Never havingbeen on any kind of photo shoot before, Emma watched in awe andignored the discomfort of her position until Michelle arrived.
Emma sucked ina breath. Not just her sister, but Dad too. He was still tall andslender as Emma remembered, but his brown hair was tinged withsilver, and weathered lines creased his face as he spoke urgentlyinto the mobile phone stuck to his ear. He wore black trousers anda midnight blue shirt with the collar neatly adjusted around hisneck.
Emma’s heartbegan to pound. She’d done her online stalking. She knew Dad wasMichelle’s manager and had been since they’d left Australia allthose years ago, breaking their family apart. Dad paced back andforth, taking no notice of anything around him as he concentratedon the call.
Michelle strodeout just as the sun’s golden rays hit the top of the building,looking as natural as the day she’d been born. Her shiny black haircascaded in a silky waterfall over one shoulder and she dropped therobe she’d been wearing revealing a stunning body and a skimpywhite bikini and got into position. One of the crew membersadjusted the lighting and the photographer started snapping photoslike he worked for the paparazzi.
“Work it, baby!That’s it. More pout and lower your shoulders. Bite your lip! Giveme the bedroom eyes, Mish. Come on!”
Emma glancedaround, forgetting the area was closed for the shoot. The mansounded like a porn star director! How could anyone keep a straightface with that going on? She covered her mouth and tried not tolaugh.
And her sister?Well, Michelle was perfect. She responded to the photographer, anda gentle push and pull electricity simmered between them as hetried to catch her from every angle.
Then it was aquick break, and two men rushed in to fix Michelle’s hair andreapply some make-up. Then Michelle disappeared and remergedwearing a pink bikini.
Emma stole aglance at her father. Dad was sprawled on a sun lounger now, stillon the phone, with one arm slung across his eyes to keep the sunfrom blinding him. She’d have to choose her moment carefully orrisk being thrown out before she’d had a chance to make contactwith either of them. Emma hadn’t flown all this way not to achieveher goal.
Michelle wasdirected to the main pool. Emma got onto her knees and peered overthe top of the pot so she could see. With the grace of a balletdancer, Michelle dove into the pool and surfaced in the shallowend. She lifted her face to the sky as water trailed down herperfectly tanned skin. She reached up to swipe the water from herface, reaching back and trailing her hands down her hair as thephotographer continued his porn-track.
“That’s it,baby! Give to me, hon! More of that! Yes!”
Michelledrifted to the pool ladder and posed, turning her head back andforth and giving the photographer sultry eyes before slowlyclimbing out. Another bikini change saw Michelle wearing a canaryyellow suit as she posed near one of the fountains.
A crowd hadgathered inside by the windows near Emma but Michelle didn’t seemto notice. She was a complete professional and pride flashedthrough Emma’s heart.
Then, it wasover.
Her sistershrugged her robe back on, tied a towel around her wet hair, andpulled on a pair of sunglasses as the photographer spoke to her.Dad was off the lounger, phone in pocket as he strolled over towait for his famous daughter.
It was now ornever. Emma sucked in a deep breath. She rose, her knees protestingwith a loud crack and then she stepped out from behind the pot.
“Hey, Dad. It’sme, Emma.” Her voice quivered and her eyes misted as she spoke toDad for the first time as an adult. This was her moment. This iswhat she’d come to Las Vegas for.
Dad’s headwhipped around. His eyes widened as he saw Emma. “Who are you?”
Wha-a-at? It wasn’t quite the reaction she’d expected. Howcould he forget he had a second daughter, even if they’d not hadcontact for twenty years? She hadn’t forgotten about him.
“Dad? It’s me,Emma. From Australia.” The daughter you left behind.
“You must haveme mistaken for someone else. This is a closed set. How did you getin?” It was Dad’s voice but the accent had changed. He sounded likean American.
“I’m staying atthe hotel. I came here to see you and Michelle.” Emma’s browknitted as no recognition dawned in her father’s eyes. How could henot recognise her? Sure, she was grown now. But she still had thesame brown eyes, the same light brown hair as she’d grown up with.She gave a tentative smile that wasn’t returned.
“What’s goingon?” Michelle materialised beside their father and glared at Emma.“Who are you and how did you get in?”
“I’m a guest atthe hotel.” Emma explained again. “I’m your sister, Emma. Surelyyou remember me.”
Michelle slowlyreached up and removed her sunglasses. Her gaze managed to take allof Emma in with one sweep. Despite the fact she was about sixinches shorter than Emma, she still managed to look down her noseat her younger sister. Two perfectly plucked eyebrows rose but theexpression on Michelle’s face didn’t change. “Sister? I don’t thinkso.” Disdain oozed from her voice. “I have no sister.”
What on earthwas going on? Emma frowned, then remembered the photograph of Dadshe carried everywhere. Whisking it out of her purse, she held itup. “Dad, you’re my father, Cooper Donovan. You got custody ofMichelle, and I stayed with Mum. Grace Donovan.” Dad wouldn’t haveforgotten his first wife, even if she was now deceased.
“You must bemistaken.” Michelle’s drawl sounded distinctly New York. “My nameisn’t Michelle.” Like it was a dreaded disease.
“Why are youpretending that you don’t know who I am?” And suddenly Emma wasseven years old again, begging her father to please take her too.Why couldn’t they all go together and be a family?
“Security!” Dadbarked.
“No, please—” Adark, burning pain lodged in Emma’s chest, cutting off her voice.Who were these people standing in front of her? Had life in
