Eliza When I woke up, I was alone and in a bed I didn’t recognize, which was odd, considering that the last thing I remembered, I’d been in the movie theater with Jesse. Slowly sitting up, I blinked at the morning light filtering through the windows and looked around the unfamiliar bedroom. It was gorgeous, simple, but tasteful, with crisp white bedding and dark wood furniture. I could only assume Jesse had brought me here after I’d fallen asle ep, but it was also clear that he hadn’t sl ept in this room with me. The pillows on the other side of the bed were pristine, the sheets still tucked in on that side too. It shouldn’t have bothered me that he could’ve chosen to bring me to his room but had instead brought me here. If anything, it was considerate and respectful, but there was a not-so-small part of me that had secretly hoped starting our lives together would in volve, perhaps, sle eping in the same bed. Either way, it looked like that wasn’t happening, but I tried not to be too disappointed about it. So far, Jesse had seemed extremely sensitive to the fact that so much of my life had changed after he’d chosen me instead of Winnie. Maybe he was simply waiting to talk to me about it, which was a good thing. A positive sign. With that thought in mind, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded down the hallway in search of coffee and answers. The house was suspiciously quiet, though. “Jesse?” I called, but he didn’t answer. “Are you here?” Still no response. I sighed and ran a hand through my loose hair. Obviously, he was already gone. Which left me with yet another day of absolutely nothing to do. Yesterday, it had felt like a treat. This morning, however, the prospect was a little more intimidating. Coffee first. Everything will feel so much better after coffee. Determined not to spend the day moping around, left alone in a new city with nothing to do, I walked into the kitchen and stopped short. There was a note on the counter and next to it was a stack of cash so thick, it could have doubled as building material for a small house. I frowned, wondering just what in the hell that was supposed to be for until I picked up the note. The handwriting on it was hurried but not illegible. Good morning, Sunshine. Sorry to miss you. I had to run into the office early. Use the cash if you need anything. I’m having a card delivered for you soon, but in the meantime, use this one.
Expect a call from a man named Arnold at 10. He’ll take you to a day spa and then wherever you want after that. —J Blinking hard, I slowly lowered the note and glanced back at the pile of money. Cash he apparently wanted me to use. For... anything. “I wonder if this what drug dealers feel like,” I murmured idly into the empty kitchen, reaching for the stack and shaking my head as I picked it up. I honestly couldn’t believe that all this was supposed to be for me. That it hadn’t been earmarked for something more important than simply whatever I wanted. To add to that, a very fancy-looking black credit card sat next to where the money had been. It was glossy and heavy enough to double as a throwing weapon. Scrawled across the front were the words Westwood & Sons. I turned it over in my hand, struggling to believe that he’d left it in addition to all the cash. It seemed entirely excessive. What on earth is he expecting me to buy, a developing country? As I placed the card back on the counter, I caught sight of the clock above the door and stiffened. 9:59. Right as the numbers flicked over to ten, my phone rang in the pocket of my dressing gown. I practically jumped out of my skin, but quickly remembered that he’d told me to expect this call. It looked like Arnold was unsettlingly punctual. “Hello?” I said as I picked up. “Arnold?” “Yes, Miss Roderick,” a polite male voice said. “Good morning. Mr. Westwood asked that I drive you today.” Wow. Right on time. “Of course,” I said. “Where are you?” “Outside, Miss.” Naturally, he’d be waiting on the one day I hadn’t dressed and made myself presentable as soon as I’d climbed out of bed. “Very well. Would you mind waiting just a few minutes?” “No problem, Miss. Take your time. I’ll be here whenever you’re ready.” I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “I won’t ke ep you waiting long.” With that, I hung up, and twenty minutes later, I was sliding into the backseat of a sleek black car while Arnold gave me a warm smile in the rearview mirror. He looked to be in his sixties, with kind eyes and the calm confidence of someone who’d spent decades driving important people to important places. “Good morning, Miss Roderick,” he said warmly. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“And you, Arnold.” He held my gaze in the mirror for a beat. “Mr. Westwood said you’d like to visit the spa at the Royal Hotel?” “I think he decided that for me,” I said quietly. “I’m sure it will be lovely, however.” Arnold chuckled softly as he pulled into traffic. “That sounds like Will. He likes that place. Whenever Charlotte sets foot in town, he checks her in there for a day of being spoiled.” I frowned slightly. “Will likes the place?” “Yeah, he even goes there himself sometimes after a long week,” Arnold said fondly. “He says they give the best massages in the city. Even I’ve gone at his insistence. He’s treated me and my wife a few times.” “Oh.” I looked out the window, but Arnold k ept making polite conversation. “Will prefers the eucalyptus steam room. If you ask me, he’s wrong about that. I like the head massages, but my wife enjoyed the hot stones. He doesn’t like those at all, though. If he didn’t book one for you, add it to your treatment plan. You’ll love it.” Suddenly, I sat up a little straighter. “If Will didn’t book one?” “Yes, Miss.” I leaned forward slightly between the seats. “You mean Jesse. I’m engaged to Jesse, Arnold. Not Will.” His eyes flicked to the mirror and he paused for a beat. “Oh. Yes. Of course.” The weird tone in his voice made my stomach do a tiny somersault. Suspicion cr ept into my gut and I shifted forward a bit more. “Why do you ke ep talking about Will if you know that I’m Jesse’s fiancé?” He hesitated. “I suppose it’s just that I’ve known Will for longer. I’ve been driving him for years. He’s loyal, you see? He and I got along well on the first trip he took with me and he’s been hiring me ever since.” I took a moment to process that. “That’s interesting. The Will you’re talking about sounds an awful lot like the Jesse I know.” Arnold cleared his throat politely. “Well, they are twins, after all. It makes sense that there would be some overlap.” “Of course.” Exc ept the way Jesse had told it, it hadn’t sounded like there were many similarities between him and his twin at all. “I’m simply curious. There are so many Westwoods to get to know.” He finally chuckled again. “There sure are. They’re a great family, though. You’re lucky to be becoming a part of it.”
