Step Bride: A Bad Boy Mob Roman(15)

For my part, though, I wasn’t used to having staff. I distantly understood that I could ask them for things, but I mostly just wanted to be left alone. I felt embarrassed and uncomfortable simply being in the house, let alone bossing some poor staff member around.

Once outside, though, I began to feel a little bit better. The cool summer day was sunny and comfortable as I followed a path down through the grounds. I saw open stables with horses grazing, pens with farm animals, rows and rows of flowers, and even what looked like a small vegetable patch. I couldn’t imagine mobsters as farmers, and so I just assumed someone else had installed it all before the Barones took over the grounds.

Farther along, I came into a wooded area. The path stretched around a small lake, and the woods were very peaceful. It felt great to finally be away from all the people and the bustle. For the first time all day, I felt halfway okay.

As I walked, I found my mind suddenly straying back toward Lucas. The way he looked at me, that devilish smile, it screamed of sex and desire. He seemed like he couldn’t get enough of me. The way he reached out and touched my hair and spoke so close to me sent a rush down my spine. Despite being such an asshole, I still found myself inexplicably drawn to him.

Just like that night in Vegas. I didn’t understand it then, and I didn’t think I ever would. But he was my stepbrother now, and a dangerous one. I just needed to get along with him for the summer, and then hopefully I would never have to see any of them again.

Oh, and I needed a divorce. But one thing at a time.

I came to the end of the woods and found myself at the end of a large lawn leading back from the house. I noticed someone coming toward me, wearing an expensive suit.

I recognized him as he got closer. Lucas waved to me, and I wanted to run away.

“Hey, sis,” he called out. “Lost?”

“Not lost,” I said. “Just looking around.”

He stopped a few feet away from me and crossed his arms. “Well, how about a tour?”

“No, thanks,” I said, and walked past him.

He fell into step next to me. “What are you interested in seeing?”

“I don’t want a tour,” I said. “Just looking for the pool now.”

“Come on,” he said, taking me by the arm. “This way.”

“Hey,” I protested, but he was already walking off the path. He dropped my arm and I fell into step behind him. “You can’t just drag me around like that.”

He grinned back at me. “Sure I can.”

We moved between some buildings, and I stopped in my tracks. Spread out in front of us was an enormous pool with two hot tubs and plenty of chairs set around it. Nobody else was around.

“Wow,” I said. “This is really nice.”

“It’s fine,” he said, walking over to the water. “Doesn’t get much use.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. Gangsters aren’t really the type to lounge around a pool all day.”

I shook my head, annoyed. “So why even have something like this?”

He began to loosen his tie. “Because it shows off our wealth and power.”

“Seems like a huge waste to me.”

He took off his tie and dropped it over a chair. He slipped his jacket off next, draping it over his tie. “It’s not a waste. Not in our line of work anyway. Image is everything.”

He began to unbutton his shirt. “What are you doing?”

“I thought you wanted a swim.”

“I never said that.”

He shrugged, stripping his shirt off. I stared at his chest, muscular, defined, and covered in tattoos. I remembered that body well and had the crazy urge to walk up to him and touch his skin.

Or maybe I wanted to push him into the water. I wasn’t sure.

He began to unbuckle his belt.

“Stop,” I said quickly, blushing.

“What? We’re stepsiblings now. It’s not weird.” He pulled off his belt and then slipped his pants off.

I stared at him standing in front of me, wearing nothing but his tight black boxer briefs. He took his pants and laid them out over his other clothes, and then he turned back to me.

“Image is everything, Nat. Don’t forget that. We have all of this because we don’t want anyone to forget who we are and what we can do.” He stepped up to the edge of the pool and then dove in.

I stared at his clean, incredible lines, his handsome body, and I felt the heat between my legs spike.

He surfaced in the middle of the water. “Come on in, sis,” he called. “It’s nice today.”

For the second time that day, I turned and walked quickly away from him.

As I retreated toward the house, his laughter was ringing in my ears.