Stepbrother Rogues: A Steamy Three-Story Collection (A Bundle of Standalone Stories featuring Rebel Stepbrothers) Read online

  Stepbrother Rogues: A Three-Story Collection

  Billionaire Stepbrother: BURN

  © 2015 Stephanie Brother

  All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are all productions of the author’s imagination.

  Please note that this work is intended only for adults over the age of 18 and all characters represented as 18 or over.

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  Table of Contents:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 1

  I shivered, despite the heat from the eight-foot flames licking at our house and reddening my cheeks. My mom put her arm around me, handing me a blanket at the same time. I guess I was in shock.

  “Cara,” she said softly, “It’s going to be ok. We’ve been through tougher things. We’ll figure it out.” We hadn’t gotten out of the house with much, except, thankfully, for our dog. Ironically, his name’s Sparky. Or maybe that isn’t ironic. Ah well. I can’t keep up with that definition anymore. It was an embarrassing name, at least in this situation, and I didn’t want to call him in front of the firefighters. Luckily he was staying close.

  “I know it will, mom,” I said leaning into her. After my stepdad died a few years back, my mom had been through some pretty bad relationships. Amongst them, there was the con artist, who emptied her account of what little savings she had managed to sock away; there was the guy from her high school class who just up and disappeared one day; and a string of disappointing internet dates where she came home crying. I understand. She and my pop (I called him that instead of dad) had had a great relationship. At least it seemed so to me. I thought they’d be together forever. But one day, it just happened. He was jogging and he had a heart attack. It was weird because otherwise he was really healthy. I guess it was just genetic.

  Sparky was whining at my feet, so I picked him up and cuddled him. His curly white fur tickled my nose, but I didn’t mind. Having his furry little body snuggled up to me was calming as I watched the firefighters battle the blaze.

  We didn’t have too many relatives left to stay with. The only person who was in the area was my nerdy stepbrother. Despite his relative proximity, we didn’t see him too much, well, really at all, as he was a bit of a recluse. We’d lived together for a few years when we were kids, and even then he didn’t spend much time being social with any of us. I guess losing his mom had hit him pretty hard, and when our folks got together, he had thrown himself into anything and everything to do with computers and robotics. High-tech was his game and by all accounts, he had done amazingly well – supposedly appearing on Forbes lists, on the covers of trade magazines, you know – that kind of stuff. They called him a billionaire of the industry, but I don’t know if that was hyperbole or what. Hard to believe my brother would be a billionaire. But I hadn’t seen him for a few years so who knows.

  In any case, there wasn’t really anyone whose door we could knock on to stay with while we tried to regroup, and so finally we headed over to the Motel 9. Sure it was scummy, but we would be together, they’d take Sparky, and we could have a shower and forget about all this hassle until morning.

  Chapter 2

  “Yes, I paid the premi-“ Mom twirled her hand around the phone cord of the hotel in a nervous gesture. “Of course I did. It’s a direct depos- what do you mean it didn’t go through?”

  I sat by her, trying to be as quiet and as supportive as possible. But when she hung up the phone quietly and sat down at the crummy motel desk, put her head in her hands and started silently weeping, I didn’t know what to do.

  “Mom, are you ok?” I said nervously. Stupidly. Of course she wasn’t. She was crying! “I mean, things are going to be ok, Mom… right?” I put my hand on her shoulder. “Right?”

  “I don’t know Cara, I just don’t know.” She pushed her hair behind her ear and wiped her eyes. “The premium didn’t go through for our insurance this month. That means we weren’t covered. And I can’t afford a lawyer to fight it.” She started crying silently again.

  “So we won’t get any money,” I said. “But we’re alive, and that is what matters.”

  She hugged my legs. “Oh cara mia, you’re such a good girl.” Awkwardly I stroked her hair. It was strange being the one to comfort my mom, but I wasn’t a kid anymore. People need support, and my mom and I have each other. That’s it.

  After a few days of wrangling with the insurance, it was confirmed. They wouldn’t be giving us anything. Mom called her church, who told us to come by that night for a supper they were having. It wouldn’t be fancy but it would be a hot meal with friends, and we could pick up some items that had been donated for the poor.

  What can I say? It was something – and something was a heck of a lot better than the nothing we had.

  Chapter 3

  I’m not particularly religious like my mom, but tonight the homey atmosphere of the church brought me to tears. Tables were all set up, and the older ladies were so kind and eager to help. I had two helpings of spaghetti, just because it felt so comforting to finally sit down to eat a proper meal and be taken care of by nice ladies. They had made cookies and squares for dessert, and two of the women hurried off to make some coffee and tea, while another sat down to talk to me.

