A Night With My Stepbrother

sickle moon. A salty breeze rolled through the balcony, cool against Isabe

eeded

lled. She couldn't breathe in there. Not with the echo of hi

r open behind her. But she felt

his slacks. The only sound between them was the quiet hush of wa

moment, not looking at each ot

it gets uncomfortab

"Only when I'm try

to k

turned to face him. "Why

ack in with more accusations," he sa

?" she snapped. "Must be ex

rrowed. "Do

wh

e none of th

ouder now. "I just didn't come here

tepping closer. "You t

ck. "I didn't know anything. I danced for you because I thought

irl desperate for attenti

hit harder than she ex

s not

ight with someone who never told me who she really was. And now

ed, jaw

he challenged. "Frea

dn't

asked. "That I knew you'd be h

silen

spered. "You real

, unblinking. "You're y

t s

wing hard. "You don't know

iently obsessed with 'family unity' right when we're closing on international real estate. And I know a gir

ed at him,

breathed. "You really think I'd sell myself j

Desperate enough to do something reckless. And

back like he

urned. Her v

r mother. Not for mine. For me. Because I couldn't keep living on tips

ro didn'

p me. You didn't ask who I was. You did

s expression unread

cracking now. "Real ones. Not because I was trying to trap

ng the balcony rail lik

o me," she whispered. "Yo

etched again, t

e didn't touch her-but he was close enough that

as off," he said fi

oked a

there," he continued. "You moved like som

eath c

id. "You looked terrifie

w how," she a

"Why did you agree t

ilence," she said. "Vivian said

orless smile.

trailed off, then shook h

ce, watching the ti

uched you," he said

ust as soft. "You

didn't m

her again, lo

t of women, Is

sideways glan

"I'm just saying-I've never w

his hand brushing hers w

il y

thudded

gainst her temple. Hi

someone I couldn'