of you guys get to me? That ends here and now.”
“Does it?”
Aidan blew out a breath of frustration. “I don’t know.”
Logan shot him a look of profound pity, then said, “Tell you what, bro. If it’ll make you feel any better, I’m willing to work the Switch for you.”
Aidan’s eyebrows shot up at Logan’s suggestion and he weighed the possibilities and drawbacks for a moment. The Switch was an old twin trick they’d used a few times in the past. As recently as a few months ago, they had pulled the Switch on Grace, but she had seen through the ruse within seconds and had laughed when Aidan tried to insist he was his brother.
As far as Aidan was concerned, that was as close to a declaration of love as you could get. After all, their own mother had never been able to tell the twins apart. Since then, they’d met no woman who could differentiate one twin from the other. Until Grace. That’s when Aidan had realized that she was the perfect woman for his brother.
“Wait,” Aidan said. “This won’t work. She can already tell the difference between us. Remember that day in the office? You were sitting at my desk, but she knew it was you.”
“That could’ve been a fluke,” Logan said logically.
“I guess so.”
The only thing Aidan knew for sure was that if he didn’t take Logan up on his plan to do the Switch, his brother would issue a final decree to put up or shut up. So ultimately, Aidan’s choice was a simple one.
“Fine,” he said finally. “Let’s do it.”
“Cool,” Logan said with a grin, as he rubbed his hands together. “Just don’t tell Gracie. Now. What time is dinner?”
*
Ellie had just finished lighting the row of twinkling votive candles on the mantle when her doorbell rang. Thousands of butterflies in her stomach fluttered to life and she commanded them to calm down, but they just ignored her. Rubbing her tummy, she had to accept that she would always have this tingly fluttering reaction whenever Aidan came around.
She opened the door and smiled at him. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He extended a small bunch of pink and purple flowers toward her. “These are for you.”
“Oh, how beautiful. Thank you.” She took them and waved him inside. “Come in.”
“Thanks.”
Ellie started to ask Logan what he was doing here, but something made her hesitate. Aidan couldn’t be sick or Logan would’ve said something right away. So what was wrong here? Maybe Aidan was on his way and Grace was planning to join them, too. That would be fun. Ellie had made enough pasta for ten people. But finally she decided to wait and hear what Logan had to say before she asked any questions.
“You look beautiful, Ellie,” Logan murmured.
“Thank you. You look nice, too. Would you mind opening the champagne?” She pointed to the coffee table, where she had laid out a platter of appetizers, a bucket of champagne and two flutes.
“I’ll be glad to,” Logan said. He went through the motions, popped the cork off, filled the glasses, and handed her one. “What shall we drink to?”
Ellie smiled as she realized Logan wasn’t going to say a word. They were teasing her! She wondered if Aidan was hiding out on the veranda, waiting to burst the door open and shout surprise.
“Let’s drink to surprises,” she said, and clicked her glass against his.
“To surprises.” He took a sip, then set his glass down on the table. “Come here.” He reached for Ellie and took her into his embrace. “Mmm, this feels good.”
Ellie tried to sigh, but it was no use. She began to giggle. Her shoulders shook until she finally managed to push away from him—and laughed out loud.
“What is it, Ellie? What’s wrong, honey?” He rubbed her back. “Please don’t cry.”
“Cry?” It took her a few more seconds before she could speak again. “I’m not crying.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“That was my question,” she said, shaking her head as her laughter subsided. “Logan, what’re you doing here?”
“Logan?” he said indignantly. “I’m not Logan. I’m Aidan.”
She rested her fists on her hips and shook her head. “Logan, does Grace know what you’re up to?”
“Why would Grace care?” he said, trying to look outraged. “And stop calling me Logan.”
“All right, fine. I’ll stop.” And suddenly she grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled him up against her. Staring into his eyes, she said, “Kiss me, please.”
He gulped and said, “How about some more champagne, first?”
She let him go and smacked him