Stepbrother for Christmas

by Amy Brent

  I reached up to touch the small box in the inner pocket of my suit jacket. She had no idea. No idea that I planned on taking that nervous plunge to let everyone know that Amber Roselynn was mine, and that she was carrying our baby. By the end of the night, it wasn’t going to be a surprise when Amber left in my truck to come back home.

  I didn’t let Amber see my own nerves, though. I was sick of lying to Beau every time he brought up the topic of wondering who the father was. The baby wasn’t Scott’s. That much, Beau had learned, but he was relentless in trying to figure out who it was. That was why he had never once questioned why Amber wanted to come out of hiding to live with me. He had hoped that I would be the one to figure out who the father was. Some nights, I stayed up late, feeling our baby move underneath the palm of my hand while guilt threatened to eat me alive. Still, I refused to let that threaten our joy and future together.

  I took Lily and Ethan down the dark pathway to the front porch of Raychelle’s house after they bid Amber goodbye. Ray welcomed the both of them in, with a wide smile, before waving to Amber in the passenger seat of the truck.

  “Thank you for watching them,” I said and gave her a quick hug. “I really appreciate it.”

  Raychelle waved me away. “Go on, now. The kids will be fine with me. I rented several Christmas movies to keep them occupied throughout the night.”

  “Make sure to play the old Frosty movie,” I said. “Lily is in love with that movie. I promised to play it for her, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

  I hopped back into the driver’s seat of my truck to back down the driveway. I started down the quiet road in the direction of the city lights piercing through the cold winter night.

  Amber chewed on the pad of her thumb nervously as she watched the city lights blur around her. She sensed a change coming like I did. I didn’t care how upset Beau got, or how anyone would perceive our relationship. We were going to move forward with our life together. If no one else wanted to be a part of it, then that was going to be their problem. Not ours.

  I reached through the darkness and lights from the dashboard to rest a hand on Amber’s bouncing knee.

  “It’s going to be fine, honey,” I said. “Trust me when I say that it’s going to be okay. The sun will still rise tomorrow. Our daughter will still be arriving sometime in the next week or so.”

  “I do trust you,” she replied, dropping her hand to grasp mine. “I’m just nervous about it. I can’t get over this feeling that I have, that everything will be different by the end of the night.”

  “It will be,” I said. “I can promise you that it will be very different. In a good way, though. I promise.”

  City Hall was decorated elaborately with Christmas decorations when I managed to find a parking spot close by. A giant Christmas tree shimmered with silver tinsel and Christmas balls in the middle of the marble lobby when I led a hesitant Amber inside. The sound of Christmas jingles, along with loud and happy voices, filled my ears when we entered the main conference room where at least a hundred people were gathered around various tables of food and drinks.

  I took in the sight with an impressed whistle. I looked over at Amber as she unbuttoned her coat.

  “Your father sure knows how to throw a party,” I said.

  “You’ve never been to one of my father’s parties?” Amber asked, handing her coat over to one of the staff members checking in coats. “I’m surprised you haven’t been to a Christmas one.”

  “Just barbecues,” I replied, handing over my coat as well. It took all my strength to not reach forward to grab Amber’s hand, to lead her through the crowd of people. “All right. Let’s find a table.”

  “There you are, Amber!”

  Beau appeared alongside Amber with a frown. “I have been trying to call you for the past hour. Do you not answer your phone anymore?”

  “I just got here,” Amber said defensively. “I left my purse in Gage’s truck, so I don’t have my phone.”

  “Your purse is in Gage’s truck?” he asked.

  Amber’s eyes widened when she realized the slip. She looked up at me, desperate for help. For a wild moment, I was tempted to tell Beau everything right there. I had hoped the party wasn’t crowded, but everyone with money and status crowded the conference room. There was no private place to talk that I could see.

  “I drove her here because of the roads,” I said. “They’re icy up on the mountains this late at night. I didn’t want her driving in the dark on her own.”

  Beau’s eyes flicked between us, with that same scrutinizing manner of trying to read our emotions. If he didn’t believe me, he didn’t voice it. He wrapped an arm around Amber to give her a big hug.

  “I’m glad you came,” he said. He glanced down at her belly with a strained, but small smile. “Only two weeks left, right? You’re about to pop.”

  Irritation filled Amber’s eyes.

  “That’s how I feel,” she said. “I didn’t want to come tonight because I’m sure that my water is about to burst.”

  “At least you’re in the city close to the hospital,” Beau said. “Now, I know that I promised to leave you alone.”

  “Please don’t bring this up here,” Amber cut in, shaking her head. “You did promise me to keep quiet.”

  Beau looked over at me in exasperation. I shrugged my shoulders indifferently because I had nothing to say. Not yet, at least.

  “Why don’t we get some water?” I suggested to Amber. “You said you were feeling thirsty on the way in.”

  “Yes,” Amber said, seizing hold of the cue with a grateful smile. “Thanks, Gage. I do need some water.”

  “Hurry back,” Beau said, waving to a couple who waved him over. “I have some people for you to meet tonight, Amber. Good men who can take care of you.”

