I started to rub my beard. The same thing that I’d been doing whenever I was confused.
“She’s in the bathroom. She’ll be out soon and then she’ll take him.”
She waved her finger from side-to-side and I found myself distracted as if I was watching a big old pendant clock. Like the one that stood in my grandparents’ house and had been passed down through many generations of my family.
“She ain’t in the bathroom because she left the minute you mentioned you wanted to know about Laila Hunter. Even though no Laila Hunter came in here today. Look, just take your baby and get out of here. Before I call the police.”
I was about to say something else when I turned and noticed that she was right. The baby bag, which was like the one that both Noah and Chad, my two best friends walk around with as if their lives depend on it was sitting on the chair that I once occupied. I sighed as I wondered what the fuck was going on as I grabbed the bag and the baby too and got the fuck out of the clinic.
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About Cowboy Daddy…
I found out that I had to be two things that I never thought I’d be in life. One was a cowboy, and the other was a daddy!
Arrogant.
Greedy.
Selfish.
Those are the words that spit out of my family’s mouth whenever they say my name.
My twin brother, Noah thinks that he knows it all, even when we were little.
The idea of going back to this life was something that I didn’t want to do. Living and working in the city suited me just fine, that was until I had something to prove, not only to myself but Rachel. The girl that I left behind because I found out that I was a daddy. Two things that I never thought I would be in life. One was a cowboy, and the other was a daddy.
Author's Note:
Jason is Noah's best friend from the novella, Single Daddy. Book 1 doesn’t have to be read to enjoy Book 4. They are all standalone novellas. This novella is short and steamy with enough sexiness for you to enjoy.
Chapter One
Jason
I got up early to go to work, just like every other day. I knew it was different, though. I just didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t have time for breakfast, so I stopped by a café on the way for a coffee that would tide me over until it was time for lunch. Just like always.
Once I arrived at work, though, it was obvious I couldn’t hide or ignore what had happened. My business was thriving, and that was all I wanted to think about. But it was hard to when the people that worked for me kept staring at me like they expected me to fall over.
I ignored them the best I could. Even when they stopped talking every time I passed by. Even when several people asked me how I was doing too many times before lunch. I pushed it all away.
Then, the call came.
What does he want now?
That was the thought in my mind when my phone rang, and I saw my grandpa’s name on the screen. He was perhaps the last person I expected or wanted, to hear from. He barely paid much attention to me, so after the surprise, I was annoyed.
I picked the call up anyway because I wasn’t that rude. He spoke first.
“Jason, when are you coming home!”
It wasn’t a question, but a demand. I thinned my lips and thought twice about tossing out the words I wanted to say. None of them would have been respectful. I took a couple of breaths to cool myself down before speaking.
“Was there something you wanted, Grandpa Nathan?”
He scoffed. “Don’t get cute with me, boy. Just answer the question.”
I closed my eyes. “As far as I know, Grandpa, my home is here. I have a business to run, and I’m too busy at the moment to cut short for a visit.”
“I expect you in two days, Jason.”
I fisted my hand where it lay on the desk, again trying to control myself.
He’d always been like that. Every time I talked, it was like I was air. He heard nothing, but expected to be heard. More than that, he expected to be obeyed. I’d lived for a while without listening to his orders once I left home, though. I was not ready to go back to just doing whatever he said.
In front of my grandpa, of all people, I could not allow myself to show weakness. He wasn’t all I was thinking about at the time, of course, but when I started my business and built it up to the success it currently was, I’d imagined showing it to my grandpa to show him just what I could achieve even without him. He thought himself so great; I could become greater. Only then would I not have to take his orders.
“I’m afraid two days is a little short notice for me,” I said firmly. “I’ll have to check out my schedule, maybe free up some time before I could come down for a visit. And even then it can't be for long. I’ve been out of the office for some time; I have to make up for it.”
There was another scoff. “Can I ask you why you could take time away from your office when you can't even do it to come and see your grandpa?”
I tightened my lips, but for another reason besides my grandpa’s tone.
No, I didn’t want to tell him why. I didn’t know how he would react, but it wouldn’t be good for me.
The reason why I’d been out of the office for any length of time, the reason why when I did come back, my employees and colleagues were acting weird. The one thing I’d been trying to put out of my mind for the last several days.
My life was in danger. I wasn’t sure from what or who, and that was the worrying part. The part that I was trying very hard not to worry about.
