Page 16 of An Unexpected Encounter

Picking up my room key, I slip it into the bodice of my dress for safekeeping. The clothes, well, they could stay here. I’d get them later or Mom could toss them for all I care.

We make our way down the hall to the elevator, stepping inside once the doors open. Mayrene pushes the button for the twentieth floor, which I learned this morning is where the ballroom is located. The ride is quiet except for the banter back and forth between Mayrene and Mom, who never once speaks directly to me. A blessing if you ask me. Once we reach the floor, the doors open and I quickly exit, with everyone else following suit.

“If you’ll follow me, I’ll get us to where we need to be without anyone seeing. All the guests should be in the hall waiting, as well as the groom.” Once she's done, she heads down a hallway tucked off to the side, Mom following behind her as I take up the rear.

Soft music flows out of the hall, filling the room where we’re waiting. “Okay, Selena it’s time,” Mayrene announces.

Stepping up to my spot to head down the aisle, I wait for the music to kick on, making sure to paint a happy smile on my face. I’m going to get through this. Then Mom will be so occupied with her new husband that she can ignore me and I can enjoy the rest of the time I have here.

The music starts playing, which is my cue to turn the corner and head down the aisle. Stepping out from behind the door and looking up, I’m frozen in place. My eyes widen at the sight before me and my heart begins to race. Standing directly beside Abel are three faces, two are identical that I know very well. Three who have made my body feel so amazing and now I know who they are and they are off limits.

Shit!

I slept with my stepbrothers.

I don’t have time to process that as I begin my march down the aisle toward three faces holding the same look of shock.

Fuck me!

Chapter 9

Ezekiel

My heart’s thumping wildly in my chest. Sweat beads on my forehead and I begin to feel lightheaded.

It’s her.

She’s fucking here.

What is she doing here?

Please, please don’t tell me this is Selena, my new stepsister. If she is a cousin, I can handle that, it’s not unheard of for cousins to date. But Dad’s never going to approve of me lusting after my new sister.

Shit! No, she’s not my sister. I’m not even going to think like that. We’re not related. Not by blood, anyway. And she’s not even a step until they say I do.

It’s not like I was aware of her identity when we shared a night of the most incredible sex I’ve ever had.

What the hell? She’s all I’ve been able to think about since waking up to an empty bed that morning. The woman of my dreams, and no name. I can’t even remember if she told me one or not.

Both my brothers gasp beside me.

Nuh uh, not going to happen. They need to back off. She’s all mine. I saw her first. I just need to talk to her to figure out what we’re doing—how to break it to our parents that we’ve been together.

“Fuck me, it’s her!” I hear Jay mumble under his breath and jerk my head in his direction. He’s not paying attention to me; his eyes are locked on her. When I look at Eli, I see the same thing.

What the fuck?

A sick feeling washes over me, and I begin to wonder if she’s their mystery woman as well. No, it’s impossible. There’s no way in hell we’ve fallen for the same woman.

She doesn’t even look my way, instead, she keeps her eyes focused on the pastor and grips her bouquet tightly. Is she freaking out about this as badly as I am?

I can see my brothers fidgeting from where they are on either side of me, and I can’t understand why.

As soon as this is over, I need to corner her at the reception. We need to talk and decide what we’re going to do. All I know is I want her, stepsister or not. Dad’ll just have to understand. I met her before I knew who she was.

Selena takes her spot across from us and the music changes to the wedding march. The small number of family and friends they wanted to be present for their nuptials stand and turn to watch the bride come down the aisle.

Julia’s alright. A little dramatic and over the top, but she seemed nice when we met.

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