Page 25 of Stepbrother For Christmas

“I thought I lost you,” I admit before peppering kisses all over her face. “Forget the bus. I’ll drive you.”

A collective gasp falls over the room.

Shit.

“Chase Maddox Montgomery!” my dad shouts before throwing his insulated winter gloves at my head. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING with your stepsister?!”

“I’m sorry dad,” I blurt, snapping out of my trance and looking around the room frantically.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” my dad barks. “I raised you better than this.”

I clear my throat and grab Emma’s hand in mine and lace our fingers together. “With all due respect, Dad, I know that this is weird, but I love her and nothing you or anyone says will change that. I hope you will come to terms with this.”

“Emma,” Carol mutters, her face as pale as snow. “You know that’s not what I meant by spending time together.”

“I’m sorry, Mama. But I feel the same way as Chase does about me. I love him and I want to be with him,” she replies, her lower lip trembling.

“I knew it,” Christina blurts out, laughing. “Just a stepbrother my ass. The teddy bear gift that he bought Emma spoke volumes to me.”

EPILOGUE

Emma

Five years later…

Christmas Eve

Life has a way of surprising you with unexpected changes. Take, for example, our wedding. I wanted to get married in a place where my loved ones could easily be present. But no one could agree on a place to have it.

Oh, and finding out I was pregnant with twins certainly complicated things for us.

So yeah we thought we had a plan but things went in a different direction.

After all of the looking we did, we finally decided on a wedding in Beaver Creek, Colorado. With it’s gorgeous rocky mountain, it was the perfect destination to get married. Afterward, we celebrated all night in a dreamy rustic tavern surrounded by loved ones and good music.

Then my mom gave a beautiful wedding toast that ended with, “I just want everyone to take note that the rain outside couldn’t stop Emma Marie Wiley & Chase Maddox Montgomery’s wedding. Nothing is insurmountable for this family. Now let’s raise our glass to the bride and groom and wish them many years of happiness!” Tears streamed down my face that evening because I knew that she was referring to everything that happened in our lives leading up to this point.

“Excuse me, but I have to say this. You look beautiful sitting by the fireplace and watching the fire, Mrs. Montgomery,” a familiar voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Would your husband be mad if I sent you twelve long-stemmed roses and asked for the pleasure of your company to dinner?”

I lift my chin. “My husband is a very possessive man and—”

“I’d kill him! You are mine and only mine,” Chase breaks character, his eyes darkening in that way that makes my heart melt and my thighs quiver. Right now, he’s holding two Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour drinks.

“Is that my favorite drink in your hand?” I ask, blushing at the way his eyes trail over my dress, his tongue licking his lips.

He smirks sinfully. “Only if the kids are asleep already.”

I laugh. “It was no easy task, but they finally went to sleep after I told them that Santa won’t come if they’re awake.”

“Hm. Can we use that on them all year round?” he questions as he hands me my drink.

“I think it only works on Christmas Eve.”

His lips quirk up on one side. “What a shame.”

We sip our drinks in silence for a few seconds.

“Hey, Santa has a question for you.” He reaches over and caresses my face, his touch sending tingles through my body.

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