Forbidden: A Stepbrother Secret Baby Romance (20 page)

“Tessa,” I say. “But you already know that.”

She smiles and looks back at the painting. It’s a square of simple, pure blue. “This is not my taste.”

I nod. “I prefer landscapes as well.”

“Do you collect art?” Cindy asks.

I shake my head quickly. “No, no. I actually paint.”

Cindy lit up. “Landscapes?”

I nod. “I just sort of dabble in it, really. I’m not great.”

Cindy waves her hand. “Nonsense. Do you have samples of your work?”

It’s been a week since Jax and Ryan surprised me with the painting supplies. I’ve spent every waking second painting on the beach. Jax had to go to the store for more canvasses. I pull my phone out of my pocket. “I have a few photos here,” I say sheepishly, looking over my shoulder to make sure Roxy isn’t looking.

Cindy grabs my phone and nods appreciatively. “Do you take commissions? I have a guest house I’m renovating and it needs a few different pieces. I want oceanscapes like you have here.”

I gulp and blush. “I could take commissions. Do you really think I’m that good?”

Cindy smiles and pats my shoulder. “Yes. And it will piss off your mother, so it will be a double win.” She winks at me and hands me a business card. I slip it into my pocket and go back to my post on the wall.

Microphone Lady with the helmet of hair is holding court in the middle of the room. “Oh, Suzanne,” whispers one of the other women to Microphone Lady. “It’s just positively too much gossip for me to bear.”

My mother trundles by and pokes her nose into the circle. “What are we gossiping about?” she asks brightly.

Microphone Lady, who is apparently named Suzanne, flips her immovable hair. “Oh, nothing,” she says airily.

“Oh, do share. I’ve been craving the distraction of someone else’s life,” my mother says.

The women all shift uncomfortably.

I suddenly realize they must have been talking about me. Suzanne is eating this up. I almost want to save my mother from this embarrassment. Almost. “Oh, if you’re looking for an escape from your own life, I’m afraid this gossip won’t suit,” Suzanne says airily.

“And why is that?” My mother inquires, entirely oblivious.

“Because it’s about your shop girl daughter and your stepson,” Suzanne says. “And how your whore children are both the parents of your adorable little grandson. What’s his name? Robert?”

My mother blanches and drops her champagne glass. The gallery goes quiet as it smashes on the floor. I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest. My mother pastes on a smile and, before I even can absorb what’s happening, reaches out and slaps Suzanne across the face. Cindy starts applauding drily, and the other women all whisper and titter. “Oh, Suzanne. I’m sure there would be more juicy gossip about your family if they weren’t all in prison for insider trading. Do your son and husband share a cell?”

Cindy laughs uproariously and a few of the women gasp. Suzanne, for once, is struck speechless.

My mother adjusts the shoulder strap on her purse. “Nobody calls my daughter a whore. Especially not ferret-faced inbred old-money bitches,” she adds with a flourish.

My mother smiles and nods at me on her way out of the gallery.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

JAX

I’m hanging lights on our freshly-purchased miniature pine Christmas tree when Tessa storms in and tells me a story that seems too fantastical to be even remotely true. She doesn’t even stop to say hello.

“She said what?” I ask, my hands shaking so violently I can’t even toss tinsel onto the boughs.

“My mother defended me! In front of all of those people!” Tessa says. “I know. I can’t believe it either, honestly.”

I shake my head and set down the decorations. “How does Suzanne know about Ryan?”

Tessa shrugs. “I’m guessing that’s what we get for going to the local pediatrician to do the test. One of the nurses must have made some phone calls.” Her eyes fall on a thick, manila envelope that rests on the coffee table.

“They came in today,” I say. “I didn’t look at them yet. I wanted to wait until we were all together.”

Tessa nods and swallows. Ryan is scooting himself across the rug, oblivious to anything that’s going on around him. “Should we…”

I grab her hand and lead her over to the couch. I hand her the envelope. “You do the honors,” I say. I’m nervous, I just don’t want her to know that.

Tessa starts to rip into the paper.

“Wait!” I say. “Wait. Wait. I need to ask you something. Wait here.” I run up into the loft and reach into my pillow. This is where I’ve stuffed the vintage ring Ryan and I found at a tiny shop a few days ago. I’ve been waiting until the right moment. This is it. I trot back downstairs and get down on one knee.

Tessa gasps. “Oh my God,” she whispers.

“Tessa Anne, I want you to know that the last few weeks with you in this place, with Ryan, have been the best of my entire life. I love you both. I don’t care what the results say. Ryan is my son. You’ve both shown me that settling down isn’t half bad.” I grin at her. “So I’m asking you this: will you marry me?”

