Twelve Days of Pleasure. Deborah Mello Fletcher

laughed. “Tell me why you think everyone should do everything by the book? I had my dream wedding and there were some things I needed to get done before my husband and I disappear for a few days. It’s all worked out perfectly.”

      Kamaya laughed. “Maitlyn took Senior’s ‘work before pleasure’ rule literally!”

      * * *

      In the guest bedroom, Vanessa pulled her knees to her chest, curling her body around Gabi’s. They had both been sleeping soundly when the sound of laughter pulled Vanessa from her sleep. Noise and laughter never seemed to stop ringing throughout the family’s home and she couldn’t miss hearing her name being spoken a time or two.

      Kendrick had forewarned her about his sisters. Maitlyn being clued in had helped, the woman running interference when the other two had bombarded her with questions. Vanessa smiled.

      She and Tarah were the same age, twenty-seven. They liked the same music, had shoe fetishes, dressed similarly, and both were in school working on advanced degrees. She imagined that if she were closer to her two brothers she would probably be the same way. But there was a considerable age difference between her and her siblings. It didn’t help that both men had stayed in Mexico when their father was named ambassador to the United States, choosing not to move to Washington, DC, with the rest of the family. She didn’t know enough about her brothers to be in their business that way. Tarah had the advantage there. Vanessa thought they could be good friends if things were different.