by Parker, Ali
"No, I don't mind answering. I think Linda was someone Mr. Bryant, Damon's father, hired. I honestly didn't think Damon was dating anyone, but it's good to hear. He needs to spend a little bit of time away from this place. His dad is looking at retiring in a few years, and Damon is the next in line, I guess."
"What about Seattle? Did you work for them up there or for someone else?"
"Them. They have a small accounting shop up there, mostly taxes, but it's a good learning experience. I'm originally from Seattle, so it was a natural transition to go to work for them. Damon and I spent some time in college together, though he's a lot older than me. He was a Kappa Alpha, and I was pledging his last year as president."
"He was Kappa Alpha?" Totally made sense.
"Yeah, we both were." He shrugged and looked around the empty office. "You need to put your diploma and a few pictures up in here. You dating as well?"
"Me? No. I wish … I just haven't found the right guy."
"I hear you. I'm looking for the right girl, but when you put in a million hours, it's hard to meet her." He paused and let his gaze fall back on Bethany. "Did Damon do something that made you uncomfortable, or were you just questioning his loving on blondes?"
She stood, stretching and reaching up to cover her mouth as she yawned.
"He just said a few things that seemed kind of … suggestive, but maybe that's because I don't know him. He's my stepbrother or will be soon, so I’m just trying to figure out who he is."
Ben laughed and moved back to the door, looking over his shoulder. "He's a great guy, very professional. If he seems to be flirtatious, it's just because he's a friendly guy. Half the interns would sell their souls to the devil to have him glance at them, but he's just not willing. I've never heard him say, or seen him do, anything that would cause me to question his ethics."
"Very good. I'm happy to be here, and I'm in for Thursday."
"Call if you need anything. You have lunch plans today?"
"I'm going to catch up on getting this stuff together. I had a huge breakfast."
"Suit yourself. I'll see you later, I'm sure. Just down the hall if you need me."
"Thanks, Ben."
She smiled and waited until he was gone before plopping down in her chair. Ben would have a heart attack if she repeated the panty conversation she'd overheard. He'd been playing with her, talking like that in front of her. He wasn't the perfectly professional guy that Ben thought he was. Did that make him a creep?
Maybe he was just interested in her.
"He's your stepbrother, for fuck’s sake."
She growled and turned to her computer, her phone buzzing with a new text message. It was her mother letting her know that they'd be having company for dinner. Her new brother would be dropping by to get to know Bethany better.
Damon was coming to dinner?
"Crap," she whispered. The handsome alpha was already on her mind much more than she was comfortable with. Too bad she wasn't blonde. She tugged at a strand of her hair, wondering what she'd look like as a blonde.
She rolled her eyes at her wayward thoughts and dove into the complicated accounting technology the firm used—no guide available or needed.
Chapter 7
Bethany
Bethany packed up at around six, grumbling over the fact that her mother had called twice during the last hour of work. She placed her laptop into the nice black bag that they’d left for her, which had the firm logo embroidered into it.
Nervousness tugged at her stomach as she walked through the halls, her eyes moving about to ensure that if Damon walked out of an open office, she'd be prepared to encounter him.
He probably thought she was a child, a young girl with too many brains and not enough courage to speak up. She should have called his ass on the rug for talking with his girlfriend inappropriately in front of her, but truth be known, she could only dream of a man like him demanding something of her.
Her pathetic friendship with Jake rolled across her thoughts as she walked languidly to the elevator. She squeezed in as the doors opened and had to apologize when she stepped on a beautiful red-haired girl’s toe. The girl, who was about Bethany’s age, merely huffed.
Bethany turned and put her hands in front of her waist, clasping her fingers together and trying to not take up too much space.
The door opened, and she moved out, Jake on her mind again. He had been a great guy and yet had no drive to reach out and press her to a wall. He had wanted her for the last two years, she knew without a doubt, and yet he never pressed her to do anything with him. Maybe if he had, things would have been different between them. She didn't want an alpha male dick forcing her to do anything, but a dominant male putting himself out there with commands and demands that only she could fulfill?
