"You're bailing out of your wedding rehearsal? Are you crazy?" Jessica asked with a squawk. She gripped the armrests of her chair. It was unclear if the move was for support or for restraint. "They kind of need the bride to be there!"
Tracy Parks shrugged her shoulders. When her sister put it like that, it did sound bad. Almost cowardly. Spineless. Which was so not her!
It took someone with nerves of steel to even come up with the plan, she reminded herself as she strolled along Jessica's cluttered bedroom. It was a bold move. It meant taking a big risk that promised a bigger payoff. And the plan required her twin sister's help. Who just happened to be a scaredy-cat, unfortunately.
But did Jessica see it that way? Of course not. The self-appointed conscience for the duo thought she was being the smart and sensible one. She also saw this as an opportunity to give the lecture of all lectures.
The warnings and sermons wouldn't do any good. Never had and never would. Tracy didn't bother with the codes of conduct that her sister held dear.
As far as Tracy was concerned, those rules didn't make sense and only served to get in the way. By disregarding the rules, she had been able to zigzag her way to success in the Seattle software industry while her peers were eating her dust, clinging to the vague promise that good behavior would ultimately be rewarded.
Jessica certainly believed that. Once again, Tracy was amazed that they were related. They were so different, right down to what they wore. Even now, Tracy's power red business suit and tight chignon were at odds with Jessica's baggy jeans and messy ponytail.
She would have thought that her sister was adopted, but the fact that they were identical twins totally ruined that theory.
"The rehearsal is tomorrow," Jessica reminded her in a fierce whisper.
"Yeah, I'm aware of that." Tracy paused and fiddled with her pearl earring. Okay, she'd really flubbed up the presentation of her plan. She might as well get to her point. "I'm hoping that you can take my place."
Jessica's mouth sagged open. "Take. Your. Place."
Well, duh. What did her sister think she was leading up to? "I can't let anyone know that I'm going to be out of town, and I can't postpone the wedding rehearsal."
If her plan worked, then the rehearsal would have been a waste of time. Everyone knew that her marriage with Devlin Hunter was a merger between two software dynasties. Devlin would usurp her role as the heir apparent, and she would get to be married to power.
Big whoop. Why marry power when she could steal it out from under her intended husband's nose? Even better, she didn't have get all dressed up and promise to love, honor, and obey a guy who she could care less about.
Of course, the best time to snatch the power was during its most vulnerable moment. Namely when the power was being transferred to Devlin. However, it just so happened that the only time she could get the needed shares was on the day before her wedding. And she had to travel across country to New York in order to get them. That was where Jessica came in.
Tracy knew being identical would come in handy one of these days. Usually it sucked. She was rarely treated as an individual. There were also the constant comparisons. Not to mention the unending annoyance of being called the wrong name. All. The. Time.
But implementing this plan would make up for the twenty-some-odd year suckfest. That is, if her sister would agree to it.
"Can you pretend to be me?" Tracy requested softly, folding her hands into prayer. "Just for a few hours?"
"A few hours!" Jessica parroted, her eyes widening at the understatement.
Okay, so those few hours just happened to be when Tracy would be the main attraction. She was kind of hoping to finesse that weak spot of her plan. From the look on her sister's pale face, Jessica was fixated on the one itsy-bitsy drawback.
"It won't work," Jessica declared.
"How do you know? We haven't tried it before." Tracy had always wanted to, but her sister would never let them do it. Now was probably not a good time to point out that they sure could have used the practice.
Tracy leaned back against Jessica's untidy bed, prepared to use every persuasive technique she possessed. And she still didn't know if it would work. She found it amazing that everyone thought she bossed and bullied Jessica. Ha! If only!
Jessica vetoed every brilliant idea Tracy ever had and wouldn't change her mind once she made a decision. She might have fooled the world into thinking she was soft and sweet, but Jessica Parks was the epitome of stubbornness. Trying to get the woman to agree on anything – from what would be the theme for their sixth birthday party to where they should go for dinner tonight – was an unbreakable check and balance system.
One of these days Tracy would figure out a way to shatter the system and get whatever she wanted. She could practice by taking over the world. But one coup at a time. First she had to assume control of the family's company and boot out all of the relatives who refused to let a woman run the show.
"We've never traded places before because it won't work!" Jessica said with a touch of exasperation.
"It'll work. And I'll explain to Mom what's going on," Tracy continued, knowing Jessica would need backup. "I have to, since she would tell us apart instantly."
 Jessica cast her a disbelieving look. "What makes you think Mom would go along with this plan?"
"If I can convince her, would you do it?" Tracy asked, keeping her face expressionless. No need to mention that Mom already knew the plan and was gung ho about it.
"Oh, sure," Jessica said with deep sarcasm. "If you can get Mom to back you up, I'm in."
Tracy smiled. "I'll hold you to that."
End of excerpt. Like it? Order it.
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 The heroines from "Sister Switch" in Beach Blanket Bad Boys and Susanna's The Wrong Bride are twin sisters. Jessica from The Wrong Bride is the "good" twin and Tracy from Beach Blanket Bad Boys is the "bad" twin. The events in "Sister Switch" happen parallel to what happens in The Wrong Bride.
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> Beach Blanket Bad Boys appeared on the BookScan's 100 Top Selling Romance list for four weeks.
> Beach Blanket Bad Boys is a Featured Alternate selection of the Doubleday Book Club and the Rhapsody Book Club.
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 "With a classic Susanna Carr flair, Sister Switch is humorous and excellent reading…." – Jaymi, Fallen Angel Reviews Read the whole review (posted Sept 13, 2005)
 "From trysts between lovers on a pool table to a little twin's switcheroo, these stories are steamy enough to fuel a sauna." – Thia McClain, The Romance Reader's Connection Read the whole review (posted June 21, 2005)
"A hot and fun read" – Kari Thomas, Love Romances (posted June 21, 2005)
"Tracy and Nick are wonderful characters who are perfect for each other. The sensual tension between them is almost palpable. Ms. Carr is a wonderfully talented author who has penned a tale of twin deception that many are sure to enjoy." – Susan White, Just Erotic Romance Reviews (posted June 21, 2005)
“Carr entertains with sass and humor.” 4 stars – Susan Mitchell, Romantic Times BOOKclub (posted May 17, 2005)
“Sister Switch is a fun-to-read story with a healthy portion of steam.” – Alane, Romance Junkies (posted May 17, 2005)
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