Bad Fighter Stepbrother
A Dark Romance
By: Michelle Black
Copyright 2015 Michelle Black
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Note/Warning: This is part 1 of 3 in the serialized dark romance series, and ends on a cliffhanger!
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter One
“You aren’t going to attract any guy with that frown,” Julia said as she snapped her fingers in front of Emma’s face. She frowned at her friend and took a long swallow of her beer with a grimace. She hated the stuff, but tonight felt like a beer night. She needed something to keep her in a sour mood while she got drunk with Julia.
“I’m not trying to attract a guy,” she replied as she glanced around the bar. It was completely dead. The only women in the place were her, Julia, the wait staff, and a small group of middle-aged women in the corner. They were cackling like they were having a grand ol’ time, and Emma felt a stab of jealousy.
As for the men, outside of a few regulars, the only other group was a crowd of frat kids circling a table and cheering at the large screen. She glanced at the screen in distaste...MMA...ugh, could she never get away from it. She grew up around it. Her brother was into MMA, and that was how her mom eventually met her stepdad. He was an MMA trainer, and he had taken an interest in Emma’s brother as a potential fighter when he was eighteen.
Derek hadn’t really taken to it. Sure, he loved to fight, but he also had a passion for architecture, so after a year or two of being on the circuit, he quit to go back to college. However, that hadn’t meant that MMA was out of her life. She still had a stepbrother.
And that was the whole reason why she had let Julia talk her into coming to the bar and getting drunk. Julia had seen how stressed she was about her stepbrother. He had been on the circuit for several years, and the only time she had seen him was when he had come for family meals. His dad, Tony, didn’t train him very much anymore since he had graduated out of the level that Tony trained in.
It had actually been a relief. Emma hated Aiden. He was smug, cocky, and he had an inflated opinion of himself. When she met him at sixteen, she’d had a major crush on him...that is, all the girls in school had a crush on the senior with the physique of a god. He was a sparring partner for Derek, and the two had been close friends as they worked the circuit under Aiden’s dad.
But Aiden quickly squashed her affection and the nail in the coffin had been when their parents had gotten together. Her crush had quickly grown to hatred when they had to live in the same house. They had spent most of the years fighting with each other, and now Emma had to live with him again!
It was completely unfair, and she wanted to scream at her mom about it. Sure, she could move out any time she wanted, but her business was at the ranch. In fact, her entire livelihood was there. Her mother, Alison, had come from a long line of ranchers. They were very successful, and Alison’s father had left her with millions and the entire horse ranch. Their horses were extremely sought after and often won at the Kentucky Derby.
The ranch itself was perfection: a place from the rigors of the world where her clients could recover and get better. She smiled as she thought of her small physiotherapy office that she had created after college. If she hadn’t met Tony, she probably wouldn’t have gone into physiotherapy, but she had seen the fighters when they finally retired from the ring...and even through all of their years fighting.
Her mom had invited her to come home to the ranch and start her business right there. They built the modest facilities and a group of apartments that athletes could use if they wanted to stay right on the ranch. It had been a huge success and at only twenty-five Emma felt like her life was making sense...even if she did live at home.
Now, she wasn’t sure if she would have any sanity. She would have to see Aiden every day, and while the ranch was huge, there was no doubt that she would run into him all the time. She sighed.
“Come on, he isn’t that bad,” Julia laughed, and she smiled at one of the frat guys who turned her way.
Emma blushed. Julia always had a way with men, and she felt so confident with them. She could flirt without any problems and had been in a few serious relationships since high school, although none of them had gone anywhere. Emma was not comfortable with men. She tried dating them, but she felt tongue tied and out of her element when she was on a romantic playing field.
However, when she was tending to their physical therapy, she was a completely different person. Calm, confident and professional – Emma was a woman who knew how to heal, but she definitely wasn’t a woman who knew her way in the bedroom. Sure, she’d had a few boyfriends, but that always seemed to be dumb luck rather than her actually attracting the guy...she never seemed to attract the right kind of guy, anyway.
She ignored the few glances they were now earning from the table and said, “You don’t know what he’s like. You’ve always had a crush on him.”
Julia laughed, her voice filling the bar and causing a few more people to glance her way. They all smiled at the vibrant woman sitting with Emma. She groaned silently. As much as she loved her friend, she often felt plain beside her. Julia was tall, blonde, and thin. Emma was shorter, big boned, and had wavy, auburn hair that cascaded down her back, which she usually wore in a ponytail as she worked.
The only thing that she really thought of as beautiful about herself was her eyes. They were a vibrant violet color, and it was something everyone mentioned when they met her. Even Aiden had mentioned them...the one and only time he told her she was pretty – you know, like a pixie fairy or something.
“God, Em! Everyone had a crush on him...you included,” Julia teased as Emma’s nose wrinkled in distaste.
“Grow up, Julia,” Emma laughed. “That is disgusting...he’s my brother!”