She groaned softly at the thought.
* * *
The ride home was quick, the sun still shining late into the Texas evening. Bethany pulled up to Kent's large home. The circle drive was ornate, and the house was framed by vibrant pink roses. The white brick gave the house a regal appearance, not to mention the bellboy who opened her door and took her keys from her. He was a few years younger than her and horribly shy. He spoke quickly; his eyes averted as if he were warned not to look at her.
She thanked him and walked into the house, her mom walking down the hall toward her with a huge grin on her face.
"There's my working girl. Tell me all about it!" Her mother stopped in front of her, pulling her into a tight hug.
Bethany returned the gesture, feeling as if she were eight again and had just gotten home from elementary school. Her mom had a way of ushering in memories, good and bad.
"It was great. Met some new friends and got invited to go out Thursday night with the other interns. Should be fun." She moved back from her mom, looking toward the kitchen and breathing in deeply. "You said my new stepbrother was coming by tonight? We talking about Damon?"
"Nope. The handsome one," a male voice sounded behind her.
Bethany turned and smiled at the tall, goofy-looking guy that moved toward her. He was cute in his own way, his body a bit fluffier than she might like, but his blond hair and blue eyes made up for it. The smile on his face was beautiful and reached to his eyes, the brightness in those eyes making Bethany return the gesture.
She extended her hand as her mother introduced them. "Bethany, you're almost-stepbrother Matthew."
Matthew moved past her hand and pulled her up into a big hug, Bethany wrapping her arms around him and looking at her mom as the big guy squeezed the air from her lungs.
"Matt, put her down, Son." Kent walked out of the study to their left as Matthew sat Bethany down, her laughter feeling good—right.
"It's okay. I like hugs. I just haven't had such a big one before."
Matt winked and looked toward Kent. "Time to eat. The appetizers are all done." He extended his bent arm toward Bethany and bowed slightly. "Care to accompany me, my lady?"
She smiled at Kent as he started to respond again, her mother stepping up to hush him.
Matt had something a little off about him, but Bethany didn't mind at all. He was the exact opposite of Damon, which left her a little curious about their moms. Perhaps they only shared one parent.
"I'm thinking we have bruschetta with those little toasts and nachos for the starter." He looked down at her and smiled. "You're very pretty. I guess I'll have to buy a gun or get a big stick to beat the boys back from you."
She laughed and walked into the kitchen, letting his arm go as she took a seat at the bar that looked over the large room. Martha, the cook, looked over her shoulder and smiled at them.
"Matthew, get out the ranch from the refrigerator. The girl is more than capable of taking care of herself. No need to play the role of the overprotective brother to a girl who’s in her twenties, the age when you're actually looking to get married."
"Oh, she's not looking to get married. She's a career woman, Martha." Bethany's mom moved up bes
ide her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as Kent moved into the kitchen.
"Smart girl. The career first and then a love life." He turned and almost ran into Matthew, the scowl on his face leaving Bethany with the impression that perhaps his younger son wasn't his favorite of the two.
"Thank you again for the chance at McKenzie and Bryant. I had a great day today and enjoyed meeting Damon."
Matt sighed loudly, a silly smile on his lips as Kent looked over at him with a warning on his features.
"You met Damon? God help you. Was he an ass, or did he put his mask on?" Matt pulled at the air in front of him, pretending to slip on a mask before he started to prance around the kitchen like a villain of sorts.
Bethany couldn't help but chuckle as her mom responded with the same sound beside her.
"I did, and I liked him."
Bethany shrugged as Matt turned to her, his hands pressing against his hips as he cocked his head to the side.
"Everyone loves Damon. He's the handsome, smart one."