Any other time, I wouldn’t have cared if someone outright threatened me. It had happened plenty of times. But I was focused, and I wouldn’t let anyone stand in my way. I just didn’t care. It was kind of hard to, though, when it meant putting my life on the line. Someone made me realize just what I was putting on the line because I hadn't before.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa,” I said on automatic, my voice flat. “I’m a little busy at the moment. I’ll come visit some other time.”
“I would like to talk to you, Jason,” he said. “Just imagine it’s an important discussion and make time. Soon.”
He cut off the call, and all I could do was sigh. Suddenly, I was too exhausted even to get angry. Because now that I’d thought of it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
There was a knock on my door minutes later that woke me up from my revelry. I sat up straight and tried to fix my expression.
“Come in,” I called, all the excess, unnecessary emotions pushed behind a wall.
“Excuse me, sir.” It was one of my employees. “I have some documents for you to look over and sign, sir? They’re needed in an hour.”
I waved her inside, and she came over. She handed me a folder, and I set it down in front of me. I picked up a pen and quickly skimmed over the documents, signing where needed. Ten minutes later, I was done, and I handed the folder back to her.
“Thank you, sir,” she said with a smile, taking back the documents. She walked out of my office in a hurry.
Once I was alone again, I sighed and slumped back into my seat. I hadn't signed my name that many times, but my hands were trembling. My heart was beating a little too fast, too.
Maybe…it was a sign that I wasn’t as ready to come back to work as I’d thought. I had figured I could take a short break and come back fine. It hadn't even been that long, less than a week. I thought I was still the old me, always in control and on top of everything.
It was just a lie that I told myself, one that crumpled quickly.
“This won’t be easy just to ignore,” I muttered to myself, leaning my head back and sighing. I blinked up at the ceiling. “Maybe… I could just visit, for a couple of days. Work can wait a bit longer.”
It might be what I needed, some time away instead of just hiding away at my home and thinking that would help anything. I tended to anger a lot of people in my line of work and with my tenacity to succeed, and clearly, thi
s one time I’d pissed off one too many.
Decided, I got up. I picked up my coat that I’d thrown over the back of my seat when I arrived, then took my untouched cup of coffee that would have cooled down already. I didn’t tell anyone where I was going. They could just think I’d gone for lunch or whatever; I didn’t even care. I was suddenly in a hurry, locking my office and walking out to my car.
I might as well get back home, maybe catch some sleep. I could make the trip overnight and be there in the morning. I didn’t need to pack much because I wouldn’t be staying long.
I was only doing it so I could get some time off from running my empire. Something that I enjoyed getting it off the ground and now that it practically runs itself. I struggle to find the same enjoyment. I just know that I'm not here, because Grandpa ordered me to come here.
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Bad Apple
My stepbrother, Rogue, was the kind of trouble I couldn’t resist.
Rogue was the bad apple of our family. He thrived on the excitement of all the things that we were warned about as kids.
I was asked to help him see the error of his ways. He needed to leave the gambling and womanizing behind. I tried my hardest, but a leopard can’t change his spots.
Rogue was a bad boy through and through.
I was a good girl until Rogue got under my skin…and into my panties.
And instead of helping to keep my stepbrother out of trouble, I got myself into it.
I didn’t intend to give Rogue my heart. In the end, he stole it like the bad boy he was.
But he gave me something too. The best gift ever.
The baby I know is going to turn by stepbrother good.
Author's Note: No cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed. This novel is steamy with enough sexiness for you to enjoy. This is a full-length novel and the re-write of my short story, Trouble.
Chapter One
Claire
Sometimes, my mom had a way of just winding me up and getting me into trouble. I was one of the top associates at my law firm. On my way to being a partner. I had worked fucking hard to get where I was. I certainly didn’t have the title babysitter written on my forehead. Yet, that was what my mom had roped me into. Babysitting my stepbrother.
He’s older.
So, he should have known better.
The problem was that didn’t stop him from acting like a big kid. He had problems with drugs, gambling and women.
Why women problems?
Because instead of chasing women that were single, ones that he could actually hook up with, he had an addiction to only go after the ones that were taken.
Oh, and they weren’t taken by just a simple jealous partner.
No, he had a death wish by chasing mobsters and policemen’s wives. He always chose the partners that could kill him and get away with it.
