THE ROOMMATE: A Sizzling Stepbrother Romance

by Lindsey Hart

  There wasn’t much back there, just a deck and a few planter beds. There were more people than blades of grass. It was hard to find a place to stand and not be overheard by all those cronies milling around.

  “Yeah. I couldn’t stand my dad up.”

  “I mean to this. We thought you’d come later, for the wedding, and go right back to London.”

  “Nope. Dad asked me to be here. Made a big deal about it. Said that he’d finally found the person he was meant to spend the rest of his life with. I knew it meant a lot to him. Honestly, I could not care less. I think all marriage is a waste of time.”

  Mike winced. “Right. Your mom and dad were always at each other’s throats growing up. I was actually scared when we had to see them together, before they got divorced.”

  “I know. It was a nightmare. I remember being seven and being so damn embarrassed that they’d start fights in front of everyone.”

  “It wasn’t your fault. You were just a kid.”

  “I know.” He rolled his eyes. “It was just… mortifying. It was better after they broke up, although mom always made his life a living hell, even if I didn’t understand how much, at the time. She was so difficult. I thought he never wanted to see me, but really, she just kept him from seeing me. She said all sorts of shit about him all the time. That he didn’t love me and what not.”

  “God. Sounds about right. Your mom is a piece of work. No offense,” Sam hurried to tack on.

  “None taken. You’re right. She’s not easy. Even now.”

  “Some people never grow up I guess.” Mike slammed back most of his beer and tossed the empty can on the lawn in the ultimate gesture of grown-up irony.

  “Anyway, I felt like I owed it to dad since he didn’t get to see me much growing up. I’m glad he’s happy. I’m just…”

  “What?” Sam leaned in.

  “I just… I hope it’s legit. I mean, I don’t want to see him raked over a second time. I don’t think he could live through it.”

  “Like you don’t think Sarah is genuine?”

  Markus shrugged. Saying the words out loud made him feel like a real shit. “Look at the house. It’s a dump. She obviously doesn’t make anything close to what dad does. I feel like because she’s really pretty and probably acts nice enough that she got dad’s attention and kept it.”

  “Acts?”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged again, like that could play down what he was about to say. He glanced around, but everyone else was talking and laughing and paying them no attention at all. He did spot a younger woman, pretty, blonde, moving through the crowd with a pot of coffee. Right. I forgot this is pretty much a senior’s gathering.

  “You seriously think she’s marrying your dad for the money?”

  “His house is a damn mansion in comparison. Everyone knows that he’s pretty well off and has been for a long time. He supported me and my mom. Paid for school. He doesn’t flaunt it, but you can just tell, pretty much right away. It would make sense. The woman is looking for a retirement plan as she’s getting older. My dad is safe, a security zone. He’d take care of her and her lazy ass daughter.”

  “How do you know she’s lazy?”

  “Well, dad wrote me that she still lives with her mom. I don’t know where she’s going to go after her mom shacks up with my dad. Probably get an apartment and look for her own sugar daddy.”

  “Oh, come on, Markus, that’s rough,” Mike said with a shake of his head.

  “Even from you, it’s a bit cynical,” Sam backed up his brother.

  “Hey? Can I help it? I don’t know her. It’s just an observation. But I say that she’s a gold digger.”

  He glanced back and forth between his cousins. Though Sam was a year younger and Mike nearly two years older than him, they looked the same age. They even had the same close-cropped haircut. Their features were so nearly identical, dark hair, dark eyes, broad builds, they could have been twins.

  “Time will tell, I guess.” Sam dug the toe of his shoe into the grass, actually digging out a clump.

  “Wanna bet they’ll be divorced in a year?” Markus wished he had another drink. He’d pounded back the first and set it somewhere. His head was starting to throb. He could be nice, but it just took so much damn effort. He’d learned early that love was pretty much just a farce anyway.

  “Don’t say shit like that at your dad’s engagement party.” Sam lowered his voice. He glanced around like he expected his dad or even his uncle, to be standing right behind him.