  “Now Cara,” she said, looking over her glasses at me. “We are so glad that you and your mother are all right. Thank the lord. But we do worry about you for the long term. The church would do anything to help you get along, and we made some packages for you to take with you – just some clothes and supplies and things. But we are limited in our scope. And we all can’t help but wonder why you don’t call your brother.”

  “My stepbrother?” I said, puzzled. “Because he’s my… stepbrother?”

  “Well that may be, but you grew up with him and he loves you. You need to call him and ask him for help.”

  “Well, thanks for the advice,” I said earnestly. “And it’s not that I haven’t thought about it but we haven’t seen each other for years. Not since Pop died. He took his inheritance and went off and started the company, and didn’t get in touch with us anymore after that. So I am pretty sure he doesn’t want us sniffing around his property, looking for a place to stay. And why would he?”

  “Now now, Cara. Desperate times call for desperate measures.” She passed me a tray of brownies. “It’s not like you are just coming around to beg for something from your brother. You’ve had a tragedy! He’s in a position to help, and help he should!”

  “Well if you think so,” I said doubtfully. “I’ll consider it.”

  My mind went back to the times we had together. Whenever he did pay attention to me, it was typical young teenage stuff. He never teased me or beat me up or anything but he just sort of tolerated me, was awkward, or ignored me. I was a couple years younger, granted, so it wasn’t like we would hang out anyway, but I suppose he was a decent enough guy. Even if he always had his nose in a book, or was attached to a computer or was tinkerin
g with Legos or something.

  “You have nothing to lose,” said the woman with a kindly wink.

  That’s true. When you have nothing, you have nothing to lose.

  Chapter 4

  We hesitantly got out of the car. What kind of place is this? Driving in, there was a big gate that slid open for the limo, silently, and then just as silently, slid shut. The luxurious car glided through the beautifully manicured grounds and pulled in front of a beautiful, old house. It was stately, white, with pillars supporting beautiful gables and porches, perfect for sitting. Perfect for sitting, but completely empty.

  The limo driver took us to the door, bringing our luggage easily, and passing it to the uniformed man inside. Sparky sniffed the man’s foot before I pulled him away.

  “Adam requested you take them to the east wing,” he said.

  Wing? What?

  I followed through the house, a big foyer with a grand staircase and chandelier, past a comfortable looking if formal library with gleaming hand carved wooden walls, a dining room, and a games room that seemed like it belonged in a country club. It had a pool table, Persian rugs, a cubby with old arcade games, and doors that opened out to the patio and the pool. When we finally reached our bedrooms they were huge, with king size beds with tons of pillows, a comfy sitting area, ensuite baths. Everything you could ask for.

  “Where is Adam?” I asked the uniformed man. Were we not even going to see my stepbrother?

  “Mr. Richmond is away on business in San Francisco. He’ll be back, likely by the end of the week, although that’s not certain. He has insisted that we welcome you and offer you whatever you need.”

  “Mr. Richmond, eh? Ok, well thanks so much uh… how should I address you?”

  “My name is Daniel,” he said, smiling.

  “Ok, thank you Daniel. You can call me Cara.”

  “Certainly Cara. Please use the intercom should there be anything you require. It leads directly to me.”

  “Will do!”

  He went off with my mother to show her her bedroom, and I set my stuff down on the rich hardwood. I kicked off my flip-flops to step on the carpet. Ohhh. Now that is cushy! Everything was so lush, so opulent. How did my brother have all of this? They weren’t kidding when they were talking about his fortune. I threw myself on the bed, breathing in the comforting smell of goose down feathers. My whole body felt as if it were cuddled in this mattress.

  I might never leave, I thought. This is paradise.

  When I awoke, it was darker in the room and I didn’t remember where I was. My face was wet with tears. I was crying in my sleep? How strange.

  I thought I should at least get to know my new digs, and maybe find the kitchen to make myself some soup or something. I went down the hall, peeking in my mother who was also fast asleep a few doors down. I could hear her snoring. Poor thing needed her rest as well.

  Sneaking into the library was where I saw it – a portrait of my dorky stepbrother, except with a gorgeous face on the body of an Adonis! Sure, the hair was the same, curly and black. I could almost understand making him look that distinguished, since a lot of pictures are meant to reflect the absolute best version of a person, but model-hot? Wasn’t this going too far? Maybe it wasn’t even him. I peered closer. No, those were his full lips and his blue eyes, but he was never this incredible looking. My jaw was on the floor.

  Well I guess that’s what a billion dollars buys you. A very generous artist. Or possibly a starving one looking for more work who’s not afraid to flatter her subject.

  My inner thirteen-year-old had to laugh. But the outer nineteen-year-old had to stare. That chest, those biceps, that stubble, those cheekbones – all added up to one fantastic painting!

