by Audrey Drake
Still, he’d hated Callie by the time he’d left for boarding school. He’d despised everything about this house and its occupants, and he’d chosen to stay overseas because at least there, people respected him. He had friends, a life, and opportunities for a future, professional and personal.
And yet, somehow, his father had managed to turn his life upside down again. He’d had to cancel a fundraising event he was hosting and fly out here, post haste, to box up a bunch of shit he hadn’t seen or touched in nearly twenty years. What was the point? It should have made his father ecstatic to just throw it all away.
To make matters worse, the first face he’d seen was Callie’s. And they hadn’t exactly stared into each other’s eyes in that first awkward moment. They’d both been, for all intents and purposes, naked. And during that shocking encounter, Keegan wasn’t sure what he had enjoyed the most.
Certainly Callie was a sight, and he’d gotten more than a semi from her, even with the peek-a-boo lacey underwear in place. But he hadn’t missed the effect he had on her, and that might have been more satisfying than getting a full frontal of the girl.
He shook his head as he chopped vegetables in harsh, violent motions. He shouldn’t have these feelings of attraction toward his stepsister. Even if they weren’t blood related, and they’d grown up strangers, she was more than just the daughter of his stepmother. Keegan’s father had adopted her, given Callie his last name, and that was a step too far to justify any kind of relationship beyond friends and relatives.
And the way she’d treated him…it was far too familiar. It reminded him of being kids together, only now it seemed forced rather than coming easy. And the moment Callie had been faced with the idea of spending five minutes with Keegan, she’d run out like some desperate hooker.
He gritted his teeth and fought the instinctive arousal that came with the memory of the way she’d been dressed. He reached to adjust his pants, wincing painfully as he did. Everything about this was inappropriate. Callie Carmichael was off limits. She was a rude, self-centered girl, and she was family. He shouldn’t even feel attraction for her.
Keegan growled under his breath. This wasn’t him, either. He needed to get his hormones under control. He was here to see that anything of his he might ever want was packed to be moved to the storage facility he’d obtained. After all, his father had felt obligated to buy another house for his stepmother and Callie. But he hadn’t bothered to set up anything for Keegan.
It didn’t surprise Keegan. He’d practically disowned his son when he’d sent Keegan away. When Keegan had taken to using his mother’s maiden name, it had infuriated the hotel tycoon, and that separation had pretty much been complete. But it still rankled Keegan’s nerves.
The wok started to sizzle lightly, and Keegan smiled. Cooking usually calmed him, solved any problem temporarily. He had finished chopping, and he grabbed the soy sauce and his own special blend of spices and herbs, a little extra he never traveled without. After all, with a little of that, even the worst concoction became edible. He tossed the veggies and some sauce into the pan, followed by two pinches of his mix, and he stir-fried it while he hummed to himself.
“Chipper sounds first thing in the morning make me cranky,” came a nasally voice from behind him, and Keegan clenched his jaw.
Clearing his throat, he turned to find Callie sliding into a chair at the table, her head in her hands. She wore a silky blue robe with large white lilies tied loosely and reaching just above her knees. Her hair was a mess of frizz and knots tied on top of her head, and the bruises under her eyes were a combination of smeared makeup and hangover.
“You do realize any time after noon is not first thing in the morning, right?” She just wrinkled her nose and didn’t even bother opening her eyes. “Listen, I know it probably doesn’t sound good, but a nice helping of hearty veggies might take away the pain and disorientation. I’m making some stir fry. If you want, I’ll throw a little teriyaki chicken in with it for a complete meal.”
She opened one eye and stared at him between her fingers, looking miserable. “Does all that come with a hair of the dog that bit me?”
“No, but I can whip something up for the nausea first, if you want.” He bent to grab an apple and some grapes from the fridge, as well as a vanilla yogurt. He threw the yogurt and some grapes in the blender, cored the apple and added it, and tossed a tablespoon of baking soda and another of coconut milk in. He added ice for good measure, and he set the thing to ‘smoothie’.
