ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (140 page)

Namir shook his head and walked into the kitchen.  Greta was sitting at the glass table dabbing at her eyes.  She reached for Namir’s hand. 

“Oh, Namir, this is…this is terrible.”

“Did you know?”

“No!  I only came into Taylor’s life when she was fifteen!  I came right after Mr. Randall died.”  

Namir knew she was telling the truth.  “Walk outside with me.”  Namir took the leash from where it was hanging by the back door, and called for the even subdued Lancelot to come to him.  He hooked the leash and held the door for Greta.  The evening was cool and held moisture in the air that promised rain.  They walked into the backyard. 

“Do you know what they are?”  Namir studied her profile in the dark. 

“Yes.  The wee folk.  The Fey.”

“They’re dark Fey, and that makes them very dangerous.”

Greta nodded in the darkness. 

“Here’s what I don’t get.  If Taylor is that woman’s daughter, how can I not tell what she is?”

Greta walked towards the pool and stared into the dark water.  “There’s stories of the wee folk stealing babies.  There are also stories of their children being left on the doorsteps of humans.  These fairy children are raised with humans and most never know the difference.  They might seem a little odd is all.” 

“Have you ever suspected anything of Taylor?”

Greta looked up at him and shook her head.  “Once I did, but it was a fleeting thing that lasted minutes only.” 

“What did she do?”

“It was a look that passed her face.  I…I can’t describe it.  It looked…otherworldly.” 

Namir sighed.  “I can’t feel it in her.” 

“You can’t feel it, because it’s been suppressed.  You won’t feel it, until she’s realized it for herself.”  

“Do you think they have anything to do with the stalking?”

“I don’t know.  They are foolish to come here and say all that if they are the ones.”  Greta looked at him with pity.  “Taylor is upset now, but it won’t last.  She loves you.”

“I hope so.”  Namir felt like he was choking.  

Constantine had her hands wrapped around a coffee mug, her eyes glassy and swollen.  Namir looked at her briefly before walking to the coffee pot and pouring his own mug.  He didn’t bother with the usual accoutrements, he wanted it strong and black.

Namir leaned a hand against the counter and sipped the coffee, his eyes on Constantine.  “Where’s Jason and Greta?”

“Jason took her to the grocery store.”  She didn’t move, keeping her head straight head. 

“Has Taylor been down?”  Namir knew the answer, but wanted to see if Constantine was locked in her own self-pity, or was paying attention to what Taylor was going through.  He winced at the memory of her sobs filtering through her closed door.  Namir had sat in front of that door for over three hours the night before hoping she would come out.

Constantine shook her head, raising her mug to her mouth. 

Namir came to the table and pulled a chair out.  “I want you to explain all of this to me, Constantine.”

“Why?”

Namir slammed his hand flat on the table, causing her to jump.  “Because I love her!  That’s why!”

Constantine fluttered her eyes towards him.  Namir had never seen her look so bad.  Her red hair stuck out in odd angles, and for once she actually looked like she was nearly forty five.

She began, her words leaking out in a tired manner.  “I can’t have children.  Tony didn’t care.  He was ten years older than me.”  She shook her head sadly.  “He told me we could adopt…or not.  He said he was happy either way.” 

“If he was so happy, why did he cheat?”  Namir ran a finger idly along the rim of his mug. 

“Because…men just do.” 

“I won’t.”  He lifted his eyes.  Constantine met his gaze briefly before looking away. 

“Good.  Taylor will need someone strong in her life to take care of her.”

“Taylor’s stronger than you think and give her credit for.” 

Constantine sighed.  “I’m starting to see that.”

“How did adoption come up?”

Constantine’s mouth twisted bitterly.  “I suppose the idea came along because his mistress was pregnant.  Tony just ran into it head first.  I thought it was because he wanted to give me the daughter I had dreamed of.”  Her eyes met his again, pooled with fresh tears.  Namir had a moment of pity for her.  “It was all a set up.” 

