Page 41 of Her Stepbrother Master
He smirked. “Your body belongs to me. That means you need to ask permission to come.”
Her eyes rolled back again, a shiver running through her. “Thank you, Daddy,” she mumbled.
He laughed. “Trust me, baby girl, the pleasure was all mine.”
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?”
