he? Remembering the details, Fliss felt color flood her cheeks. There were things she hadn’t even told her twin. Things she hadn’t told anyone. “Maybe. That’s enough talking for one day.” She felt unsettled, like a snow globe that had been shaken, leaving her previously settled feelings to swirl madly around inside. How could she still have so many feelings after so long? Weren’t they ever going to fade? It was annoying and unfair. “If Seth is going to be living here, maybe I should leave New York. That would be a solution.”

      “That’s not a solution, that’s avoidance. Your business is here. Your life is here. You love New York. Why would you leave?”

      “Because now he’s here I’m not sure I love it anymore.”

      “Where would you go?”

      “I’ve heard Hawaii is pretty.”

      “You’re not going to Hawaii. You’re going to channel your inner warrior and go see him. You’re going to say, ‘Hi, Seth, how’s the family?’ And then you’re going to let him talk. And when he’s finished talking you’re going to notice the time and leave. Done. How do you know he won’t be pleased to see you?”

      “Our relationship didn’t exactly end in a good way.”

      “But it was a long time ago. He will have moved on, as you have. He’s probably married.”

      The glass slipped through Fliss’s nerveless fingers but fortunately didn’t break. “He’s married?”

      Why did she even care whether he was married or not? What relevance did it have? What was wrong with her?

      “I don’t know he’s married. I was just putting it out there, but clearly I shouldn’t have.” Ever practical, Harriet retrieved the glass and started mopping up water.

      “You see? I can’t possibly talk to him because I’m not in charge of my emotions. But you are. You should definitely pretend to be me. That way you could have this conversation and get it over with and you won’t feel awkward.”

      Harriet straightened. “I haven’t pretended to be you since I was twelve.”

      “Fourteen. You’re forgetting that time when I pretended to be you in biology.”

      “Because that sleazy creep wouldn’t stop tormenting me about my stammer. Johnny Hill. You punched him. How could I have forgotten that?”

      “I don’t know. It was a great day.”

      “Are you kidding? You had to have eight stitches in your head. You still have the scar.”

      “But he never touched you again, did he? And neither did anyone else.” Fliss grinned and rubbed her fingers along the scar hidden under her hair. “You got a reputation for being scary. So you owe me. Go and see Seth. Be me. It’s easy. Just do and say everything you’d never do or say and you’ll be convincing.”

      Harriet gave a wry smile. “You’re not such a bad girl, Felicity Knight.”

      “I used to be. And Seth paid the price.”

      “Stop it.” Harriet’s voice was firm. “Stop saying that. Stop thinking it.”

      “How? It’s the truth.” But she’d paid it, too, and it seemed as if those payments never stopped. “If I could find a way to avoid seeing him, I would. I have no idea what to say to a man whose life I ruined.”

      * * *

      FOUR BLOCKS AWAY Seth Carlyle had his hands full of moody cocker spaniel.

      “How long has he been like this?”

      “Like СКАЧАТЬ