“I’m a genius,” Lindsay sang, waltzing around her bedroom but staying in view of the camera so her sister could see her.

Nina had gifted her the down payment for the townhouse, and after Lindsay bought it, she’d spent the most money on this room. The bed with the tufted headboard and the other furniture were new. So were the damask-designed bed linens that matched the drapes. She topped off the feminine decor by incorporating pink and pastel colors, and having an electrician remove the standard light fixture and installing a chandelier.

“I already know you’re a genius.” Nina spoke from the laptop resting on Lindsay’s dresser. She had finally landed in a location with a strong enough Internet connection that allowed them to have a video Skype session.

“Aren’t you going to ask me what I’m talking about? What genius thing I’ve done?”

“What genius thing have you done?” Nina asked.

“This.” Lindsay flashed the diamond ring on her left hand, and Nina’s eyes widened to double their size.

Her face came closer to the screen for a better look. “Wait a minute, who…what... You’re engaged?”

“Yes and no.” Lindsay updated her on the agreement with Malik. She followed with details about the successful photo shoot—including the kiss, their most recent outing to the podcast event, and she reminded her sister about Malik’s sculptures that she’d already emailed about.

“You really think this is going to work?” Nina asked, a heavy dose of skepticism in her voice.

“Of course it will. We have to keep up the ruse and act like we’re in love for the next few months, but how hard could it be?” She spoke in a flippant manner, but the truth was, the ruse was getting harder. She couldn’t ignore her burgeoning feelings for Malik.

“You like sex. Are you going to be abstinent, or are you guys sleeping together? And if you’re not sleeping together, do you plan to risk being seen with other men in the meantime? This book deal has made you more high-profile.”

“I’m going to sleep with him.” She had it all figured out.

“Oh really?”

Lindsay nodded. “He wants me.”

He’d said as much. Casually, matter-of-factly, in that deep, rich voice of his the day she delivered the photos. She’d never had a man talk to her like that, and now that she’d had time to think about what he’d said, she realized that he was trying to keep them at his own pace, but she’d show Malik that Lindsay Winthrop waited for no man, and few men could resist her.

“Sleeping with him sounds like a terrible idea. You were upset for months after he rejected you at Stephan’s party.”

“Says who?”

“Says me, the person who knows you better than anyone else. The person you confided in and who doesn’t want to see you get hurt.”

Lindsay plopped onto the cushioned stool at the foot of the bed and folded her legs beneath her. “Nina, sweetie, have you forgotten who you’re talking to? I don’t get my heart broken. I break hearts.”

Nina pursed his lips, her way of refraining from saying what she wanted to say.

“Stop looking at me like a disapproving mother. I know what I’m doing.”

“But Malik—”

“Is no different than any other man. So I’ve mentioned him once or twice in the past.” She shrugged one shoulder.

“You’ve mentioned him more than once or twice.”

“What’s the big deal? He’s my type, so I noticed him. I’m not going to get caught up in my feelings. I’m not stupid.”

“No, you’re not, but sometimes I think you forget all your positive qualities. You’re beautiful. You’re smart—”

“I know. I have the words posted next to the mirror in my bathroom so I can see them every morning and night while I brush my teeth.”

You’re beautiful.

You’re smart.

You’re a winner.

You’re strong.

“I just want to have a little fun.” Lindsay held strong to her conviction to hide the pain ripping through her. Nina had comforted her when Shawn ended their relationship, and their sisterly bond meant their conversations got deep. They left her open and feeling raw. She hated it.

Nina’s eyes narrowed. “Is that all, or do you like Malik?”

“I do not like him!” Lindsay glared at the laptop.

“Yes, you do,” Nina countered.

Lindsay studied her manicured nails. “Okay, maybe I like him a little bit. But I don’t like him, like him.”

“The way you talk about him and what you said about that kiss, you like him, like him.”

She’d slipped up and admitted how much she’d enjoyed the kiss they shared and wouldn’t mind kissing him again, segueing into the Podcast Movers & Shakers reception they’d attended last week and the way he’d handled Shawn.

He’d also done a great job mingling with the other attendees. Although he seemed against the flirting at first, he’d eventually relaxed into the role of newly-discovered artist and the charming fiancé of a relationship expert. With his quiet enthusiasm, he sold himself very well, and every now and again she caught a bit of his hidden personality. A little smile or laugh, and once in a while a wink. With his brawny appearance coupled with the story she’d crafted around how they’d met through a friend, he’d had female attendees eating out of his hand.

They hadn’t been the only ones. She found herself hanging on his every word, listening to his deep-throated laugh and having vivid fantasies that she worried could develop into an unhealthy obsession. She still had a hard time getting a read on Malik but didn’t doubt she could turn their platonic relationship into something more, sooner rather than later.

“Malik and I are co-conspirators, that’s all. Anyway, when are you coming back?”

“You ask that every time we talk.” Nina crossed her arms over her chest, looking cute as ever with thick cornrows and a face free of makeup. A fake gemstone glinted in her left nostril because she hadn’t taken any valuables with her on the trip abroad.

“Because I want to know. I miss my little sister. You’ve been gone for two years.”

“And like I keep telling you, I don’t know when I’m coming back. I’m enjoying myself, exploring the world. This break was exactly what I needed.”

Nina was five years younger, and they were opposites in every way. Nina had a subdued personality while Lindsay was more outgoing. Nina was a free spirit and could sleep on the side of a mountain. Lindsay preferred modern conveniences and went into a panic if her Wi-Fi went down.

