Stepbrother, Mine

by Mandy Lou Dowson

  Alex led him through the upper floors, showing off her own interior design with a proud grin. It was great work, but he found he couldn't quite drum up the same enthusiasm for it. He had no emotional stake in whether or not Alex did a good job – unfortunate and slightly mean, but true. He found himself smiling in all the right places, and nodding when he needed to nod, but saying very little.

  “Well what do you think?” she asked, once more descending the staircase an hour later, the full tour apparently over with. “Isn't it all just fab?”

  “Fab, yes,” he replied, allowing her to pull him to a stop half-way down.

  She licked her lips, her expression glued to his own mouth. “I can't wait for tomorrow,” she admitted, her voice low and husky.

  “It will be fun,” he supplied, feeling panic well up in his chest. She looked slightly aroused, and he felt guilty as hell for putting her in this position, but he couldn't very well tell her she was effectively a beard, could he? He couldn't have less interest in her sexually if he were, in fact, batting for the other team.

  She leaned forward, snaking her arms around his neck. “It will be perfect,” she rasped, planting her lips against his. Full-blown panic made him freeze. Should he reciprocate? It wasn't as if Sophie was interested in anything other than brotherly love. He heard the shuffling of someone approaching and try as he might, he couldn't unwind her arms from around his neck, nor reclaim his lips.

  ~

  Sophie

  Ugh, her head felt like it weighed ten pounds more with the thoughts she'd been carrying around all morning. Within moments of texting Alex to say she didn't mind her attending the opening night with Logan she'd been violently ill and discovered that coffee and eggs tasted vile on the way back up. So she'd called in to delay for a couple of hours. She had to get her head screwed on right.

  The plush carpet cushioned her footfalls as she climbed to the first floor in search of her partner, intending to tell her straight up that she needed time off. There was no way she could sit in an office with Alex and not hear every raunchy detail – Alexis was a notorious blabbermouth. She'd just cool off for a couple of weeks and when she felt a bit stronger she would resume work. Hell, they were being paid enough by this job to take a month's leave if they wanted.

  “It will be perfect,” she heard. It was Alex, but not like she'd heard her before. This was a softer, more intimate voice than she'd ever used with any of the workers before. Maybe Joshua had paid her a visit? With a sense of morbid curiosity, she rounded the turn on the stair, staring for a moment before she could work out what had been going on. Like a scalded cat, Logan thrust Alex away from him, a look of horror in his eyes as he turned to Sophie.

  “What are you so uptight about?” Alex laughed. “It's only Sophie. I'm sure she won't tell the boss.” Her friend laughed uproariously at her own joke and tried to grab for Logan's arm. He shrugged it off, still staring at Sophie like she'd caught him with his hand in the cookie jar. She supposed she had, hadn't she? Only his lips were the hand, and Alex was the cookie jar. Feeling like she might throw up again, she about turned and jogged down the steps.

  “What is with you two?” Alex asked innocently, her tone annoyed. “You act like awkward exes the whole time.”

  “Sophie!” Logan ignored Alexis, his calls following Sophie as she flew down the stairs, thanking the carpet for being so thick – the sound of her panicked flight really didn't need to be echoed up the entire staircase.

  Reaching the foyer, Sophie sailed through to the hallway beyond, needing a moment to process, her heels clicking as she went.

  “Sophie!” he called again, charging into the kitchen behind her. "Dammit, will you let me explain?"

  "Sorry, Logan." Awkwardly, she cleared her throat, throwing on her best blank face. "I didn't mean to ruin your moment with Alex. I was just surprised is all."

  "Surprised my ass," he grated, stalking her around the massive station in the middle of the room. "I saw your face. You were devastated."

  She laughed, the sound like a bullet escaping her lips, loud and shocking. "Not at all. I just wasn't prepared for how fast a worker you are. I should have remembered."

  He growled, making her jump as she avoided his grabbing hand. "Soph, stop. Just stop moving."

  "I need to get back to work," she replied, brushing past him with a bright smile plastered to her face.

