Free He's Her by Mimi Barbour

her figure, showing off her stunning, long-legged build. A string of pearls, secreted in her makeup case by her grandmother, adorned the front of the garment and further softened the tone. From the restored hairdo of twisted gold encircling her head to the suede pumps on her feet, a perfect match to the color of her dress, she looked warm and golden.
    Standing in front of the mirror, she heard Rhett whistle in her mind and she giggled.
    “You look too damn good for my little brother.”
    “Why, thank you, kind sir.” She curtsied. “I guess I can’t put it off any longer. Best to get it over with. I only hope he doesn’t call Security and have me booted out of the hotel.”
    She expected a difficult meeting awaited her and would have preferred to put it off until morning. But Rhett would have none of that.
    “I couldn’t bear the wait. Our priorities are clear—get Ashley on board and get me back to England where that damn bench awaits. The sooner we get started, the sooner I can relax.”
    “Yes, please do. Relax, I mean. Your nerves are tearing my insides apart. But you’re right. We shouldn’t put it off.”
    Soon, Carrie stood in front of Ashley’s closed door. Nervously, she rethought and practised the words she would use to convince the man of the impossible. “What if he doesn’t believe us, Rhett?”
    “He will, don’t worry. Go right in.”
    She ignored his direction and knocked. The man who opened the door to her was a smaller version of his older brother. The similarity astonished her.
    “You must be Carrie Temple. Please, come in. My name is Ashley Parks.”
    The front desk had obviously warned him she would be arriving. He was prepared with his welcome. She instantly liked his eyes, which sparkled with a love of life. His good humour was revealed by the many laugh lines of his face, and she felt like he was an old friend from the get-go. His mouth smiled with kindness, and his soft handshake held Carrie’s longer than strictly necessary or appropriate.
    “Yes, I’m Carrie Temple. Thank you for seeing me at such short notice, Mr. Parks.”
    “My pleasure. Please. This way.” He stepped back from the door and invitingly held it open with one hand while waving her towards a pair of comfy-looking, plush red sofas with the other. The sofas faced each other and were straddled on either end by square oriental tables of carved wood. On the farthest wall, overwhelming the room with its reflections, hung a huge, round, bevelled mirror, ornately framed in gold.
    A black lacquered chest sat under the mirror and the intricately painted Chinese dragons arrayed on the front were eye-catching. Arranged on the top of the chest was a Chinese vase full of red flowers, fresh and exotically tall. Their strange scent filled the room and mixed pleasantly with the smell of cigarette smoke wafting up from an ashtray on the table nearest Carrie.
    “Can I get you a glass of wine?” Ashley asked her politely.
    “Yes, please. White, if you have any.” Carrie unconsciously caressed the sofa’s lushness, even as she was biting off all her freshly applied lipstick.
    Ashley walked over to a large liquor tray on wheels and poured wine into two long-stemmed crystal goblets.
    She watched him move smoothly and experienced an instant affection for Rhett’s handsome brother.
    “He’s a ladies’ man. Don’t be taken in by his smooth ways. He goes for anything in skirts.” Rhett, in a snit, was once again pushing her buttons.
    “Thank you, kind sir. I like being referred to as ‘anything’.”
    “ Don’t get cute. You know what I mean. Watch his hands and watch him. ”
    “You’re being cheeky and bloody silly.” Her patience was wearing thin.
    She took the opportunity to check out the large and sumptuous working space at the other end of the oversized room. The black lacquered desk was huge, situated in a rounded corner between two floor-to-ceiling open windows. Silky golden drapes and valances framed the