But Nina was the one person in the world Lindsay knew she could count on. Currently in India, she was working for a non-profit that secured work opportunities and education for women with disabilities. She’d always been a helper, ever since they were children, encouraging Lindsay to work at homeless shelters, feed the hungry, and one summer volunteer for back-breaking labor in a community garden in a low-income neighborhood.

It wasn’t enough for Nina to write a check. She needed to get her hands dirty doing the work, and Lindsay admired her dedication to social causes when she could easily keep her involvement to throwing money at the problem.

Because of her sister, she’d learned terms like food desert and gentrification. But although she’d learned a lot and appreciated those experiences, she didn’t have the luxury of traveling the world like Nina.

Nina’s father came from a wealthy family that owned the Winthrop chain of hotels, and Nina was an heiress because of it. She didn’t have to work if she didn’t want to. Every week she received an allowance from a trust her father set up when she was born, and when she turned thirty-five, the entire amount would be turned over to her to do with as she wished.

So her younger sister was lucky enough to have a wealthy father who earned his money through legitimate business practices and who, even though he’d passed on, made sure his daughter was well taken care of. The company ran in her absence thanks to competent executives and a board of directors.

“Okay, whatever. Tell me what you think of this dress.” Lindsay held up the outfit so her sister could see it. The strapless, asymmetrical design would show off her curves and fit her sexy diva personality.

“It’s gorgeous. So when is the interview?”

“Next Friday at ten.”

Lindsay laid the dress on the bed and stared at it, still not sure the bold yellow color was appropriate for the interview at the radio station but thinking the dress would serve as the perfect temptation for Malik. She went over to the closet and pulled out a pair of red-bottom shoes. She held them up for her sister to see.

“Yes,” Nina said.

Lindsay drop them to the floor and then started digging through her jewelry box. “Oh, I almost forgot. Please give Reese a ring. He called me the other day from an unknown number, and I made the mistake of answering. He wanted to know why you haven’t called him.”

“I talked to him a couple of weeks ago. Wait, no, that would be a month ago, but still.”

“You know that man has a thing for you, and once a month is not enough for Reese Brooks. Put him out of his misery and give him a call as soon as you can so I can stop dodging him. Every time I see him, I cringe because I know he’s going to ask about you, and I’m running out of lies to tell.”

“You don’t have to lie.” Nina sighed heavily. “I don’t know why he thinks I have to call him all the time.”

“You know why.”

“Why?”

Lindsay went to stand in front of the computer and raised a brow at her sister. “Because he’s secretly still in love with you. Duh.”

“First of all, he was never in love with me, so he can’t still be in love with me. And of all the people you could accuse of loving me, Reese is not the one. A few weeks ago, mutual friends told me about some girl he hooked up with the last time he went to Seattle. Reese is not thinking about me, no matter how many times he asks you what I’m up to or insists that I call.”

“Maybe he’s doing those things to forget about you,” Lindsay said in a singsong voice.

“Whatever. Matter of fact, I have something to tell you.”

She heard the excitement in her sister’s voice and immediately paid attention. “Okay, what’s up?”

“I’ve met someone.” Nina grinned.

“What!” Lindsay shrieked. “Who is he? And how the heck did you have time to fall for anyone when you’ve been jumping from country to country?”

Nina giggled. “Well, that’s what’s so amazing about this guy. He’s doing the same thing I am. It’s like we’re soulmates. I met Andy when we were doing volunteer work on an organic farm in New Zealand. He comes from a really good family, and they coincidentally live in the Atlanta area.”

“Do you know them?”

“Not personally, but I know of them. He’s a von Trapp, part of the family that owns all that real estate and land around the country. Andy, the oldest son, is the one that I’m seeing.”

“Whoa, you’re kidding. Andy von Trapp? Mother will be pleased,” Lindsay said sarcastically. Their mother, Gloria Winthrop, made no secret about her desire for them to marry well.

“Don’t be bitchy.”

“I’m not, but you know I’m right. So, is it serious?”

Nina smiled, her face glowing. “It’s getting there. I think he might be the one. The kind of guy I can spend the rest of my life with. We have so much in common that it’s unbelievable. We like the same colors, we both enjoy traveling and volunteer work. We want to visit the same countries. It’s almost as if we’re the same person but got separated, and now we’re coming back together.”

Lindsay rested her hands on her hips. “This sounds serious.”

“It kind of is.”

“How long have you been seeing this guy?”

“We’ve been traveling together for the past few months.”

“You never said anything before.” Lindsay was a little hurt. They told each other everything.

“I know, I know. At first our relationship wasn’t serious. It was more casual, but it’s been fun having a companion, and he’s really sweet.”

Lindsay bit her bottom lip.

“Why’s that look on your face?” Nina asked.

“What about Reese?”

“What about Reese? He and I are just friends.”

“He’s going to be crushed.”

“I’ve had boyfriends since Reese and I broke up, and we broke up a long time ago. Good grief, we were teenagers.”

“I know, but…I guess I always thought you two would get back together.”

“Why would I get back together with him? He hurt me. You’re my sister. Shouldn’t you be on my side?”

“Of course I’m on your side! I’m happy for you.”

“And I’m happy for you.”

“My relationship is fake, remember?”

“Sure it is,” Nina said with a sly grin.

“Bye. Oh, what do you want me to do about a contact for Malik?”

“I’ll get a message to my assistant. Reach out to him tomorrow, and he’ll get you in touch with the right people who might be interested in Malik’s sculpture. I was impressed by the photos you sent.”

“Thank you. Now I can make sure I hold up my end of the deal. Be safe. Love you.”

“Love you, too!”

They blew kisses at each other, and Lindsay ended the call.