He got his kicks watching her cringe in pain as the sound grated down her spine. Finally, he stopped the blender, and her shoulders dropped. Keegan poured the smoothie into a glass, added a straw, and handed it to the miserable girl. “Try that. Drink it fast, but don’t get a brain freeze.”
He went back to his stir fry, dropped in the fajita chicken he’d chopped last night, and turned up the heat enough to get a little caramelizing on the onions. By the time he served up two dishes with glasses of green tea, Callie had already plowed through the shake and had a little color to her cheeks. “I guess it pays to be the smart kid.”
“Don’t rub my nose in anything,” she snapped, huddling over her food and hiding from him. “It’s not like you know anything about me or my life. You were more than happy to take your free ride out of here, and you expect me to just open my arms, pull you to me, and rain thanks and praise on you because you showed back up to pack your bags?” She finally sat up, slamming her hands on the table with a fake shocked expression. “Oh, that’s right! You also offered to pack mine! I bow at your throne, dear Prince.”
“Damn right, I did!” he threw back at her, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. “But maybe you’ve misread everything so far because you’re so used to having idiot men fall at your perfectly manicured feet.” She stared at him dumbstruck, and he nodded. “What makes you think anything I’ve done or offered to you comes from a place of generosity rather than a very selfish, dark place inside? Maybe it’s all about satisfying some baser urge I have and refuse to admit.”
Now, Callie’s eyes were the size of saucers, and Keegan was very happy with that reaction. It didn’t hurt that her pupils were dilating as he spoke, which meant she was again reacting to him physically. Standing and moving around behind her chair, he rested his hands on her shoulders and started to rub them. “See, dear sister, I think you need a release, and you haven’t found anyone who can properly tend to your needs. You seem incredibly tense.” He heard the groan she tried unsuccessfully to cover.
***
Callie should have been irate that Keegan was taking advantage of her weakened state of mind and body. She’d been out later than usual last night, and she’d had a hell of a time. And still, somehow, through the haze of liquor and sex, her stepbrother turned her on.
He didn’t have to share his food with her, and he certainly didn’t have to make her the most epic hangover curing shake ever. He was even rubbing out the tension in the shoulders her headache had caused. She truly thought he was being a nice guy and a good brother.
Until he made the comment about self-satisfaction.
The jerk was feeding off her lack of willpower. Callie wanted nothing to do with Keegan, but at every turn, she was reminded of his sex appeal. And this time, he was the one reminding her. And she knew it wasn’t because Keegan wanted to start something with her. He just wanted to watch Callie suffer in painful desire and unmatched humiliation.
Well, Callie wasn’t going to lose this battle. The stakes were too high. Unfortunately, she had precious little time to accomplish her goal. After all, she was already supposed to be moving to the new house. She might have a night or two to pull off her stunt.
Despite her earlier condition, Keegan had managed to repair almost every symptom of her ailment. With a secretive smile, Callie rolled her head under Keegan’s handiwork, moaning and panting. “That’s amazing, Keegan. Maybe you’re right, and I just need to let a little tension grow. I think I’m going to sho
wer down here so you can have free run of the upstairs. I just wish I’d brought underwear and a change of clothes with me.”
She stood quickly, causing Keegan to jerk away at the unexpected movement. He watched her with interest as she stretched and made sure her nipples pressed at the thin robe. She wanted him to see as much as there was to see. When she was finished with her catty stretch, she sashayed past and let down her hair.
Just outside the doorway, she turned and called over her shoulder, “I know it’s late, but if your offer to help pack my things is still on the table, I would be grateful to take you up on it.”
She caught him off guard, but Keegan wasn’t going to be outdone. He leaned a hand against the doorframe, showcasing that perfect chest and flat stomach that activated the saliva producers in her mouth. His silky pajama pants made sure she caught the narrow hips and ripped, solid legs beneath. With that half-cocked smile of his, he told her, “I’ll even bring my work tools and play handyman all you want.” He winked, and it took all the self-control Callie had not to let her knees buckle.
