Claimed by His Stepbrother

ed from downstairs, loud enough that

uickly touched up my lashes and pressed a bit of nude lip gloss,

, smiled at the reflection like, okay, not

y his head snapped up when he heard my heels clicking against th

ide my laugh, blushi

you're so

day, he finds one way or the other to remind me he lo

d me up like I was light as air, spinning me around before putting me down again.

gainst my lips, "Should we just skip

ine, making it hard to t

."No, Paul. You know this event is importan

tantly, rolling his eyes "I rea

ve to stay long. Thirty minutes tops, then we sneak bac

lly. "Shall we?" he asked and

e that we stepped out

*

culously grand. Paul got out first, then reached for me.

bright in our faces as soon as we entered. It was giving a red-carpet, business vibe. Everyw

s how to show off." I whisp

iffen beside me, b

usiness partners, others just familiar faces we saw in circles like this. Eventually, Pau

ness talk has never been my thing, I guess. "I'll be

e go. "Don't get lost, mi amor," he teased,

y that led to the restrooms. My heels clicked as I turned the corner-b

my throat. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the kind

efore I hit the floor. I

We both blurted

up, my words d

a

at made you pause without even realizing. His eyes were clear blue lik

confident. And the warmth of his hand at m

rising too fast, like I'd just run. I cou

ed to stammer out, forcing

echo of his touch, a strange heat c

wrong

've never, ever felt this kind of s

hroom." I pointed weakly

mile making it worse. Like he knew t

myself. I rushed into the bathroom and gra

shed, lips parted, eyes wide like I

or it. A heat I hadn't asked fo

ispering to myself, "No. This isn't ha

to Paul. To us. I loved hi

*

e floor, laughter and champagne swirling together. I searched until I found Paul ac

gh the hall. Someone tapping a glass. The music faded,

here

under the spotlight li

same

ooth, as he welcomed everyone and than

, "Yep. That's him." His

he one who made me feel something I s

is speech after that. My h

y his words

upporter. You may not know him as my brother. B

. The spotlight swu

all eyes turning, smiling, celebrating thi

game is he playing at?" he muttered slowly, so onl

smile, even as

. My eyes flicked back

ready on me. Watching a

d. Something I couldn't put a name to. Something I