The two of them stayed locked in conversation until Miles’s phone rang, breaking them from their conversation. Miles picked up his phone and his eyes widened. “Shit, I have to get this.” He jumped from the table and moved off to the side.

  Emily covered her mouth as a surprised giggle escaped. She picked up her fork and took a huge bite of chocolate cake, watching Miles pace back and forth, talking to whoever called. It seemed important, but it wasn’t a long call. He was back within two minutes.

  “Sorry about that,” Miles said. “That was a friend reminding me I have a signing to prepare for.”

  Emily looked at the time and was shocked to realize they’d been at lunch nearly two hours. “Shoot! I only have five minutes until the afternoon tea for the Sylvia Day event.”

  “Perfect timing, then,” Miles responded. He held out a hand and helped Emily from her seat, his hand lingering on hers. “Thank you for your help today, and for your company. I’ll see you this evening?”

  “You know you will,” Emily responded. “Good luck at the signing.”

  Emily watched as Miles moved away before she turned and headed toward The Cocoa Bean Coffee Shop where her next event took place.

  The Cocoa Bean Coffee Shop was a charming haunt, decked out in dark wood that swept up the walls in wide arches. Behind the tall counter, workers busily crafted drinks at the shiny steel espresso machines. There was a large area to relax with many seating options. Emily chose an uncomfortable empty stool because it was in the least crowded section.

  She started to get antsy and was thinking about bolting when the door opened, and Sylvia Day walked in. Energy bolted through Emily at the sight of one of her writing idols. Uncomfortable stool aside, this next hour would be fantastic.

  Chapter 24

  “Leave me waiting out in the hall, why don’t you,” Mason grumbled as Miles walked toward his room.

  “You weren’t waiting that long,” Miles responded. He bumped his shoulder against his twin’s as he unlocked the door.

  “I was waiting long enough for two of the people in neighboring rooms to make comments about my”—Mason held up his fingers making quotation marks—“wild sex life. Which actually sounds like an interesting story I’ll be needing details for.”

  “There’s no sex life to speak of, at least here at this hotel,” Miles said with a roll of his eyes. “That’s a misunderstanding and doesn’t prove anything about your wait.”

  “Honestly, it was a normal wait for you. I’ve gotten used to waiting for you over the years.”

  “I never make you wait long,” Miles argued. He reached into his suitcase, grabbed an outfit, and shoved it into Mason’s arms. “Bathroom’s there,” he said, pointing to the door and shoving at Mason’s back to get him moving.

  “On it,” Mason said. He put his hand to his forehead and gave a quick salute before heading to the bathroom. Shortly afterward he exited, dressed in Miles’s clothes. They were a bit baggy around the waist and stomach and a little tight around the thighs and upper arms, but a passable fit.

  Mason tugged at the clothing, wrinkling his nose. “If you didn’t dress so snootily, you’d be more comfortable.”

  “I’m perfectly comfortable dressing the way I do,” Miles said. “I dress very professionally for my chosen career. You have no room to talk, considering the suits and ties you wear to all of those morning talk shows.”

  “Well, that’s different,” Mason explained. “When I attend those I’m on the news watched by thousands. Of course I have to dress up for that. When I do my podcasts, though, I’m as comfortable as can be. Not all stuffy in vests and button-ups.”

  “You can get out of my ‘stuffy’ clothing after the signing.” He went over where Mason would need to go and what would be expected of him at this particular signing. Mason had stepped in for him at one of these events before, so Miles wasn’t overly concerned. No one had ever caught on to them in the past.

  With the final instructions exchanged, Mason headed toward the signing and Miles settled at the desk with his computer to get to work. He opened his document and started typing, quickly sucked into the message he was working to create.

  Chapter 25

  Bodies pressed into her from every direction. Emily stood up on the tip of her toes, trying to make out anything over the crush and roar of the crowd, but being only 5‘4“ didn’t help. She stepped back and leaned against the wall, grounding herself in its steadying presence. She watched as men and women moved around her with frantic energy.

  This was the first signing of the conference, and she likened it to the Hunger Games. Emily loved books and she loved to meet the masterminds behind the stories, but she didn’t have it in her to fight crowds to make that happen, and some of the insane lines made her want to head back to her room, curl up in a ball on the bed, and read a book instead. Was a signature really worth this?

  She glanced back at the door. It wouldn’t be all that difficult to do just that. It would be easier to get to the door than to get to over half of these author tables with the amount of people crushing around the space, not to mention the rolling carts several people were dragging around to carry their purchased and signed books.

  Emily pressed a hand to her tote bag. It was large by her standards and could comfortably fit half a dozen books, maybe more if she got creative with placing them in the bag. Several attendees brought fancy boxes that reminded her of suitcases. They were plastic with tops that opened into space for books, but closed they made a comfortable seat, perfect for standing in line for who knows how long. Emily blinked in shock at the line to Lucy Score’s table, wrapping around the entire conference room. Emily liked several of her books, but that line would take a special level of devotion and dedication to join.