She couldn’t come up with anything clever, so she simply gave him a once-over and walked away toward the ‘guest’ bathroom. While the suite she used upstairs was filled with silver and chrome, this one had been decked out with gold fixtures and marble surfaces in tones of tan and mauve. Callie thought it was too reminiscent of the most expensive ice cream soda shop ever to exist. She didn’t like it.
But right now, it was a means to an end, and she stepped up her game two notches. First, she left the door not just unlocked but cracked, practically an invitation at an eyeful. Second, she decided to use the whirlpool tub rather than the shower. It was the size of an outdoor spa, with automatic lights in the form of candles. She used the remote to set the mood, programmed the water temperature, and added bubble bath with the aroma of roses and musk.
When the level was right, she stepped in, tossing the robe carelessly on the floor. The heat and sensation of the bubbles tingling raised bumps on her skin, and she slid into the delicious concoction with a huge smirk. She leaned back to enjoy her surroundings, practically forgetting her stepbrother as she drew the bubbles up her legs. They were moisturizing, and it made her feel alive.
The creak of the door brought her back to the present, and Callie’s eyes opened as she turned her neck sharply toward the intruder. Keegan stood there with a towel thrown over his shoulder and that deviant grin. He’d changed into a Speedo, and Callie sat on her hands to keep them from reaching out and crawling across the floor to touch what it advertised.
“I thought I’d get a little swim in since it’s my last time at a private pool for a while. So, if you care to join me, or if you need me before I get back in, just come find me. You don’t even have to get dressed first. It’s a clothing optional gathering of one right now.” He winked again and slipped out of the room before Callie could respond.
She couldn’t just let that go. He’d hit a solid home run, and she had to get revenge before it was meaningless. Instead of relaxing, Callie used the bath time to conjure up another idea. When she finally had her ducks in a row, she stepped out and didn’t even bother to try as she wrapped herself in a towel. With it clinging to her wet skin and her hair pouring rivulets of water down her chest, she secured it loosely and headed out of the bathroom.
Chapter Two
Callie stopped cold just outside the bathroom door. Why did she hear voices? Her eyes widened as she recognized her mother’s and stepfather’s voices, just around the corner in the breakfast nook, along with Keegan’s. This was not what she’d expected, and she was going to hand the boy his ass for this little stunt.
There was no way to the stairs from where she was without risking being seen. Stepping back behind the doorframe, Callie searched her brain for a quick solution. The cabana door would be perfect. She could get out of the bathroom to the pool. Of course, she couldn’t be sure any of the doors from the other side of the house would be unlocked. But she had to try. There was no other choice.
Tightening the towel around her until she almost couldn’t breathe, Callie slipped silently out the back door and dodged the window where her severed family sat in the breakfast nook, wincing and cringing at the pain of being on her knees in gravel. She crawled to the other side and rose to a crouch in relief. The nearest door led to the sunroom, and she knew it was a stroke of luck everyone was on the other side. This was the preferred lounge area most of the time.
Reaching for the door handle, she closed her eyes, held her breath, and prayed. It turned easily, and she nearly cried in relief. Callie rushed up the back stairs and into her room. She closed the door as quietly as possible, ready to get dressed and join her mother and stepfather with a surprised, innocent expression.
But as she threw her closet door open, someone knocked on her door. “Hey, Callie! It’s Keegan. Your mom and my dad are here and want to talk to us.”
Realizing she was still in prime position to hit him where it hurt, Callie hurried to answer the door, her towel sagging in all the right places. She opened it and started to give him a smile, but Keegan looked just as blindsided as she was. He’d also donned a pair of jeans. As he looked her over, he swallowed and stepped into the room, uninvited. “I’m glad you made it here okay.”
