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"Any word on your house?" Cyn asked, trying to reain into staying here It seemed every time her sister needed a break, Cyn’s condo on the beach beca out, but she really didn’t want a roommate either And the last time Holly had come for a visit--

"Really, Cyndi," Holly called her back to the present with the nickname Cynthia hated, which was probably why Holly used it "Could you make me feel any less welcome? It’s not like you don’t--Oh!" Holly’s cheeks pinkened attractively as Nick ca a dark, y that seemed to fill the room His wavy brown hair was still wet fro blue jeans that showed his slie He was over six feet of well-toned h silky dark hair on his chest to prove he was a fully adult h to worry that one had crossed some invisible species boundary Cynthia enjoyed the view, then walked over and stroked a hand over his bare waist, raising her face for a kiss

She glanced over her shoulder "You remember Nick, don’t you, Holly?"

"Yes," Holly said shortly, giving the his shirt "I’ve got a flight to catch, babe," he said to Cynthia as he tucked it in He walked over to the couch and picked up his leather jacket, pulling keys out of the pocket "Walk e on the ground floor of her three-story beach condo Nick threw his jacket onto the seat of a Ferrari convertible, then leaned against the door, pulling her between his legs "You know, it’s hard to believe you two are sisters It’s like you were raised on separate planets"

"Half sisters, actually Saether My parents divorced when I was three and I lived with my father My mother didn’t bother to stay in touch; I barely knew Holly before high school"

"I guess it’s good your dad cared," Nick said with obvious aardness They never discussed personal things Theirs was strictly a relationship of et sentimental I was just too low on the list of possessions for anyone to fight over" She stood back, giving her ragged dark hair a nervous fluff and tucking her hands into the pockets of her slacks "Have a good flight, Nicky"

"Will do I’ll give you a call when I’ave her a hard, quick kiss, then slid into the car with a grin and was gone, taking all that energy with hi behind

Cynthia watched the racy car as it accelerated up the shway, then she clih

"I saw the car when I went to the store this ," Holly commented as Cyn returned to the kitchen "I didn’t realize Nick had that kind of ood looking I wouldn’t o at him myself if you’re not interested" She twisted a lock of blond hair between her fingers and gave Cynthia an appraising look

Cynthia tried to iether Maybe not "Nick’s justNick," she said instead "He calls when he’s in town and we have a good tied "It works for both of us No complications"

"Co both perfectlyyou to take someone other than yourself into account once in awhile?"

Cynthia sed the sharp retort that leapt to erator door and stared blindly at Holly’s yogurt stash, counting first to ten, then to twenty, before turning to face her sister "Nick’s a friend, Holly We enjoy each other’s co for a husband, you know"

"Easy for you to say Not everyone was gifted with a trust fund on her twenty-first birthday either Sohed Money It always came down to money with Holly And the fact that Cyn’s father had it and Holly’s didn’t Like it was Cynthia’s fault, like she’d somehow stolen what should have been Holly’s Of course, Holly never wanted to hear the other side of it About what it was like to be raised by the best nanniesthe only child at school whose parents never came to visit About holidays with a pile of presents and no one to watch her open theraduations, first day on the job, the first dollar she’d earned on her own--all those moments she’d celebrated alone because no one else cared enough to be there No, Holly didn’t want to know about that part "Actually, I do worry about my future," Cyn said finally "Which is why I have no intention of getting et over yourself, Cyndi See a therapist, for God’s sake"