  “Why not? I’m laying down bets. Gold digger straight up.” Markus crossed his arms over his chest for emphasis.

  Mike and Sam stared him down, obviously uncomfortable. He was about to expand on his theory of shovels and precious metal when someone bumped into him hard from the back. He heard a dainty voice, a sweet feminine voice. He whirled and that’s when he felt the scalding start. Right. Below. The. Belt.

  CHAPTER 3

  Leanne

  Call my mom a gold digger will ya? Dumping an entire pot of hot coffee all over the front of Markus seemed the least she could do. She’d seen him come in. She was intrigued so she’d purposely followed him out to the backyard. She was serving coffee there first and couldn’t help but overhear what he and his cousins were talking about. Well, really, what he was talking about, since the other two were trying unsuccessfully to take him down a few notches.

  She’d seen red and devised a quick plan of attack. Literally. Bump into him, spill the coffee. Claim it was an accident.

  “Oh my god!” She exclaimed, working the whole accident part of the plan for all it was worth. “I am so sorry! Damn ground, it’s so uneven here.”

  Markus jumped around like he’d just had a pot of burning hot coals dumped in his lap. He swatted at his crotch, where a massive dark stain bloomed on his expensive looking dark wash jeans.

  “You… you dumped the whole pot on me!” He yelled. He continued his hop dance, hop dance, jump, swat, jump swat, motions.

  Leanne bit her lip hard to keep the laughter inside. Don’t laugh. Whatever happens, don’t fucking laugh. Oh god, it’s hilarious though.

  “I’m sorry,” she bit out. “Can I get you anything?”

  Markus stopped swatting at his crotch, which was probably cooling off, long enough to peg her with a murderous look. She couldn’t have done that much damage, she reasoned. The coffee was hot, but not hot enough to burn. Even if it had been, she probably would have considered dumping it on him anyway.

  “What could you possibly get me? I probably have to go to the damn hospital. You just dumped that all over my…”

  “Whoa there.” One of the cousins, Leanne wasn’t sure which, clamped a hand down on Markus’ shoulder. “I’m sure you’re alright. Go into the washroom and take a look. I’m sure you don’t really need to go to the hospital.”

  “Says you, who did not just get scalding coffee poured on his fucking dick!”

  “Says me,” the cousin nodded. Beside him, the other cousin bobbed his head in unison. It was hilarious that they clearly thought Markus was overreacting.

  “I can get you a towel,” Leanne offered sweetly. “If you want to use the washroom, I can show you where it is. You could wear the towel and I could wash your jeans for you. And dry them, of course. I hope they didn’t stain. I’m so sorry again.” She knew there was enough fake sugar in her voice to give an entire nation cavity, but at the moment, she didn’t entirely care. She hoped he knew her apology wasn’t sincere.

  “That’s just fucking great.” Markus rolled dark eyes. Eyes that were large and as black as velvet.

  Leanne had been annoyed with herself, that at first glance, from across the yard, Markus was pretty attractive. He was tall, broad-shouldered, barrel-chested, obviously really fit. Under that tight t-shirt of his, she was willing to bet on a six pack and some incredible tight pecs. He filled out his pair of jeans well. Far better than any man should, considering they were just jeans for goodness sake. She’d never a
ctually found a man’s legs to be sexy, or a male ass, really, but Markus’… well- she didn’t want to realize that she’d actually looked and come to any sort of conclusion.

  She was already annoyed at Markus for so many reasons. The first, that her mom was overly happy that he was there. The second, that he didn’t even seem to care about his dad and yet they moved heaven and earth for him to be there. The third, that even though he was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, he seemed too well dressed. The fourth, that he was too damn handsome by far. Way too handsome. The kind of guy that ties your stomach in instant knots. Fifth, he seemed too cool for school. As in, the rest of them weren’t good enough for a guy who clearly walked on air.

  And that was before she’d heard him talking shit about her mom. A gold digger! She damn well showed him. Her only regret was that she didn’t have a second pot to dump on him for good measure.

  “Sorry, what?” Leanne blinked at him sweetly.

