Free Sweet Trouble by Susan Mallery

stay for the tasting. Nicole says I don’t have a subtle enough palate, but those brownies smell good so make sure she doesn’t eat them all.”
    “Not to worry, I brought three dozen,” Jesse said, immediately liking the man.
    He led the way into the kitchen, which was much tidier than the last time she’d seen it. Nicole stood at the counter, pouring coffee. She turned as Jesse entered.
    “Good morning,” she said, not sounding especially excited to have company. “You brought the brownies?”
    “Yes.” Jesse set the box on the kitchen table.
    Another woman entered the room. Someone as tall and blond as Nicole, with similar features.
    Claire, Jesse thought, feeling strange at seeing her other sister—the one she’d never really known.
    Claire and Nicole were fraternal twins, six years older than Jesse. At the age of three, Claire had sat down at a piano and started playing perfectly, despite the fact that she’d never had a lesson. By the time Jesse was born, she’d been whisked off to New York to study and play around the world. Jesse had grown up never really knowing Claire, only resenting her princess lifestyle as she moved from fabulous city to fabulous city, meeting the rich and famous and playing the piano.
    Jesse and Nicole had been stuck back in Seattle, trying to grow up without much supervision. Nicole had always hated Claire for leaving, even though it hadn’t been her choice, while Jesse had simply wanted to go with her on her travels.
    Jesse still didn’t know Claire very well, but she’d been the one to stay in touch when Jesse had moved away.
    “You made it back,” Claire said by way of greeting. “Is Seattle the same as you remembered?”
    “Pretty much. There’s a lot of new construction.”
    “That’s the strong job market drawing people here.” Claire took the mug of coffee Nicole offered. Jesse did the same.
    There was a moment of awkward silence. Jesse felt uneasy. While these people were her family, they were strangers for one reason or another. And they all thought the worst of her.
    Hawk moved next to Nicole and put his hands on her shoulders. He whispered something, then kissed her. His adoration was visible even across the room. Jesse felt a rush of pleasure that her sister had found someone so good for her and, close at its heels, envy, because she wanted the same thing for herself. She immediately thought of Matt, which was dumb. He might have been “the one” five years ago, but he wasn’t anymore.
    “I’ll leave you ladies to your tasting,” Hawk said. “Nicole, remember what I said.”
    She laughed. “We’re not going to eat them all. You’ll have plenty.”
    She and Hawk shared one of those intimate looks that passes between people who know each other and are secure in their love, then he left.
    Nicole and Claire both sat at the table. Jesse joined them and opened the bakery box.
    “I have three kinds of brownies,” Jesse said. “Plain chocolate, chocolate with walnuts and peanut-butter chocolate.”
    “And these are your recipes?” Nicole asked.
    Jesse resisted the urge to snap. “Yes. I developed them myself. I’ve kept records so there’s a clear evolution of the process.”
    She hated that she had to explain herself, that Nicole just wouldn’t trust her, but that was her sister’s way. Nicole would never forgive Jesse for selling the famous Keyes cake online five years ago.
    Nicole took one of each brownie. Claire did the same, then laughed. “I’m not really an expert. Is saying I like them going to be enough?”
    “It is for me,” Jesse said, then held her breath as Nicole took a bite.
    Nicole chewed and swallowed without saying anything. She got up and filled a glass with water, took a sip, returned to the table and tasted again.
    She ate slowly, and deliberately, tasting each brownie three times before finishing her water and turning to Claire.
    “What do you think?” she asked.
    “They’re amazing. Really rich without being