My Step-Dad's Brother(38)

“She needs a blood test,” I informed Dr. Morgan as I set her down on the overstuffed couch. I threw her a black look when she started to comment and it shut her up.

“And who have we here?” Dr. Morgan smiled at Jade, “Does this beautiful woman belong to you, Lucas?”

“No,” Jade answered before I could even open my mouth. She returned my angry expression with a somewhat sly smile. “I’m his step-sister, Jade.”

I had no clue how to respond. Did I tell the doctor about our history and trust him to keep it a secret? Or did I pretend the baby wasn’t mine and we were simply cohabitating step-siblings? I wanted to shout and punch something. This whole situation was so fucked up.

“Really? I didn’t realize Jonathan’s new wife had a daughter. It’s lovely to meet you.” He smiled and shook her hand. If he weren’t here to examine her, I might have ripped off his appendage for touching her. No one else will ever be caressing her silky skin but me ever again.

“We didn’t know about each other until recently,” she admitted.

“Really? Well, how wonderful you two aren’t left without family.”

His comment made me cringe, much too similar to the words of my father’s will, which put me in this ridiculous spot in the first place.

“Now, what seems to be the problem, my dear?” Dr. Morgan asked as he began taking her blood pressure.

“She’s been nauseous, exhausted, and she fainted earlier,” I growled, glowering at Jade as I started to pace again.

“Any chance you’re pregnant, Jade?”

I waited with baited breath to see how she would answer.

She cleared her throat, “Um.” She glanced at me and Dr. Morgan took notice.

“Lucas, perhaps you should wait in another room.”

Jade smiled triumphantly.

“I need to be here. With our parents gone, I’m her legal guardian. Our parents wanted someone to take care of her.” I grinned back at Jade.

“Puh-lease. I’m twenty-two years old. And even if I wasn’t, nobody would pick you to guard their dog, much less another human being.” Her cheeks brightened with color as we bantered back and forth.

“Now, now, Jade, you mustn’t compare yourself to a puppy, at least you’re house trained.”

She huffed and Dr. Morgan chuckled. “Squabbling like siblings already.”

Our matching gasps of disgust seemed to shock the doctor and his gaze bounced between us like a pinball machine. After a tense moment, he focused back on Jade as he got her arm ready for a blood draw.

“Ugh. Another needle, I think I’m going to be sick again.”

“You know,” I drawled, “You didn’t answer the doctor’s question.”

Jade’s eyes flew to me and I smiled sinisterly. “Any chance you could be pregnant Jade?”

“Yes,” she snapped. “I had a fling with a macho, egotistical, shallow, pompous ass who apparently didn’t know how to use a fucking condom and knocked me up. That’s why the blood test isn’t necessary because my doctor already confirmed it this morning.”

I didn’t know why but hearing her admit it out loud made the whole thing much more real. Holy fuck. I’d gotten Jade pregnant. Mentally banging my head against a wall, I amended the thought. I’d gotten my step-sister pregnant. The board was going to ruin me and send me off to live in Louisiana with all of the other people whose lives sing like a fucking country song.





Chapter 7


Jade


Had I really said what I thought I did? Someone please tell me I hadn’t. I slowly opened my eyes, which I’d squeezed shut in mortification as soon as the words popped out of my mouth. Yup, I’d totally said exactly what I thought I had. The twin looks of shock on Lucas and the doctor’s faces confirmed it.

“I guess we won’t need a blood test after all,” the doctor drawled, placing the needle down right before jabbing me with it. It was the only upside to my untimely announcement. He got over his surprise more quickly than Lucas, who stood there staring at me with his jaw open and his eyes wide. Dr. Morgan’s attention shifted between the two of us before focusing on Lucas. “While I appreciate your concern for your step-sister, I think it would be better if you gave us some privacy to discuss such a delicate matter.”

Privacy sounded fantastic to me, but I couldn’t bear the tormented look on Lucas’s face at the doctor’s request. I’d pulled the rug out from under him with my announcement, and it wouldn’t be fair of me to make him wait in another room so soon afterward.

“It’s okay,” I sighed. “He can stay.”