  She started to make her way through the room, stopping when there was an author with a line of two or three to get a book or chat with the author. But for the most part she wandered, staying away from the ultra-busy tables. Those authors had enough fans to talk with. Emily was happy that her conference ticket came with access to all events, like the teas and brunches, because she’d already met many of the authors on her list at one of those.

  Emily wandered into the fantasy section of the conference. She usually didn’t read fantasy, preferring romance, romantasy, or poetry, but Miles and his to-die-for smile was making her rethink her ways lately.

  Emily’s eyes widened when she saw a table with the name “Tamora Pierce” at the front. She wriggled from foot to foot in the semblance of a happy dance and bounced over to the table, jumping in behind the four other people already standing there. Tamora Pierce primarily wrote young adult books and Emily credited the author for getting her into chapter books in the first place. She was also to blame, Emily was sure, for her fixation on older men with twinkling eyes and wry grins. Miles’s hazel eyes came to mind.

  “I didn’t know you were signing here,” Emily breathed as she stepped up to the table once the other attendees stepped away.

  “I was a last-minute addition, but I’m glad I was able to come see all of my wonderful fans,” Tamora responded.

  “May I have a copy of Tempests and Slaughter signed to Emily, please?” she asked, staring at the latest book on the table.

  “Of course,” Tamora said, pulling the book closer to her and opening it to the title page. She wrote, “To Emily, may you always find magic and adventure in this life. Tamora Pierce.” Emily accepted the book, taking it delicately in hand.

  “I want you to know that I credit you for single-handedly turning me into the avid reader and aspiring writer that I am today.”

  “Everyone needs someone to inspire them. I’m glad I could be that inspiration for you.”

  “Your books are amazing. I’m so glad you’re still writing and I can read what you craft,” Emily said, taking her purchase and gently settling it into her tote bag among the other books she’d received. Her ticket for the book conference came with ten free books, and she was already at four. There was another signing to go to as well. Emily wished she had the funds to go wild and buy all the books that interested her, but at the moment that wasn’t close to a possibility. If only she was Belle and was forced to live in Beast’s castle with his fancy library and sliding library ladder. That was the main reason she was so zealous about the scavenger hunt; the winner would get enough books to make her dreams come true.

  Emily zig-zagged through the crowd, making her way to Miles’s table. She decided that she’d seen what she needed to today, and she wanted to see how her roommate was doing at the event they’d worked so hard together preparing for.

  Turning the corner, she smiled at the line that was building at his table. It was one of the larger lines—though Lucy Score was still the overall winner—and she loved that for him. She watched him interact with a fan, signing a book and handing it to her. She stepped closer to the table, skipping over the line, and paused, realizing something was wrong.

  Emily scanned Miles’s features. She knew right away this wasn’t Miles. He looked close enough, but there was something off. His smile was just a little too smug, his hair just a little too dark, his body just a little too off. Nothing outright, but quite obvious when you’d spent the last day staring into those hazel eyes and memorizing those features.

  Emily stepped up to the table and bumped shoulders with the man as the current attendee was walking away, newly signed book in hand. “Hi, stranger,” she said.

  “Hello,” he responded, slowly. He glanced at Emily out of the corner of his eye, and then turned to the next person in line for the signing. They spoke for about a minute before this person was off to their next author.

  “You have to be the twin brother,” Emily mused in a whisper, careful to keep her voice down so the other attendees weren’t alerted to the switch, “because you are definitely not Miles.”

  “Of course I’m Miles,” he argued, his eyes narrowing into a glare. “I’m here signing the books I wrote, at the event for authors and fans. Why on earth would my twin come and do that for me?”

  “I’m wondering the same thing,” Emily said, staring into hazel eyes that were clones of the ones she’d been looking into over the last two days. Miles’s were identical but somehow warmer and more inviting. “But I was just with Miles over lunch, and as close as the two of you look, it’s not close enough.”

  He stared at her for a moment and then leaned in close, “What gave it away?”

  Emily shrugged. “A few things, I suppose. Miles has a bit grayer near the temple and sprinkled in his hair. You look a bit smugger in general than Miles ever does. You also run a tiny bit smaller than Miles.”

  The man laughed, his eyes sparkling. “I don’t think anyone but our mama has caught on to us impersonating each other this quickly.”

  Emily blushed and shrugged. “I’ve been spending a bit of time with Miles. Of course I’d notice a change.”

  “Help me with this signing and tell me about it. I need something to hold over that nerd’s head.” He turned back to the next attendee and flashed an award-winning smile. He stepped around the table and posed for a picture with her at her insistence. Whoever this twin was, he was used to people fawning over him, and he reacted like this was a normal day and a natural response.

  “It doesn’t look like you need any help,” Emily whispered. “You have these people eating out of the palm of your hand.”

  “Sure I do, right until they ask me a question about ‘my’ books, and then I flounder like a fish on dry land. That’s where you come in and save my ass,” he said.

  “You haven’t read your own brother’s books?” asked Emily, scandalized.

  “I’ve been busy.”

  “Sure,” she responded. “What do I get out of this deal?”

  “My eternal gratitude and my approval of your relationship with Miles?”

  “Hahaha very funny,” Emily said. “Miles and I are temporary roommates right now because of a mix-up, and we’re sort of becoming friends. We aren’t dating, at least not for real. Try again.”