“That’s a liberal term,” she grunted. “Why…”
“I don’t know,” he interrupted. “Get dressed. I told them you were working out and showering and I’d come get you.” He bit his lip for a second, shaking his head at her. “I don’t care about appropriate clothing. I’ll let you decide that.” Before Callie could respond, Keegan was out the door.
Frustrated and appeased all at the same time, Callie sat down hard on her bed. At least she didn’t really care what her stepfather deemed appropriate for whatever conversation he intended to have. As for her mother, Callie knew she had a mind for fashion and comfort. That left Keegan, and she was going to make sure it was hard for him to sit still.
Callie pulled on a yellow bandeau that left nothing to the imagination, her flat stomach and deep cleavage exposed. She paired it with a white mini styled with the pleats of a tennis skirt. As a provision of ladylike manners, she added a yellow thong.
Brushing through her hair, she hurried downstairs, not even needing to check her reflection. As she rounded the staircase and bounced into the breakfast nook, Callie’s eyes landed first on her stepfather, who seemed to be shifting in his seat. He was a pervert, and she was so glad her mother was leaving the guy. She deserved so much better than a man who would openly ogle her daughter.
Then, she shifted her gaze to Keegan. If he held his breath any longer, he was going to explode one way or another. She couldn’t exactly wink at him with both parents staring at her, but Callie did raise an eyebrow as she took a seat on the round bench, leaning on her elbows with her rear in the air. Four eyes a few inches below her chin weren’t lost on her.
“To what do I owe this sickening family reunion?” she asked bitterly. “I had an excellent workout and was greatly enjoying my shower. Then, I hear I’m again to be inundated with whatever proves to be your bidding this time.”
Her mother placed a hand on top of hers. “Honey, calm down. This is just an update and an offer, for both of you.”
“I’m going to stop you there, Danielle,” Keegan said, holding up his hand. His tone wasn’t rude, just final. “I don’t need an update. I don’t need an offer. I’m just here to move my things, and then I’m going back to Europe.”
“Actually, son,” Gary argued, “you’ll wait to go back.”
“Don’t call me son. You’ve never acted like a father to me.” Callie could see the rage in Keegan’s eyes and understood.
“I have paid for your life. Therefore, you are obligated to listen to me now,” Gary threw back, his blood pressure rising once again. His face was a dark red. “Danielle and I have to travel to the Canary Islands and then to Rome to settle all of our European accounts. In the meantime, this hous
e I love so much is up for sale. According to the insurance company, I cannot leave it vacant because of its value, and it must be a blood relative who has lived here in the last five years watching it.”
Well, that was a bummer. There was no such person. “That puts a real knot in your beautiful plans,” Callie yawned. “How are you going to pull that off, ask your son to lie?” She didn’t put it past him, but it wouldn’t work. Any insurance company asking for something so strict would definitely investigate and figure out that Keegan had been overseas for years.
“No, I’m not,” he growled. “Under the circumstances, I’ve received clearance to leave the property in the care of the two of you, since one of you has the time and adoption status and the other is a blood relative.”
The reminder of the adoption was hard to overlook, and Callie exchanged a sidelong glance with Keegan. He had to be thinking very similar thoughts about being siblings and now being pushed into relatively close quarters. “And you just expect us to comply? Gary, you told me yesterday to pack my shit and disappear from your life. Now, you want me to stick around for however long so you can play around in Europe?”
“It’s not like that,” he grumbled, but the way he dipped his head told Callie what a liar he was. “Listen, I’m not asking either of you to put your lives on hold without compensation.”
Now Keegan did meet her eyes, and she could see him calculating. She was doing the same, wondering how much she could squeeze out of him. Keegan turned to his dad. “What is it you’re offering?”
Danielle leaned forward anxiously, smiling with hope. “In exchange for you helping us with this little issue, Gary has agreed that, on top of your trust funds, you’ll receive full time employment with a more than generous salary and complete health care through the hotel change. In exchange, all either of you have to do is sign a few sales slips. Callie, I’ll tell you right now, there is no better way for you to make money for nothing.”