Stepbrother Romance 2 - Consumed: A New Adult Alpha Billionaire Romance by Tawny Taylor Read Free Book Online

sweet, when you think of it. It isn’t as if he has to care about you or offer to help you at all. After all, his father and I were just married. You’re both adults. He could treat you like a stranger.”
    Maybe I would have preferred that, I told myself.
    Mom sighed. So did I. “This is the best I can offer.” She motioned to the puny loveseat. “Let me talk to Dirk and see if there are any other options.”
    “This is fine. I’ll make it work.” I scanned the tight space, trying to figure out where I would stash a few clothes and some personal items without cluttering up the place. It wasn’t going to be easy. It was hard to believe, but the carriage house was smaller than Mom’s apartment in Ferndale. I would more or less be living out of my car. But at least I wouldn’t be staying with a married man in his house. And I wouldn’t be breaking up my best friend’s marriage. “I’m going to quit my job in Ferndale. But I’ll look for a job out here right away, and as soon as I can afford a place of my own, I’ll get out of your hair.”
    Mom stood. “Okay. You can sleep here.” She smoothed back a strand of hair that had fallen out of my hastily-made ponytail and tucked it behind my ear. “To think you could have had that lovely house in Plymouth all to yourself.”
    “Mom, please don’t.”
    She lifted her hands. “Fine, fine. I won’t remind you of the beautiful historic home I’d picked out for you. With the lovely staircase and moldings and original stained glass windows.”
    “Mom.” I made a zipping motion across my mouth and she laughed.
    “Okay, I’m done. I won’t utter another word about the gorgeous French doors leading out to the gardens.”
    “Mom.” I burst out laughing.
    My mother was such a goof sometimes. But I loved her. With all my heart. If I could have told her the truth, she would have understood why I couldn’t stay in Kent’s house, or accept his gifts. But I just couldn’t. But the truth was too humiliating to even speak out loud.
     

 
     

Chapter 6
    When I was a little kid, I used to talk about how I couldn’t wait to be a “grown up.” Life would be wonderful when I hit that magical age. Absolutely perfect. I would have my own car. I would go wherever I wanted. I would do whatever I wanted. All I had to do was get to the age of eighteen--make that, twenty-two--and everything would fall into place.
    So much for that.
    My rose-colored glasses had been totally crushed.
    I was twenty-two and reality was all I saw. And it was nowhere as wonderful as I’d expected.
    My best friend wasn’t speaking to me because I’d run out on her when she needed me most. Of course she didn’t realize the real reason why I’d left--because her idiotic husband had tried to fuck me while she was in the hospital after having their baby.
    I was sleeping on a couch that wasn’t big enough for a toddler. I woke up with a stiff back and headache every morning.
    I still hadn’t found a decent job.
    The only thing that had gone decently for me was that I had been spared seeing my lying, scumbag of a stepbrother, Kent, since I’d returned to his property. But I knew today I wouldn’t be so lucky. Today Mom and her husband were hosting a big party and Kent would be there.
    Oh, joy. 
    I dosed up on caffeine then took a shower. I considered going without makeup but opted instead to take some time to look decent. Dirk had a lot of friends. With any luck, some of them might be my age. It was highly unlikely, but what the hell? I was young. I was single. Why not make the best of what was likely to be a miserable day? Right?
    Wearing a cute dress and sandals, I helped Mom with the last minute preparations. Staying busy helped with the butterflies. Before I knew it, the guests were arriving, and Mom and Dirk were greeting them with hugs and enthusiastic exclamations. I stood nearby, watching, on the lookout for anyone my age. So far the closest was a guy who still had most of his hair.