  “You’ll have to explain that situation once this is done. Sounds like a funny story I can use against Miles later. Fine, I can let you know some of Miles’s most embarrassing stories. Provide some amusement and blackmail material for you to use against him later.”

  “It’s a deal,” Emily said, holding out her hand. Mason placed his hand in hers, shaking firmly. Together they turned back to the crowd and worked to make it through the signing event. Mason smiled sweetly, posing for photos and signing until his hand cramped. Emily jumped in with comments and reminders about Miles’s books, helping to keep the deception up.

  Although she wasn’t spending her time with the man she really wanted to be with, the event didn’t lack amusing moments. Emily covered her mouth with her hand as an extremely enthusiastic fan pulled away from Mason after her third hug in a row. She expressed her everlasting love for him again before she finally turned and ran off.

  “She’d be devastated to know that it’s not actually Miles she just met and hugged.”

  “No way,” Mason retorted. “She’d be thrilled to know that she hugged Mason Bennett, retired tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs.”

  “I don’t think she cares much for football,” Emily said with a chuckle. “She seemed to care a lot for her sexy fantasy author, though.”

  “A world where an author is sexier than a football player is a doomed world,” Mason teased. “I can’t believe the whole ordeal is finally over. Miles owes me for that. It was more intensive than he made it out to be. I’d have messed this whole thing up badly if you hadn’t shown up.”

  “You handled that much better than I expected,” Emily admitted. “Apparently your football career has helped you a lot on the people-skills front.”

  “It’s actually retirement that’s been more helpful for that,” Mason admitted. “I started my own podcast after I retired, so at least once a week I host a little show with a guest. I’m also invited to morning shows fairly regularly. You get used to making small talk with random people.”

  “I’d hate every moment of that,” Emily admitted.

  “Miles would too,” Mason said with a chuckle, “but I’ve learned to live for it.”

  They walked in silence for a moment. “I seem to recall a promise to tell me some embarrassing stories. Pay up.”

  “Of course, how could I deny the lady embarrassing stories?” Mason tapped his cheek and chewed on his lip as he contemplated options. He gasped and followed with a wide grin, so similar to how Miles spread his face. “I’m going to tell you about our middle school roller-rink field trip.”

  “Middle school is a pretty horrible time for just about everyone,” Emily mused.

  “Well not when you’re as perfect as I am, but yes, for most people it’s pretty bad.”

  Emily rolled her eyes. “Well, tell me this story then.”

  “So it all started with Miles’s crush on Jenny Patel. Jenny was a cute little blonde with blue eyes and little pigtails. Think innocent and sweet little church girl. Miles was absolutely obsessed. Waxed poetry about everything about this little lady.”

  Emily laughed and then recited a poem:

  “Pigtails high and eyes so blue, reminding us of morning dew. Jenny skips and brings to Miles, many very happy smiles!”

  Mason’s eyes widened, a bit shocked, “Miles’s poetry was nothing like that. Are you literally a poet?”

  “I dabble,” Emily said with a blush. “So tell me about Miles and Jenny at the middle school skating rink.”

  “Yes, Miles and I had never actually gone skating before that. Of course I’m athletically gifted, so I had no challenge with that part of the story.”

  “Of course,” Emily responded, rolling her eyes.

  “But dear Miles cared a little too much about books to take athletics as seriously as I did, so it was taking him a bit longer to keep up with me, though he did try.”

  “So where is the embarrassing part?” Emily asked, pressing the elevator button to take them back to the room on the third floor.

  Mason stepped in behind her and continued his story, “Well me and a few of the other guys became bored with simply skating around the rink after a while, so we decided to jazz it up a bit by skating backward. Miles saw Miss Jenny, and noticed that she was watching our antics and giggling, so he decided to join in. Miles jumped in with us, scooting backward, and it went well for all of five seconds until he slammed into one of our buddies, and the two of them went tumbling, taking out two other people in the process.”

  “Oh my,” Emily said, bringing a hand to cover her mouth.

  “That’s not the best of it, though,” Mason responded with an evil smirk building on his lips.

  “What happened next?”

  “Jenny was pretty close to the whole fiasco, watching the skating as she moved around the rink. She didn’t have time to dodge the whole disaster, so she slammed into Miles’s foot and landed face first on the ice. It took out one of her front teeth.”

  “You have to be making that up,” Emily said, her mouth open in a horrified circle.

  “It’s too good for my jock brain to have come up with on my own,” Mason joked. “The kicker is that the skating rink had to close for the day to clean up all the blood, and Jenny was out of school for a week until her parents could get her in to the dentist. She couldn’t even look at Miles for the rest of the year.”

  “Poor Miles,” Emily mused. She led the way down the hallway. The two were nearly back to the room now.

  “Not poor Jenny?”

  “Nah, she had a catch with Miles and she threw him away,” Emily teased. She winked at Mason and then pulled out her keycard, unlocking her hotel room.

  Chapter 26

  Miles startled when the door beeped and started opening. He glanced at the time and was shocked to realize he’d been writing for about three hours and the signing was finished. His shock further increased when he realized Mason and Emily were entering the room together.

 

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