Kallan: The Switch is releasing on the 24th of April, 2020.

Chapter One

Kallan hurriedly filled the supermarket basket with his brother’s requested items, then lined up for the self-serve checkouts. He looked ahead, counting the number of people in front of him waiting for a scanning machine. He was fourth in line.

A shopper at one of the checkouts caught his attention—a twenty-something blonde with gorgeously long, wavy hair who was calling an attendant for help.

His breath hitched. Whoa, she was beautiful. And she had a stunning smile for the supermarket employee who waved his card under the reader to authorise a purchase that the machine hadn’t accepted.

Kallan couldn’t help but stare while Miss Stunning scanned her groceries. Sooner than he wanted, she was finished and ready to leave. And Kallan found himself following her with his eyes. Seriously, she was the most attractive woman he’d ever seen. Was she single?

He smirked. What was he gonna do? Follow her and introduce himself? Well, perhaps he could accidentally bump into her. Literally.

He hadn’t wanted to meet a woman this badly in five years. But he didn’t think his heart had thumped this hard when he’d first laid eyes on his ex-girlfriend.

A few people finished paying at the same time and left their machines. Kallan went to one facing the exit so he could get a glimpse of Miss Stunning walking away. But she quickly disappeared from his sight.

Aw.

He returned his attention to his groceries, his stomach rumbling. He was already late for his lunch meeting with Kerrod, and he’d be even later because of this detour to get Kerrod’s groceries. He shouldn’t have said yes when his twin had begged him for this favour.

But he’d always felt like the big brother to his twin. Being born at eleven fifty-seven at night on the thirty-first of December, Kallan was a full five minutes older than Kerrod, who’d arrived into the world on the first of January.

As identical twins, not only did they look and sound alike, they also had the same taste in clothes. The primary thing that physically distinguished them was their hairstyles. Kallan preferred to keep his medium-length dark brown hair in a classic slick back, while Kerrod always opted for the short crew cut.

Aside from that, there weren’t many obvious things that could tell them apart. Their work was the major difference. Kallan ran a private investigator business which flourished due to his brilliance at observing, deducing, and coming up with big picture plans. Kerrod, on the other hand, was an IT contractor, though his excellence at developing software for any purpose was a skill that had gotten him in a whole lot of trouble.

Kallan still couldn’t understand how his brother had allowed himself to get caught in the net of criminals in the first place. When Kerrod had discovered that the lucrative, high-paying job he’d accepted wasn’t at all legal, he should have asked for outside help quicksmart before he’d been in too deep, unable to get out. Then again, despite his brilliant mind, Kerrod didn’t think like Kallan. And for all his faults, Kerrod had done what he’d thought he should for his loved ones’ safety.

Kallan shook his head, grateful that Kerrod’s problems were behind them.

He scanned, bagged, and paid for his items, then made his way to the shopping centre car park, still thinking about the woman who’d stoked his interest. It had been two years since he’d broken up with his ex. They’d simply drifted apart. Since then, he’d been too busy with work, as well as helping Kerrod get back to some normality after his unbelievable ordeal. Meeting someone new had been the last thing on his mind.

Today, however, he was suddenly thinking about getting back into the dating game. All because of Miss Stunning.

But she was gone, nowhere to be seen. What a shame.

Kallan stepped out onto the parking level where he’d left his vehicle, and his steps faltered. There she was, glancing around in bafflement.

Oops, looked like she couldn’t remember where she’d parked her car.

Without hesitation, he headed towards her and…bumped shoulders with her. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” he said sheepishly.

Miss Stunning turned to look at him, and the pupils of her beautiful blue eyes dilated.

Kallan sucked in a breath. Oh, he knew perfectly well what that reaction meant. Instant attraction. So, the feeling was mutual, huh? Excellent.

“Not your fault,” Miss Stunning said with a smile. “I’m the one standing in the way.”

Despite his purposeful actions, he felt himself go red. Any other mature, thirty-three-year-old man wouldn’t have done something so juvenile.

“I was in such a hurry earlier that I forgot to pay attention to where I parked,” said Miss Stunning. “I thought my car was around here, but I can’t see it.”

