Zac draped his wrist over the back of her chair.“Don’t worry about it.Just be yourself.If you get uncomfortable, we don’t have to stay.”He patted his leg under the table.“Remember the high sign.”
That got her attention.Her eyes popped open before quickly scanning the area to see if anyone had heard.“Stop it.”
“One pat, and I can assure you we’ll be out of here before you know it.”
“I am not grabbing your leg under the table at the Indigo Iguana.”
He let one eyebrow rise.“But maybe somewhere else?”
Her cheeks were turning a pretty pink when Roxie stepped in the door.
Maxie saw Roxie the moment she entered the restaurant.With as much as the sisters looked alike, it wasn’t difficult for her to tell them apart.First, there were the clothes.That was the obvious distinction, but there were other things too.Roxie walked differently.She…well, shestrutted.There was a confidence there that Maxie, personally, could never have.
“Watch this,” Zac said, leaning closer to her.
Martin was heading to the receptionist stand.Maxie watched as an easy, welcoming smile settled onto his face.His chin came up in recognition, but then confusion hit.His double take was comical, because it swiveled from Roxie to one hundred and eighty degrees across the room to her.Twice.
Roxie, for her part, gave him a wink.Seeing them at their table, she grabbed a menu for herself.She patted him on the shoulder and strode on by.More heads twisted and more eyes bugged as shestruttedacross the restaurant.Devil that she was, the sway of her hips actually intensified.With the assurance of a runway model, she flipped her hair over her shoulder.
Her expression was mischievous when she met them.
Zac stood and pulled back a chair for her.“Enjoy that?”
She grinned.“Now that was fun.”
“Where’s Lexie?”Maxie stared at the doorway.Had she been too cold and distant earlier?Had the other sister decided not to come?Nerves began to bubble up inside her.She liked the woman, even if she wasn’t ready to commit to being her sister.
“On the phone with lover boy, Cam.”Roxie fanned herself.“It’s like a sauna out there.I couldn’t take it anymore.She’ll be in soon.”
“So we can watch it all over again?”Zac smiled.“You’re right, this is fun.”
Maxie nibbled on her lip.Half of her was relieved, while the other half was puzzled at her own reaction.It was bizarre, was what it was.She’d thought she was prepared for it, seeing herself again in multiple forms, but she wasn’t.“Martin’s likely to swallow his tongue,” she murmured.
“The host?”Roxie swiveled in her chair.“Oooh, I wanna see.”
And with that observation, Lexie walked in.
The reaction in the restaurant was palpable.Some gasped, while others let out a murmur.Martin was dumbfounded.
His mouth opened and closed like a fish, but he pulled himself together to accompany their latest arrival to the table.Visibly bursting with questions, he seated Lexie and placed her menu in front of her.“The likeness is amazing.Are you related?”
“They’re my cousins,” Zac said.
Martin frowned and did another sweep of the table.
“Once removed,” Roxie clarified.
The host’s lips pursed in consternation.The light bulb wasn’t coming on inside his head, but he bowed lightly.“Have a nice meal, ladies.Sheriff.”
Roxie let out a pleased chuckle.
Lexie smiled and looked around the restaurant.People were staring.Instead of ignoring them, she said hello.The patrons quickly went back to their meals.“I like this place,” she decided.
“It’s not the Ruckus, but it’s definitely unique,” Roxie agreed.
Now that they were at the table, Maxie didn’t know what to do.Small talk seemed sosmall.This morning she’d awakened as an only child, and now she might be part of an identical threesome.That was huge.She couldn’t talk about the fish on the wall or the temperature outside.Her nervous fingers bumped against the bouquet.She slid it towards Lexie.“Here are the flowers you ordered.”
“Oh.”Lexie reached out eagerly.“They’re beautiful.Thank you.”