I inclined my chin in a nod, my gaze flicking back to the window. Chicago passed us by, but in the back of my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Arnold had k ept talking about Will and about how much the Will he knew sounded like my Jesse. Eventually, I leaned forward again. “Arnold?” “Yes, Miss?” “Will you tell me more about Will?” I asked, determined to learn everything there was to know because right now it felt like I was missing something. I just wasn’t sure yet precisely what it was. Three hours later, however, that was the furthest thing from my mind. I’d learned that Jesse, Will, Charlotte, Arnold, and his wife had all been right. If there was a heaven, I was now convinced it was a day spa. After Arnold had dropped me off right in front of the entrance, I’d given the kind woman at rec eption my name and she’d led me to the most beautiful dressing room I’d ever seen, leaving me to change into a robe softer than any textile I’d previously encountered. I’d had a massage, during which the therapist had found muscles in my back I hadn’t known existed. Then she’d negotiated their release like a highly trained diplomat. The facial had made me briefly consider never leaving the building again, and I’d nearly cried while reclining on a heated chair, sipping cucumber water under a blanket. When it was finally over, I felt like a whole new person. Someone so relaxed that I might willingly forgive several of humanity’s worst offenses. Arnold was leaning against the side of the car when I came out, and he grinned when he saw me. “Did you enjoy the spa, Miss Roderick?” “Very much,” I said honestly. “In fact, I’ve decided that I would like to live there permanently.” He chuckled and pushed away from the car to open the door for me. “If they’re taking applications, I’d like to put my name on the list as well.” “We should ask.” I smiled as I slid into the seat. “Perhaps we could start a movement.” Arnold nodded enthusiastically, shutting the door once I was in and walking around the car to the driver’s seat. Once we were on the road again, he glanced at me in the mirror. “Where would you like to go next?” “Next?” I asked. “Well, I don’t know. I’m not sure.” “Mr. Westwood gave me strict instructions to take you wherever you want.” “Jesse?” Arnold nodded politely. “Sure.” I frowned at the back of his head. It hadn’t sounded like he’d believed that for even a second, but before I could interrogate him
further, he glanced back at me. “So, where to?” As I thought about it, I realized I truly had absolutely no idea. Shopping sounded exhausting. Visiting tourist attractions sounded worse, but then I remembered something important. “I need a kettle,” I said. “Could you take me som eplace where I could find a real kettle and some good tea?” Arnold blinked a few times. “A real kettle and good tea?” “Yes. I would truly appreciate if we could find those things today.” Finally, he nodded like he got this kind of request all the time, even though he’d sounded stupefied a moment ago. “I know just the place.” After several hours of Arnold driving me around the city to various locations, I returned to the townhouse armed with my purchases. I hadn’t bought much, but I’d been focused on quality over quantity. I now had a proper electric kettle, three varieties of excellent tea, and a small teapot I absolutely didn’t need, but had fallen in love with immediately. I’d also bought some groceries. Arnold had been most surprised by that, I thought. The fact that after we’d acquired the most important items, I’d asked to be taken to a grocery store rather than a boutique or whatever else he’d expected. The fact of the matter, however, was that I’d come with enough clothing and whatnot to see me through the next few weeks, but I still had standards when it came to nutrition, and those standards included food that didn’t come in a takeout container. A perfunctory check of Will’s fridge yesterday had revealed that neither twin appeared to do much cooking. There had been a few eggs, some bread, beer, and glass jars filled with what had seemed to be sauces and relishes. None of which could be used to pr epare a proper meal. Arnold helped me carry the grocery bags to the kitchen, then bid me farewell. “You have my number now. Call if you need a ride.” “I will. Thank you, Arnold.” He hovered for a beat, but whatever he’d wanted to say never came. Instead, he simply gave me a strangely stiff nod and disappeared. Shaking off the lingering feeling that something was amiss, I started packing away my groceries, rummaged about the kitchen, and finally got cooking. When the front door opened that evening, I was proud of what I’d achieved.
