My Step-Dad's Brother(11)

Getting out of bed, I grabbed my shirt and put it on, then headed for her door. I had just grabbed the handle when I heard her hiss my name. I halted and twisted my head to look at her over my shoulder. She’d put her nightgown back on and was glaring at me. “Did you take my underwear again?”

I smirked and left the room as silently as I’d entered. Once I was back at the hotel, I laid down to try and rest for a couple more hours. It was a fruitless endeavor because every time I closed my eyes all I could see was Maggie’s naked body. Fuck. That girl could be a fucking porn star with that body, those lips . . . not that anyone but me would ever see her assets.

I gave up after a while and got up to take a long, hot shower. After getting ready, I sat down to go through shots from my last assignment. When Stanley showed up, I’d just finished writing my article and had sent it and the photos I’d chosen to my editor. I’d also sent a quick note about having a chat about my next few assignments.

Stanley and I ordered room service and shot the shit for an hour or so. It had been a really long time since we’d been able to just sit down and visit like that.

“You seem really happy,” I observed.

He grinned almost dreamily . . . a look I had rarely, if ever, seen on him. “I am. Bunny is—she’s—I don’t even know how to describe it. She’s amazing.” He leaned back in his chair and relaxed. “And Maggie. I couldn’t have asked for a better step-daughter. From the first moment she realized how much I loved her mother, she’s been completely supportive of our relationship. She’s bright, mature, smart, and such a joy to be around.”

I listened silently, afraid that if I commented, if only to agree, that he would hear the truth of my feelings for Maggie in my voice.

“She’s taken care of Bunny for so long,” he continued. “I’m hoping now that I’m here to take over that task, she’ll take the opportunity to just be a kid for a while.”

I grunted and he seemed to take it as an agreement. At eleven o’clock, we gathered our things and left the hotel for the church. The ceremony was set to start at noon, so we weren’t surprised to see several cars already in the lot. The girls would have gotten there a while ago to start getting ready.

We took our places at the alter at ten till as the last of the guests were seated. Another few minutes went by and then a woman seated at a black grand piano began to play the sweet, joyful tune of Music Box Dancer. The back door opened and Maggie stepped into the room, causing all of the air in my lungs to rush out.

She was dressed in a strapless lavender gown. The corset top had gathered material to her waist where it smoothed and flared out, falling to her feet. Her blonde curls were swept up behind her head and her blue eyes sparkled as she caught my eye and smiled.

She slowly moved down the aisle and as she neared, her gaze lowered so she wasn’t blatantly staring at me. I wanted to lift her head back up so I could still see her beautiful eyes, but I dutifully stayed in my spot. As soon as she took her place, the music switched to a cello and piano rendition of My Love by Paul McCartney.

I assumed Bunny had entered and was making her way towards Stanley, but all I could see was Maggie. I pictured her dress in white and the two of us standing alone in front of the arch where Stanley and Bunny met to make their vows.

The ceremony was over before I’d even realized it had begun. I gave Stanley a typical guy hug, pounding him on the back. “Congratulations, brother.” He grinned and started to turn to his bride, but stopped and looked at me.

“Your turn, Harrison,” he said.

I laughed and shook my head airily. “I’ll work on that.” My tone had a sarcastic edge to it, but as soon as his back was turned, my attention diverted to Maggie. He had no idea that work was already in progress. I’d found the one for me and I wasn’t going to wait to officially make her mine.





Chapter 6


Maggie


The wedding reception was gorgeous. Everything was exactly as my mom and Stanley, my step-dad now, had wanted things. It was perfect... except for one small problem. A five-foot-four irritation, dressed in a slutty red dress which was completely inappropriate for a wedding unless you were in Vegas, who refused to go away.

“Are you sure you don’t want to dance?” Cynthia, one of Stanley’s employees, asked Harrison. Yet again. For about the millionth time.

He didn’t even glance up at her as he answered this time around, keeping his eyes focused on my face instead. His frustration with the situation was clear in his eyes, and it was the only thing that was keeping me from acting like a jealous bitch. “I’m happy right where I am. If you’ll excuse us, Maggie and I were in the middle of a conversation when you interrupted us.”