His gambling problem would have been manageable if he had money to throw away. But like most gamblers, he didn’t have a dime. Gamblers tend to either borrow money from the wrong crowd or steal, and his drinking made him feel brave to take some of the risks. Mom told me that he had started drinking too much before he was banged up.
Sometimes, I think gamblers are worse than drug addicts. At least with drug addicts, you can blame the drugs for fucking up their minds. They don’t know what they are doing most of the time. When they steal for drugs or just jump in a car and drive, it’s because they’re so damn high.
Now, what was a gambler’s excuse?
I had no idea.
But for some reason, it had now become my problem. Because, I wasn't being asked to defend him. I was asked to live with him. Something I hadn't done since I had left home. I had never lived with anyone and I hated Rogue for making me.
I was standing outside the slammer, wondering where the fuck Rogue was. He was supposed to get out of jail at three. That was the only time I could meet him, as I had an important client meeting and that took priority. I had a home loan to pay and responsibilities, unlike Rogue. The only person he cared about was himself, which was the reason he ended up in jail in the first place.
So, I went inside to ask where he was, only to find out that Kathleen had come to pick him up.
Who the fuck was Kathleen?
Rogue was supposed to be in my care.
If he thought for one minute that I was taking pleasure out of all of this, then he was sadly mistaken. The only thing I wanted to do apart from scream was find him. Tell him that this arrangement was over and get on with the toughest case that I had ever had. I needed to win it. Normally, my cases had a couple of sticky points, but I knew that I could win them.
This one.
Well, it was going to be tough.
It didn’t help that William, one of the law firm partners, put my name down for the case. Just because I didn’t sleep with all of the partners. The industry was very much old school. Run by boys who treated women as if they were part of the furniture unless they looked good in a short skirt.
The more I thought about it, the more I didn’t know why I stayed in my job.
I hated it at the best of times. Sometimes, I wondered if it was changing me. Making me more aggressive, nothing like I used to be.
Right now, I was hating everything about my life, including having to babysit my stepbrother. I had a strong suspicion that Kathleen was the parole officer that he was banging. Or rather, was banging prior to him being locked up.
Where was she when he was getting in trouble?
I picked up the phone and called Mom. I felt silly calling her, but she had to know what was going on. I had a feeling that this would be the last day that I would help Rogue. I didn’t need this shit in my life. I had a prestigious client that I was representing at the moment and she was difficult enough.
“Mom, can you believe that he came out already? I told him I would be here at three.”
She sighed as she replied, “You know what Rogue is like. He never listens.”
She had to be kidding me.
The guy just never learned. Everyone in Vegas knew not to mix with the Valentino’s. Rogue borrowed money from them and flirted with the big boss’s wife, in front of him. The Valentino’s weren’t happy with just beating Rogue up. No, they had to teach him a lesson. That meant planting drugs on him and making sure that the Feds found them when they did a house call. He landed in jail for five years mainly because the Feds found him so intoxicated he didn’t know what month it was let, alone what year. Yet, he got out in three for good behavior and due to pleading from my mom. He was staying with me.
“Mom, I really don’t want to do this. He’s with Kathleen.”
There was silence, and I was just about to speak when she said, “Oh, his parole officer.”
“Uh-huh.”
As I’d suspected, she was his parole officer.
“Please, Claire, can you just find him and sort it out? I’m going down to the hospital again. Richard’s not responding to his meds.”
Then it all hit home. That was the reason I agreed to do this in the first place. My stepdad, Richard was sick. Real sick and this was his wish. To know that his son would be okay. Not back in jail or running around chasing some skirt.
One last try, Rogue. If there are any more fuck ups, you and I are truly over.
“Mom, I’m going to try and find him. I’ll catch you later.”
“Thank you, please do.”
With her words, she hung up. My mom sounded stressed. I didn’t blame her. To say that since my dad died our relationship had been strained was an understatement. I did promise to help Rogue, so I would try one last time.
Any more problems.
Any more fuck ups.
And it was a promise that I wouldn’t regret breaking.
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About Stephanie Brother
Stephanie Brother writes scintillating stories
with step-siblings as their main romantic focus. She's always been curious about the forbidden, and this is her way of exploring such complex relationships that threaten to keep her couples apart. As she writes her way to her dream job, Ms. Brother hopes that her readers will enjoy the full emotional and romantic experience as much as she's enjoyed writing them.
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Dirty Sext (Accidental Stepbrother Book 3) Page 16