Free Taking Chances (The Chances and Choices Duology - Book 1 of 2 - Contemporary Romance) by Ann Omasta Page B

outlandish comment.
She and Sam were seated at the far end of the table from Seth and I, so I
pointedly ignored them. I was a firm believer that women need to stick
together, but this chick had seriously crossed the line.

 
    The conversation became boisterous as Seth and
Sam got into a competition of one-upmanship. For each story that Seth told, Sam
told one that was a little bigger and better. They both looked so handsome as
they tried to top each other with their tall tales. We all laughed as the tone
of the game switched and they started telling stories on each other.

 
    We heard about the time in high school when Sam
yanked down Seth’s shorts and shoved him in the girls’ locker room. “Joke was
on you,” Seth taunted him “because seeing me naked is just like seeing you naked.”
I shifted in my chair, trying not to think about that.

 
    “It must not be exactly the same, or I wouldn’t
bag all of the hottest babes,” Sam quipped, making Jenni preen. His mother inhaled a sharp breath, shocked by his words. “With the
exception of one, apparently,” he turned and looked directly at me. I could
feel my cheeks burning red as the whole group turned their eyes towards me.

 
    Seth narrowed his eyes, clearly not liking where
his brother had taken things. “No matter what you win, you’ll never be older.”

 
    “You always make sure it comes back to that, don’t
you?” Sam sat back in his chair looking annoyed that Seth had brought up their
miniscule age difference.

 
    “Boys.” Their father’s deep voice made the simple
word a warning.

 
    Seth lightened the mood by saying, “No, what it
comes back to is that you saved my life, and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t
for you.” He held up his glass and said sincerely, “Here’s to Sam, my hero.”

 
    “Here, here.” The group clinked glasses and the
merriment of the day resumed, but my eyes were drawn to Sam. His gorgeous,
green eyes had taken on a dark look, and I wondered why. He caught me looking
and raised his glass towards me, but his smile didn’t reach his haunted eyes.

 
    After eating more fantastic food than I remember
ever ingesting in any three full days, I excused myself from the table to go
find the bathroom. The pool house was larger than most people’s homes, so once
I was finished in the powder room, I decided to have a look around. The décor
was island-y and comfortable with a plethora of wicker and Bahamian artwork. It
was the kind of place where you could plop down with a good book and take a
nap.

 
    I was studying a family portrait from when the
boys were toddlers, when I felt him come in. It was so strange how my senses of
sight and hearing took a backseat to some sixth sense of heightened awareness
where Sam was concerned.

 
    He looked so handsome standing in the tall
archway of the entrance. Just like Seth, I reminded myself, annoyed that I was so drawn to Sam. I couldn’t make myself
stop looking at him, as he sauntered over. “Can you tell us apart?” he asked,
leaning over me. I could feel his hot breath on my ear, and it made me tingly.

 
    “You’re the one on the left,” I responded
confidently. My voice sounded remarkably calm, considering the visceral
reaction my body was experiencing from having him so near.

 
    “Impressive.” He seemed surprised that I had
been able to determine which one he was in the photograph. “Or was it just a
lucky guess?”

 
    “I knew it was you.” I didn’t offer further
explanation.

 
    “We confused caretakers and teachers for years.
Hell, half the time our family couldn’t tell us apart. So, Miss Brown, do tell
how you were able to know me from my brother.”

 
    I pointed to his face in the photo. “It’s
something about your smile. You have a slightly crooked grin. Seth’s is
perfectly straight.”

 
    “Oh, I should have known, you’d find a physical
flaw in me that perfect Seth, my identical twin doesn’t share.”