Read Tease: A Stepbrother Romance for Free Online Page B

he can go into my room while I’m asleep, I can go into his, I thought.
    The room looked empty, like it did before he arrived. I checked his bathroom and all of his things were gone.  
    Where could he be? Did he leave? Why?
    I rushed down the stairs and found my mother seated at the kitchen table.
    “Morning, Mom. Have you seen Jagger?”
    “Don’t you remember? We told you at dinner the other night after we got home. Phil and Jagger left this morning for Oahu. We’re still scheduled to leave later today. I know I’ve been married before and we both have kids, but I wanted a couple of days apart from Phil before the big day.” Mom shrugged as she smiled. “Just call me old-fashioned.”
    With everything we needed to do once we got to Oahu, I knew I’d never get to see Jagger until after the ceremony. I had no choice but to wait to talk to him, if I was going to talk to him. I still didn’t know. The only thing I was sure of was that every time I thought about the past week, the more confused about Jagger I became.
    Was it possible to hate someone you found physically attractive? I was beginning to think hate was too negative a word for how I felt about him. If I was honest with myself, I had to realize I might actually like him.

~ Seven ~

    Jagger

    It had been two days since I last saw Sierra. I’d never admit it to anyone, but I was ashamed by how much I thought about her.
    Seeing Dex flirt with her was enough to send me over the edge. I had no choice but to follow them and make sure she was all right. I didn’t know what Dex would do or that he would take things that far. Had I known, I would have made sure she stayed home. But what I would never tell her was that it wasn’t Dex that made me follow her, it was my own jealousy.
    Getting on the plane early the next day was a relief. I didn’t know how much longer I’d be able to resist her. She was so sweet that I couldn’t help but corrupt her by sending her the videos and photos. Now every time her cheeks turned the slightest shade of red, I knew what she was thinking about—me. And I loved it.
    On the plane, Dad had told me how he and Rachel would be heading to another island after the wedding. I hoped that with Sierra and I alone together in a romantic tropical resort that maybe she would begin to let her guard down. When we checked into the hotel, I suggested adjoining rooms for Sierra and me and got my wish.
    Now that it was the day of the wedding, I knew she would have no choice but to spend some time with me. I just needed to keep proving to her that I wasn’t that meathead kid from years ago.
    Dad and I were in a room at the resort reserved especially for the groom. A small table was set up with some snacks and beside it was a stocked bar. Dad paced the room and looked out the long windows at the small crowd gathering outside for the ceremony.
    “Everything okay? You look nervous,” I said.
    “Nothing’s wrong. I’ve just been thinking about how strange life works,” he said. “For the longest time, I never imagined this day would come with someone other than your mother.” He sat down and pulled a chair out next to him. “Sit, let’s talk.”
    As I sat down, Dad poured Scotch into two nearby glasses. He slid one over to me.
    “Sip it. This Scotch is older than the two of us combined. Drink it with respect,” he said with a smile before taking a sip. “It means a lot to me that you’re here. I didn’t think I’d ever find someone to marry me after your mother turned me down so many times.” He laughed and took a sip.
    “Is that why you two never got married?”
    “I shouldn’t be surprised she never told you.”
    “I never asked, but she never talked about it. I mean I guess part of me knew it was her, because she’s always talking about how it’s just me and her and we don’t need anyone and we don’t need anything from you.” Dad nodded as if he had heard that before.
    “Well, what she always told me was that I was