"You're handsome too. Did you take your meds? You are awfully hyper today, boy." Martha poked at Matt with the end of a wooden spoon before moving to fill the counter in front of Bethany with appetizers.
She reached up and started to dig in, Matt moving in beside her as her mother moved toward Kent.
"Well, Damon is a little rough around the edges, but he was quite impressed by you, which is saying a lot." Kent looked over at Bethany as he popped a carrot in his mouth.
"That's good to hear. I think I'm going to enjoy learning from him."
"Yes, well, let's hope that's all you do. He's crazy about a girl with dark hair and green eyes," Matt said as Kent reached over and popped him with a towel.
"Leave your brother alone. He's not here to defend himself from your empty accusations. Besides, Bethany is going to be his sister. He has limits to his actions—mostly."
Bethany found herself shocked at the notion that Damon hadn't been smitten with the various blondes that seemed to populate most of the office. Ben had filled her in on the fact that Linda, Damon's beautiful secretary, was Kent's hire and not Damon's. Not that it mattered at all. He was off limits, he was taken, and he was family.
Matt picked up a few nachos, balancing them on his hand as he nodded toward the back patio.
"Let's go watch the sunset. I love how well you can see it from the terrace here. My place is in the city, so there isn't much to see above the smog." He smiled and moved toward the back door.
Bethany grabbed a small plate and loaded it up with enough nachos for both of them before joining him. Her mom called after her to be careful, but she ignored it. Be careful of what? The mosquitoes?
Matt walked out and held the door for her, moving to the side and reaching to steal a nacho from her plate. They walked to the end of the terrace, two large lounge chairs sitting there as if waiting on them.
"It's beautiful out here." The energy in Matt's voice dimmed, his spirit seeming much calmer than only moments ago.
She sat down and looked over at him; his expression was filled with peace.
"You okay?"
"Yeah." He smiled at her, reaching for the plate. "I just act like a spaz in front of my father. I hate the idea of wearing a suit and working in a high-rise building, no offense. I act like a goober, and he doesn't consider me when something comes open. He focuses on Damon, and I have my freedom."
It made so much sense. She smiled at how well he'd played his cards.
Taking a small bite of the nacho in her fingers she looked out at the long stretch of property before them, the crimson sun tugging the colors of evening toward the edge of the world with its descent.
"I love accounting and don't mind the big buildings, I guess."
"I love drawing and painting. I'm the artsy one in the family. My mother was a painter, so at least I get it honestly." He shrugged and sat back, handing the plate back to her with only two nachos left.
She laughed, and he turned his head toward her. "What?"
"You ate most of our snack. Pig."
He laughed loudly, the sound causing her to laugh too. Matt was exactly the kind of guy she could see herself being a sister to. Damon, on the other hand, was the farthest stretch of her sensual fantasies and going to be trouble, but Matt … he was a big kid. Good thing she still felt like one herself most days of the week.
"I was hungry." He reached over and pushed at her shoulder playfully. "Tell me for realz. Did you like Damon? Was he nice or rude as all get out?"
"He was professional, sort of. I mean he wasn't rude but very much focused on business."
"What do you mean ‘sort of professional’? Did he hit on you?"
Her throat tightened; the idea of talking about the conversation with his real brother and Matt perhaps telling Damon that she'd mentioned it was more than she could bear.
Honestly, the conversation had turned her on, and more than once that afternoon she'd imagined him forbidding her to wear panties under her black pencil skirt. Her body burned at the idea of someone with the balls to demand something of the sort. A touch of jealousy hit her as she thought of the girl on the phone, sitting with Damon at a restaurant.
"Hello … earth to Beth."
"Sorry. He just had a conversation with his girlfriend that was, well, it was sexy."
"He doesn't have a girlfriend."
"I'm pretty sure he does." Bethany picked up a chip and offered him the plate, Matt grabbing the last one and eating it quickly as if she might change her mind.
"Whatever you say, but I know my brother, and he's commitment phobic."
