Kaleidoscope Eyes Read Free

houseguest to wake the hostess when she’s dozed off?”
    “I’m not a guest; I’m family”
    Annie grimaced at her older sister. Everything about Kyla, from her perfect thick hair to her oh-so-coordinated clothes to her insistent use of Annie’s proper name, proclaimed her controlled outlook on life.
    Hard to believe they were related.
    Where Kyla was tall and willowy, Annie was short and athletic. Where Kyla’s eyes shared the pure green of emeralds, Annie’s were an odd mix of gold and brown. Kyla called them hazel; Annie called them indecisive. Then there were their personalities. As different as night and day, white and black, relaxed and obsessive—
    A grunt beside Annie drew her attention to the large black form lying on the floor next to her. Annie reached out a hand to pat her dog’s broad head. “You have to admit it, Kylie, our flower girl here did a great job.”
    “I’ll give her this: she was the most obedient flower girl I’ve ever seen. Of course, she’s also the only flower girl I’ve ever seen who sheds.” Kyla sniffed. “Do you know that it takes me
weeks
to get rid of all the dog hair that adheres to my clothes after I’ve visited you? I thought German shepherds didn’t shed.”
    It was on the tip of Annie’s tongue to say something sarcastic, like, “Yeah, and I’ll bet you still believe in fairies too.” But it would be a waste of breath. Kyla hadn’t ever believed in fairies.
    “Now shut that silly computer down and come eat. I’ve called you twice to let you know dinner was ready”
    Annie straightened in her chair. “Okay, okay, Sister-Mommy, I’ll be there in a minute.”
    Kyla’s generous mouth thinned. Amazing how stern her sister could look when she wanted to. She must make contractors shake in their steel-toe boots.
    “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?”
    “You don’t have to
tell
me at all.” Annie leaned her elbows on her computer desk. It never ceased to amaze her that Kyla could be so … hard-edged at times when her color was such a soft, warm rose. “I’ll stop calling you Sister-Mommy when you stop acting like one.”
    “Hmm. I’ll stop acting like one when you stop needing someone to do so.” Kyla eyed Annie’s wrinkled clothes.
    Annie had changed as soon as the limo bearing her brother and his new wife was out of sight. She hung up the bridesmaid dress with careful attention, then grabbed the clothes she’d dumped onthe floor earlier that day So what if they were wrinkled? The wedding and reception were over. It was time to relax.
    Kyla’s clothing, of course, wouldn’t dare sport a wrinkle. Poor things were pressed to within an inch of their lives.
    “It was a beautiful ceremony, wasn’t it?”
    Annie nodded. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Dan that happy.”
    “He deserves it.”
    No argument there.
    “So, are you coming downstairs?”
    Drawing in a breath of patience, Annie took hold of her computer mouse. “Just let me finish what I’m doing here.”
    “Which is?”
    “Checking my e-mail to be sure there isn’t something I need to deal with. You know, something from search and rescue or Killian.”
    “Annot, when are you going to realize there’s more to life than that dog and your work?”
    Annie ran her hands through her short-cropped hair. “Meaning?”
    “You need a man.”
    Oh, please. Not again. Today of all days. Annie had been so sure Kyla would be too focused on Dan and Shelby and the wedding to get into this again.
    Idiot.
    “Kylie—”
    “I don’t want to hear it.”
    “Hear what?”
    “Whatever excuse you’ve come up with.” Kyla’s tone was as forceful as her stance. Hands planted on slim hips, trim shoulders cocked in a don’t-argue-with-me-young-lady stance, chin jutted out.
    The picture-perfect Sister-Mommy.
    Fire sparked in Kyla’s eyes. “Don’t.”
    “Don’t?”
    “Don’t you dare call me that horrendous nickname again. Just because I care about you doesn’t