Heat Waves

Heat Waves

Spicy Romantic Comedy

Copyright August, 2011 Kathi Robb Harris

Smashwords Edition

ISBN:

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Dedication

To my wonderful mate, Charlie Harris, for inspiring and supporting me…Thank you.

And to my family and friends who have always said I can do it.

A special thank you for the Hood and the Batcave.

Heat Waves

Chapter One

So, do you want to go back to my room and have sex?

Excuse me?! Poppy Anderson leaned back in her chair and tried to look any where except at the large, overly muscled man sitting across from her. He was such a cliché.

Hey, babe, you’re hot and I’m well endowed, if you know what I mean. We could have us some real fun. He let his hand settle in his lap in a suggestive gesture.

When he leaned forward, she felt his heavy breath against her face from across the narrow table. Whiskey, she guessed. Thank you, but, no. I’m not drunk enough to go anywhere with you. Although she had given him a little fake smile and used her sweetest sarcastic voice, he smiled as if he had scored big time. Then, she watched him blink in confusion trying to decide if he’d been insulted. She was saved from further comment by a bell ringing and the host announcing it was time to change tables.

So can I have your card? He hadn’t gotten the message. Poppy fingered the red and blue cards she had been given to pass out to the men she might consider dating. She handed him a red one. The women knew that red was for no way and the blue ones had a coded number so the men could contact them through the purser.

As he moved to the table to her left, she glanced over at her sister across the room. A tall, dark, and gorgeous man had just moved away from her without a card. Shoot, isn’t she going to play the game? Poppy was tempted to go talk to her sibling, but just then, a perfect match for the man who had left her sister sat down across from her. When she’d booked her sister and herself on a singles cruise of the Hawaiian Islands for twins only, it had sounded like fun. She hadn’t thought about the dynamics of all these twins running around. This one was so yummy it was amazing there were two of them.

I’m David, he offered, extending his hand. It was smooth and well cared for. Definitely not the hand of a laborer. His black polo shirt defined his broad chest and a few dark hairs peeked where the top button was undone. He wore his confidence the way he wore his clothes, relaxed and sexy.

I’m Poppy. She took his hand briefly and felt the hum of sexual current up her arm. Tossing back her mahogany gypsy curls, she used her gray green eyes to make contact with his dark ones. It was all about the eyes for her. Well, the eyes, and the butt. Poppy did like a man with a nice rounded firm butt. Oh, and the mouth. She studied his and found that the tiny quirk in one corner looked made for her tongue.

So, are you identical or fraternal? he was asking. His eyes were a dark rich brown and his hair even darker. At about six feet to her own five-feet-four, he was very tall, very handsome, and had a subtle sexuality. Unlike the more desperate men she had met, his attitude was one of warm regard.

His question hung in the air between them. Identical. My sister, Daisy, is over there. She nodded in the direction of her sister’s table.

He darted a glance over and back. Poppy? Daisy? You’re both named after flowers?

As are our three other sisters; Rose, Jasmine, and Violet. My mother was a hippie and loves horticulture. His low-pitched laugh rumbled pleasantly against her as she continued, You? Identical? She leaned into the table, bringing herself as close as she could, creating an intimate space between them where their voices wouldn’t carry.

Yep, my brother Mike is on the other side of the room. I must say you and your sister don’t look that much alike from here. He was giving her an evaluating look that paused briefly at her breasts and lower before returning to her eyes. His smile told her he liked what he saw. She grinned back, acknowledging the feeling.

You are one beautiful woman. He nearly whispered into their space.

Even her skin went on alert, and her voice lowered and softened. Her choice. We were never dressed alike, and we have very different temperaments. So, we only have a couple more minutes. Tell me about yourself. They were carrying on one conversation verbally and entirely another with their body language.

I’m a doctor…

MD?

Yes. I’m researching sleep disorders in Boulder, Colorado.

Really? I live south of Denver! In her excitement, her voice pitched even lower. Her eyes locked with his and narrowed just enough to flutter her lashes a tiny bit. Oh, how she’d like to play doctor with him.

Small world. He smile grew. There was no doubt he liked the idea she lived near him.

The bell rang and Poppy handed him a blue card. I hope we can see each other again, And more, her eyes hinted.

He smiled. I’m sure we will. We’re on a boat after all. It’s a pretty small town. His hand held hers a shade longer than a simple handshake.

She drew her hand out slowly, letting her fingertips pause just a moment longer. A good way to look at it. Another man waited impatiently to sit at her table. Bye, David. He saluted her with a grin and quirky move of his forefinger as he moved on down the row.

She looked after him for a moment before turning her attention to the attractive blond now seated across from her. I’m Poppy. She tilted her head, taking him in. He had slightly curly blond hair and deep blue eyes. His body was very athletic and tanned. She smiled inwardly. This speed-dating thing was fun. Where else did the good-looking men come to you? It was like a buff buffet. Her grin spread outward and the man, Tadd, smiled back.

