Page 15 of Stepbrothered by the Mountain Man

“I told him to take it easy with all the lounging outside, but he won’t listen.” Kat throws her arms up.

“I use SPF,” Dad says dismissively before clapping Beau and me on the back. “The lodge is absolutely stunning, as always. How’s management going? Are you boys getting along and taking good care of your sister?”

My stomach sinks at the word ‘sister’. Then it sinks even further when I notice Maya darting behind the reception desk to grab her folder and a pen, ready to ambush Beau.

“Nick! Kat!” Emmy says, emerging from the kitchen with Grant and Everly in tow. She darts into Kat’s arms before Grant can dive in for his hug; instead, he settles on Dad with an overdramatic sigh before getting his ears pulled.

“What am I? Chopped liver?” Dad asks Everly, who grabs his nose in her fists of fury. I swear no one has a stronger grip than a baby.

“Yes, but you’re our chopped liver,” Beau quips, ruffling Dad’s hair and sidestepping him before his ears could get pinched, too. For the longest time, Dad had been taller than us all, now we towered a few inches above him, and Beau especially liked to mess with his comb-over.

“Ah, another one of my favorite bonus daughters,” Dad says as Emmy leads him into the dining area. “A shame Ayla couldn’t make it this time.”

Ayla was our biological sister wrapping up her last semester in photography school on the opposite coast.

“I’m hoping she comes down soon for another photography session,” Emmy says, her eyes twinkling as she glances at me.

“Why?” Maya asks excitedly as we all grab a seat and Grant brings out his famous rosemary pot roast. “Do you have another announcement?” Her eyes dart pointedly to Emmy’s belly as does half the table’s.

“No, not me,” Emmy shakes her hands.

“Not yet anyway,” Grant says, placing a kiss on her temple. “But soon.”

“Then?”

Emmy shrugs. I just think some big news is on the horizon and we’ll need a photo op.”

Beau and Grant’s eyes trail from me to Maya and finally to our parents. What? Did they think I was about to confess my feelings for Maya now? How could I when I wasn’t even sure she reciprocated them despite Beau’s assurances?

“Well, maybe you’re right because I do have big news,” Maya says, not meeting my gaze. “Beau, I’m ready to buy that property.”

“The cliff-side one overlooking the river?” Kat asks, and Maya nods enthusiastically.

“How on earth did you save so much already?” Dad asks, pausing his attempts at trying to stab a slippery garlic potato.

“I got a loan,” Maya says, fiddling with the button on her pen and not meeting anyone’s eyes.

“A mortgage?” Kat asks. “I thought you needed more time to work on your credit.”

“She does,” I say, and Maya throws me a warning look.

“Then?” Dad asks in confusion as he finally bites into his potato.

“I’ll go over the details with Beau after dinner in his office,” Maya says.

Beau looks uncomfortably from me to Maya before clearing his throat. “Levi, do you want to tell her, or should I?”

“Tell me what?” Maya’s eyes dart between us.

“Beau sold the land this morning, My,” I say, bracing myself. Was now really the best time to discuss this?

I expect Maya’s reaction to be bad. Terrible even, but I don’t expect the raw pain that blooms in her eyes as she looks at Beau.

“Y-you sold the land?” she asks, her folder still clutched to her chest, her fist that holds the pen shaking.

“I’m so sorry,” Beau says softly. “I was in a bind. We all are.”

I can see her trying to process everything. Trying to hold her composure.“Who did you sell it to?”

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