Table of Contents
Chapter one
Chapter two
Chapter three
Chapter four
Chapter five
Chapter six
Chapter seven
Chapter eight
Chapter nine
Chapter ten
Chapter eleven
Chapter twelve
Chapter thirteen
Chapter fourteen
Chapter fifteen
More Stories by Stephanie
What to read next: Stepbrother’s Inheritance
About the Author
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Chapter one
Chapter two
Chapter three
Chapter four
Chapter five
Chapter six
Chapter seven
Chapter eight
Chapter nine
Chapter ten
Chapter eleven
Chapter twelve
Chapter thirteen
Chapter fourteen
Chapter fifteen
More Stories by Stephanie
What to read next: Stepbrother’s Inheritance
About the Author
A Baby for My Hero: Stepbrother Billionaire Romance
Copyright © 2015 by Stephanie Brother
First E-book Publication February 2015
All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are all productions of the author’s imagination.
Please note that this work is intended only for adults over the age of 18 and all characters represented as 18 or over.
Kindle Edition
CHAPTER ONE
Lucille
“You look beautiful!” my stepmother exclaims stepping back.
I turn side to side to get a better view of my dress. My smile goes from ear to ear. I do look beautiful. My auburn ringlets fall to either side of my face. The stylist put sparkley gems in it that catch the light. My make-up is perfect and the dress, the dress is absolutely to die for. It’s teal and the neck dives just low enough to create a beautiful, long line from my collar bones to the chiffon bow on the front. It hugs my hips tightly then flares out into a long trail behind me.
Tonight is going to be the best night of my life. Todd, Captain of the Lacrosse team, has asked me to our Senior Prom. The first time in my eighteen years I’m going to a dance with a date.
My heart flutters at the thought of Todd. Tall, tanned, lithely muscled with just the right length of blond hair and blue eyes. Normally he only dates the ‘popular’ girls at our private school but he and Alyssa, the Cheer Leader Captain, just broke up. He told me it was because he wanted to ask me to prom! Me!
I’ve always been shy and withdrawn. Much more a book nerd than a jock which means I’m a loner. No one wants to hang out with the ‘smart’ kid, the one who destroys the grading curve for everyone else. The fact my parents have money means nothing in my school where everyone else is rich, too. It’s not about what you wear or drive at school, it’s all about what you will and won’t do. Since I’m not one of ‘those’ girls I’m immediately not cool. Add in my preference for reading a book to drinking beer, well it’s not a great combination for my social life.
“Samuel,” my stepmother calls to my stepbrother.
I roll my eyes. Samuel hates me.
Our parents got married three years ago and since then we’ve been shoved together in the same house. Apparently he’s made it his life’s mission to make me miserable. Aside from his constant snide remarks he seems to have a knack for walking in when I’m half dressed. I can’t ever prove it but I know he’s doing it on purpose, probably just to make me mad.
“What!” he yells across the house.
Samuel’s always angry. Even with his mother he’s mean. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say a nice word to anyone.
“Come see your sister’s dress!” she yells back ignoring his attitude.
My stepmother is a saint. She has to be to deal with Samuel. Her first husband was killed in a car crash and I wonder if that doesn’t have something to do with his attitude.
Samuel walks in and no matter how much I can’t stand him my heart skips a beat. He wears his hair too long, just past his collar and over his ears. His bangs hang down into his face but man is that face beautiful. He’s like Johnny Depp, all perfectly carved planes and lines that scream unearthly handsome. He moves like a cat ready to pounce with an easy strength. I’ve seen him lift weights that are twice his size but he tries to never do it when he thinks I’ll see him.
I’ve walked in on his workouts before and seen him covered in sweat, muscles rippling as he lifts. It happened by accident the first time and he screamed at me but since then I’ve slipped back to watch him work. The sight of it makes me have thoughts that are definitely not stepbrother appropriate.
If I’m a loner at school, Samuel is a total rebel. I think he has one friend who’s another complete outcast. At least as a book nerd there are a handful of other academics I can claim as friends. Samuel has pretty much no one.
He’s not dressed for prom. He’s wearing ripped up jeans, one of which is right below his crotch so that his boxer shorts show. His t-shirt is stretched tight over his chest and his leather biker style jacket is worn down and abused. There’s a cigarette dangling out of his mouth.
“Samuel!” his mother cries out.
“What?” he growls.
“You know how I feel about smoking!”
“Yeah, why in the hell do you think I’m doing it?”
He stares at her, his deep blue eyes defiant, his mouth set into a line with that nasty thing sticking straight out. He never even inhales just has it jutting out in defiance of his mother. I shake my head at him and he narrows his eyes but says nothing.
“Well, look at your sister, tell her how beautiful she’s,” his mother says.
“She’s not my fucking sister,” he says.
“Samuel, I will not tolerate that language in this house!”