* * *
Bethany and Matt chatted for a few more minutes before dinner was served. She wanted so badly to ask him about his mom, as he had briefly mentioned her, but she let it slide. Now wasn't the time, in the middle of a family dinner. As soon as dessert was cleared, Matt stood and stretched, promising to come back the next night for dinner if they would have him. His father assured him he would.
Bethany stood and offered her bent arm to Matt. "Might I walk you to the door, sir?"
"Most certainly, my lady."
He took her arm and walked with her, skipping here and there to keep his mental act up. They stopped at the door, and he turned to her, pulling her into another breath-depleting bear hug. She laughed as he sat her down and tipped a fake hat.
"Behave, as much as possible, and if not, pretend it's because you didn't take your meds." He winked and slipped out the door, Bethany thrilled to have him as an almost member of her family. He was just what she needed.
Damon, on the other hand, wasn't.
Chapter 8
Bethany
Bethany showered quickly before blow drying her long chestnut hair, the straightener a godsend in the Texas summer heat. She finished getting her hair to behave and put on a little makeup before walking into her adjoining room and getting dressed. A light blue suit with cream-colored lapels and lining made her look like a fashion icon from the fifties. It was elegant and yet demanded attention. She put on her favorite earrings and slipped on her cream-colored heels, the height of them accentuating her leg muscles. She loved feeling pretty and yet couldn't seem to find a reason to dress up most days of the week.
Her internship was going to spoil her.
Bethany walked to the kitchen, Martha handing her a plate with two breakfast tacos and salsa on it. She moved the plate to her face and breathed in deeply, the smell divine. Her stomach protested loudly, and she sat down at the bar for a quick breakfast. She didn't notice Martha watching her as she ate quickly, her concern not getting anything on her outfit.
"You haven't had the easiest of lives, have you, Miss?"
Bethany looked up, slowing her rapid chewing a little and reaching for the silky white napkin sitting beside her. She wiped her lips and reached to pick up her orange juice. She took a quick sip and sighed with relief, her gaze moving to the older Hispanic woman as she smiled.
"My father was a drug deale
r and took everything from us when I was twelve. My mom's worked very hard to try and put food on the table, but most days it was just one meal. I'm not sure I want to get used to eating again, though."
"Why is that?"
"It hurts too much when it's gone again." Bethany rubbed at her chest, just above her heart. She had dealt with poverty so long that surely it was just around the corner in this new fairy tale and would jump out and cause everything to crash down around them.
"You don't have to worry about that, child. Mr. Bryant loves your mom."
"My dad said he did too. Who knows, right? Better to prepare for the worst and find yourself pleasantly surprised than hope for something that never comes."
"Well, I think that's pretty negative, but I'll keep my opinion to myself. You want another taco, sweetie?"
"No. I won't fit in my suit if you keep feeding me, Martha."
"Then we'll buy you another one."
The chef laughed and moved to busy herself with something on the stove as Bethany finished her breakfast, enjoying it to the last bit that she licked from her fingers. It was weird to be in the midst of wealth after such a long life of wanting for everything.
One thing was for sure—Bethany would never end up with someone who was rich. They wouldn't have anything in common. While a wealthy guy might be great for entertainment and sex, chances of him understanding her were slim. She couldn't shake the image of Damon from her thoughts, angst pressing against her at the idea that her new stepbrother was becoming her go-to fantasy.
"I need meds. I'll call Matthew." She smiled and slipped out of the house into the muggy mid-August morning.
The morning was less than eventful, Bethany feeling the pressure of anxiety over her lunch with Damon coming up so quickly. She was supposed to meet him at his office at a quarter till eleven, and it was just a few minutes after ten. She checked her watch for the tenth time before getting up and walking toward the women's restroom. She would get a few assignments from Damon during lunch, and then she was slated to work with Ben a little that afternoon on a new service they were thinking about offering in the near future.