Across the room, Mike Windsor moved to the station next to Daisy and sat across from a lovely Asian woman. Her hair was a shimmering wave of ebony down past her waist. She introduced herself as Amy and began telling about herself. He tried to follow, but the mahogany haired beauty behind him had short-circuited his brain. Daisy hadn’t offered him a card of either color. An oversight? Should he go back and ask? She was perfect; beautiful, elegant, sexy as hell. He wanted to turn back and make contact with her eyes and see if she had felt anything for him at all. Maybe she was nervous and didn’t fully understand the point of this game.

Meanwhile, Amy seemed to be waiting for an answer to an unheard question. I’m sorry. My mind wandered a moment. It must be jetlag. He focused on her words and managed to elicit that she was a dancer along with her twin sister.

I’m a developer. He explained about the project he was currently involved with in Denver. Amy was from San Francisco and handed him a blue card to add to the other blue ones in his pocket when the bell rang.

So far, the only woman who had stood out was Daisy. What had she said she did? Real estate. That was it. That would be a nice fit with his work, and she had mentioned she, too, lived in Denver. He had liked the rather shy smile and graceful way she wore her clothes. The ocean green dress had set off her beautiful gray green eyes, framed perfectly by the silvery glasses she wore. He liked a woman in glasses. They seemed mysterious to him and gave him another layer to uncover. Just the thought of uncovering the lovely, if shy, Daisy, had him humming.

He turned the end of the row and crossed the room to sit at the first table of the new section. Wow. It was Daisy again, but now she was H.O.T.! She had longer hair, a short flirty dress that she tucked carefully as she sat back down, and eyes that promised her body didn’t make promises that she couldn’t keep. A warning label on this woman should say danger.

I’m Mike. He’d had to clear his throat twice before the words would find a path through his lips. Lips that wished strongly that they were engaged with those of the beautiful creature across the table. He reached out with his hand palm up in front of him. Mike Windsor.

I’m Poppy. Yes, like the flower. My twin is named Daisy and our mother is into horticulture, and we have three other sisters all named after flowers. She rattled it off as though she’d memorized answers to often-asked questions. And you must be Mike, brother to doctor David. She let her hand come to rest in his.

He grasped the delicate hand she offered and leaned back against his chair, holding it gently. Her skin was hot in his hand. Instead of the practical chin length hair of her sister, Poppy’s fell in luxurious gypsy curls below her shoulders. She must have been wearing contacts, or else Daisy’s nearsightedness had passed her by. Her gray green eyes were enhanced by rich mink colored lashes and well done makeup. She wore a short flirty sundress in an orangey red that fit her name.

So, Poppy, what do you do for a living? She was more overtly sexy than her sister; she sparkled. Her sister glowed. He wondered what other differences he might uncover before the cruise was over.

I have a small boutique southwest of Denver. Do you live in Boulder, too? She referred to his brother’s home. David must have opened up to her. It was surprising, but then again, this lady could probably get a spy to tell all his secrets.

Not me. I have a home in the mountains, but I have an apartment near the new project I’m developing. I find it better to be near the job site. Mike loved his mountain home, but if the girls he had been missing lived nearer to town, maybe he should too.

What do you like to do in your free time? He asked. She was definitely interesting. Mike gazed at this nearly exact replica of the woman who had caught his eye moments earlier. I like to hike and bicycle. I love to go clubbing and dance. She had it all. Still there was something about her shyer sister that lodged in his brain and his libido.

Have you ever been to the Kangaroo Klub?

Yes, not too long ago! You go there? Now her smile seemed more genuine. I’m surprised we haven’t run into each other.

If sensual energy could be bottled she could make a million dollars. He couldn’t remember ever meeting a woman with more of it than Poppy. Oh, I would remember if I’d seen you before. He squirmed in his chair resettling to accommodate his response to her. Uh, it’s near Willowmar. That’s the name of the new development I’m overseeing.

He liked this woman. She looked like a bundle of fun on long silky legs. He didn’t want her in the same way he wanted her sister, but he could have fun with this one. It was good to know she lived near the same area he did. He’d met women on cruises before, and was relieved when he went home and they were far across the country. Poppy was different. And he remembered her sister saying that they owned condos next to each other. That meant the delectable Daisy was near his own apartment, also. On the other hand, he could probably guess what the sisters would think of dating the same man at the same time even if it wasn’t serious.

A bell rang and the host signaled that it was time to move on.

Poppy handed Mike a blue card. He palmed it with a sexy grin. Thanks, Poppy. This was a pleasure and I know we’ll be seeing each other.

I hope so, Mike. Maybe the four of us could meet for drinks later? They have a couple of killer dance clubs on board. She stood when he did and gave him her hand once again. Another ripple of energy charged between them.