“And Jason?”

Constantine wiped her face and made a shooing gesture.  “Jason adored my husband.  He would have ate his own crap if Tony had asked him to.  I’m sure he thought he was helping with a good thing.” 

“Jason was young.  Maybe he didn’t know better.” 

“He didn’t.  He was fresh out of high school.  Tony had met him waiting tables and saw potential.”  Constantine smiled lightly.  “He definitely lived up to the expectations.”

Namir ran a hand over his face.  “What now?”

“Now?”  She barked a laugh.  “Now, I move into my apartment, and you and Taylor can pick up the pieces.” 

“Maybe.”

Constantine shot him a hard look, and grabbed his forearm.  “You must help her!”  She leaned back, letting his arm go.  “No one else has.”  Constantine stood and walked out of the kitchen, leaving her coffee behind.

“Taylor?”  Namir held his breath as he waited for her to respond.  When she didn’t he tried to door, surprised to find it unlocked.  He stuck his head in the room and saw her sitting in her desk chair by the window.  Her knees were pulled into her chest, and she absently scratched Lancelot’s head.  The dog looked back at Namir and whined softly.  Even he felt Taylor’s pain.  She was like a planet and all else simply orbited around her. 

“Can I come in?”

“Don’t care.”

Namir felt her indifference like a knife.  Don’t care.  God, please make her care.  He came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, massaging lightly.  Taylor lifted her head and looked at him. 

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?  You didn’t do anything wrong.”

She lowered her head.  “I didn’t want you in the room last night.” 

Namir shrugged, hoping she wouldn’t detect the pain he still felt, the fear he that nearly suffocated him.  “I knew you needed space.” 

“I really hate all of this.”  Her voice was small and distant, like she was far off trying to reach him. 

“You had quite a few shocks yesterday.” 

“Yeah.” 

“Are we…”  Namir stopped to clear his throat.  “Are we good?”

Taylor put her feet on the floor and turned in the chair.  She rubbed Lancelot’s head before looking up at him.  “We’re fine, Namir.  You weren’t the problem.”

He couldn’t help but smile.  “I thought…”

“You thought because you had to tell me that you’re a werewolf that it would change things?”

“After hearing…all the other stuff on top of it, yeah, I was worried.” 

Taylor stood and put her arms around his neck.  She brushed his chin lightly with her lips.  “It’s fine.  Really.” 

“Greta went to the grocery store.  I think she’ll try to do your birthday tonight.” 

Taylor let go of him.  “I don’t care about my birthday.”  She turned and grinned.  “Well, I care about the money.  I think we’ll visit Mr. Breslow and get the funds taken care of.”

“Ok.”  Namir was still unsteady.  He looked at Taylor wandering her room, randomly touching things like she was undecided and lost.  He needed something concrete to help her.  He needed something concrete to help himself. 

Namir walked to her and pulled her against him.  He buried his head in her messy tangled hair.  “Marry me.” 

Taylor’s laugh was like wind chimes, soft and whimsical.  “I already told you yes.”  She pulled away and held her left hand in front of his face.  “See, I have the ring to prove it.”

Namir’s face was dark and earnest.  “No, I mean now.  Let’s not wait.”

Taylor’s smile faded, her pale gray eyes growing large.  “What?”

“I’m serious, Taylor.  I don’t want to wait.”  He felt excitement building in him.  “I want it to be real…right now.  I want you to be Taylor Stone.  I want our life together to start.”  He took her hand and pulled her to him, moving his hips so that they were fit together perfectly.  His dark eyes stared into hers.  “I want you in my bed.” 

Taylor smile spread and she laughed out loud.  “What are we going to do?  Run off to Vegas?”

“Absolutely.”

“What if I want to get married here?”

“Then we’ll get a license, get a preacher, and do it here.”

Taylor laughed again. 

“Please say yes.”  The burn in Namir’s chest was threatening to devour him. 

