Read Kisses From My Cowboy Stepbrother, Part 2 (of 2) for Free Online Page B

anybody about this.”
    “Of course,” I said. “I won’t say a word.”
    The typing continued in the background. My dad and I didn’t speak as he looked up Connor’s name in the police database. Suddenly, I heard my dad say something under his breath.
    “Holy shit,” he whispered.
    My heart skipped a beat.
    “What is it?” I asked.
    “Connor Watson, correct?” he asked.
    Then he spelled out his last name just to be sure.
    “W. A. T. S. O. N.?” he asked. “That’s how you spell it?”
    I swallowed and then responded, “Yeah, that’s it. What does it say?”
    “Well, let me ask you this first, Emily...” he said. “Why exactly did you want me to look him up?”
    There was no use in hiding anything from him at that point, so I spilled my guts.
    “Because Mom had found out something about Connor living in Boston at one point and robbing banks for a living. I wasn’t supposed to say anything to anybody, but I had to know if any of it was true.”
    My dad was quiet as he listened. Then he finally spoke up.
    “Well, let’s put it this way,” he said. “In regards to him being a bank robber. Well, yes, according to his record, that’s true. He was arrested five years ago for it and did his time in jail.”
    My jaw dropped and I felt a wave of dizziness come over me. I suddenly felt nauseous.
    “Seriously?” I asked.
    “Yes, Emily,” he said. “It’s true.”
    Then he paused for a moment.
    “But that’s not only thing I’m seeing here,” he said.
    “What is it?” I snapped back. “What else?”
    “It seems there’s a whole hell of a lot about your new stepbrother that you didn’t know,” he responded. “This list is a mile long. Where should I start? There are many racketeering charges in here, including money laundering, fraud, extortion, loan sharking and bribery. You name it, it’s in here.”
    My stomach turned and I stood up from the bench, taking a few deep breaths.
    Oh, God...
    I was about to respond when I heard the sound of footsteps approaching me from behind. I quickly turned around to see Connor walking toward me. He was wearing sweatpants with no shirt. His hair was messy and it was clear that he had just gotten out of bed.
    “Everything okay out here?” Connor asked, as he neared the bench where I was standing.
    I whispered into the phone, “Dad, I have to go. I’ll call you back.”
    Then I hung up and slipped the phone into my pocket.
    “Connor, we need to talk,” I said. “Right now.”
    Connor’s boyish smile faded.
    “About what?” he asked, looking concerned.
    My arms were crossed as I stood there defensively. I was pissed.
    “I wasn’t going to bring this up because I was worried about the consequences, but I don’t care any more, I need to know,” I stated. “Who are you, Connor? Tell me everything about your past or I’m leaving this farm and never coming back.”
    Connor’s expression was unchanging as he gazed at me. We both stood there in silence for a few seconds and then he finally spoke up.
    “I guess it was only a matter of time before this got brought up. But okay,” he said, matter-of-factly. “I’ll tell you who I am, or rather, who I was. Have a seat.”
    We both sat down on opposite sides of the bench. I was dizzy with emotion but I did my best to keep it together.
    “Well, go ahead,” I said, impatiently.
    Connor sighed as he looked at me. A defeated expression was on his face.
    “I’ve made some mistakes in my life, Emily. I’m by no means a perfect man. By the sound of it, it seems you already know a fair amount about my history. But I’ll give you the short version of what happened,” he said.
    My arms were still crossed as I looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
    “I moved to Boston when I was eighteen. My whole life I had watched my dad struggle with money, and I went out there with the intention of getting a degree and a high paying job. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the degree. I did, however, get the high