  "Fuck it. Fuck this friend stuff."

  The breath whooshed out of her lungs as he whirled her around, backing her against the wall with a predatory gleam in his eye. "Stop lying to me. You know how I punish your lies."

  Her heart sped up, a nervous sweat threatening to break out all over her body as she noted the wild look in his eyes. "I'm not lying."

  "Another lie," he whispered, tracing the outline of one nipple with his finger. He pressed his lower half against her, his erection digging into her hip. "Tell me one more."

  "Logan," she groaned. "Stop. I have to– "

  "You have to what?" he interrupted, nuzzling her throat. "You have to run away? Is that it?"

  "No..." Her voice was strangled, her panties soaked. "I'm not running. I just have some work left to do."

  "I shouldn't have asked her," he ground out, taking her earlobe between his teeth and sawing back and forth gently. "You should have told me."

  "There's nothing to tell." Panic threatening to over-take her, she shoved at his chest. "I'm taking Dale. You're taking Alex. It's that simple. Now please," she slid sideways, removing herself from the situation. "I have to work."

  He probably thought she was a basket-case, blowing hot and cold on him. Not replying to a message that gave her a chance to stop that kiss from ever happening, and then immediately losing the plot when it did. She was crazy. She had to be, right?

  At every opportunity, there was always something to come between them. Their parents, her, time, him, her again, and finally and resolutely, another woman. Her friend. She snorted. It was dreadfully ironic. “I'll talk to you later, okay?”

  “You better,” he grated.

  Chapter Ten

  Logan

  He'd waited until he was in bed that night to text her, giving her all the space she needed. But his message went unanswered. Damn it why hadn't she just replied to his text last night? This whole thing could have been avoided so easily. Story of their lives. They never could catch a break. Now he was tied into a date with Alex that he'd much rather spend with Sophie. And for the first time, they were both on the same page, and he knew it.

  The look of hurt on her face – he groaned. She'd seemed at first confused, and then as if the realization needed time to sink in, her face had crumpled like a child's who'd just found out there was no Santa. He'd sworn a blue streak on his way back out of the damned kitchen, people giving him a wide berth as if he were a crazy guy. He supposed he must have looked quite crazed storming back into the foyer like he was itching for a fight.

  Deftly avoiding Alex – while at the same time, Sophie avoided him – he'd spent the remainder of the day slinking from one room to the next, wrapping up and ticking off in lieu of Paul who had to collect Jan from the train. He wondered what she'd think of the ratty little apartment Paul had rented near the hotel. For half the price per month, he could have rented a beach house back in Somersville. Knowing Jan, she'd pitch a fit and demand a room in the hotel, and why not? They owned the fucking thing, after all.

  Almost jumping out of his skin when his cell vibrated on the bedside table, he reached across, hoping it was Sophie. It was Alex.

  Meet u there 7 p.m.

  The grand opening was scheduled for seven thirty, so he didn't know what on earth she wanted to meet him so early for. Deciding he'd arrive with only minutes to spare and a prepared excuse, he settled back down, plumping his pillow with a couple of punches. Why was everything to do with Sophie so fucking hard?

  “Logie-baby!” Jan shrieked, pulling him into a great bear-hug from which he had to extricate himself for fear of being c
rushed.

  “It's good to see you, Jan,” he replied, meaning it. He hadn't seen her since she'd been forced to come dig him out of the hole he'd buried himself in. Granted the hole had been full of liquor and casual sex, but he'd needed digging out nevertheless.

  Her generous figure encased in a floaty black chiffon dress, she cocked a hip. “Is it? I hate this fucking city. I don't know what either of you see in it. Full of uppity women and rude men. Ugh.”

  “It's not so bad, once you get used to it.”

  “Like an STD, right?”

  “I wouldn't know,” he replied, hiding a smirk.

  She punched him in the arm. “I don't know how. You've had more one-night-stands than I've had hot dinners, pal.”

  “I always use protection,” he told her, fighting a laugh. She always did put a smile on his face – when she wasn't slapping it, that was. There was only one woman he hadn't ever used protection with and he damn well knew she was clean.

