meet. She was thrilled and invited us to stay.”
“You can’t,” Matt told her. “Not there.”
“Why not? There’s plenty of room and she’s great with Gabe. I want him to get to know all his family.”
“You’re not going to get any money out of her. However she pretends to care, she keeps the cash locked up.”
Jesse’s cheeks heated. “Is that what you think?” she asked as she stood. “That this is all about money? There are more important things.”
“The only people who really believe that are the ones without any money. I’m guessing you’re one of them.”
“You’re right. I don’t have your millions and I don’t need them. Gabe and I do just fine.”
“That’s crap and you know it. This is all about you getting in on what I have. Just admit it, Jesse. At least then we’re starting from a place of honesty.”
She couldn’t believe what he was saying. Did he really believe that about her? Or was it not specifically her? Was it everyone?
“You’re not interested in me being honest,” she told him. “You believe what you want because it’s easier. I can’t stop you, so I won’t try. What I do want to know is how you changed so much. You were never like this before.”
He rose and stared at her. One corner of his mouth turned up in a mocking smile. “I am what you made me, Jesse. You should be proud.”
JESSE STOPPED AT THE red light and did her best to wake up. She was still upset by her conversation with Matt the previous day. She hadn’t slept much and had been up early to bake brownies.
Even breathing in their delicious smell didn’t make her feel any better. She felt tired and beat-up. Telling herself to forget about Matt was good advice, but not something she seemed able to do. While she knew in her head that things were bound to have changed between them, her heart hadn’t gotten the e-mail. Apparently some part of her had foolishly hoped there would still be a connection between them.
“Idiot,” she muttered as the light turned green and she drove through the intersection.
Sure, she’d loved Matt once. He’d been everything to her, but he was gone now. So different that he might as well have been a complete stranger. Wanting more than a slightly cordial relationship with the father of her child was impossible. She would have to accept that and move on. And she would. Just as soon as she got through her meeting with Nicole and downed a triple-shot latte.
She pulled up in front of her sister’s house and parked. The brownies were in a pink bakery box she’d bought. That morning she’d made two batches of each of the three flavors she wanted Nicole to taste. She’d cherry-picked a dozen of the best brownies of each flavor and put them in little paper cups. Presentation was everything, she reminded herself.
After collecting the box, she walked to the front door and rang the bell.
The door was answered by a tall, well-built, gorgeous guy who could have been an underwear model ten years ago.
“Hi,” he said with a grin. “I’m Hawk. You must be Jesse. Come on in. I’m not allowed to stay for the tasting. Nicole says I don’t have a subtle enough palate, but those brownies smell good so make sure she doesn’t eat them all.”
“Not to worry, I brought three dozen,” Jesse said, immediately liking the man.
He led the way into the kitchen, which was much tidier than the last time she’d seen it. Nicole stood at the counter, pouring coffee. She turned as Jesse entered.
“Good morning,” she said, not sounding especially excited to have company. “You brought the brownies?”
“Yes.” Jesse set the box on the kitchen table.
Another woman entered the room. Someone as tall and blond as Nicole, with similar features.
Claire, Jesse thought, feeling strange at seeing her other sister-the one she’d never really known.
Claire and Nicole were fraternal twins, six years older than Jesse. At the age of three, Claire had sat down at a piano and started playing perfectly, despite the fact that she’d never had a lesson. By the time Jesse was born, she’d been whisked off to New York to study and play around the world. Jesse had grown up never really knowing Claire, only resenting her princess lifestyle as she moved from fabulous city to fabulous city, meeting the rich and famous and playing the piano.
Jesse and Nicole had been stuck back in Seattle, trying to grow up without much supervision. Nicole had always hated Claire for leaving, even though it hadn’t been her choice, while Jesse had simply wanted to go with her on her travels.
Jesse still didn’t know Claire very well, but she’d been the one to stay in touch when Jesse had moved away.
“You made it back,” Claire said by way of greeting. “Is Seattle the same as you remembered?”
“Pretty much. There’s a lot of new construction.”
“That’s the strong job market drawing people here.” Claire took the mug of coffee Nicole offered. Jesse did the same.
There was a moment of awkward silence. Jesse felt uneasy. While these people were her family, they were strangers for one reason or another. And they all thought the worst of her.
Hawk moved next to Nicole and put his hands on her shoulders. He whispered something, then kissed her. His adoration was visible even across the room. Jesse felt a rush of pleasure that her sister had found someone so good for her and, close at its heels, envy, because she wanted the same thing for herself. She immediately thought of Matt, which was dumb. He might have been “the one” five years ago, but he wasn’t anymore.
“I’ll leave you ladies to your tasting,” Hawk said. “Nicole, remember what I said.”
She laughed. “We’re not going to eat them all. You’ll have plenty.”
She and Hawk shared one of those intimate looks that passes between people who know each other and are secure in their love, then he left.
Nicole and Claire both sat at the table. Jesse joined them and opened the bakery box.
“I have three kinds of brownies,” Jesse said. “Plain chocolate, chocolate with walnuts and peanut-butter chocolate.”
“And these are your recipes?” Nicole asked.
Jesse resisted the urge to snap. “Yes. I developed them myself. I’ve kept records so there’s a clear evolution of the process.”
She hated that she had to explain herself, that Nicole just wouldn’t trust her, but that was her sister’s way. Nicole would never forgive Jesse for selling the famous Keyes cake online five years ago.
Nicole took one of each brownie. Claire did the same, then laughed. “I’m not really an expert. Is saying I like them going to be enough?”
“It is for me,” Jesse said, then held her breath as Nicole took a bite.
Nicole chewed and swallowed without saying anything. She got up and filled a glass with water, took a sip, returned to the table and tasted again.
She ate slowly, and deliberately, tasting each brownie three times before finishing her water and turning to Claire.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“They’re amazing. Really rich without being overpowering. I’m not usually big on the whole peanut-butter- chocolate combo, but even those are incredible.”
Jesse didn’t relax. Nicole wouldn’t care what Claire thought.
Nicole pushed away the brownies. “They’re good. I’d sell them in the bakery.”
Jesse exhaled. “All three flavors?”
Nicole nodded.
Relief was sweet and instant. “Great. So now what?”
Claire rose. “I’m going to leave you two to talk business. I’ll be in the back with the kids.” She patted Jesse on the shoulder as she left.
Nicole leaned back in her chair. “What do you want? You said before you were interested in earning your way back in. Is that still true?”
“Yes.” What did she want? A do-over. She wanted to somehow change the past. Except she wouldn’t give up
