“He’s actually really deep. Poetically I mean. He writes these beautiful songs, and then sings them along with his guitar at a few bars in the next county over. He says he’s too shy to play them here, but I don’t know why. He has a really sexy, deep southern voice.”
“That’s great, Daisy,” Kylie replied, happy to feel distracted. “Did you guys…you know?”
“Yeah,” Daisy whispered excitedly, nodding her head like a bobble head doll. “It was so good too. He’s such a giver! Not like most guys his age.” She paused, a look of confusion masking over her face. “I think I’m really falling for him, Kylie. He’s probably one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever met.”
“What are you going to do?” She asked. They had been so intent on their conversation, that they barely noticed when Leo sat down the scrumptious smelling pizza and the basket of cheese and broccoli fritters for the girls. They each took a large slice and put it on their plates, and broke open a couple fritters to cool down.
“I honestly don’t know,” Daisy sighed, dipping half of her fritter into the marinara sauce. “I really like my life a young, single powerhouse, you know? I pay my own bills, I have my own place, and I’m paying for my own car. I don’t want that to change.”
“Who says you have to?” Kylie asked, swallowing a bite of the hot, delicious pizza. “Thomas doesn’t seem like the guy to keep you barefoot and pregnant you know.”
Daisy shrugged, then nodded her head. “I know you’re right. And now that I know him a little better, I think that he could actually be a really great boyfriend.”
“Then what are you afraid of?”
Kylie watched as a nervous and emotional tear welled up in Daisy’s left eye, and she quickly came around the booth to put both arms around her in a tight hug. Daisy had always been an independent woman, ever since she was in kindergarten. Her favorite movie had been The First Wives Club when they were little, and she soon after became all about girl power.
“I’ve just spent so much time taking care of myself and staying away from dating that I didn’t realize how nice it could be to be part of a couple. Especially with Thomas. I don’t want to lose who I am, but I don’t want to him either.”
Kylie soothed her friend and assured her that the answer would come when she was ready to receive it. Until then, she should just enjoy what she was having with Thomas and not worry about the future. It was hypocritical, she knew, but maybe Daisy could follow the advice better than she could.
“Anyway, enough about me,” Daisy said, picking up her piece of pizza again. “Tell me why you’ve been ignoring me!”
Though Kylie knew the conversation was inevitable, she still winced when Daisy brought it up. A small part of her had wished that with all of the other stuff they talked about, she would forget. Of course, she should know better that Daisy would never forget a promise.
Kylie told Daisy everything, from the very beginning all the way to the night before where she went on her knees for Brandon in the bathroom while he was supposed to be taking a shower. Daisy listened the entire time, not interrupting her friend, but instead waiting until she was completely done with her story before she sat back, took in a deep breath, and contemplated the entire story.
“Are you mad? Embarrassed?” Kylie asked, biting her lower lip. It’d been several minutes since she’d finished the story, and Daisy still hadn’t said anything-something that Kylie was not used to when it came to her.
“Well,” Daisy said finally. “I guess I’m totally surprised. But you have some valid points. You two aren’t related by blood, and it’s been a long time since you two have seen each other. You’re practically strangers again.”
She stopped, a new thought popping into her head. “Wait, what happened to Jake? He said he was pretty into you.”
Kylie had forgotten all about the awkward encounter, and quickly gave Daisy the details. “It’s like he wasn’t getting it, Daisy. I tried to tell him I was not interested over and over, but he kept saying, ‘yeah, but.’ It was so annoying, and I’ve never felt so ignored. He’s definitely not my type. But apparently Brandon is, and I don’t know what to do about it.”
Daisy raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “What do you mean you don’t know? Follow your own advice, girl. Enjoy the summer; take it one day at a time. If there’s really something there, you’ll make it happen.”
“But this is different,” Kylie urged, on her second root beer float. “You and Thomas are set up in your careers. You have great jobs and have decided to stay in this town. I still have a lot of school left, and Brandon has to fly back to Germany in about a month.”
