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“Nancy,” I say, and get a nod and a grin.
“So nice to meet you,” Laura says. “Your stepbrother? Seriously hot. I mean, oh my God.”
“Laura!” Bel laughs. “She’s not allowed to think that. Family, right?”
I feel the blush spread over my cheeks as Laura grins. Family doesn’t know how each other’s lips taste.
“He is, though. I’m not supposed to think it either, I just got engaged.” She flashes me her ring. “But if we’re discussing clauses and all that, I’m going to insist Stephan gives me a sex clause for Savage. Because if he’s asking, I’m not turning that down.”
Embarrassment wells up inside me, but also something else. Jealousy and rage.
How appropriate would it be for me to reach up and grab Laura by the hair and tell her to back the fuck off my brother?
“Laura, honestly! Those clauses are supposed to be for people you’ll never actually stand a chance with.”
“Like my stepbrother,” I say before I can stop myself.
And they both go silent. Then Bel starts to giggle.
“She’s got you there,” she says, and Laura pretends to glare at me, but I find myself laughing along with them.
And honestly? It’s nice. We chat for a bit, then the game starts.
I wince as one of the opposing team pins James up against the wall. A fight breaks out and Laura and Bel start shouting for him to kill his opponent. They’re literally saying “kill him”, and I watch in horror as James starts going at him with a fury so brutal, I wonder how this is legal.
One last punch is hard enough to knock him out as I hide my face behind my fingers, barely able to watch as a couple come in with three kids in tow.
Finally, a distraction from the re-newed thought that my stepbrother might actually be a psycho.
They’re adorable kids, but Bel nudges me and whispers under her breath. “Good thing your stepbrother isn’t here right now. He hates children. Always turns the other way or just pretends their not there. Sort of a dick move really.”
“Really?” I say, my heart falling to my feet. Your stepbrother is going to be playing the field his whole life. Men like him don’t settle down with families.”
“Says who?” Laura leans across both of us for a habanero wing.
“You think he’s the type to settle down?”
“All men are the type to settle down. They just have to meet the right woman, that’s all. He’s wild now, but one day, mark my words. Don’t you think so, Nancy?”
I nod and try to smile, but inside my stomach is roiling.
Everyone sees me as his family. And he’s not the type to settle down. Hates kids.
What have I gotten myself into?
CHAPTER 6
James
“Yeah,” I answer, not giving a shit about the game, which is dangerous. I played my ass off because I knew she was watching.
I always give my best, or that’s what I told myself, but with her here? I went next level.
“Three goals, man!” Rodney does a little round house punch into the air as we approach the VIP waiting area. I told the private concierge to settle my lil’ bit here during the suite clearing and cleanup process. She was to get her whatever she wanted until I cleaned up and came around.
The black eye one of the forwards from the other team gave me with his elbow when we went at it against the boards didn’t even register. With her around, I feel no pain.
Except for the pain in my balls that need to unload inside that cupid doll baby maker of hers.
“Nice game.” The voice from over my shoulder throws lukewarm water on my mood.
“Yeah, thanks.” I keep my voice even as Wayne Harold comes up from behind me, his duffel slung over his shoulder.
“Guess you got it in your head that the team captain is a possibility for you.” He blows out a long, condescending breath. “It’s good to have dreams, man. It’s cute.”
“Fuck off, Harold,” Rodney huffs. “Or is it Wayne? Interchangeable names are for dicks.”
He scoffs. “Brutal comeback, Rod-knee.” He snaps his tongue, thumbing his nose as he spins by, jogging backwards and shooting me with a finger gun and a cluck in his cheek. “I expect you to keep up that level of effort when coach makes me captain. You start slackin’, probably won’t be good for your career.”
I want to tell him to fuck off, but the sound of Nancy’s melodic voice steaming down the hall wipes away the bristling anger and replaces it with this heart clutching need to be close to her.
“That’s her,” I say, not even realizing I’m speaking as I quicken my steps and Rodney nods on a smile. “You wanna meet my new stepsister?”
I want to say my new wife, but I show incredible restraint and keep my manic lust on the down low for now.
