Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
I jog upstairs and go to my bedroom, shutting the door behind me before I toss myself onto the bed. With a groan of frustration, I roll to my back and stare up at the ceiling.
It’s just my luck. I finally have a connection with a man, and he ends up being my stepbrother. He’s off limits… no matter how much I wish he wasn’t.
CHAPTER 4
BAKER
My dad has his arms crossed over his chest, just watching me. I’ve never been able to hide things from him, and I’m not going to try to now. “What? Go ahead. Ask me.”
He gestures to the house. “She okay? Do you know who did that to her?”
“There was a fight at the Whistler. She was trying to break it up, and one guy pushed another and the guy took Cassie down with him when he fell. That’s how she got the bruise on the forehead.”
He chuckles, and I shake my head. “What’s funny about that, Dad?”
“Your sister. I swear she’s a spitfire. There’s not many women that would interfere with two grown men fighting.”
He’s right about that. She is a spitfire, and I’ve never met a woman like her. But I still hate that he’s referring to her as my sister. I don’t have any brotherly thoughts about her at all.
“You want to come in?”
I don’t… but I do.
I’ve only been back in town for a week, but I’ve avoided coming to see my dad and his new wife. The truth is, I don’t really care much for Brandi. I’ve tried to be nice to her, but it’s hard. I’d only been around her a few times before I went to Jasper for the undercover job, but those few times were enough to let me know that I want to limit my time with her. I was fortunate enough to miss the whole wedding performance since I was working undercover. But no matter how much I don’t want to see my stepmother, I don’t want to miss a chance to see Cassie.
“Sure. I’m still on my shift, but I can come in for a minute.”
My dad doesn’t try to hide his surprise. I follow behind him, and I’m holding my breath the whole way. In mere seconds, I’ll see Cassie again, and hopefully I can explain things to her.
I practically shove my dad to the side when I get in, hoping to see Cassie, but the only one sitting in the living room is Brandi.
She does a double-take when she sees me, and for just a brief moment I see the displeasure on her face. I know she doesn’t like that my dad and I are close, but she’s quick to hide it. “Baker… what a nice surprise. You doing okay?”
“Yeah… where’s Cassie?”
She turns back to the television. “Oh, she went out tonight.”
I roll my eyes as Dad starts to tell her about what happened. I wait for Brandi to express her concern or to get up and go check on her, but she does nothing except shrug her shoulders. “That girl. She’s always looking for trouble.”
I grit my teeth. Yep, I like her even less now.
“Hey, Dad, I’m going to use the restroom. I’ll be back.”
My dad gives me a knowing look. “Sure thing, son.”
I bypass the bathroom on the first floor and take the stairs two at a time. I walk down the hallway to the bedroom that I know Dad and Brandi had talked about giving Cassie when she came back from school. The door is shut, and I want to push it open, but I knock softly instead.
There’s a rustle behind the door, and then it swings open. Cassie gasps and rears backward. “Baker? What are you doing?”
I walk into her room and shut the door behind me. She’s already changed clothes, and I let my eyes trail down her body. The shorts and tank top do nothing to hide her from me. I fist my hands at my sides because I want to reach out, grab her by the hips, and pull her flush against me. “I had to make sure you were okay.”
She nods, eyes wide, looking between me at the closed door. She looks trapped, and I hold my hands up. “Hey, I’m sorry. I can leave.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Why didn’t you tell me that you… that we’re…” She blows out a big breath. “Why didn’t you tell me that you’re my stepbrother? I thought…”
I take a step toward her, wanting her to continue. “You thought what?”
She uncrosses her arms and slaps her hands on her thighs. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter now.”
I move before I can talk myself out of it. My hands go straight to her hips, and I pull her against me. She fits me perfectly, but I knew she would. “You thought that I was attracted to you… that I’m interested in you.”