“Hmm…that is a little different,” Daisy admitted. She thought over Kylie’s predicament, taking her time to weigh certain options. “And you’re falling for him?” Daisy asked.
“Yeah,” Kylie rasped, lowering her head. “Really hard.”
“Well girl, it looks like you’re stuck. Unless of course, you were willing play dirty.”
~
Later that night, Kylie locked her bedroom door and thought about what Daisy had told her, about stretching the truth a little to make Brandon stay. At first, Kylie was completely against the idea. But after a while, she began to think of what would happen if she used Daisy’s suggestion. Would Brandon actually stay? Or would he go anyway? It was a mighty big risk to take with a lie.
Around midnight she heard the soft jingling of her doorknob. Her body wanted so badly to open the door for Brandon, but her heart and head were screaming at her to stay in bed. She had to figure out what to do about this, and fast.
Outside Kylie’s room, Brandon knocked as softly as he could. Kylie had never locked her bedroom door before, even when they weren’t messing around. He had missed having her in his arms all day, and was looking forward to simply holding her. Her admission of falling for him rung in his ears everyday, and he wished he’d had the courage to reply with his true feelings. He was falling for her just as hard. Never in his life had he felt something so real and explosive, and the fact that he had to leave in a month was torturing him every single day.
It was coming to a point where he couldn’t take not spending more time with her. He needed to figure out how to spend more time with her, without the fear of being walked in on. As he gave up on Kylie’s door, a plan began to form in his head; one that he was sure was going to work. Back in his room, he took out one of his old notebooks and began making a list of everything he would need.
CHAPTER 10
“Brandon, it’s too early for this,” Kylie grumbled, rubbing her eyes. She’d woken up to the sound of Brandon’s radio playing loudly at eight in the morning. Trying to get him to shut it off, she stumbled into his bedroom and slammed her hand down on the power button.
“Why are you so grumpy?” Brandon asked, leaning his hip against his desk as he brought his coffee cup up to his mouth. “Didn’t sleep very well?”
Kylie, in her white tank top and red booty shorts, curled up onto Brandon’s bed and nestled her head into his pillow. It smelled like him, and she took a deep inhale. When he was gone, she would have to make sure she took it before her mother tried to wash it.
“Actually no, I didn’t. I haven’t for a while now,” Kylie told him.
“Is that why you locked me out last night?” Brandon asked, his tone soft.
A pang of guilt hit Kylie in stomach. “Yeah,” she said softly.
She didn’t say anymore. She didn’t have to. Brandon knew what she was feeling. How could he not? He put on a smile and rolled over to his bed in his old desk chair.
“I have surprise for you,” he told her, reaching out to stroke her hair. In moments like this, they weren’t afraid to leave the door open and show affection. Cassie and Gerald, when and if they walked by, only thought that they were talking and hanging out, like normal siblings do.
“Is it that that coffee is for me?” She asked, staring at the mug of joe she knew was flavored heavily with sugar and hazelnut creamer. It was one of the
things she and Brandon had in common. They both enjoyed milky, sugary coffee.
Chuckling, he handed her his mug and let her take a long sip of the caffeine.
“Better?” He asked.
Kylie let out a sigh of pleasure and nodded her head. “Much. So what’s up?”
Brandon stretched backwards, showing off the muscles of his naked torso. Kylie couldn’t help but look as he stretched back to grab some papers off of his desk.
“Like what you see?” He asked. He didn’t have to look to know that she was staring at him. He could feel her eyes, and he liked it. Very much.
“That’s the issue,” Kylie sighed, taking another sip of her coffee.
Brandon tossed the stack of papers on the bed in front of her. “Well here. Maybe this will help.”
Kylie looked down at the brightly colored picture and read the first page of the packet.
“Camping trip?” She asked surprised. “To Johnstown, PA?”