  My fingers clenched into fists at that. I ushered Amber forward in the direction of a tub full of ice and bottled waters. She rested her hand gently on my forearm briefly in concern.

  “Are you okay?” she whispered. “You know that I’m not interested, right?”

  “I know,” I said smoothly. “I’m just ready to tell the truth, Amber. I’m ready to let the world know.”

  Amber picked out a bottled water. She shook the excess water and ice free while giving me a pleading look. “Just keep quiet for a little bit longer. This isn’t the place to do it. My father thinks he’s doing me a favor.”

  “I know. I know what he’s trying to do.”

  It was driving me crazy, too. My heart raged with jealousy at the thought of another man touching Amber. It was already killing me having to keep my distance as we navigated back through the crowded room when Amber suddenly tensed up beside me. Her fingers latched down onto my arm quickly.

  Alarm skittered through me as I turned to find her eyes wide and focused on something near the back doors.

  “What is it?” I asked, turning to look in that direction as well. “Who are you looking at?”

  “It’s Scott,” Amber whispered, her nails digging into my shirt sleeve. “Let’s go, Gage. I don’t know why he’s here.”

  I resisted Amber’s tugs on my arm. Just seeing that smug look on Scott’s face was enough to set my blood on fire. My vision went red when Scott’s beady eyes settled on us, and he approached without hesitation.

  “What are you doing here?” I demanded, putting myself between him and Amber. “You aren’t on the guest list. I’m sure of that.”

  Scott sneered in my direction as he looked over my shoulder to where Amber was cowering behind me.

  “I’m here for my wife,” he said loudly. Heads turned in our direction. “I’d like to thank you for keeping her safe and sound, Gage. Very noble of you to do so.”

  “Ex-wife,” I corrected coldly. “I don’t care how much you threaten us, you abusive prick. I’m sure you’re a big man when you’re smacking a woman around. Try that shit here and I’ll rip your fucking balls off.”

  “Gage,” Amber whispered harshly. “D
on’t do this. Don’t make a scene.”

  “I’m sure Beau Roselynn would love those photographs of you and her,” Scott continued on boldly. “I didn’t think Amber could bend in those positions. Good to know for the future.”

  My vision went from red to black. I was dimly aware of the sound of bones crunching beneath my knuckles. Gasps filled the air. I found Scott huddled on the ground with a stream of blood pouring from nose as he clutched at his face with howl of pain.

  “Go ahead,” I snarled, loosening my cuff links just in case this needed to continue. “Threaten her again, you piece of shit. I’ll break more than your fucking nose. And release those photos. I don’t care anymore. It doesn’t matter after tonight.”

  Scott stumbled up to his feet. His eyes glittered with anger as he glanced over at Amber, who stood behind me with her hand clasped over her mouth in horror.

  “We’ll see how you much you don’t care,” he said. “Get used to being called a whore, Amber. That’s what everyone is going to think come noon tomorrow. I bet my entire damn life and kid on it.”

  “Get the fuck out of here,” I said, taking another step forward. “Don’t make me ask you again, or you’ll be crawling out of here.”

  I raised my fist, and Scott scurried in the direction of the back doors like the fucking rat he was. A stunned silence still followed Scott’s retreat as security filed out the door to make sure that Scott left. I turned to look back at Amber, who looked torn between relief and anger. She glanced around at the crowd of onlookers with a grimace.

  “What the hell are you thinking?” she asked.

  “Don’t worry,” I said, grasping her hand briefly. “You’ll see what I’m thinking here in a minute.”

  I grabbed a champagne glass from the table to tap it with the side of a knife to gain everyone’s attention. I waited until the room was completely silent before grabbing ahold of Amber’s hand in my own.

  “I need everyone’s attention,” I announced, squeezing Amber’s fingers tightly. “Amber and I have an announcement to make together, but I have to ask her something important first.”

  I caught sight of Beau pushing through the crowd with a frown. Sucking in a deep breath, I turned to look at Amber who was shaking like a leaf in a cold autumn wind. Her eyes widened visibly when I smiled comfortingly.

  “Everyone. I’m in love with Amber Roselynn. I’ve been in love with her for over a year now. The baby that she is carrying right now is my baby. I am the father of this child.”

  Chapter 28

  Amber

  “Everyone, I’m in love with Amber Roselynn. I’ve been in love with her for over a year now. The baby that she is carrying right now is my baby. I am the father of this child.”

  Gage’s voice echoed loudly in the room. The Christmas music had stopped suddenly when Scott ended up on the floor, howling in pain. Blood had spurted from his nostrils, followed by the sickening crunch of bones beneath Gage’s knuckles. All within a matter of seconds.

  My heart pounded furiously at the mixed reactions from the crowd surrounding us. I wanted to slap Gage across the face. I wanted to ask him what the hell was he doing? This was not how I wanted my father to find out. My emotions were wavering from one extreme to the other. I couldn’t even bear looking over at him to see what his reaction was. Hushed and stunned silence followed Gage’s announcement.