“Whatever,” he says turning away to leave. “You look like a hot piece of ass Sis.”
Shock hits me like cold water. It takes me a moment to wrap my mind around what just happened. That’s the closest thing to a compliment he’s ever given me. The cold balances against the sudden tightening in my belly.
“Samuel!” his mother scolds.
He shrugs walking away, a trail of smoke drifting behind him. He should be getting ready for prom. We’re both Seniors, this is our final year. The last celebration of life as eighteen year olds before we start college and life in the ‘real’ world.
“I swear I don’t know what to do with him,” my stepmother says. “Ever since his father died he’s been unbearable.”
“It’s all right,” I say. She’s always been kind to me, treating me like I’m her own daughter and I appreciate it.
Butterflies settle in my stomach as I look myself over one last time. I wonder if Todd will kiss me tonight. The butterflies multiply as I imagine him leaning in, his eyes drifting closed, one hand resting on my hip as we sway to the music on the dance floor.
Suddenly the butterflies turn to nausea and panic. What am I doing? I’m not good enoug
h for this! My breath comes in short fast gasps as my head feels lighter and the room starts to turn gray at the edges of my vision.
“Lucile, calm down,” my stepmother says but it’s like she’s talking down a long tunnel.
She places something over my face. My heart is racing, sweat forms on my neck and face but my breathing starts to slow. I catch my breath. My vision clears and I realize she’s put a paper bag to my face. I take another deep breath, then one more before I push her hand away. She pulls me into a tight embrace.
“Oh Lucille, I love you,” she says holding me tight to her.
“I love you,” I say back inhaling the warm scent of jasmine from her skin.
“Now you stay calm,” she says pushing me back so she can look at me. “You are beautiful, gorgeous. Todd is very lucky you agreed to go with him. Don’t you forget that! And remember, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
She says the last with a very serious look. Heat rises to my cheeks. I shake my head in shock and horror. I can’t have this conversation with her!
“Yes Ma’am,” I say trying to get out of this.
“No, don’t you yes Ma’am me. I was a young lady once you know. I know exactly what kind of pressure there’s on girls. You just remember, no means no. You don’t do anything you might regret later. You understand?”
I nod absolutely mortified to be standing here.
“Do you need any … protection?” she says after looking thoughtful for a moment.
“Oh god no!” I cry out.
I’m sure I must be bright red by now. I can’t even look at myself in the mirror. My face is on fire and it’s racing down my neck. Did she really just ask me if I needed some condoms?
“I know this is embarrassing for you but don’t be. I’m your stepmother. It’s my job to talk to you about these things. I know you know about it already. I just don’t want you making a mistake in the heat of the moment or being unprepared.”
I close my eyes and pray that this is about over. She pats my arm softly then one of her hands rests on my cheek.
“Okay Lucille. I’m not trying to shame you to death. Just be safe. I love you Lucy-bug.”
She uses my dad’s nickname for me and somehow that makes the awkwardness all disappear. I open my eyes to look at her then smile.
“Thank you,” I say pulling her into an embrace.
The doorbell rings bringing the butterflies back to my stomach. Todd’s here. My first real date and it’s my Senior Prom.
I’ll remember this night for the rest of my life.
Chapter two
Samuel
Sitting in the parking lot of the hotel I stare at the ballroom where they’re holding prom. I hate this place. I hate this school. I hate these people. They’re all arrogant pricks and not a one of them is worth a damn. They hate me too, but that’s okay ‘cause I don’t really care. I crank up the volume on my stereo so that the driving bass of death metal can compete with the top forty pop crap echoing from the ballroom.
A limo pulls up in front of the building and several members of the lacrosse team climb out then hold out a hand to their dates. I watch hoping to catch a glimpse of Lucille but she’s not with them. Where the hell is she? Todd’s the captain of the stupid lacrosse team surely he’s going to hang with his buddies. I slam my hand against my stereo in frustration.
I don’t want to feel this. I don’t want to but I do. I shouldn’t care and I sure as hell can’t let her or anyone else know what I feel but damn it’s hard. Lucille is drop dead gorgeous. First time we met, after our parents we’re already hooking up I felt it for her. What the hell could I do about it though? It was obvious our parents were falling for each other as more than boink partners. They sure as hell wouldn’t cool it so I could ask her out and now she’s my sister. Well stepsister but still what difference does it make? Everyone would still flip shit if they knew how I felt about her.
I check the time on my phone again. She should have been here by now. The dance started thirty minutes ago. Todd is the obvious choice for Prom King which means he has to be here when they announce it in an hour. There has to be a reason he asked Lucille to this. I don’t buy the bullshit that he broke up with Alyssa. Those two are stupid tight, they’re both just alike and perfect for each other. Perfect skin, perfect teeth, perfect shit attitudes completely convinced of their own superiority.
