Expecting my Billionaire Stepbrother's Baby (a Stepbrother Romance Novel) (10 page)

“
W
hy won’t
you let me in?”

“Mom, I’m getting ready. I’ll be out in a minute,” I heard him say through the open crack of the bathroom door.

“Pfft, it’s not like I haven’t seen it all before,” she said. I stifled a giggle. I could imagine her glaring at her son, hands on hips, maybe even her foot tapping. Barbara almost always got her way. My hand rested on the handle just in case she barged into the room. I glanced around the wet room. I would squirrel away and hide if it came to it.

“Mom!” Drake spluttered.

“Fine. But at least tell me where everyone is. I haven’t seen any sign of Viola. And where’s my beautiful granddaughter?”

“Leah’s in the nursery napping. Don’t you dare wake her up. You can see her later.”

“You’re so mean to your mother,” she huffed, the sound of her heels clacking away.

Drake sighed.

“Is she gone?” I whispered and popped my head around the door.

“Yeah, the coast is clear. That was close. She would’ve walked right in here if I hadn’t stopped her.”

My naked body shivered as the warmth of earlier activities dissipated from my cooling skin. It didn’t help that my hair was still dripping wet, sending a steady stream of icy cold water down my back. Seeing my discomfort, Drake found and wrapped a huge fluffy towel around my body, rubbing my arms to stop the onslaught of goose pimples.

“We best get ready,” he said and claimed my lips again. My sex clenched for what seemed like the millionth time that day.

“Then you should stop kissing me,” I replied.

I
was heading
into panic mode. The guests were already arriving, and I hadn’t been able to do a last sweep of the outside to make sure everything was in place. The caterers and all the entertainment had already set up, so at least that was one less thing to worry about, but I wanted this day to go off without a hitch.

Adrenaline and anxiety surged through my body as I mentally checked off all the tasks that I’d had to do for the day.

“Relax,” Drake whispered as his arms slinked around my waist, drawing me close, his front spooning my back. “Breathe.”

I drew in a long breath and then slowly let it out.

“Everything will be fine. It looks wonderful. And Sigrid is taking care of the arriving guests.”

“I can’t help but feel that I’ve forgotten something,” I said, replaying the list over again in my mind, counting off the items on my fingers.

“Well, there is one thing,” he said. I spun around to face him, my head searching for what he was talking about.

“No, what is it? Tell me, I have to fix it.”

“You have to enjoy yourself,” Drake said and took my hand.

“I’ll try. So, what was that all about before at the security gate?”

“Nothing… Come on. Go get Leah and meet me in the garden.”

Leah was dressed in a perfect little pink princess dress, her little gown flowing down to her chubby ankles, topped with white patent leather Mary Jane shoes. She’d refused to wear any sort of clips in her hair or a headband, her hand grabbing and pulling them out the second she had the chance. She probably looked better anyway with her growing curls framing her adorable face.

I’d changed into my own party outfit, trading in my jeans, t–shirt and trainers for a summer dress that cut me in all the right places, a gift from Drake. The dress was exquisite, an Oscar de la Renta design, and god only knew how much it cost… I didn’t dare ask.

And if I didn’t know better, it was as if Drake wanted to show off my curves. We’d agreed, though, to keep a healthy distance from each other till all the people had left. He could look, but he couldn’t touch.

With Leah on my hip, we made our entrance onto the first balcony, leading out from the house and down the winding steps to the next terrace. The small gathering clapped and cheered, and even though I knew it was all directed at Leah, I couldn’t help but feel the blush bloom on my cheeks. My eyes flicked to Drake’s; the storm in his eyes was practically gone, and he looked back at us both, clear greys and light flecks so blue twinkling.

“There she is, my birthday girl,” Drake announced and took Leah from my arms, raising her above his head. She giggled and kicked her feet. He was going to be a wonderful dad, I thought, if the way he acted around Leah was anything to go by, and I prayed not to screw it up.

But the image of Freddy, with money bags in his hands, lingered at the back of my mind. I had to tell Drake soon, otherwise it was going to continue to eat me alive. Freddy had not stopped calling, and I’d resorted to throwing away my phone, burying it in the kitchen waste bin.

