Read Online Body Double by Alane Hudson - Free Book Online

the object of such devotion—to have a man beg her to show up instead of ditching her on her wedding day. Here, sitting across from her, holding her hand, was a man who would do anything for the ones he loved. And he was about to marry a lesbian.
    “What can I do to get you to put that ring back on your finger?” His fingers stroked her knuckles again. Before she could think to form a response, he peered at her through narrowed eyes and asked, “Are you wearing blue contacts?” Then his eyes flew wide, and his mouth fell open. He dropped her hand, took Andrea by the chin, and turned her head gently to the left. “Oh, shit.” His face turned a deep shade of burgundy. “You’re not Sarah.”
     
 

Chapter 4

     
 
     
 
    Oh, crap! Andrea’s mind raced. He’d made her. Of course he would. Sarah was dumb to think her own fiancé wouldn’t know her from a stranger. This wasn’t how Andrea had envisioned the conversation going. “I’ve been trying to tell you.”
    Blake sat there a moment, gaping at her from across the table. “It’s uncanny how much you resemble my fiancée. And I’ve barged in on your dinner. I’m so sorry. You must think I’m an idiot. Why didn’t you stop me?”
    “Because you kept shushing me.”
    “I am an idiot. I’m so sorry.” He stood, looking around at the other diners. “I’m supposed to meet my fiancée here, and you look enough like her to... Well, obviously I’ve made a complete fool of myself.”
    “She’s not here.”
    “She’s not here,” he said, and then looked down at her with a perplexed tilt of his head.
    “Believe me, I would notice another woman who looked enough like me to fool her fiancé. Please,” Andrea said, gesturing to his chair. “Your dinner’s on its way. Won’t you join me?” She couldn’t let him simply walk away without explaining why she was there. She held out her hand. “Andrea Lindholm.”
    Lowering himself back into the chair, he shook it warmly, his hand engulfing hers completely. “Blake Thomas. You could be twins separated at birth. How old are you?”
    “Twenty-eight,” she said. “According to my birth certificate.”
    “Sarah’s a year older.”
    A small chime came from his direction, and he leaned to the side and withdrew his cell phone from his pocket. “I’ve already met my rudeness quota for the month, but I’ve got to find Sarah.” He showed her the phone in his palm. “Her phone’s been off, and I just got notification that it’s back online. Please excuse me. I’ll only be a moment.” Blake stood and walked toward the restrooms. Andrea’s gaze followed the line of his broad shoulders narrowing to his slim waist and the sculpted butt of an athlete.
    She had to warn Sarah not to answer his call. She quickly sent a text message: Haven’t told him yet.
    Though he was out of sight, he wasn’t out of earshot. “Sarah, I’ve left three messages. Call me. I’m getting worried.”
    Andrea used her napkin to polish her top front teeth, and then licked her lips and sucked them hard between her teeth to pinken them. If she stood any chance of convincing him of Sarah’s scheme, she’d need to be appealing.
    As Blake returned to the table, he studied the phone, pushing buttons with his thumb, and took his seat. “Voice mail again. I’m starting to worry she’s been in an accident. She’s never late. Let’s see if she has GPS turned on.” He slid into his seat, his attention still fixed on the phone.
    “Now it’s my turn,” Andrea said. She took a deep breath. “I’ve got something to tell you.”
    “What the hell?” He gaped at the device, tapped it with his index finger, and then looked up at Andrea with a scowl.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “She’s in Mexico.” He slammed the phone onto the table. “How could she just up and go to Mexico four days before our wedding? And without saying a word?”
    The pain in his face speared Andrea’s heart. She’d been in his shoes, ready to marry someone