Alyssa hates Lucille. She has for the past three years when Lucille’s grade killed the curve in comp and lit which led to Alyssa being put on academic probation. Ever since she’s had it in for my stepsister. Something in this entire situation doesn’t add up.
Beating the drum line out on my steering wheel I wait a bit longer. Fifteen minutes goes by then I see two of the lacrosse team slip out the side door and head for a dark corner. They’ll know where the hell Todd is. I have to know. I can’t let anything happen to Lucy.
I walk up nonchalant like and hear them giggling. As I approach I smell the cloying sweetness of pot. These assholes are the ‘future’ of our society. Drinking and doing dope. We’re totally screwed. They ignore me as I get closer assuming I’ll walk on by. I use that to get in close and listen to what they’re saying.
“You think he’s done it yet?” Jeff giggles passing the joint to Brent.
“Fuck I hope so, he’s going to be late,” Brent says holding his pull on the joint.
“Yeah, fucking late,” Jeff laughs. “Fuck that bitch. I hope he takes her hard. Fuck her right in her uptight ass.”
I walk straight up to them. They’re so busy huffing they don’t even seem to see me until I’m right there.
“Who’s uptight ass?” I ask.
They both jump and Jeff throws the joint standing up as he tries to hold a straight face. Once he sees it’s just me he relaxes back and Brett runs to retrieve the joint.
“What the hell do you want?” he snorts exhaling smoke.
“I want to know who’s uptight ass,” I repeat.
Jeff gets a slow grin across his face. He looks at Brett who looks uncomfortable, refusing to meet my eyes.
“Hey man, it’s nothing,” Brett says.
“What’s nothing?” I ask my fist clenching. My heart starts pounding, I know what they’re going to say. I don’t know how I know it, I just know. I knew something was wrong from the start. I should have stopped her. I can’t let this happen.
“Why don’t you …”
My fist cuts Jeff off as it slams into the side of his jaw. He falls to the ground crying out. I duck as Brett swings at me dropping low and landing a solid hit to his groin. I land on top of Jeff one hand grabbing his shirt my other taking him by his jaw forcing him to look up at me.
“Where are they?” I growl.
“Fuck you,” he says spitting out blood and bits of tooth.
I slam my fist into his face again. It hurts like hell but I don’t have time to waste. I have to get him to talk right now.
“Where!” I yell at him.
My pulse pounds in my ears like the drums of music. My heart thuds against my chest, my limbs tingle, my entire world is focused on Jeff lying here in front of me. He starts to speak but I see the form of his words before they come out. I pull up on his shirt and slam his head back down against the asphalt.
“WHERE!”
“Just leave us alone,” Brett says rolling on the ground with tears streaming down his face. “We didn’t do nothing to you!”
I turn my gaze on him and he withers. He sobs louder and harder than he had been both arms still wrapped around his middle. Jeff mutters something below me but I can’t understand him.
“Brett,” I say softly. “You have one chance, right now. Where is my sister?”
I don’t know if it’s my voice, the pain, or something in my face but I see his fear. He shakes all over and an electrical thrill runs through me.
“Todd took her to McFarse’s Farm,” he cries.
McFarse’s Farm. Shit. There’s only one reason anyo
ne goes out to that old abandoned place. No one goes out there and it’s miles from anywhere. Out there, no one can hear you scream.
I jump to my feet and look at the two assholes lying on the ground.
“If she’s hurt, even one hair, one bruise, I’m coming for both of you.”
I turn and run for my car.
Chapter three
Lucille
Everything’s perfect. Todd looks amazing in his perfectly tailored tuxedo. He gives me a beautiful corsage that my stepmother pins to my dress for me. We walk out to his pearl Cadillac Escalade. I thought he’d rent a limousine but this is still nice. He holds the door for me as I get in, carefully avoiding my dress as he closes it.
I notice his hand shakes just a little as he puts the car in gear and that makes my heart skip a beat. He’s nervous too! Nervous to be with me.
I watch the city slide by as he drives us to dinner. The moon’s just starting to rise in the sky, big and full like it’s shining its approval down on this perfect night. The most perfect night of my life.
We pull up in front of the restaurant and I sit waiting as he comes around to open my door for me. He’s a perfect gentleman. I pinch myself as I wait thinking this must be a dream, a fairy tale that I’ve projected myself into but no I’m here and this is real. I suppress the urge to giggle I feel so giddy.
“You look great tonight Lucy,” Todd says holding his hand out. Getting around in this dress is harder than I thought it would be.
“Thank you, you’re quite handsome in your tuxedo,” I say smiling.
He keeps telling me how great I look and each time it feels like my heart swells ten times bigger. He takes my arm and leads me into the building. He gives his name and they lead us to a table in the corner without delay. The table has candles and the overall atmosphere is low light and very romantic.
A Baby for My Hero Stepbrother: Forbidden Billionaire Romance Page 1