“You’re looking well,” my dad said as he hugged me hello while Drake moved away to show off his daughter to the guests.

“Hi, dad,” I said and returned the embrace.

Barbara joined our side and looked me up and down, scrutinising each item of clothing and jewellery I wore. “What are you on about, Henry? She looks fantastic,” she said. “That dress looks like it was made specifically for you. But there’s something I can’t quite put my finger on. Have you lightened your hair? You have this radiance coming off you…”

I shook my head and pressed my lips together. That would be one secret I would not be spilling today.

“Probably just the sun, or maybe my new bronzer?” I added hoping that would be enough to convince her.

“Well, whatever it is I want some of it,” she beamed.

If only she knew, I thought. I tried to picture her reaction to the news of a new grandchild, but the image wouldn’t come. Was that a bad omen?
No, don’t be silly.

I wiped my mind clean and concentrated instead on the two happiest faces that were the most important in my life. Drake and Leah and their bright smiles. Today was about them, and nothing would spoil it.

As I claimed a sparkling apple juice from a passing waiter, my eyes scanned the crowd. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

“It’s going well, no?” Sigrid said, linking her arm into mine.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I replied, honestly grateful for all her help and expertise.

“We should do it again. It was a lot more fun planning together than alone,” she said. I was just starting to process the idea when my eyes landed upon the last person I ever expected to see here.

“Oh, hell, no. You have got to be fucking kidding me!” I spat.

“What? What is it?” Sigrid said as she followed my gaze.

A familiar face sauntered down the steps like she owned the place.

“What? Do you not like Patricia?” asked Sigrid.

I shook my head violently. It was not Patricia that had caught my attention. It was the woman at her side, determined to ruin everything.

“No, not her,” I growled and nodded towards Christine coming down the stairs, making a beeline towards Leah and Drake.

I disentangled my arm from Sigrid’s and rushed towards them. There was no way I was going to let Christine ruin this day. How the hell did she get on the guest list? The security personnel at the gate shouldn’t have let her in.

“Oooh,” I heard Sigrid say behind me as she began to understand my concern.

Drake was still crooning over Leah, showing her the adorable puppies, and he had yet to see Christine barrelling her way through the guests, nudging them out of her way if they didn’t move fast enough for her.

Christine arrived before I did, and I came to a skidding stop just as she let loose a frightening torrent of accusations. Sigrid and my dad were hot on my heels behind me.

Oh boy.

“Drake! How dare you keep me away from my own daughter’s birthday party?” she demanded, practically yelling. If Drake was shocked or surprised at her sudden appearance, he didn’t show it. He turned to face her with a look of the utmost disgust on his face. His lip curled up into a sneer as he glared at her, but she continued to ramble, calling him every horrible name under the sun. Had she already forgot that she’d cheated on him? Lied to him? And walked away, again, from her daughter, choosing a pile of money instead… or at least that had been her plan.

Drake still hadn’t said a word, but I could see he was holding back; a vein on his forehead pulsed, bulging in anger.

“Are you just going to stand there and ignore me? You have no right to keep her from me,” Christine spat. She inched a step forward, starting to reach for Leah, and I saw red. Without a second thought I blocked her advance.

“Will you keep your voice down, we have guests! And you are certainly not welcome,” I said. Christine towered over me in her heels — most everyone did, but I was used to it — and I stood my ground as she attempted to skirt around me.

“How did you get in here anyway?” Christine snarled at me, her gaze flickering to her companion, Patricia. Two and two quickly made four. They must be friends, I thought. It would make sense — Patricia was Drake’s secretary after all. She would’ve known what was on Drake’s schedule and snitched to her BFF.

“You did this?” Drake’s glare switched to target Patricia, who merely shrugged. “In that case, you’re fired.”

“You think you can keep me away from my daughter, you little slut?” Christine interrupted as her eye narrowed to slits, her full concentration now centred on me. “Who do you think you are? You aren’t her mother!”

