Stepping Over the Line: A Stepbrother Novel (Shamed) (22 page)

A few more pumps and she cried out her release, and then I was done, too, surging life inside her. No one would be happier than me if she were to carry my child all over again. She clung to me, and I clung to her and together we finally found peace. And it was good. And our labels of stepbrother and stepsister no longer mattered because we’d mutually let them go.

I hadn’t planned on spending the night.

But come morning, I woke entangled in Garrett’s arms and legs and smiled. Last night had really happened. We’d told our parents the truth and Dad hadn’t suffered a repeat heart attack and my mother was still speaking to me—sort of. But that darkness was behind us and for now, all I wanted to see was light.

The sun’s first fragile glow filtered through tall, lace-covered windows. The filigreed pattern decorated the wood floor and was so pretty I couldn’t stop smiling—about not just the room, but everything. Who knew whether or not our parents would forgive us? What mattered was that Garrett and I had fully forgiven each other.

I was Garrett’s little spoon, and my favorite naughty part of him seemed glad to see me.

“Good morning,” he rumbled into my ear.

“Yes, it is very good.”

“There’s a question that’s been bugging me…”

My stomach knotted. “Oh?”

He kissed a trail down my spine. “How did you get in here last night?”

I exhaled. When would I learn to stop looking for trouble when there was none? “Don’t you remember that Christmas when Dad rented the whole place? And we were messing around and discovered any key opens any lock?”

I rolled over to find him smiling. “I thought they would have fixed that by now.”

“Apparently not.” I kissed him at my leisure. “Want me to leave, then you can pretend to be asleep and I can pretend to be a naughty maid intent on pillaging you?”

“Sounds good, but first let me do this…”

He rolled me onto my back, then drove deep inside me, and I was too lost in the dreamy world of our own creation to think of anything other than him.

An hour later, after making love and then sharing a room service breakfast, Garrett said, “That was some speech Violet made. Can you imagine how mad Mom and Dad would have been had we gotten busy when I’d still been in high school? I’m pretty sure I’d have been shipped off to the military, and you’d still be locked in a convent.”

“True. But they’ll probably be cool about us now, don’t you think?”

He grunted. “Time will tell. My hope is that Dad wasn’t putting on a show for Violet, and isn’t just waiting to attack later.”

I laughed. “Quit being a worrywart. You’re starting to sound like me.”

He kissed the top of my head. “Don’t think you’re off the hook for your many transgressions. I’m still mad about all those times you pranced around in boy shorts. I had blue balls for years. As penance, I’m going to need a lot of servicing…”

“Hush!” Cheeks blazing, I wrangled around to face him. “You can’t say things like that. Mom and Dad might eventually be reasonably accepting, but let’s take this slow. I don’t think they’re ready for bedroom talk.”

“Wonder if they’re ready for this?” He kissed me, and kept on kissing me until I realized I didn’t care who saw. All I cared about was the wonderful, amazing, spellbound way he made me feel.

“Damn, Garrett…” Fifteen minutes before I said my Valentine’s Day wedding vows to Savannah, Liam slapped my back. “You told us you were from down south, but I didn’t think that meant you were southern enough to marry your sister.” He winked.

I growled. “Ha-ha.”

“I’m just messing with you, man. Congratulations.”

“Seriously,” Owen adjusted my black bow tie. “In all the years we’ve been friends, I’ve never seen you smile as much as you have the past few days. Natalie and I are both real happy for you.”

“Thanks, guys. For not only standing up for me, but putting up with me. I know I used to be a mean bastard, but being with Cook and Savannah, and watching our little girl grow inside her…” I couldn’t speak past the knot in my throat. I used to pride myself on never shedding tears, but now, I cried all the damn time. Savannah said it was good that I was finally developing feelings, but I worried it was a sign that I was losing my Man Card. I was actually kind of glad she’d opted to open her last letter from her birth father—the one he’d written for her to read on her wedding day—tonight, when we were alone after the reception.

After reading it, we’d both probably be a wreck.

“Dad!” Cook practically exploded through the church’s dressing room door. “Mommy says get this road on the show!”

Liam asked, “You mean show on the road?”

Cook, looking beyond adorable in his miniature tux, cocked his head. “Maybe? I think I forgot.”

“That’s okay, bud.” I lifted him to plant a kiss on his sticky cheek. “You smell sweet.”

“Mom has cupcakes in her fancy room!”

“She does? No fair.” I tickled him and his laugh fueled my soul. “Let’s go get those cupcakes.”

“Yeah!”

“I’m in…” Liam high-fived Cook.

Owen said, “Nat’s got me on another diet. I could down about fourteen cupcakes.”

Ella and Carol were next through the door.

Carol said, “If I wasn’t seeing this with my own eyes, I’d never believe it. Garrett Marsden with a son, gorgeous fiancée, and an honest-to-goodness smile.”

“Cut me some slack.” I jiggled Cook. “But for the record,” I kissed Carol’s cheek, then Ella’s, “I’m sorry. Without Savannah…” My damned throat tightened again. “I was lost.”

“You’re not lost, Daddy!” Cook squeezed my neck. “I’ve got you!”

“Yes, you do.” And I was elated to have been
found.

Carol herded all of us to the cathedral-like Julep chapel where I had been christened. My stepmom had taken her wedding planning duties seriously and had the place decked out in thousands of barely pink roses—save for the altar. That was decorated with red roses she’d told us was to symbolize our love. As I stood near it with my two oldest friends, Liam and Owen, holding my son in my arms, and looking out at the pews crowded with old family friends and my already teary-eyed parents, I didn’t think my heart was capable of feeling fuller. But then the organist began the wedding march, and Violet, Kenya, and Mary marched down the center aisle. When Savannah appeared, my heart raced with anticipation.

Had there ever been a more gorgeous bride?

No one except for immediate family and our closest friends knew she was expecting. We’d tell the world soon, but for now it was our fun secret. She’d had to make a last-minute dress alteration for her gown to fit over her baby bump. When I’d cupped my hand to her belly last night before our last kiss as singles, she’d complained about looking too fat. I’d told her she could be as big as a house and I’d love her the same.

When she finally reached me at the altar, her smile rocked my world.

“Sure about this?” she whispered.

I whispered back, “I’m sure about
you.
”

“Dad?” Cook said in his loudest outdoor voice. “Are you gonna kiss Mom?”

All present laughed.

And before our wedding, in front of our son, family, friends, and God, I kissed my stepsister who would soon be my wife….

For my Hannah. You’ve overcome so much, and have the world spread before you. I can’t wait to watch the dazzling woman you become….xoxo

Control

Possess

The Escort

Stepping Over the Line

PHOTO: BRENDA HORAN

L
AURA
M
ARIE
A
LTOM
is the author of more than fifty books in three different genres. Now that her kids are done with college, Laura spends her days writing and chasing after a menagerie of pets: a mini long-haired dachshund named Cocoa, a Yorkie named Chewie, a mutt named Sweet Pea, a GIANT kitty named Foxy, and Domino—a black-and-white stealth cat she rarely sees. She’s happily married to her college sweetheart (go, Hogs!), and when night falls, Laura steals a few romantic moments for herself with her own hunky cover stud.

lauramariealtom.com

Facebook.com/LauraMarieAltom

@LauraMarieAltom

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It’s a great month for relationships, so follow us on Facebook and Twitter and let the romance begin!

Until next month ~Happy Romance!

Gina Wachtel

Associate Publisher