Taylor stepped back and looked at him with scrutiny.  She had seen Namir intense (Namir was intense as a general rule) but that was different.  Right then she saw hunger.  She saw need.  She saw love.

“You can’t just go to Vegas!”  Greta complained as she put celery and carrots in the refrigerator. 

“Sure we can!”  Namir laughed and out his arms around Taylor from behind.

Greta pouted.  “But I wanted a wedding.” 

Taylor shook Namir’s arms free, and came to Greta, taking both of her hands in hers.  Greta had been more of a mother than Constantine had.  She had served them faithfully since her father had died. 

“Then we’ll have a wedding.” 

“Really?”  Greta grinned. 

“Yes.  But small.  Just you, Jason, Constantine, and Namir’s mother.”

Namir’s grin vanished.  “My mother?”

“Yes.  I’ll pay for the plane ticket, don’t worry.”

Namir felt like an ass.  He hadn’t even told his mother he was engaged.  He hadn’t spoken to his mother in a year. 

“Taylor…things with my mother aren’t exactly right.”

Taylor put her arm around Greta’s shoulder.  “So?  This will be a perfect opportunity to make it right.”

Constantine cleared her throat.  No one had noticed her standing in the kitchen doorway.  She tried to smile.  Taylor noticed her garish red lipstick was gone, and her hair was brushed straight and held neatly at the nap of her neck. 

“I couldn’t help but overhear…and” She struggled with her words.  “I would like to help if that’s alright.” 

Namir’s mouth fell open, and he was happy to see Jason’s was too.  Taylor, on the other hand, was more graceful. 

“Ok.  That would be nice of you.” 

Constantine visibly relaxed.  “I’d like to have some time to talk with you, Taylor, if you’re not busy.” 

Taylor glanced at Namir, and he gave her a nearly unperceivable nod.

“Sure.  Let’s walk in the back yard.”

Taylor and Constantine left through the back door.  Jason, looked at Namir and Greta with an odd face.  “Wow.  If she keeps this behavior up, Constantine will be the new Mrs. Jason Jones.”  He smiled wanly.  “After the current Mrs. Jason Jones finishes divorcing me, of course.” 

Namir watched Taylor and Constantine from the glass patio doors.  He hated spying, but he was still Taylor’s body guard, fiancé or not.  They had been out there, meandering to and fro through the back yard for almost an hour, with Lancelot running back and forth around them.  A few times Taylor had thrown her hands up in the air, and he could see her mouth working rapidly.  At those moments Constantine looked like she wanted to be her usual self, but had reigned it in, giving Taylor a penitent look instead. 

Namir saw them stop, and Taylor wrapped her arms around Constantine’s neck.  He turned his head and saw that Jason was still sitting at the kitchen table. 

“You know what I don’t get?”

“What’s that, Namir?” 

“How has the stalker gotten her new cell number every time you changed it?”

Jason lifted his head and shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I’ve wondered that very thing all along.” 

Namir turned his head back to the women and saw that they were returning to the house.  He was sure they had seen him watching, but he moved away from the doors anyway.

“Whenever you changed it, who received the number?” 

Jason thought for a moment.  “Well, let’s see…myself obviously, Constantine, Greta, and Breslow.” 

“No one else?”

“Umm…no.  Not that I know of.” 

Namir’s eyes darkened.  He tried to wipe the look away as the two women walked happily through the door.  Taylor looked at him oddly. 

“Are you ok?”

“Just fine.”  Namir said tightly, and put his arm around her waist.

“Well, I have news.” 

“What’s that?”

“Mother is staying.  She’s giving us the suite of rooms and taking my old room.”

“Or she could stay in the pool house.”  Jason wriggled his eyebrows. 

Constantine rolled her eyes, and turned her attention to Namir.  “I hope this is alright with you, Namir.” 

Namir kept his face straight.  “Whatever Taylor wants to do is fine with me.”