  Chapter 5

  Wandering into the shiny, polished kitchen, I poked my head in the fridge. There was a note sitting there on a Tupperware.

  “Cara and Aline,” it read. “Fresh baked Atlantic salmon, new potatoes, and asparagus. Enjoy it cold or heated. If you need help, please call! – Daniel.”

  I pulled it out, finding a plate and piling the delicious food onto it, and setting it down on the oak harvest table. There was a beautiful sunset over the lake, and the picture window framed everything. I heard my mom padding in.

  “You’re up!” I said. “There’s food for us, and it’s really good. Can I get you a plate?”

  She still looked dazed. “Well sure,” she said, “let’s eat.”

  My mother was pretty subdued. She sat down at the harvest table watching the slowly setting sun. I placed the plate before her, and she pushed the food around a little before setting her fork down.

  “Cara, I have to tell you something.”

  “Sure mom, what is it?”

  “I can’t live here. It’s too stressful thinking of Adam’s father. I hope you understand. I made a phone call and I’m going to leave. But you are welcome to stay.”

  “What? Why not? Why can’t you stay here too?”

  “Well it’s not so much a matter of ‘can’t,’ I guess. I called Roger. He invited me to stay with him. He wants to try again, and I tell you, I need somebody right now. It could be Roger.”

  Inwardly I rolled my eyes. What she wants is a good ‘Rogering,’ I couldn’t help thinking. My mother.

  “Are you serious, mom? What about what happened between you two? I don’t remember things ending well.”

  “Yes, that’s true. Roger wanted to be with another woman. But she’s gone, and he says he needs me. And I am fifty. My house just burned down, with no insurance. I can’t be messing around living with my stepson. It’s very nice of him, but the fact is that I need to find another way to support myself. Roger is the start of that plan.”

  I begged and pleaded with her, but my mom was firm on the matter. Finally she managed to eat a few bites of the delicious dinner we had been provided before wandering back to bed.

  I made a cup of tea and had a bit of a look around Adam’s place, finally settling on a home theater room that had a collection of movies available at the touch of a button. I needed something like that to get my mind off of my mother’s sudden revelation. If she didn’t stay here, would it be all right if I did? Daniel appeared briefly with a bowl of popcorn and a soda for me, and I let myself get caught up in old James Bond movies. My brother used to love them when we were kids, I had forgotten about that. It was a wonderful respite from the craziness I had been living with as my reality lately. The hotness of Bond’s body made me think of the portrait of Adam, my step. Maybe now that he was so wealthy he was pretending that he was a gorgeous and built secret agent. I grinned to myself as I ate popcorn, briefly imagining my teenage-version brother in his underground lair. Ah well, I am lucky to have him – he really didn’t have to put me up, or my mother. But I’d soon have to figure out something on my own if mom was going to go live with Roger.

  Chapter 6

  This was all happening so fast. Daniel said Adam was due at the end of the week, and now it was Friday. My mother was acting super weird and lovey-dovey with Roger, always texting him or on the phone talking in a higher voice than usual. She had plans to move in with him that day. And here I am with nowhere else to go. We had a quick goodbye, and she asked me to thank Adam for his hospitality – that she would call him later. Easy as that, eh? And now I would be living with him again, until I got back on my feet. Or got on my own two feet for the first time.

  Wandering about the house aimlessly, I ended up spending some more time looking at the portrait of Adam. I guess the painting wasn’t that funny; if I had spent money to have one painted of me, God knows I would make sure it was me in my best light. But still a bit strange to be so over-the-top with the muscular body and the good looks. Like a superhero or something. I shook my head.

  I decided to go play with Sparky on the – well, grounds, I guess you would call them. He was excited to go outside, especially when he saw that I was bringing a ball. Poor little guy wasn’t getting much attention lately with all the ke
rfuffle that was happening in our lives. But at least we could play a little while we awaited Adam’s homecoming.

  I walked out just as his car was arriving. Sparky ran to the car door to see who it was, when out gets my step. But instead of the teenaged misfit I had lived with, it was as if Adam was stepping out of the painting in the front room. My jaw hit the floor and I was speechless. Sparky broke the tension by jumping all over his legs. I tried to say, “Down, Sparky,” but not much came out. My step was a changed person. Charming, full lips, a gorgeous head of hair, kind, crinkled blue eyes, and OMG, those shoulders. That chest, that ass, that body. I was in shock, but I forced myself to recover, shutting my mouth and strolling up to him.

  Adam leaned in and gave me a hug. He smelled fantastic. I didn’t want to let go. “So this is Sparky?” he asked. His voice was like molasses. Deep and sweet. “What a great dog! I’ve been thinking about getting one.” He turned his attention to Sparky. “Who’s a good boy!”