  “Good thing, too. So tell me, why are we just leaving now? Shouldn't we have been there earlier?”

  It was just after seven p.m., and by the time they drove in the city traffic, they would just barely make it on time.

  “No reason.”

  “That's a lie. Paul,” she called.

  He stuck his head around the door of Logan's bathroom where he was busy trying to get a spot out of his pants. “I swear, you're utterly useless,” Jan had said, before sending him in with a damp cloth. “Yes?”

  “Tell me why we're avoiding the opening until absolutely necessary.”

  She was giving him that look. The one that said she saw right through him, and damn if she didn't. “We're not,” he stressed, giving Paul a look of his own.

  “Oh no, Logan. Sorry buddy, but between you both, Jan's look scares me more.” He swiveled his head to look at his wife again. “Sophie,” he simply said, disappearing back inside.

  With a swear, Logan rolled his eyes and fetched himself a drink from the bottle of scotch in his kitchen cabinet. Filling the bottom of a short glass, he offered it to Jan, who snatched it with a snarly face before muttering, “I'll need this.”

  “It's not like that,” he admitted, filling the bottom of his own glass and taking a swallow. “I'm not avoiding her.”

  “Oh, no?”

  He shook his head. “I'm avoiding Alex.”

  “The friend, right?”

  Paul had been telling tales out of school, it seemed. “Yeah.”

  “Okay, back up. Why are you avoiding the friend?”

  “She's his date for the evening,” Paul explained, joining them. Logan didn't bother fetching Paul a drink – the traitor could get his own if he wanted one. Besides, he was driving.

  “Woah.” Jan hoisted her short frame onto a high stool, giving him a 'you better spill' look. “What's going on? Are you dating this girl to torment your sister?”

  “Jan,” he reprimanded. “How many times do I have to tell you she's not my sister?”

  “Step,” she waved her glass, sloshing the liquid. “Whatever. Are you?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Well what are you doing...exactly?” She downed the rest of her scotch in one swallow. She meant business.

  “Wait,” Paul laughed. “Let me explain. You can never get the whole story out without going puce and swearing a lot.”

  Logan growled. Jan scowled. Both looked at Paul expectantly. “Get on with it,” she said. “We don't have all night.”

  “Well, you know the scheme he cooked up to get her back?”

  “Get her into bed, you mean.” Jan scowled harder, the crease between her brows going pure white. “He had no intention of getting her back.”

  “Well,” Paul continued. “It backfired, just like you said – so you can say 'I told you so'.”

  “I told you so,” she whispered, distractedly.

  “Thanks Oprah.”

  “Welcome.” She never took her eyes from her husband. Logan felt like a witness rather than an active participant to the entire series of events.

  “Something happened – I don't know what, he won't tell me – but he changed his mind.”

  “First good Goddam idea he's ever had.”

  “I'm right here,” he protested, pouring another measure into his glass, glad of the burn as it went down easy.

  “Shut up,” Jan whispered, focused solely on Paul and the story he was spinning. “Go on, Paul.”

  “So these two idiots – no offense.”

  “None taken,” Logan saluted him with his glass, willingly admitting to his idiocy.

  “These two idiots, rather than admit to the other how they were feeling, decided to take separate dates to the same damn event, and ignore the obvious.”

  “Which is?” Logan questioned. Why did everything seem so obvious to everyone else?

  Jan snorted. “Sophie has a date, you say?” Both men nodded. “Well then, my friend. It's obvious that the minute you see her in the company of someone else, you're going to lose it, big-time.”

  “Rubbish,” he stated. “It's not the first time I've seen her on a date.”

  “Ah,” she chuckled, pulling her wrap around her. “But is this the first time since you slept with her? Hmm?”

  She had a point. Jan usually had a point and Logan usually didn't like it. It didn't matter that he'd seen her with Dale before – it was an actual date, where actual physical acts might play out at the end of the night. “Screw this. I'm not going.”