“Yep,” Brandon told her, turning the page so she could read on. “Take a look. I rented us a cabin. Nothing fancy or modern. But it’s private, and has air conditioning. WE can hike, fish, swim, and”-
“Anything we want,” Kylie murmured, realizing her plan.
“Exactly,” Brandon agreed. “Lowering his voice. “I really want this with you, Kylie. A chance to spend some real time with you without the fear of being caught by anyone in our town. Please, will you come with me?”
It took Kylie less than a second to agree. She was tired of the stress of being seen, and a getaway, even if it was only for four days, sounded like heaven to her.
~
“Where are you two going again?” Cassie asked. She was in the kitchen making them turkey and cheddar sandwiches for the three- hour drive. “And why is it so far away?”
Brandon put a bag of Chex mix in the box of food he was packing, and took a break to lean on the kitchen island. “I’m heading up there to visit an old Marine friend, mom. He has a sister too, and she asked that I invite Kylie along so that she’d have someone to hang out with.”
Cassie put the sandwiches in zip lock bags and shook her head. “I just don’t understand why they can’t come here and camp out at the campgrounds a few miles away. We only get you for the summer and I feel like I barely get to see you.”
Brandon wrapped his arms around the middle age woman. She may have been his step mom, but she had loved him like she’d birthed him herself from the very beginning. When he got back, would make it a point to spend more time with the entire family.
“I know mom. But we’d be gone the same amount of days whether we’d stay close to home or go up to Pennsylvania.”
Sighing, Cassie gently pushed at Brandon’s chest and returned to making sandwiches. “I guess you’re right. But I still don’t like it.”
Gerald and Kylie came in a few minutes later, and the family hugged one another goodbye. Out of habit, Gerald pulled a few twenties out of his wallet and handed them to Kylie. “I know you both are grown now,” he said. “But you know, just in case of an emergency.”
“Thanks dad,” Kylie whispered, wrapping her arms around the big black man one more time. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Princess,” Gerald whispered, smoothing his hand over her hair. “No you kids go, get out of here and enjoy the summer. Bring us back some fish if you can.”
With that, Brandon and Kylie got in Kylie’s beat up baby blue old Volkswagen and drove off. In the back they had their supplies for camping, though they wouldn’t need it, and enough food to last them the entire four days.
“Do you think we should get some other stuff when we get up there?” Kylie asked, not sure what else to talk about. “You know, maybe some chicken and steak and stuff.”
Brandon reached across the center console and squeezed her hand. “Honey we can get whatever you want,” he promised. “We have four whole days. And as long as it’s just you and me, then I don’t care what we do.”
A wicked though blossomed into Kylie’s mind, and a devilish grin spread across her face. “Anything, huh?” She asked.
Brandon raised an inquisitive eyebrow, and risked a glance over to her passenger side. “Within reason,” he said slowly.
He felt Kylie’s fingertips dance on his hand and slowly up his arm, then down onto his lap. He wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but so far he like it. A lot.
“Well then,” Kylie said, her voice sinful, “I think I’d like to taste you. While you’re driving.”
The thought appealed to him on so many levels. He waited until they crossed the town lines before he agreed to her little exploration, and spread his legs wide so she’d have plenty of room to maneuver. If this was what a four- day vacation was going to start as, he thought, then he was really, really going to enjoy it.
CHAPTER 11
Brandon looked over the cabin. It looked much more worse for wear than it did in the pictures, and he felt a wave of regret wash over him. He could have sprung for a hotel in town. It would have at least had room service. Though there was no dust or cobwebs, and the bed looked clean, it was still extremely outdated. The plumbing was old and rusty, and the smell of earth was apparent in the air. For him, it would have been fine. But Kylie deserved better.
“Hey listen, if you’re not comfortable here, we can”-
“It’s perfect,” Kylie breathed head looking up into the old rafters. Twilight lights had been strung along the beams, and though it was still light out, Kylie plugged them in to test them. They illuminated the shadows of the ceiling, and wide smile spread across Kylie’s face.
