An Intimate Bargain

She barely had a chance to say hello because Lisa kept her moving toward an alcove with a bay window. Tucked into the corner of the L-shaped room, it was furnished with a low, round table, several broad-leaf plants and a half-round, floral-print bench seat.

“Are you okay?” Lisa asked with obvious concern as they plunked down on the soft cushions.

“I’m fine,” Abigail assured her, putting on a smile.

Lisa’s eyes narrowed. “Something’s off.”

“No, it’s not,” Abigail lied.

The quick denial seemed to pique Lisa’s curiosity. “It’s just us girls…”

“There’s nothing going on.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Lisa tsk-tsked. “It’s a good thing you don’t have to lie for a living.”

“I’m not lying. Why would I be lying?” Abigail glanced to where her brother had followed them into the room. She wondered if he’d take Lisa to task or pick up his argument with Abigail. But, instead, he paused to joke with Luis and Harlan while he poured the wine.

“Because you’re embarrassed, or you’re up to no good. Or, hey, here’s one, you’re going to see that guy again. Making it a two-night stand.”

Abigail felt her face heat up. She couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

The men’s voices rumbled and glasses clinked. The puppy scampered its awkward way over the patterned carpet toward them.

Lisa’s eyes went wide, and her mouth formed an O. “No way.”

“Exactly,” Abigail told her firmly. “No way.”

“You are planning a two-night stand.”

“I’m not. No. Definitely not.”

“You do realize you’re protesting way too much.”

“I’m protesting exactly the right amount because you’re dead wrong.” Dead wrong. The very last thing in the world Abigail was about to do was sleep with Zach again.

“Ladies,” Seth’s voice preceded him. He strode forward, offering each of them a crystal goblet of merlot.

“Thanks,” Abigail managed to say, scanning his expression to gauge if he’d overhead anything.

“You’re a very good mayor,” Lisa told him approvingly as she accepted the other glass of wine.

“You might want to remember that,” Seth retorted.

“How could I forget? It’s in every other speech. Now go away.” She shooed him with the back of her hand. “We’re having girl talk.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He backed off with good humor.

Lisa returned her attention to Abigail. “You’ve got me worried here. You’re acting weird.”

Abigail heaved a sigh. If she was acting weird, she couldn’t help herself. She wasn’t any good at this cloak- and-dagger stuff.

“Fine.” She took a bracing drink of her wine. “I am meeting someone tonight. But it’s not what you think.”

Lisa leaned in. “A man someone?”

“Yes, a man. But it’s not like that. I’m helping him-” She stopped herself, searching for the right words. “It’s a research project.”

“A research project? At night? What is this, freshman year?”

“It really is a research project.”

“Uh-huh.” Lisa slipped off her flats and curled one leg beneath her simple, sky-blue dress. She gave an exaggerated sigh. “I’m envious of your private life.”

“You really ought to focus on your own,” Abigail advised.

“It’s not the same. There’s nothing going on in mine.”

“I don’t believe you,” Abigail challenged, seizing on the opportunity to change the topic from herself to Lisa.

But Lisa wasn’t so easily swayed. “You’re the one with the hot guys on speed dial.”

“Nobody’s on speed dial.”

“Then how’re you contacting him?”

“He’s not a hot guy.”

“You’re blushing again.”

“Okay, he is a hot guy.” Abigail regretted admitting there was a guy involved. “But it’s not about sex.”

Lisa chuckled. “It’s always about sex.”

“Do tell.” Abigail raised her brows meaningfully, trying again to switch the focus to Lisa.

“I wish,” Lisa scoffed.

“There must be somebody. You’ve been in Lyndon for three months now.”

“I’ve been busy. Working hard. As you well know.”

“What about the guys on the campaign?” Abigail glanced at Luis and Harlan. She caught Seth looking at Lisa, a funny expression on his face.

Lisa’s earlier challenging and teasing of Seth came rushing back.

“What about Seth?” she blurted out.

Lisa’s jaw dropped, and her cheeks flamed.

“Ah-ha!” said Abigail. “I knew there was something-”

“Not Seth.” Lisa adamantly shook her head.

“Hey, I know he’s your boss, but-”

“Not Seth,” Lisa repeated, the flush turning to pallor as her gaze flicked across the room.

Abigail reached out. “What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“What’s going on?”

Lisa mutely shook her head.

Abigail couldn’t help another glance to her brother. His brow furrowed as he watched their exchange. She pasted a smile on her face and rose to her feet, reaching for Lisa’s arm. “Let’s step outside.”

Obviously upset, Lisa complied, and the two moved through an open set of French doors to a wide veranda that overlooked the mansion’s extensive gardens. The scent of roses permeated the air, and crickets chirped over the backdrop of the light traffic on the distant interstate.

They stopped beside the far railing.

“Dish,” Abigail ordered.

Lisa pushed back her blond hair and squeezed her eyes shut.

“I won’t give you up,” Abigail promised in a quieter tone, knowing Lisa had to have fallen for Seth. “You’re not the only one who can keep a secret.”

Lisa blinked open her blue eyes. “You sure?”

“Positive.”

Lisa downed her remaining wine. “Oh, man. I can’t-” She closed her eyes for another long second. “Okay. Fine. It’s better than you thinking I’ve got the hots for Seth.”

“Okay…” Abigail waited, not exactly sure what would be so terrible about being attracted to Seth.

Lisa looked directly into Abigail’s eyes. “You know about Nicole, right?”

“Who’s Nicole?”

“Nicole Aldrich. Your mother’s younger sister.”

Abigail drew back in surprise. She hadn’t heard that name in years. “I know she died young,” Abigail allowed. “I never met her, of course. And nobody really talks about her.”

“She died at eighteen, right after I was born.”

Abigail stilled. Then a tingle rushed over her skin. Her heart expanded in her chest. Could Lisa be saying…? “And…?” Abigail prompted impatiently.

“And I’m definitely not attracted to Seth,” Lisa stated with a toss of her head. “As it happens, I’m his cousin.”