“Stepbrother,” she teased, and Emma felt the sour mood she’d been in start to lift. “You met him long before he was your brother, and I remember you coming home from one of your brother’s tournaments to tell me all about the cute guy you had met.”
She tapped her lip, and her blue eyes narrowed in Emma’s direction, “If I remember right, you said he was dreamy.”
Emma groaned, “Don’t remind me. Now he is nothing more than an ignorant pain in my ass.”
Julia’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “Language, young lady,” she said, mimicking Emma’s grandmother. Despite living on a horse ranch, her grandmother was always the debutante. She was refined and graceful, and Emma’s mom was the little hellion who preferred to be in the stables instead of at the country club. It was a big disappointment that her grandchildren were the same as their mother.
“Well, it’s true,” Emma laughed and took another sip of her bitter beer. She grimaced. “God, why did I order this? Time for some cocktails.”
“Now you’re talking!” Julia waved towards the bartender and went to order two margaritas, their favorite. Emma watched her and wondered about her friend. They had been friends since they were kids, and Emma had always figured Julia would grow up and move away from the small town. After all, there wasn’t much here for Julia and the nightlife consisted mainly of Earl’s, the sports bar they were presently sitting in.
But she seemed content about living in town and she loved her job. Actually, she worked in the stables as the breeding manager, and she was damn good at what she did. At first, when her mom had hired Julia, Emma had thought it was because of their friendship, but afte
r seeing her work and the foals her programs were producing, there was little doubt that she’d been hired because of her abilities.
It was great having her at the ranch because they could visit whenever their jobs weren’t too busy, like tonight. Julia maintained a small house in town, but also had an apartment at the ranch in case she needed to be on hand for one of her horses.
Emma watched the frat guys as their eyes followed Julia and frowned. There was no way that Julia would entertain any of those guys...they were too young for one, and for two, she was out of their league. It still didn’t stop one of them from trying, and Emma tried to hide her laughter as she watched Julia turn him down. She did it with such ease that Emma felt that all too familiar pang of jealousy towards her friend. She would love to be able to be as socially agile as Julia was.
Julia returned and placed a large margarita in front of Emma. “So, when is the pain in the ass due into town? Your mother mentioned it in passing, but I was so busy with the newest filly that I didn’t get a chance to really talk to her about it. All I knew was that you weren’t going to be happy about it.”
Taking a long sip of her drink, Emma sighed. “In two weeks. She is moving him into the main house with all of us. Honestly, I don’t know why she wants him in the main house when we have several apartments on the ranch that he could use.”
“Because family should never have to sleep away from family,” Julia pointed out the logic that Emma’s mother had used. “She tried to move me into the main house when we set up the apartment for me. She said that I was like family and shouldn’t be living alone in town or alone in the apartment near the stables. I declined since it is easier for work to be close to the horses.”
Emma raised an eyebrow, but Julia ignored her. She was positive that the reason why Julia had declined the invitation was simply because she’d always had a thing for Derek. Emma was sure she would have tried flirting with him if Derek hadn’t been Emma’s brother. When Julia had taken the job, Derek had been home for the summer and she’d avoided him like the plague.
Even today, she still avoided him. Julia was never at her own house in town except on her days off or if Derek was home. The rest of the time, she lived in the apartment near the stalls and Mom had even considered building her a small house on the land because she was there so much.
Shaking her head, she sighed. Now was not the time to worry about Julia and her problems...she had a problem of her own and he was going to be here in two weeks. “Why don’t you move into one of the apartments for your clients?” Julia broke into Emma’s thoughts.
Shaking her head, Emma said, “I suggested that, but Mom doesn’t want me so far out by myself.” Her offices were at the far end of the estate, and it was a good fifteen-minute drive to the nearest neighbor. It was perfect for her clients because they weren’t disturbed by the bustle of a thriving ranch. “I am stuck at home...for now, at least.”
Julia patted her hand. “Well, then there is nothing else we can do.”
Emma nodded. “Except...” Julia’s voice trailed off.
“Except what?”
“Except get drunk tonight. You can sleep over at my place in town, and I won’t take no for an answer.” She smiled and Emma couldn’t help but return it as they both focused on their drinks.
Chapter Two
Two weeks later...
“Well if it isn’t the little Emma,” a masculine voice cut through the music playing in her headphones, and Emma pulled out the ear buds as she grimaced. She would know that voice anywhere, and it was still filled with the same arrogance.
Plastering a fake smile onto her face, she turned around and said, “Aiden, welcome home. Mom and Tony weren’t expecting you until tonight.”
He looked unbelievably good. As much as she hated the man, she couldn’t help but admit his good looks. He was muscular, but not overdone. His physique wasn’t from lifting weights, but from fighting. His broad shoulders and muscular chest were outlined perfectly by the white t-shirt, which featured his MMA group boldly on the front, and narrowed down to a trim waist. She knew that if he turned around, she would see his amazing ass. Heat flared in her cheeks as she chided herself, You should not be thinking about your brother’s ass...stepbrother, Julia’s voice echoed in her head in reply.
