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Soulmate: Chapter 2

Page 8 of 8

Eventually, she gave a rueful laugh. "We are born to argue, it seems. Until death us do part." She blinked hard, as though some kind of realisation was dawning on her. "I have made a real mess of things, Madeleine. A real mess. I need your help. You-you have to help me."

I was dumbfounded. All sense of triumph leached away. Lizzie never admitted making mistakes. She was the ultimate control freak. Suddenly finding myself in unknown territory, I was unsure what to say or do. I grappled with saying something uncommonly kind and supportive. And she seemed poised, ready to accept whatever I had to say. We stood together on the brink of something, a new frontier for the Sparring Blake Sisters, both breathing hard in the woodland silence, and then the spell was broken by the sound of a pair of hands clapping.

As one, we turned towards the sound. And there was a man dressed in black leathers, shiny black motorcycle boots, and a white, collarless shirt. Black hair, swept back from his high forehead, fell to his shoulders in waves. He was more compelling than handsome, with a hawkish nose, a jutting jaw, and full, sensual lips.

All colour drained from my sister's face. "Ewan."

His lips smiled. His hazel eyes did not. "Hello, Elizabeth," he said. Beneath his American accent lurked traces of a Scottish burr. "And you must be Maddy. I've been looking forward to meeting you."

I could hardly believe my eyes. I pivoted towards my sister, disbelief warring with an habitual sense of betrayal. "What the hell is he doing here? Did he travel with you?"

"No," she whispered. "I thought I came alone."

I stared at him. This was just too weird. What on earth was he doing here?

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"Did you not get enough time to tell her?" he said, looking at my sister with a mixture of mock surprise and sadness. "That is a shame."

"Will someone tell me what is going on!" I shouted.

Ewan took a few steps towards us. An involuntary shiver sped down my spine. I glanced at my sister. She was tugging so hard at the silver ring that it was turning her finger red.

"Lizzie? What the hell's going on?!"

Giving up on the ring, she grabbed me. For some strange reason, I half expected her to dodge behind me for protection. I was the tall tomboy in our family, after all. But instead she went up on her toes, and hurriedly kissed me on the same cheek she'd struck only moments before.

"I'm sorry, Madeleine. I'm so, so sorry." She turned and ran away, back the way we'd come.

"Lizzie! Elizabeth!" I shouted.

Ewan didn't pursue her. He didn't even watch her go. He just kept walking steadily towards me, his lips still touched by a smile.