Thrilled that she was talking to him, Kallan gave her what he hoped was a dazzling smile. “Well, you could try retracing your steps. Start from now and recall things backwards. I find that helps with remembering things.”

“Oh, of course.” Miss Stunning went silent for a long moment, deep in thought. Then her frown disappeared, replaced with a eureka expression. “I should have turned left, not right when I went out the door. Thanks so much!”

“You’re so welcome!”

“My car should be over there—” Interrupted by her ringing phone, Miss Stunning answered it. “Hi. Yes, on my way now…” She waved goodbye to him, mouthing a “thank you” as she trotted towards her vehicle.

Kallan waved back, sorry that she was leaving, and watched until she drove away.

Argh, he didn’t even get to ask her name.

Well, he was a private investigator after all…and a bloody good one at that…

“Don’t be a creep, Kallan,” he muttered under his breath.

* * *

One month later…

Kallan patted his jeans pockets for the keys to his father’s house. Damn it. He’d forgotten to bring them with him. He rang the doorbell, knowing that Kerrod was already inside. He’d seen his twin’s car parked on the street.

Their father, Julius, had just had a pacemaker implanted to help regulate his heart rate. Feeling re-energised, Julius had now decided to sell his big home and downsize, then use some of the profits to do some travelling. He’d called on his sons to help him declutter the house prior to listing it.

Kallan believed his father was doing too much too soon. But Julius was so obstinate that he wanted to stick to his schedule. Unfortunately, the only person who could have cajoled his father into changing his mind had passed away five years ago: Kallan and Kerrod’s mother.

A smile touched Kallan’s lips at the memory of his mum. She would have loved to help declutter their family home. She’d always complained that Julius was a hoarder.

Kallan heard footsteps getting louder from the inside of the house. Those didn’t sound like Kerrod or his dad’s. The person appeared to be wearing heels—

His mouth hung open at the sight of the woman who opened the door. It was her.

“Hi,” Miss Stunning said, her eyes wide. “You must be Kallan.”

“Yes,” he said with wonder. “What are you doing here?”

The beautiful stranger blinked a few times. “I’m Isla Morgan. I’m the one buying some of your father’s preloved furniture.”

He shook her proffered hand, tempted to hang on to it longer than was appropriate. “What a coincidence. Do you remember me? I was the guy who bumped into you at the shopping mall car park last month when you couldn’t find your car.”

“That was you?” Isla asked, her cheeks reddening. “When I met Kerrod, I thought it was him. He looks so much like you…for obvious reasons, of course.”

He chuckled, closing the door behind him. “Yeah, especially since Kerrod hasn’t had his regular haircut.”

“Right. I thought he just forgot that he’d seen me before.”

Kallan lifted his brows. “I wouldn’t have forgotten.”

Isla stared at him, her face showing embarrassment and dismay.

He smiled, hoping to ease her discomfort, and led her towards the family room at the back of the house where his father and brother should be. “So, you’re the one buying some of my dad’s unwanted stuff, huh? You’ve picked which things you want?”

Isla nodded. “I’m taking most of the small-sized furniture he wants to get rid of. It’s a shame he doesn’t want to sell the dining table. It’s beautiful.”

“That’s been in the family for almost fifty years. It originally belonged to my grandparents, and Dad is hoping either I or Kerrod will want it eventually.”

“And will you?”

“I’d really love to keep it, but it’s huge. It won’t fit in my place.”

“That’s what Kerrod said too,” Isla murmured.

“Well, if you wait a while, Dad might decide he won’t have room for it, either.”

They entered the open-plan family room that also housed the kitchen and dining area. Julius was sitting in an armchair, instructing Kerrod what to remove from the top of a tall cabinet.

“Hey,” Kallan said, patting Kerrod on the shoulder before going to Julius and kissing him on the temple. “How’re you feeling, Dad?”

“Never better,” Julius answered with extra bravado.

Kallan smiled. That was his father’s constant answer regardless of how he felt, but he truly seemed to mean it these days.

“Isla is kind enough to take a lot of this old stuff from me,” Julius said, sweeping an arm across the room.

“I’m thrilled you gave me first choice in buying your preloved items,” Isla said. “You have some beautiful pieces here.”

“Well, an old guy like me has no need for too many things. And my sons here don’t want to take any of them.”