Instead, she focused on his square jaw and the scruff of black hair that covered it. His black hair was kept short to his scalp, something most fighters learned to do in the MMA, and it showed off his chiseled cheekbones perfectly. If she hadn’t known he did it for practical reasons, she would have sworn he kept his hair that way for vanity. Finally, her eyes met his brilliantly blue ones, and she blushed again as she saw the heat in them. He grinned that cocky, half smile of his where the side of his mouth twisted up into a grin, as he drawled, “You don’t have to check me out so much, little Emma, I haven’t changed that much since Christmas.”
Emma cursed under her breath and turned back to the fridge. “I wasn’t checking you out, Aiden. I was seeing if you had any injuries.” She pulled out a bottle of water, twisted the cap off and took a long swallow. When she turned back around, she saw Aiden had been watching her ass in her tight yoga pants.
Heat blossomed through her, and she gritted her teeth. The son of a bitch, she wanted to curse at him. This was one of the reasons why she absolutely despised him...he never treated her like she was his sister. He was always on the edge of flirting, but then he would say something that would make her feel like a silly child. “That’s right; you are a physiotherapist now, aren’t you. So doctor, what do you see? Any injuries?”
Emma noticed a small tick by his eye when he said that, but she shook her head. “I am not a doctor.” It was a bone of contention between them. Aiden was a fighter, and he used to always tease her about being smart in school. That she finished a year early and had been accepted into a top university seemed to always piss him off. She had her brains...he had nothing but being an asshole.
“And I just saw you so I have no idea if you have any injuries. It is just a habit for me to do that now with everyone. So why are you here so early?”
Aiden nodded and leaned against the kitchen counter as Emma moved over to the island and sat down. She needed the distance between them because she had no idea if she should punch him or hug him.
“I took an earlier flight and then decided to rent a truck. No sense being stuck out here without any transportation. Where are Dad and Alison?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. Mom said something about meeting some friends for brunch as I was heading out the door for my morning jog. I just got back.” It was clear that that was the case. She was wearing yoga pants and a tank top, and she was all sweaty. It was not the way she had wanted to see him again...she needed to be at the top of her game.
“So, we’re all alone in the house?” The question came out like a caress, and Emma felt it touch her entire body. She hated that her schoolgirl crush was still present with him. After all these years, after she knew how much their temperaments clashed, that small part of her still saw him as the high school hero.
Emma rolled her eyes in response and to push down any other emotion except for distaste. “Yes, Aiden. We are alone in the house. Not a huge deal.” She stood up, and he straightened at her movement.
“Relax. I’m heading in to have a shower before making something to eat. Why don’t you take your stuff up to your room, and then you can come eat with me.”
She started towards the doorway. “Hmmm...” he drawled, and Emma stopped. She wasn’t sure how, but she must have said something that he could twist...something he was really good at. “I could think of a few things to eat...especially in the shower.”
“Uh,” the words were stuck in her throat and she could do nothing but stare at him, her mouth opening and closing in shock. He grinned at her, that devil may care grin, and brushed past her, his bare arms brushing hers.
“Well, I’m going to go and unpack and then you can make me feel like you’re h
appy to see me.”
With that, he sauntered out of the room, his ass looking as amazing in his denim jeans – just like she knew it would. When he was clearly out of sight, Emma looked at the ceiling and said a silent prayer. Hopefully he wouldn’t be here for more than a few weeks because she was sure one of them would end up killing the other...she was just worried that it would be her committing murder.
Chapter Three
“Okay, that’s good. You can do it, just three more and you’ll be finished these reps,” she said as she encouraged Jackie to lift the light weights again. After a serious injury when she was running her last marathon, Jackie needed to rebuild the strength in her legs. She had been Emma’s client for the last six months, and Emma had become fond of the woman. Even at forty, the woman was running several marathons a year.
Jackie didn’t reply, but focused on the final three lifts so they could move on to the next stage of her session. They both looked up as the door opened and Aiden walked in. Emma was positive she heard the older woman sigh at the sight of him, “Hey, Pixie,” he said, and Emma shot him a warning glare. He had been home for less than a week and she was already sick of him.
She was sick of the way he was always up before her. He would go for a run and then come home and practice his kung fu forms in the yard just as she was heading out for her own run. He was there at breakfast, cocky and arrogant. He and Tony would sit at the table and talk about nothing except MMA. It was Tony’s pride and joy, and since Aiden was still in the ring, he had plenty of information to give him.
Then Aiden would head off to the training gym Tony owned, and they would spend the day there. That was the only reprieve that Emma got from him. The rest of the time, he was underfoot and always in the way. She was sick of it.
“Alison said you had equipment in your gym that you wanted to move around. I said I could help you,” he answered her unasked question.
Bad Fighter Stepbrother (Book 1) Page 1