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here,” she rushed on. “I wanted to talk to you in private.”
    Curious, Jordan crossed his arms. “Really?” Had he met this beauty before? Surely, he hadn’t. How could he ever forget meeting her? He could tell she was nervous about something by the way she kept twirling the strap from her handbag around her fingers and avoided his gaze. “Is something wrong?”
    A weak smile lifted the corners of her lips. “I don’t know what to make of all this. I mean.” She struggled with her words. She blushed prettily and continued, “When I came here tonight, I had no idea that…” Her sentence died as she shook her head.
    â€œAre you uncomfortable?” Jordan asked puzzled.
    Her expression sobered. “I’m out of place.” She played with the strap again. “I didn’t know why you brought me here tonight, Malcolm.”
    â€œOh,” he understood now, “I’m not…”
    â€œPlease, let me finish. I know we became fast friends and I’ve enjoyed the six months that we’ve been seeing each other, but the fact is I consider you more like a brother. And I want us to remain good friends. I didn’t expect for you to propose to me in front of all those people.”
    â€œBut you don’t understand—”
    She gave him a pleading look that silenced him. Jordan shifted his weight. Her sad expression wrenched his heart.
    â€œAll of this is just too grand for me. I borrowed this dress from Alex.” Her attempt at humor failed. “Please try to understand.” She pulled the ring from her finger. “I can’t accept this.”
    He lowered his gaze and his heart tightened as he accepted the ring. An engagement ring?
    â€œI better go now.” She turned.
    â€œWait!”
    She faced him, a sad smile in place. “Malcolm, you know this makes sense. There is still so much you don’t know about me, about my family. I accepted the ring because I couldn’t…I would never embarrass you in front of your family and friends. I just hope that we can still be friends.”
    Jordan’s gut wrenched at the sight of her turning away from him, her head held high. He had a sudden premonition that he would never see her again. He panicked. “Can I at least—”
    She stopped and faced him.
    â€œCan I at least kiss you goodbye?” What made me ask that? The moment he looked back into her earthy-brown eyes, a hunger ebbed at his heart. He wanted her.
    She smiled nervously, then moved closer to grant him his request.
    Jordan leaned down and tilted her chin up with his fingers. The kiss was meant to be a light peck, but as a fire ignited within him, the kiss deepened into something powerful. It thrilled him to feel her body arched against his. Her erotic scent of jasmine seduced his senses and before he knew it, he had enclosed her in his embrace.
    â€œWhat in the hell is going on?” A familiar voice thundered.
    Jumping apart, they turned to stare at Jordan’s twin brother, Malcolm.

Chapter 2
    C hristian blinked in horror. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. Twins? The word penetrated the boggled haze clouding her mind. Her hand fluttered to her mouth. She had forgotten Malcolm had a twin brother.
    Malcolm’s mirror image interjected, “I can explain.”
    Malcolm stormed toward his brother. Fire blazed in his eyes. “I ought to break your neck.”
    Not until he had yanked his twin by the collar did Christian snap out of her reverie. “Malcolm, wait!”
    He turned a murderous gaze toward her as it she’d acted as a coconspirator against his trust.
    She retreated, momentarily frightened by this side of her friend she’d never seen before. “It’s not what it looks like,” she murmured the cliché, but wallowed in despair at how guilty the words sounded.
    â€œIt’s all my fault, bro.”
    Christian turned her own accusing gaze at