Page 20 of Her Stepbrother Master (Master Me #7)

LuAnn fidgeted with her gloves, tugging at the wrists to adjust them. She laced her fingers in her lap. She opened and closed her purse a dozen times, just to hear it snap.

“It’ll be all right,” Brad soothed as he guided the car into their parent’s driveway, although his jaw looked tight and he’d spoken very little on the drive.

She’d begun to panic about an hour before, running through all the possible scenarios. It probably wouldn’t be all right. They would be disowned. And forever cast out.

Brad walked around and opened her door, taking her hand to guide her out of the Thunderbird. She yanked it out of his grasp when the front door opened.

Jane Walters, her stepmother, came out, a broad grin on her face. “Well, what a surprise! Two of our children home to visit at once—such a delight.” She drew her son in for a kiss, then bestowed one on LuAnn. “Please come in, sweetheart, your father will be delighted.”

“How was Europe?” she asked, trying to calm her beating heart.

“Oh, it was lovely, darling. We loved the French Riviera—Nice is nice, as they say!”

“Did Father relax?”

Her stepmother made a face. “He was on the phone to the stores every day—cost us a fortune in telephone bills! But, yes, I think he did slow down enough to ease his ticker.”

God help his heart when he finds out about Brad.

They followed her stepmother inside where Brad shook hands with her father and she gave him a hug and kiss.

“Come on into the kitchen, I just made a cake,” her stepmother said. She started to make coffee and LuAnn got out the plates and forks for the three-layer chocolate cake.

“Thanks for coming,” her father teased. “Otherwise, I’d have to wait until after dinner for my cake.” He gave her a wink and another pang shot through her. She hated to ruin his jovial mood.

They sat down at the table. “So, LuAnn, I must have you to thank for bringing Brad home—I don’t think he’s come on his own once since he moved away. Were you too nervous to drive on your own?”

The breath left her chest. Now was the moment. She glanced at Brad.

“Actually, LuAnn and I have been seeing each other,” he said.

All the air seemed to leave the room. Her stepmother blinked, uncomprehending. Her father’s eyes bugged.

“You what?” her father snarled.

Brad nodded calmly. “I’ve been dating LuAnn.”

Dating was a very nice way of putting it.

“We’re going to get married.”

Her father’s brows slammed down. “Absolutely not. Are you out of your mind? You can’t date and you can’t marry her. She’s your sister, for God’s sake.”

“Bob,” her stepmother said, her eyes wide and worried. “Your heart.”

Her father drew in two deep breaths.

“She’s not my real sister,” Brad reasoned. “And we’re in love.”

“No,” her father cut in. Then a horrified look came over his face as he turned to her. “You’re not in the family way are you?”

“Of course not,” she snapped, although she had no right to sound so defensive. She was the one who had tricked Brad into having sex with her before they married.

“Then you will not marry. I forbid it.”

Brad stood up, his lips tight. The two had always butted heads, but this time it was much worse. He held out his hand to her and she scooted her chair back to stand. “I will marry LuAnn with or without your permission.”

“No,” her father thundered.

“Yes,” she said, stepping closer to Brad, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Her stepmother looked ready to cry.

“I’m sorry,” LuAnn said.

“Now wait a minute—” her father began, but Brad was already leading her out the door. “Get back here this instant.”

“Bob, please,” her stepmother cried, her voice breaking.

Brad led her out of the house and down the driveway, pulling open her car door for her. “It’s all right, baby girl,” he said, wrapping her into a hug.

Oddly, it hurt much less than she’d thought.

She’d expected that outcome, really, and now, at least, the anticipation of it was over.

She didn’t feel afraid or upset—not with Brad standing in front of her, willing to shield her.

She looked up at the window and saw both their parents looking out at them, her stepmother’s hand on her father’s arm in what appeared to be an entreaty.

“Come on,” she murmured, pulling away. “Let’s go.”

LuAnn’s father didn’t think he was good enough for her. Brad wasn’t sure he blamed the man. After all, their first year as stepfather and son had been explosive. He’d had a devil-may-care attitude about life in general, and Bob Walters had tried, unsuccessfully, to bring him in line.

He didn’t think his stepfather ever believed he’d graduate from college, much less hold down a professional job, especially without the elder man’s financial help and supervision. The fact that Brad had accomplished something with his life had never been recognized.