Sounds like a plan. Mike glanced down at the card. Poppy had written her room number on the corner. As he stood to go, he noticed that his brother was sitting across from Poppy’s sister, Daisy, and they were laughing together. A small zing of envy pierced him. She hadn’t laughed at anything while he talked with her. Even her laugh was elegant, throaty.

Turning back to Poppy, he had an idea. Let’s see if we can double with your sister and my brother. Would that suit you?

Poppy agreed with more enthusiasm than he had expected. Obviously she saw the opportunity as he did. He touched her cheek. See you later.

The dance floor was crowded as twins gyrated with twins creating the impression of double vision. In the low lighting of the nightclub, colored spots highlighted the bouncy curls of the woman in front of Mike.

There’s a table for four, Poppy announced swaying her way across the room through the crowd. She knew the clingy, flame-colored, silk dress was enhancing one of her best assets.

She managed to put herself next to David on the banquette and across from her sister. Mike pulled his chair closer to Daisy’s and grinned at both of them. This is great. Two beautiful women and my favorite brother.

Only brother, David clarified. Their voices were similar, but David’s was more resonant; professional sounding. As a doctor, he would certainly give any patients confidence in his ability. Especially the women.

Do you have any sisters? Daisy questioned, looking across the table at David. Mike caught the look and answered quickly. Just us. After us, Mother didn’t want to chance another set of twins. Both she and Dad are twins, too.

Really? We’re the only ones in our entire family, Poppy replied, her eyes on the man next to her. He was just right, she thought, handsome, thoughtful, and very intelligent. Solid. She could use solid in her life. He was the kind of man a woman settled down with. Although settling down had seemed more like something her sister would do, it suddenly held a certain appeal when she looked at David. And he smelled great. He reminded Poppy of her father, calm, quiet, steady. While Poppy was more like her mother, outgoing, talkative, and imaginative. Yes, she thought it would be a good match. Opposites not only attracting but filling the gaps left by the other.

His brother, Mike, was too much like her. Although he held his own appeal, they would burn each other out very quickly. Although she did have a quiet side that no one ever saw except her family.

Did you ever switch when you were kids? Mike asked with a devilish smile. We used to drive our folks nuts trying to figure out who was who. One time David walked in and got sent to his room, and it was an hour before he could convince Dad that he was David not Mike. I’d broken a window playing baseball and then ran for the woods. When he came out of the woods on his way home from school, everyone assumed it was me. Mike laughed, but his brother laughed more.

I got even. The next time it was my turn to dry dishes I pretended to be Mike and called up the stairs for David to come down and take his turn. Mother believed me, and he had two weeks of kitchen duty instead of one and couldn’t tell her, or I would have cleared up the whole baseball thing.

We usually had different haircuts, and I started wearing glasses earlier than Poppy. Daisy exchanged a fond look with her sister. I loved to read and draw, and Poppy loved to tap dance and do gymnastics. We might have looked alike, but it was pretty easy to tell us apart. If she was bouncing around, it was probably Poppy. She loved to dance to any kind of music. The only dance lessons I ever took was Ballet. Daisy sipped at her iced tea. She had called herself the designated walker. She wanted to make sure one of them had their wits about them. These brothers were potent. It would be very easy to go into the night with either one of them.

As the discussion quieted, Mike stood and offered his hand to Poppy. I assume you still like to dance? She followed him to the dance floor and went easily into his arms. So, it’s my brother you’re interested in? He felt her stiffen at his words.

I…

Sh. He pulled her closer. It’s okay. I really like your sister. I mean you are one sexy, beautiful woman, but she sets something off in me… She’s like the homecoming queen and you’re like the head cheerleader. Lots of pep and enthusiasm. My guess is you dated a lot but never went steady.

Poppy chuckled against his chest. I guess I’m pretty obvious. You and I are too much alike. They say opposites attract. Her eyes went to the table where their siblings were in deep conversation.

Mike used his forefinger to tip her head back and look into her eyes. He wanted to see an honest answer to his questions in the dim light of the dance floor, and he didn’t want to offend her. Okay, so can we work together here? Mike waited for her answer. He hoped he hadn’t read her wrong. He wasn’t rejecting Poppy if that’s what she wanted, but he was pretty sure she had the hots for his brother. If he had read her wrong, he could shift and concentrate on her for a while.

What do you mean? Poppy pulled back enough to look into his eyes.

Well, I talked my brother into this cruise because he had tied himself to that research center. I knew he needed to get away.

And my sister was moping around. She and her ‘fiancé’ had broken up several months ago. He was a real jerk, but she thought he loved her. I never could see what she thought she saw in him. Poppy trailed off. She didn’t want to betray any of her sister’s confidences in her. "Anyway, I gave