  Markus’ look was absolutely priceless. She loved the murderous look in his eyes. One thing for sure, his unfairly handsome face wasn’t so handsome when it was twisted up in rage like that. He was the kind of guy who was probably a dick. Most handsome guys were.

  “Nothing,” he muttered. “Just leave it. It will dry, I guess. Or I can go change.”

  “Mom would be sooo disappointed if you left.” Her voice dripped with the fake sugar again. “Are you sure I can’t wash your jeans for you. We have some really nice towels. No one will care. I’ll make sure everyone knows it was my fault.”

  “How do you spill an entire pot of coffee anyway? You must be the clumsiest person in the world.”

  “Mom always says I’m klutzy.” She batted her eyelashes. “I’m sorry, I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Leanne. Your new sister to be.”

  Markus froze. Those black velvet eyes swept over her, tracing the outline of her body. She stood her ground, determined she wouldn’t blush at the open stare. She didn’t squirm either. She stood, empty coffee pot in hand, shoulders square, challenging him with her own eyes. Finally, those dark orbs swept back up to her face and she could see the second it dawned on him that she looked more than a little like her mom.

  Their wheat colored hair was the same shade, they had the same heart face shape, the same high cheekbones, wide blue eyes, and softly curved nose. They were about the same height and had the same build. She was even slighter than her mom. She’d been waiting since she was twelve years old for her curves to fill in. Unfortunately, they never really had.

  “Right,” he ground out. “Anyway, I’m good. I don’t need you to wash my jeans. I think it’s more embarrassing here that everyone knows you’re so clumsy and you ruined them.”

  “That’s hardly fair,” one of the cousins cut in. Markus pointedly ignored them.

  Leanne went right on smiling. Yup. It’s always the handsome ones that are the biggest assholes. “Ha, well I’m sure everyone already knows. I’m sorry again. Truly. Can I get you a drink or something to eat?”

  “I seriously don’t want anything from you.”

  “Okay.” Her face was starting to ache from holding that damn smile in place while she seethed inside. “Mom said you came all the way from London. That’s a long flight.”

  “Tell me something I don’t already know.”

  “Right. Mom said you’re going to school over there. What are you studying exactly?”

  He stared her down like he didn’t want to answer. She wasn’t intimidated by the loathing she saw in his eyes. That mean stare of his might work on other people but it sure wasn’t going to work on her.

  “Philosophy,” he finally spat out, like he found the word distasteful. His face remained twisted up in the lemon-sucking sourpuss long after it should have.

  Geez, I said I was sorry. Talk about holding a grudge.

  “Philosophy,” she said thoughtfully. “Remind me again why you have to go all the way across the world to study that when they have it here? Oh, actually, I probably know. Chicago, like the rest of us, are clearly beneath you.”

  Satisfied with her parting shot, she turned on her heel and marched right back into the house. Of course, she was smiling the whole time, because why the hell not? Markus wasn’t under her skin. Not at all. Even if he was going to be her new stepbrother, she vowed to steer clear. It should be easy to do. He had one of those personalities that repelled everyone within a mile radius.

  CHAPTER 4

  Markus

  There were points in life when things went from bad to worse. Just when he thought it couldn’t get any shittier, his dad up and surprised him with the worst plan in the history of plans.

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Oh, I’m dead serious.” Carl grinned that silly, lovesick grin that he’d been walking around with lately. It was completely nauseating to see how happy the guy was.

  Markus couldn’t even pretend to be happy for him. Not after the party two days ago and the whole coffee spilling right on his cock event that he was pretty sure, in hindsight, had been intentional. Not only was Sarah a gold digger, her daughter was a spiteful little bitch. She’d probably overhead him and decided to take matters into her own hands. Clearly, it worked since she took the focus off her mom and put it right on him. She made him look like an asshole.

  “You can’t expect me to go and spend two weeks locked away with that- with Leanne and Sarah after what Leanne did at the party. She spilled hot coffee on me on purpose.”

