Chapter 1
Blayne
I'd never planned a romantic getaway before and it was harder than I'd thought. It wasn't just about booking a room to party in. It was putting together a bunch of pieces to create a perfect weekend. The worst part was, I didn't have anyone I could talk to.
If I'd been planning this for my wife or if I'd been able to date Katka openly, I could've gone to the other sister for help. I could've even gone to Samuel then, but no way in hell could I tell my brother that I was taking my wife's sister to New York so we could avoid my dad’s ‘anti-infidelity’ spies. I couldn’t put Samuel in that situation.
All my life, Samuel had been the only one of my family who'd ever been on my side. I just couldn’t ask him to lie or hide my affair from our father, especially since he seemed to like Livie a great deal. My family hadn't spent much time with my wife, but she'd managed to charm them nonetheless. They weren't exactly scheduling family vacations, but my father had actually admitted that he liked her, so that was something. Actually, it was a lot more than something. I was shocked.
The downside to my dad liking my wife made things even more complicated. If Dad found out I was cheating on her, he'd be even more pissed than he would've been if I’d simply disobeying him. I'd be in breach of contract and lose my inheritance, my allowance, my home and my car. I'd also have my father and at least Samuel guilting me for what they’d see as a betrayal of my marriage vows.
Thing was, I didn't think Livie would mind what I was doing, as long as I didn't get caught and ruin the business arrangement she and I had. The two of us weren't romantically involved, never had been. She'd made it abundantly clear from moment one that she didn't want me that way. She also loved her sister. I didn't talk to her about Katka much, not wanting to tip my hand and accidentally give something away, but it was clear in how Livie talked about her, the work she did was to make a better life for both of them.
I blew out a long breath as I checked the clock again. Forty minutes until I was supposed to meet Katka at the train station. Normally, I'd take much more expensive and lavish transportation from Philadelphia to New York City, but Katka and I were trying to stay under the radar, and the train was the best way to do it. I didn't think it was a very romantic start to our weekend, but she'd assured me that it made sense and she didn't mind.
Yet another thing I loved about my Kat. Having grown up in an orphanage in the Czech Republic after her parents were murdered, she should've been all about the money and the things I could give her. Even if it wasn't in a selfish way, a lot of times people who spent years living in poverty never wanted to go back to that again, so they would focus on the best things they could get. Katka never asked for anything. Never seemed displeased with anything. She didn't complain about us not going out or not accompanying me to fancy events.
Now that I thought about it, Livie wasn't like that either. The two of them had that in common, as well as their determination. While Katka wasn't as driven as her minutes older twin, I could see that once she set her mind to something, she would do it, no matter what.
I smiled fondly as I realized that was the reason the two of us had ended up together. She'd made a choice about me and here I was. If she hadn't been so stubborn and intent on proving that I wasn't a good guy, we never would've slept together.
“Hey.” Samuel's voice came from the doorway. “Hannah was wondering if you and Livie wanted to come over for dinner tonight.”
“Huh?” I blinked at my brother and then his words registered. “Oh, um, not tonight.”
“Tomorrow then?”
“We have plans,” I blurted out. “The whole weekend, actually. But maybe next week.”
Samuel's eyes, gray like mine with a hint of blue, narrowed and I knew he was trying to figure out if I was up to