Page 25 of Shattered Hearts
I duck into the limo after Finn, and the door closes behind us, finally bringing this bizarre day to an end. My breathing doesn’t resume until the limo pulls away, plunging us into a relieved and exhausted silence.
“I don’t know if anyone brought you up to speed.” I unstrap a heel, almost moaning in relief when I take it off. “But turns out I’ll be posing as Harper for a while longer.”
“I heard.” Finn absently toys with his wedding band. “Have you heard from her?”
“No.” I take off the other heel and wiggle my toes at the instant relief. “And I don’t really expect her to either.”
“Then I guess we’re both in the dark.”
He pinches his eyes closed like he’s trying to work this crazy situation out in his mind, but when he opens them again, the frustration on his face is only more intense. I can’t imagine what he’s going through, how hurt he is…regardless of his feelings for my sister.
Never mind, I totally can. He probably feels the same way I felt when I learned he and my sister were engaged.
“Driver?” I meet the driver’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “Can we make a stop in Chinatown?”
The driver gives me the okay, and when I turn back to Finn, he’s somehow more agitated than before.
His jaw is set in a hard line. “What’s in Chinatown?”
“My apartment. Your wedding day is over, and I’m going home.”
I have one thing to thank my father for, and it’s that sitting on the seat across from me is the tote bag from the church. My pantsuit, sensible shoes, wallet, keys, phone. Everything is in here, which means I can finally get out of this godforsaken dress and get back to my normal life.
“And I’m supposed to ride around Manhattan in a limo all night?”
“If you want to. Hell, go to your honeymoon suite and enjoy the amenities. But I also have my own life and responsibilities. A job.”
“You’re saying…you’ll be living a double life until we find your sister.”
“Something like that.” I reach for the bag with my clothes. “Harper told me about your honeymoon plans.” I hatethe way my cheeks heat and my stomach roils imagining Finn on a honeymoon…with my twin. “You’re headed to a hotel downtown, and I’m headed home to get my affairs in order before…moving to the mansion. Part-time.”
“The honeymoon’s one night, Riley.” He practically growls the words, like all this is somehow my fault. “Harper and I are supposed to return to the estatetomorrow.”
I rifle through my things to avoid Finn’s penetrating stare. “Which is why tomorrow, we’ll head to the estate together. I have a shift in the evening, though, so I’ll need to get back.”
“Fucking fantastic.” He rakes a hand through his hair. “And we’ll just…what? Pretend you’re Harper indefinitely? Even at the estate?”
“Pretty much. As far as I know, only your dad, my dad,” I gesture between us, “and you and I are aware of what’s going on.”
So desperate to avoid his gaze, I almost pull my bra out of the bag in front of him, which is when it occurs to me. There’s no way I’m getting out of this limo in this dress. Period. I don’t want the Zhangs or anyone, not even strangers on the street, to see me in an outfit that covers about as much of me as a table napkin.
Self-conscious all over again, I clear my throat.
“What?”
“Close your eyes.” I dig through the bag again. “I need to get out of this dress. And this is the only changing room there is.”
Heat flares in Finn’s eyes as they dip to the dress’s low-cut neckline. I feel that look all the way to my core. He swipes his tongue across his lower lip but surprisingly doesn’t argue, letting his eyelids drift shut in silence.
In this brief bit of privacy, I lose myself drinking in his beautiful resting face. Why, of all men, does it have to bethis manmy sister marries?
“Are you going to sit there and stare at me the whole time?”
Busted. “Umm, I’m not…I wasn’t?—”
“Uh-huh.” He lets out a throaty laugh, which only intensifies at my curse.
Every few seconds, I glance at Finn to make sure he’s not peeking.