It was mildly miraculous that I’d managed to put together a meal here, considering that the last kitchen I’d cooked in regularly had belonged to a medieval castle, but even so, this didn’t look half bad. Somehow, it’d all come together as a civilized dinner party for two consisting of pasta, bread, and salad. Candles flickered between the places I’d set on the dining room table and a glass of whiskey sat on the kitchen counter, waiting for Jesse to arrive home. My heart skipped when I heard him come in. “Eliza? You home?” “In here,” I called, walking to the kitchen doorway and smiling at him across the space. Gosh, he’s not getting any less handsome, is he? That dark hair was slightly tousled after the day, the longer bits on top a little mussed and the ends curling ever so slightly around the back of his collar. He was already shrugging out of another bespoke suit jacket, sliding his tie loose right after and hooking both onto the coat rack beside the door. As he looked over at me, he reached for the buttons at his cuffs and undid them, slowly rolling up his sleeves. He returned my smile. It completely transformed his features, smoothing away the tension of the day like it had simply melted clear out of him. “Hey,” he said softly. “How was your day?” “Excellent.” I waved him over, my heart suddenly pounding as I watched him cock his head, almost like he was asking a silent question. “Come. I’ll tell you all about it over dinner, but I think we might have to purchase that spa as our home.” He chuckled and followed me into the kitchen. The faint, masculine scent of him wafted over to me and I inhaled de eply, feeling the familiar tingle race down my spine. “Welcome home, Jesse.” I picked up the whiskey and handed it to him, noticing the faint shadow of exhaustion under his eyes but not pointing it out. He froze as his gaze flicked between me, the whiskey, and the dining room table half visible off the other side of the kitchen. “You cooked?” he asked. “Are those candles?” “Yes and yes.” I offered him a shy smile. “I’m not promising it’s going to be edible, but the bread was bought, so that should be okay, and there are only so many ways to fuck up a salad, isn’t there?” A surprised laugh came out of him, but at least it snapped him out of whatever had come over him when he’d seen what I’d done. “I was going to take you out for dinner. You didn’t have to do this.” “No, but I wanted to. Besides, you look tired. I’m sure the last thing you feel like doing is taking to the streets once more.”
He looked at me with a mixture of what seemed strangely like awe and admiration. As if he’d spotted a rare animal in the wild and couldn’t believe he was actually seeing it firsthand. “I can’t remember the last time I had a homecooked meal.” “Well, then. Let’s sit and hope this one doesn’t disappoint you.” I waved him toward his brother’s table and took a seat across from him, the candlelight flickering warmly between us. “Dig in.” He laughed. “This is impressive, Eliza. Honestly, I can’t believe you did all this.” I beamed at him. “What can I say? I had a productive day.” “That seems to be an understatement,” he said, taking a sip of his drink before dishing up. “The idea was for you to relax, though.” “Oh, and I did relax. Very much so. I’d simply had enough relaxing by the time I got done at the spa. I needed to do something productive or I would’ve spontaneously turned into a couch potato.” As I spoke, he took his first bite, those gorgeous blue eyes fluttering closed as he chewed. Once he’d swallowed, he finally opened them again and looked straight at me. “That’s definitely edible. It’s really good, actually.” The sound he made after his next bite was de eply satisfying. I smiled, finally tucking in myself and finding that he hadn’t been faking it for my benefit. It really was quite good. Miriam would be proud. We ate in comfortable silence for a while before I remembered the odd exchange I’d had with the driver that morning. It had gotten me thinking a bit throughout the day and I cleared my throat, taking a sip of my water as I decided how to broach the subject. “You know, Arnold k ept confusing you with Will this morning,” I said. “It sounded like they’ve got a rather good relationship.” He froze slightly. “Did he? That’s weird, but yeah. I guess they are pretty close. Arnold has been Will’s driver for a while now.” “Right, he mentioned that,” I said. “Anyhow, it made me wonder when I was going to meet him. Will.” “You’ve already met him.” Jesse took a sip of his whiskey. “He came with me to the estate, remember?” “Yes, of course, but that was a long time ago. Arnold made him sound exactly like you are now. I was wondering if I might get to know him a bit, too. He’s your identical twin. He must be important to you.”
Jesse no longer looked at his food, the table, or even me. Instead, he was suddenly intently focused on the bricks behind me. A solid five or maybe even ten seconds later, I leaned forward slightly. “Are you okay?” He cleared his throat and finally looked back at me. “Yeah. Yeah, I mean, soon. You’ll meet him soon.” Picking up the glass again, he took another long, de ep swallow of his drink and I frowned. Right now, it didn’t really look like he wanted me to see his brother again and I could not, for the life of me, fathom a reason why.