What she found was nothing she would have expected.Herself.
No, make that two of herself.
Maxie’s brain stutter stepped.Two women were approaching her shop, and they looked like clones of each other.And of her.
What did they have to do with Zac?
No, that didn’t make sense.
She stopped and tried again.There were definitely two women in front of her, two women who looked like her.How could that be?
“Oh, my God,” one of them whispered.
“It’s her,” the other one said.
Unable to process anything, Maxie frowned at one stranger and then the other.They were the same height as her, and they all had the same, what she’d thought was unique, auburn-highlighted hair.Their faces could be interchanged, and nobody would notice.The only thing that was different was their style.One woman was in a lavender sheath dress, while the other wore a silk tank and short shorts.Lavender girl looked like she’d stepped out of a boardroom.Her jewelry was understated, but gold.Her makeup was subtle, except where her mascara was starting to run.Short shorts, conversely, was total rocker chick.A chunky sterling silver necklace hung to her waist and leather bands circled her wrists.The only thing that didn’t fit her tough look was the way she clutched at her doppelganger’s hand, while alternately fisting and opening her other hand at her side.
Still not computing.
“Maxie?”one of the reflections said.
She sucked in a short gasp.The voice even sounded like hers.How did they know her name?
Maxie’s brain tripped again, this time falling flat on its face.It was like looking into a funhouse mirror and having two reflections stare back at you—only there wasn’t a carnival in town.Was this some kind of practical joke?She shook her head to clear it, but they were still there, these figments of her imagination.
Time started slowing down as her brain struggled to get back on its feet.Tap, tap, tap.Water dripped from the watering can onto the sidewalk.A breeze swept through, ruffling her hair and ruffling her reflections’ hair too.She tried to take a deeper breath, but the scent of flowers overwhelmed her.Flowers and perfume and coffee.
Her brain wasn’t going to make it.The edges of her vision started going dark.
The thorn.Something must have gotten into her system when she’d been pricked.A poison.No, a hallucinogen.That had to be it.What she was seeing wasn’t real.
Only Zac had appeared to see it too.
“Damn it, Maxie,” rocker chick said more sharply.“Breathe!”
The thorn.She felt her knees let go.Twin pricks… Twin wounds…
Twice as lucky.
Chapter Two
Zac’s coffee hit the ground before Maxie’s watering can slid out of her grip.Her knees swayed, but he was moving towards her before they buckled.The watering can clanked, and she was halfway to the cement before he caught her.She fell back against him heavily, a warm, soft, dead weight.Carefully, he lowered her to the sidewalk.
“Maxie?”He pushed her hair out of her face.The dark tangles were as soft as they looked, and she didn’t offer any resistance.She rested against him bonelessly, her head against his chest and one arm draped over his thigh as he squatted behind her.
She was out like a light.
“Oh, my goodness.”One of the strangers rushed forward, kneeled and put her hand to Maxie’s cheek.“She’s fainted.”
The other woman was more succinct.“Well, shit.”
Zac slid his fingers along Maxie’s neck until he found a pulse.It was nice and strong.He let out a breath of relief.He stroked that pulse, assuring himself that she was okay, before glancing up at the strangers who’d put her on the ground.
“Who are you?”he demanded.
The one on her knees pulled her hand back.“Her sisters.”
He scowled at them.He hadn’t been in town long, but he was getting to know the residents and their twisted and often twining connections.He’d made it his business to know Maxie’s connections better than most.“I wasn’t aware she had sisters.”
