Page 128 of Beautiful Revenge

“I’m more than happy to be the one to keep you company on your honeymoon. But that’s not why I came out here.” I toss the large, overnighted envelope onto her lap. “This was just delivered. I knew you wouldn’t want to wait, so I walked it out myself.”

She picks up the heavy, oversized cardboard envelope. I’m not sure why she’s surprised. She was expecting it any time.

“This is it.” Her hand flies to her mouth and she looks up at me. “This is really it. I don’t know what to think or feel. What if Jett Cross turns out to be my brother, and he’s a jerk?”

I shrug. “Then you never have to see him again. Your dad will handle it.”

Her expression turns horrified. “But what if he’s not my brother? I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m coming around to the idea. In fact, I may be disappointed if he’s not.”

I pause trying to think of the right thing to say. “Sounds like he doesn’t have a family. Maybe you can talk your dad into adopting him.”

Her horrified expression turns into a glare. “That’s not helpful.”

“Weirder things have happened,” I mutter. “At least he’s not pretending to be dead.”

“True.” Her fingertips dance over her name in the address panel.

“Baby.”

She looks up.

“The only way you’ll find out is to open the damn thing.”

She nods and slowly turns it over in her lap. It feels like a fucking year, but she tears it open and pulls out a single piece of paper. Her eyes shift back and forth, over and over. I’m pretty sure they return to the top to start over for a second read.

She purses her lips and her eyes well. I have no idea what to think.

Damn. Even I can’t take the suspense.

“Harlow.”

She looks up at me and her tears spill down her cheeks.

“What does it say?” I demand.

The paper drops to her lap, and she swipes the tears that streak her sun-kissed skin. “Jett Parker Cross had better not be an asshole.”

My brows rise.

“Yes.” She nods quickly and turns the report around to show me the positive genetic test results. “I have a brother.”

I lean in and wipe her tears away as I cup her face. “Baby, no one will ever be an arse to you again. I’ll make sure of it. Congratulations on your new sibling. We have a meeting in our near future.”

“We do.” She puts her hand over mine on her cheek and nods. “I need to call Chrissie. And then I need to call my dad. That’s going to be an awkward conversation. At least he’s stronger and at home again. He can handle this.”

“I have no doubt he can. Children are a good thing. Even if they come to you at the age of thirty-six.”

“Children are a good thing?” She looks up at me through hesitant dark eyes. “You like them ... want them?”

“I’ve got a niece and nephew. They’re the shit. But I’ve never met anyone I wanted them with.”

“I see.”

“Yet,” I amend. “You don’t want kids?”

“No, I do.” She rattles off quickly. “I really do.”

I bite back my smirk. “You think I’m too old?”