  “Oh yes, you are,” Jan replied, her gaze like steel. “And we're going to settle this, once and for all.” With that warning ringing in his ears, he allowed her to pull him out the door like an errant child.

  ~

  Sophie

  She paced up and down the corridor leading to the kitchen. Occasionally, she would catch her heel in the trailing material of her dress and trip. She should have worn higher shoes. Barely able to apply her make-up with her hands shaking so badly, she'd paid no heed to her outfit until she'd almost fallen over umpteen times. Figures, she thought. The last time Logan saw me in a dress this fancy I was falling all over myself too.

  She mentally shook herself. Thinking about Logan was what got her into this mess in the first place. She'd been lurking in the hallway for far too long, waiting with twisted insides for him to arrive. She wanted to see him first, before he saw her. She wanted to be sure she could handle Alex on his arm. She threw a look towards the clock, which she could see through the glass panels on the top of the swinging doors to the kitchen. It was seven twenty-eight. Where was he?

  If she stayed out here much longer, Alexis would form a search party. She'd left her friend draped over the front desk upon realizing she was arranging herself for Logan's arrival. Bad enough that she would have to see them together all night, but she had to watch her friend primp for his arrival, too? No way.

  From her vantage point – peeking out of a crack in the doorway – she saw the moment the doors opened to the public and Logan strode in, looking like a god in tailored black tie. She couldn't blame Alex for the sudden stiffening of her posture, and the way she raised a hand to float somewhere in front of her chest. He looked divine.

  His mouth split in a smile, his teeth showing between his parted lips. She caught her breath as he turned to say something to a beautiful, voluptuous woman in black. Paul took the woman's arm and led her deeper into the foyer, heading towards the restaurant, which had been cleared of all screens and tables for tonight's festivities. Logan approached Alex, the wide smile still showing off his perfect teeth, and Sophie braced herself when he leaned in.

  Holding her breath, she felt her heart turn over as his lips grazed her cheek. At least he hadn't locked lips with her again. She didn't think she'd be able to handle that without at least a few gin and tonics inside her. A few glasses of champagne at the very least.

  “Logan,” she heard Alexis gush. “You look wonderful.”

  Wonderful? He looked edible.

  “You look
quite beautiful too, Alexis. Shall we?” he offered her his arm.

  Beautiful? Alright, the girl looked fantastic, but did he have to bring it up? And the gentlemanly charm was definitely working on Alex as she simpered, blushed, and took the offered arm. “We shall. Sophie is around here somewhere. I'm sure she'll find us.”

  He hadn't even asked for her. What a bastard. Deciding to hide out for another few minutes before joining the party, she watched guests as they streamed in, every one gazing up to her ceiling in wonder before joining the main body in the restaurant. She was sorry now that she'd canceled her own date with Dale. It felt too much like a farce to spend the night in the arms of another man when the one she really wanted was in the arms of her friend. Could the situation get any more messed up?

  With a soft gasp, she watched the figure of a girl she knew entirely too well step forward through the doors. Stag, of course. All her dancer friends were in relationships or after the same guys she was. It was Serena. If she was ever to believe in miracles it would have been now. “Serena?” she called, stepping out of her hidey-hole.

  “Soph! Come here you exotic creature and let me see you.” She strode forward on skyscraper heels, her cocktail dress swimming around her calves. Twirling Sophie with one hand held high, she grinned and tsked. “You get finer every time I see you, I swear it. So, where's the party?”

  “What are you doing here?” The old saying about looking a gift horse in the mouth sprang to mind. She just hoped Serena wouldn't disappear like a dream as she hugged her impulsively. “I thought you would be too busy to come.”

  They'd spoken on the phone about the opening, of course, and Serena had hinted that she wouldn't be able to come. “I couldn't let my best friend down, could I? Even if you have replaced me with this Alexis person.”

  Sophie laughed, genuinely happy for the first time all day. “I could never replace you.”

  Serena snorted, lowering her chin to level Sophie with a deadpan look. “I know. Though you could try. I'm parched. Show me the bar.”