As he stood next to his bride at the courthouse, four days after their fallout with their parents, guilt wormed its way into his chest. LuAnn deserved better than this.

She deserved to have a traditional wedding, and to be given away on the arm of her father.

He should have taken more time to assure his stepfather of his worth as a husband and provider for LuAnn.

Brian and Sally had come. His brother had been stunned by the news of their planned elopement, but had quickly recovered and declared himself in support of their union.

LuAnn looked gorgeous in a strapless white lace and chiffon tea-length dress.

He’d given her a bouquet of white roses to hold and a string of fresh-water pearls to wear.

Despite the circumstances, she glowed, looking as happy and radiant as a bride ever looked on her wedding day.

The judge recognized Brian, and greeted them warmly, calling them up to the bench for the ceremony. Brian stood behind him, like a best man, and Sally stood beside LuAnn.

“Do you have a ring for the bride?”

“I do,” he said, digging into his pocket.

LuAnn gaped at him in surprise.

“You didn’t think I’d let you marry without a ring, did you?”

Her smile brightened the entire room and made his breath stall in his chest. Spending the rest of his life working to earn that look from his bride would be a worthy endeavor.

He opened the ring box and withdrew the little ring—a white gold band with a flower shaped out of diamond chips.

“Oh, Brad, it’s beautiful,” she breathed, holding out her finger.

“Hang on, sweetheart, I think there’s an order to this,” he said, looking at the judge expectantly.

The judge laughed. “Indeed, there is,” he said and proceeded to officiate the brief ceremony in which they both said “I do.”

“By the power vested in me by the State of Connecticut, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Brad held both her hands and leaned forward for a brief, but warm kiss, one which he hoped conveyed the promise of a great deal of passion in the imminent future.

They turned around to exit and LuAnn gasped. Their parents stood in the hallway. His stepfather’s hands were jammed in his pockets and his mother’s shoulders were bunched up to her ears. He glanced at Brian, who must have given them the time and location of their marriage ceremony.

His brother shrugged. “Mom wanted to be here.”

Indeed, his mother stood there, twisting her fingers, a sheen of tears glistening in her eyes. She threw her arms around him as if they’d been estranged for years and not a week.

LuAnn released his hand and he turned to see her offering a kiss to her father, who looked awkward, but not angry, this time.

Her father cleared his throat, but no words emerged from his mouth.

Instead, it was Brian who spoke. “Sally made a cake. Would you all like to come over to my place to celebrate?”

Actually, he’d rather carry his wife home and show her all the ways she belonged to him, but he flashed a smile. “We would love to. Thank you, Sally, that was so thoughtful of you.”

Sally beamed and he wondered how long it would be before he and LuAnn attended her wedding to Brian. He turned an inquisitive look on their parents, who agreed to meet them there as well. As they walked to the car, his stepfather pulled him aside.

“I wanted to apologize, Brad. The news of your relationship with LuAnn came as a shock, but upon reflection, I don’t think you two are unsuited.” He spoke stiffly, as if he’d rehearsed the words.

He handed him an envelope. “I know you’ve always been too proud to accept my help, but I hope you will take this wedding gift,” he said. “I want you two to buy a house with it, and a car. I don’t want you driving LuAnn around on that?—”

“I sold the Ducati,” he cut in. He forced himself to take a breath and accept the overture. “I appreciate the gift. I’d like to design a custom house for LuAnn, and I didn’t know how I’d be able to with starting my own firm.”

“Your own firm?” He braced himself for criticism, but instead, his stepfather smiled and visibly relaxed. “Well, that sounds wonderful.” He stopped and shook Brad’s hand. “Will you let me know if I can help?”

“Of course, sir,”

“And you’ll take good care of her?”

He smiled. “I will take her happiness and care as the most important duty in my life.” He shook hands with his stepfather and returned to LuAnn.

He wrapped an arm around his beautiful bride, pulling her against his side and kissing the top of her head. “Are you ready for some cake, Mrs. Stanford?”

She beamed up at him, love shining in her eyes. “Say it again.”

“Mrs. Stanford.”

“Yes. Again.”

He wrapped her up in both arms. “I love you, Mrs. Stanford.”