  “Gage,” I started, voice shaky with emotions. “What the hell are you doing?”

  His fingers squeezed mine consolingly. “I’m tired of lying to everyone, Amber. It’s time to tell everyone that I’m in love with you.” Gage’s eyes threatened to burn holes into my own from the intensity of his own stare. “I don’t care what some of the people in this room are going to think of the both of us. Age is just a number to the both of us. I lost my wife to cancer. I watched her slip away from me every single day to that disease until she was no longer here. I didn’t think that I would be able to love someone ever again because I didn’t want to get close enough to love. I was afraid that I would lose someone that way again, and it terrified me beyond anything. That’s when you came into my life, Amber.” Tears filled my eyes as my heart swelled with love. “I’m not a religious man, but I can tell you that I believe that God brings people together for a reason. Even when we don’t see it, or don’t understand it, there is a reason why people are in our lives. I fell in love with your spirit this past year. You are a wonderful mother to not only Ethan, but to my child. And to our unborn baby. You’ve filled the hole in my heart that I thought would be empty for the rest of my life.”

  Gage let go of my hand and pulled a small box from the pocket of his suit jacket. I could barely hear over the pounding of my heart as Gage looked up at me with a loving smile. He went down on one knee while opening the small black box to reveal a diamond ring.

  “Amber Roselynn,” he said. “I was going to ask you this in Florida, but we were rudely interrupted there. Will you marry me?”

  A series of whispers echoed in the conference room. I could barely see straight from the tears in my eyes and from the emotions heaving inside of me. I glanced around the room to see a mixed reaction of shock and disapproval, but I didn’t care. I no longer cared what the rest of the world thought.

  I loved Gage Devlin. I didn’t want to live my life without him by my side.

  “Yes,” I whispered, holding out a trembling hand for him. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Gage slipped the ring onto my finger with a happy grin. He stood up to gather me into his arms. Our lips met in a passionate kiss. An awkward and confused chorus of claps came, followed by a few cheers, but I paid little attention to it. We were together. That was all that counted in my eyes.

  Christmas music started up suddenly. The crowd around us started to move again when I pulled back to smile happily down at the beautiful ring on my finger. It fit perfectly.

  “I can’t believe you,” I said breathlessly. “You planned this whole entire thing tonight, didn’t you?”

  “Not in this particular order,” Gage replied, shrugging with a grin. “I had planned it a bit differently, but I did have intentions of asking you to marry me tonight.”

  “You’re sneaky.”

  “Sneakier than I ever thought he was,” Beau said.

  The sound of my father’s voice, tinged with confusion and anger, fell over the both of us. I turned to look at him, but I didn’t get a chance to say a word. He gestured stiffly for Gage and me to follow him out into the quiet and cold lobby, away from prying ears.

  I grabbed Gage’s hand anxiously while a part of me squirmed happily knowing that I was free to do so now. We followed my father’s rigid shoulders through the crowd of people until the doors were closed behind us on the conference room. He turned to look Gage directly in the eye.

  “This is my daughter,” he said, voice a deadly calm. “I asked you to look after her. To care for her as your own child. This is how you repay me?”

  “Dad,” I started.

  “It’s okay, Amber,” Gage said, not breaking eye contact with my father. “I understand where he is coming from. Just know, Beau, that I never meant to disrespect you. Amber and I never planned for this to happen. It happened without either one of us pushing it to happen. I love your daughter. I would never do anything to hurt her. You know who I am.”

  My father couldn’t argue with that. I could see it on his face as he looked over at me. “And you, Amber? Do you love him?”

  “More than anything in this world,” I said passionately. “He’s never mistreated me. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted. This relationship and marriage is going to happen, no matter what. I just hope that you can give us both your blessing.”

  Gage squeezed my hand with a small smile. I tried to read the expression on my father’s face, but it was pointedly guarded. He chewed on his lower lip for a moment before letting out a sigh.

  “I can’t say that I didn’t have my suspicions that something was going on,” he said slowly. “I w
as just praying that it wasn’t what I thought it was. I guess it wasn’t, in a way.” He looked back at me with a frown. “I can’t say that I am happy that the both of you lied to me, but you are my daughter. I will support you in whatever you want to do.”

  “This is what I want.” I gazed up at Gage with a smile. “I’ve wanted Gage for a while. I’ll be happy with him. He has protected and cared for me every single day that I’ve been with him.”

  “You’ll need that once news of this is leaked. Expect the press to be all over you two, so I suggest leaving here while you still can.”

  I hesitated as Gage signaled for our coats. “What about you? I can’t just leave here, knowing that you’re going to get hounded with questions.”

  “I’ll be fine,” my father said, nodding at me. “I’ve handled things in the past just fine. Just make sure that my daughter is safe, Gage.”

  “You know that I will,” Gage replied, helping me into my coat. “Come on, Amber. Your father is right. If we don’t leave now, the press will be all over us.”

  My father nodded encouragingly as he pulled out his phone. “Go on. Listen to what your fiancé is saying. I’ll be in touch with you two tomorrow.”