Tempted By Her Husband Twin

2.

Landon

I knew I was handsome, drop dead gorgeous, even, but a woman fainting just by looking at me was the extreme. Women always flocked around me, and wanted a piece of me, but it had never been something like this.

Roman was on his knee on one side of her, and I on the other. I could tell he was already panicking, and he had yelled at someone to call nine one one, but I stopped him. “Don’t,” I said, catching Roman’s arm before he could shout again. “She’s breathing. Just give her a second.”

Her chest rose and fell normally, though her lashes was fanning against her cheeks. Roman hovered above her like a nervous wreck, and I crouched closer, brushing a strand of dark hair away from her face so I could see her clearly.

God. She was beautiful, but not in the painted, polished way I was used to. No, she had soft curves, delicate bone structure, lips parted slightly as if she were still caught in some dream. And her scent… I had expected the clinging heaviness of grease, smoke, spices, but instead, she smelled clean, like lavender with the faintest trace of citrus, fresh and sharp. It was… arresting.

Her eyelids fluttered, a small sound escaping her throat as she stirred. Roman leaned forward immediately. “Ms. Lana, can you hear me?” I heard Roman shouted that when she hit the ground.

Her gaze flicked between us, unfocused at first, then sharpened with recognition again, and then confusion. But I didn’t know her.

Although, I think I had a fair bit of idea how she thought she knew me.

“Easy,” I said, my voice low, enough to coax her. “You fainted. You should lie down.”

“Is there someplace quiet we can take her?” I asked, looking to Roman.

“Yes, yes… my office.” He was already standing, gesturing hurriedly toward the far hall.

Without another word, I slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back. She was lighter than I expected, her head instinctively dropping against my shoulder as if she trusted me. Strange, how natural it felt to carry her, like she was meant to fit there. I didn’t know who she was still, but I was sure of why she thought she knew me, and we would sort it out when we get to some quiet.

I followed Roman out of the dining room, the murmur of curious voices fading behind us. In his office, I laid the woman down on the couch, pushing her hair back from her forehead. Roman looked at me, squinting his eyes, before he mouthed. “Are you sure she’s okay?”

I nodded, keeping my eyes on her. “She just needs a minute.”

Roman hovered uselessly by the desk, still wringing his hands. I stayed crouched near the couch, watching as the color slowly returned to her cheeks. Her breathing now regulated, her lashes flickered again, and this time she pushed herself upright with a shaky breath.

“I’m fine,” she murmured, brushing her palms over her knees as if to convince herself more than us. “Really. Just… dizzy for a second.”

“Fine?” Roman repeated, clearly unconvinced.

“Yes,” she said more firmly, though her gaze darted back to me, lingering there with something raw in it other than recognition.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to freak out on you. I thought you were someone I know. The resemblance is so uncanny. Forgive me.” She said, looking from me to Roman, probably apologizing for both scaring him and ruining his food.

I tilted my head, studying her. I didn’t know her; but I knew that look. And I knew the name she had gasped before hitting the ground.

Had Logan broken her heart, and she thought I was him?

“How do you know Logan?” I asked quietly, my voice cutting through the tension.

Her eyes widened, a flicker of shock displayed on her face as if she hadn’t expected the question.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out and she blinked at me, once, twice, as if stalling for time. That hesitation told me plenty, she did know him. Knew him well enough that saying his name out loud seem like it was causing her pain, if I saw correctly.

I leaned in a little, holding her gaze. “You froze when you saw me. You called me his name. So… tell me. How do you know Logan?”

Her throat worked as she swallowed, eyes darting toward Roman as though he might save her from answering. But Roman only shifted uneasily, clearly just as lost as I was.

She finally drew in a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. “Logan… was my husband.” She said.

Wait what? Logan was married? And by the look… I mean, sound of things, it seem as if they were divorced.

Well, it was high time I told her who I was. “My name is Landon Booth. I’m Logan Booth’s brother, twin brother.” I said.

“Brother? Twin brother? Logan never told me he had a brother, talk less a twin.” She said and I shrugged.

“Well, that’s not all that surprising. My brother and I are estranged. We’ve been for ages.”

“Oh… I see,” she said, looking down at her fingers, as if they were suddenly much more interesting than they actually were.

“So what did the bastard do to get a divorce.” I asked, meaning it as a joke, but I heard Lana gasped, and something like irritation entered her eyes, but I wasn’t sure about that.

The word divorce seemed to hang in the air like smoke, and her sharp little gasp told me I had misstepped. “Hey,” I said, holding up a hand, “I didn’t mean it like that. Just… Logan never told me anything about you, so I’m filling in the blanks here.”

Her fingers twisted in her lap, knuckles paling, and she gave a stiff nod. “Right. Of course. But I never heard about you too. I didn’t know you existed.”

That as well wasn’t surprising, but to keep things from being awkward, I repeated my question. “When did you two… separate? A year ago? Two?”

Her head jerked up, eyes wide. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, as if the words physically hurt.

She drew in a shaky breath, and for a second I thought she might stay silent forever. But then her voice came, brittle and raw.

“We didn’t separate,” she whispered. “Logan didn’t leave me. He’s… dead.”

The bottom dropped out of my stomach. “What?” I asked, shocked, but that wasn’t the only emotion jumping at me right now. “What do you mean he’s dead. When did that happened? How did that…” I trailed off as Lana pushed up from the couch.

“Oh please. You’re Logan’s twin, but things are bad enough between you two you know nothing about his death. You don’t seem to care, so I won’t indulge you. I have to get back to work anyway.” She said, obviously angry, then she walked away, leaving me sitting there, feeling my chest tight. It was as if it was my turn to faint with the way I was feeling.

Logan… my own brother died and I didn’t know? I sure deserved the anger Lana had shown, and mixed with my own anger, my chest felt like it was about to burst, and rightfully so.