Kerrod playfully shivered. “Not to my taste.”

“I wouldn’t have minded keeping some for sentimental value,” Kallan said. “But I simply don’t have room in my apartment.”

“You can buy a bigger place, Kallan,” Julius said, then turned to Isla. “He can afford a big house, but he insists on living in a small box.”

Kallan laughed. “Location, location, location, Dad. And it’s not as small as you make it out to be.”

Julius huffed. “What’s the point of having views of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge when you don’t have a backyard for a dog?”

“I don’t have a dog.”

“Because you don’t have a backyard. At least Kerrod has a small courtyard. He could get a small dog.”

“He doesn’t want a dog,” Kallan pointed out.

Kerrod snickered. “Doesn’t fit my current lifestyle.”

“You’re a dog lover, I see, Julius,” Isla said.

“Yes. I haven’t had one in ages because I simply don’t have the energy to look after one anymore. But we used to have a Labrador named Leo and a mini poodle named Noodle. My wife loved them very much…” Julius’s tone turned wistful.

“We all did,” Kallan said quietly. “Do you have a dog, Isla?”

“Not at the moment. I had one when I was a kid, and I’m very much a dog person. I’d love one right now for some company as I live alone. But with my work, I just don’t have the time to look after a pet.”

“And I assume your work is to buy and sell used furniture?” Kallan gestured to some of Julius’s for sale items, happy for the tidbit that Isla wasn’t living with anyone. Hopefully, that meant no boyfriend.

“This is only kind of a part-time work for me,” Isla answered. “I sell them after restoring them first.”

Kallan’s brows rose. “Wow. You make them look like new again?”

“Yes,” Isla said rather shyly. “I might paint some in different colours. Give them a totally new feel.”

“Can I visit your shop?” Kerrod interjected, grinning at Isla.

“I actually don’t have a physical shop, just an online one. My workshop and storage is my garage,” Isla said with a laugh.

“Can I visit your garage, then?” Kerrod asked. “I’d like to see some of your works-in-progress.”

“Uh, sure.”

Kallan threw a glare at his brother. What? Was Kerrod interested in Isla too? He hoped not. “So, what do you mean this is only kind of part-time for you.”

“I’m a lawyer, believe it or not,” Isla answered. “I work at my mother’s law practice.”

“That’s right. You told me that last time,” Kerrod mused. “An attractive, artistic, handy-with-old-furniture lawyer. What more could you ask for?”

Isla blushed.

“You two have met before?” Kallan asked with a frown.

“Yes, twice before,” Kerrod answered.

His twin was giving Kallan a look that he totally understood. Kerrod was also interested in Isla and wanted him to back off.

“This is the third time this week that Julius called me to come and check out more items he wants to get rid of,” Isla said.

“And I’ve always been here to help Dad sort out his stuff,” Kerrod added pointedly.

Argh! Kerrod was a step ahead of him with Isla. Damn, damn, damn.

“It’s okay,” Julius said, smiling at Kallan. “I know you were working on an important case.”

“I better head off,” Isla said, looking at her watch. “My friend Felicity and I will be back on Tuesday to pick up the pieces that I bought.”

“Hey, boys,” Julius said. “How about you help Isla transport the stuff to her garage? She’s bought so much from me that I don’t mind paying for a truck hire.”

“Of course,” Kallan said readily.

“There’s no need,” Isla said. “Thank you so much for the offer, but Felicity and I can manage. There’s nothing I’m taking that’s too heavy for us, and I’ve already booked a truck.”

“Are you sure?” Kallan asked. “It’s no trouble at all.”

Isla sent him a beautiful smile. “I’ll be fine. Thank you.”

“Okay. But if you change your mind…”

Kerrod brushed against Kallan and whispered in his ear. “Can I talk to you in the kitchen?”

He followed his twin.

“I’ve asked her out,” Kerrod declared when they were out of earshot. “And she’s said yes. Sorry, bro. You gotta bow out.”

Kallan took in a sharp breath. Well, that was that. Kerrod had asked Isla out first, and she’d accepted.

Fuck.

#End of Chapter One#

Kallan: The Switch is available from the following stores:

Amazon | Apple iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo (Google Play link coming soon.)

Paperbacks can be ordered from:

Amazon