“This is so beautiful. Thank you so much for bringing me here, Brandon.”
Brandon felt a surge of love fill his chest as he looked down at the happy Kylie. Already she was unloading the groceries in the kitchen and sticking a couple beers in the freezer to cool down. She may have looked like a delicate flower, but she had a bit of wild streak in her; and he loved that.
Unable to help himself, Brandon strode into the kitchen and wrapped her up in his arms until her feet were no longer touching the ground. She laughed at him softly, and kissed the top of his head as she stayed contentedly suspended in the air. He loved how easily she fit in his arms; how perfect.
“So, we finally made it,” Kylie said as Brandon sat her down on the kitchen counter. She still had her legs wrapped around his waist, and she was lightly massaging the front of his shoulders. “What do you want to do first?”
“Anything you want,” Brandon answered quickly. “Hiking, fishing, the bedroom. You name it.”
Kylie giggled and kissed his forehead. “I don’ know about you but I’m pretty sticky. How would you feel about swimming?”
He liked the thought of seeing Kylie nearly naked and cooling off from the intense summer heat all at the same time, and quickly agreed. As Kylie changed into her bathing suit, Brandon packed his bag with towels, sunscreen, and water. The lake wasn’t too far, barely a mile walk on the dirt path through the trees. According to the map he had, there should be a small dock where they would be able to lay out and swim.
“I had no idea you liked nature,” Brandon mentioned as they picked their way through the forest.
Kylie laughed out loud and when Brandon asked what was so funny, she told him about her adventures.
“The places I go are exotic, yes, but they’re also completely underdeveloped. I’ve been in jungles and forest much worse than this with much less equipment and a lot more danger. Trust me, this is cake.”
Her admission to living in such places struck a cord in Brandon. One he didn’t like.
“Who watches over you?” He asked. They had reached the dock in no time, and luckily there were no other vacationers there.
“What do you mean?” Kylie asked.
“You know. Who protects you when you’re going to these dangerous places.”
“Ourselves, mostly,” Kylie replied honestly. “We get a few native guides everywhere we go, but mostly we just look
out for ourselves.”
“Kylie that’s incredibly dangerous,” Brandon said, reaching out to touch her shoulder. “I don’t like it. You could get hurt.”
Kylie laughed again, and this time it began to annoy Brandon.
“As opposed to your job?” She asked. “You’re a marine. You go to the most dangerous places in the world to fight. I got to the most impoverished places in the world to feed, and provide healthcare. Your job is a lot riskier than mine,” she defended.
“Yeah but I have military training, Kylie. I can protect myself, and others. They don’t train you at all in self-defense and I think that’s a major issue.”
“I’m not untrained,” Kylie replied with a simple shrug of her shoulder. As if they weren’t talking about anything too important, she jumped into the lake, completely submerged in the cool water.
“Ahh!” She gasped as she resurfaced, pushing her hair out of her face. “This feels perfect, come on in!”
“Wait, what do you mean you’re not untrained?” Brandon asked, not wanting to derail from the conversation. “You take a few classes at the Y or something?”
“No, I box. I even compete sometimes. I’m actually pretty good.”
“That is so…hot,” Brandon laughed, pulling off his shirt. He jumped into the water beside her, dragging her under with him. Like a fish she squirmed in his arms and swam a few yards away from him to resurface.
“You’re a little badass aren’t you?” He asked, trying to swim towards her.
“Yeah,” she laughed, enjoying the chase. “Maybe a little.”
~
Brandon adjusted the log on the fireplace, loving the way it sounded as it crackled and popped in the stone fireplace. They’d had an amazing evening, swimming in the lake. Though they had waved hello to a couple canoes and speedboat or two, no one had come to the dock to interrupt them. With the water being perfect, they had ended up staying nearly three hours in the water, just playing and having a good time.
Romance: Yes, Stepbrother! Page 5