  His dad actually rolled his eyes. The guy was fifty and he was so smitten it made him seem like the son and Markus like the adult. “Leanne is a nice girl. There is no way she would purposely spill coffee on anyone.”

  Markus hadn’t expected to be pulled from sleep that morning to the smell of bacon and eggs sizzling in the kitchen. It was a nice gesture, for his dad to make him breakfast, but then he’d ruined it by springing the whole getaway suggestion on him.

  “That’s insane. I’m not going. I don’t even like camping.”

  “It’s not really camping. It’s a cabin. On a lake in the woods. It’s a really nice place. Sarah and I found it while we were looking for a honeymoon spot and we thought it would make a good getaway before the wedding. We decided to take both of you so you could get to know each other.”

  “No way. I’d rather stay here. I just got here, remember? I just flew across the world for your wedding, to spend time with you. Not with Sarah and certainly not with her daughter. I didn’t do a damn thing and I can tell she doesn’t like me.”

  “I think you’re imagining things. Leanne is a great kid. And Sarah, she loves you already.”

  “I wasn’t talking about Sarah.” Markus carefully crammed back his comments about that probably all being an act. There was no way his dad would listen to anything he had to say. He’d probably throw a second pot of coffee in his lap.

  “I already booked the place. It’s like heaven. Can I at least show you the pictures?”

  “Nope. Not going. You go ahead. I’m sure you and Sarah and Leanne will have a great time.” He went back to cramming eggs into his mouth, but when he looked up again, he found his dad staring at him, the wounded expression on his face apparent. Markus set down his fork. “What?”

  “I- we- well we both know that I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with you when you were a kid. I’m really sorry about that. I tried…”

  “I know that dad,” Markus said edgily.

  “I thought maybe this would make up for it. I haven’t seen you in two years. I want to go and spend time with you, as well as with Sarah and Leanne. It wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t go.”

  His dad wasn’t one of those people who ever played up the whole shitty deal, shitty hand, card. He’d probably apologized to Markus a thousand times for not being there as a father when he was growing up, even though he’d tried and it wasn’t really his fault. Markus knew the guy wanted to spend time with him. He actually wanted to hang out with his dad too. It would be a first, and he was twent
y-four years old.

  He wanted to say no. The words were right there on the tip of his tongue, but then he opened his mouth and they refused to come out. The eager, pained expression on his dad’s face was too hard to just callously ignore.

  “Alright, show me the pictures,” he gave in grudgingly, “and then I’ll decide.”

  “Great. I have them right here on my phone. Just let me bring them up.”

  Carl slid his phone over from across the table. The way he grabbed it, the joy on his face, the eager expression, made him look even more like a child. Markus groaned inwardly. He knew he couldn’t say no. He couldn’t break his dad’s heart like this. It wasn’t his fault that Sarah had her hooks in him. And probably Leanne too. Maybe he could actually use the time to convince his dad that they didn’t have his best interests at heart. Maybe he could save his dad before it was too late.

  He waited until the phone was shoved right under his nose. He took it irritably and flipped through the pictures. The place wasn’t anything special. A small log cabin. A dock behind on what looked like a tiny private lake. An aluminum boat was tied to the dock. A shitty looking beach half choked with weeds took up the other photos. There was a small fire pit along with an old, sagging deck and shitty scraggly trees.

  “Where is this place?”

  “Just a few hours from here, on the borders of one of the state parks.”

  “That explains a lot.”

  “I think it looks like paradise,” his dad insisted. “Give it a try. We’ll take two cars. If you don’t like it within a couple days, you can drive back here. Does that sound like a deal?”

  “No, because you’d secretly be disappointed in me and guilt me into staying.”

  “I would not. You’re my son. I want to spend time with you, but I won’t force you into it. If you really don’t want to go, you don’t have to. We still have all summer since you’re here until after the wedding.”

  “Right.” Markus could just imagine how that was going to go. He imagined the next few weeks would be filled with Sarah and Leanne regardless. He was probably expected to help move Sarah in with his dad. He wanted to vomit in his mouth at the thought.