“Christine! How dare you talk to my daughter like that! You are doing yourself no favours. Control yourself!” bellowed a voice I’d known all my life. He’d very rarely had to use his authoritative voice on me. I wasn’t the type to get into trouble, but when I did, the tone my dad used would stun me into silence.

“Daughter?” Christine repeated, blinking rapidly as if doing so would make her understand the word faster. “Henry, Viola is your daughter?” she questioned again, puzzlement fading to disgust then illumination as she realised the opportunity that had been dropped at her feet.

The word took it’s time to register in my preoccupied mind, too. And when it did, my gut twisted.
Oh, no. This is bad, very bad.

Speechless, my head snapped to Drake. He needed to do something and quickly, before Christine announced to the world that she’d caught us in a state of undress, almost fucking on his office couch. He caught my eye, understanding.

Drake bolted into action and handed Leah off to his mother. From the look of him, he was done with Christine and her schemes. If there had been any guilt or second–guessing about letting Christine be involved in Leah’s life, she’d just kissed that goodbye.

“Come with me. Now!” Drake said through gritted teeth, and he clamped a hand upon her upper arm. She began to resist, trying to brush him off but thought better of it as he towed her away from the crowd.

I rushed to Leah, secure in her grandmother’s arms, and caressed her head, but Leah wasn’t fazed in the slightest, unaware of the ruckus her mother had caused.

“She’s fine,” Barbara whispered, “but I think you’re needed elsewhere. Drake will need you. Go and make sure that woman never comes back.”

“What?” I stammered, trying to wrap my head around the implications of her words. Was Barbara saying what I think she was saying? No, she couldn’t…

She cocked her head at me with impatience, her plucked eyebrow raised, leaning forward to whisper in my ear. “Go. Fight for what is yours.”

Her words made me stagger back, and my stomach did an almighty flip. She knew. I was sure of it now.

But there was no time to waste. Barbara was right — I couldn’t let Drake handle this one alone. Whether Christine liked it or not, Drake and I were a team now.
We
together decided what was best for Leah.

I hightailed it up the sloping path that snaked around the side of the house, leading towards what normal people would call the back gate. Drake was leading Christine away, escorting her toward the main security gate.

Her shouts continued, demanding her release, demanding to see Leah, shouting obscenities about him fucking me, his stepsister! But Drake ignored her and kept walking.

“Wait,” I cried, my heart pounding in my chest. I had never been the fittest person alive.

“What are you doing?” Drake said, looking over his shoulder, his legs still working away. His eyes were on fire. I’d never seen him so angry. It almost made me forget the whole thing and slink back down to the party. Try to repair some of the damage like a good host should.

“I said wait!”

This time he stopped. Christine managed to shut up for a minute.

Hunkered down on my knees I heaved in a few breaths, attempting to steady my heart.

“We can’t keep doing this,” I managed to say. I looked to Christine, my eyes meeting hers. “
You
can’t keep doing this.”

“What? Fuck you,” she spat.

“Christine, for once in your selfish life will you stop thinking about yourself for just one moment and listen?” That seemed to get her attention. She huffed and waited, pulling her arms free from Drake and crossing them in front of her.

“Vi, what are you doing?”

“Both of you just hear me out, OK?”

Drake nodded to go ahead, his impatience building.

“Christine,” I said, encouraging my voice to be gentle, even though I was beyond angry. “Do you honestly want to be a part of Leah’s life? Do you want to be her mother? Or are you just here to extort some more money from Drake? Which given what you now know, you probably could do easily.”

I paused and held my breath. I’d either confirmed her suspicions and given her the ammo she needed to destroy us, or I’d finally said the one thing that she’d been trying to come to terms with the past twelve months.

Christine’s sad eyes darted to the side, no longer able to look at me. Her shoulders dipped, and she huffed out a breath.

“Christine?” Drake asked, his voice now full of concern.

“It’s true, your little whore is right,” she said. There was still some bite to her. “I never wanted kids.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he said.

“I–I don’t know. You wanted to be a dad so much, and I thought it was what, you know, you’re supposed to do after you got married…” she trailed off, her eyes glistening in the dimming light.