Tessa covers her mouth. “Yes. Yes. Yes, I will,” she replies. I slip the ring on her finger. “It’s perfect,” she says. It has three miniscule diamonds set into the top of the rose gold band.

“I know it’s not huge but I figure we need to save all the money we can,” I say. “One day I’ll get you a stunner. I promise.”

Tessa shakes her head violently. “No! No. Don’t you ever. I love this one.”

I reach over to kiss her when Ryan falls and bursts into tears. Tessa stands up to get him but I beat her to it. I pick him up, rocking him in my arms. I sing into his ear quietly. I look at Tessa, who looks like she’s about to melt. Lesson here, guys: the fastest way into a woman’s panties is to be good with babies. I’m speaking from experience.

Ryan calms down within a few seconds, breathing softly against my chest. I carry him over to the sofa. “Open them up,” I say to her. “I already told you: no matter the results, he’s mine.”

And he is mine. Officially. The paperwork proves it.

“Okay, so you know how I said it didn’t matter what the papers say?” I ask. “I lied. Now we don’t have to be around that shit face Paul for any reason, ever again. What a fucking relief that is.” Tessa, Ryan and I are in a three-way hug when the doorbell rings. “It’s probably Julie,” I say. “I told her to drop by tonight to see the decorations.”

“They’re lovely, by the way,” Tessa says, wiping her eyes of the joyous tears that have gathered there.

I open the front door. “Merry Christmas-“ I stop mid-sentence.

Cassie is standing there, holding her purse like I’m about to steal it from her. “Merry Christmas to you as well,” she says softly. “May I come inside?”

I look at Tessa, who nods. “My house is your house,” I reply.

Cassie doesn’t sit down. “I won’t be here long,” she says. “I just came to apologize on behalf of myself and your incredibly stubborn father. I realize that I was horrible to all of you. I am deeply sorry.” She takes a breath and holds it.

I wait for Tessa to respond. She’s the one who needs to dole out forgiveness, and only if she wants to. I’ll just follow her lead.

Tessa opens her mouth. “You defended me today. You’ve never done that before.”

Cassie nods slowly. “I meant what I said. Suzanne is a miserable bitch and you are not a whore.”

Tessa actually laughs. “Thank you.”

“This is a lovely place,” Cassie says. “It reminds me a bit of where Tessa’s father and I lived when we first got married.” She looks at me. “I heard your business has officially shuttered,” she says.

I nod and shrug. “Well, I can’t do much with no resources. Lyle’s scorched-earth policy is infamous.” My dad had destroyed all my business connections and the venture capital deal I’d worked last month. Everything I had was gone within two hours of leaving his house, down to the defense contracts I needed to keep my business going, just as I knew it would be.

“His offer still stands legally. If you’re married by New Year’s Eve, he still has to complete the deal,” Cassie says.

Tessa holds out her hand. “Well, we
are
engaged now.”

Cassie’s eyes fill up with tears as she takes her daughter’s hand. “Oh, it’s beautiful,” she says earnestly. “Congratulations to both of you. And I honestly mean that with all of my heart.”

I look into her eyes and know it’s the truth. “I know you do,” I reply. I grab Tessa’s hand, Ryan still settled into the crook of my arm. “But we’re not taking the deal. We’re fine on our own. I swear.”

Cassie exhales with relief. “Lyle will come around some day, I know he will. But if you two ever need anything, please. I’m only a phone call away.”

“We’d love for you to stay for dinner,” Tessa says.

Cassie’s face softens. “I would love that. It does smell divine in here.”

“Jax cooked enchiladas.”

That night, we all settle around our tiny dining room table: Tessa, Ryan, Cassie, Sam, and Julie who had stopped in early and wanted to join in with the celebratory festivities. I look around the table at my family and feel proud for the first time in my life.

I squeeze Tessa’s thigh flirtatiously under the table top. She flashes me a smile in return. I’ll be cashing in my good-father-chips later this evening for some good, old-fashioned fucking.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

JAX

NINE YEARS LATER

“Ryan! Come help your sisters with their shoes!” I yell into the backyard. Ryan drops his basketball and comes running immediately. I give him a high five as he runs through the back doors of the house. “Atta boy,” I say as Ryan passes me.

Tessa walks past both of us, looping earrings through her ears. She smells like jasmine and lavender. I grab her hips as she walks past me. “Not so fast, Mrs. Hadley,” I murmur in her ear. She twists her head so I can kiss her cheek. Her nearly-nine-months-pregnant stomach is so large that this is the only way we can kiss. I don’t mind it. Her ass fits nicely against my-

“Eww! Stop kissing!” shrieks a chorus of voices from behind us.

“Busted,” Tessa says, laughing. “Go out to the car. We’ll be there in a second.” The kids run out of the house and into the garage.

“You nervous about tonight?” I ask her.

“What? About putting the finishing touches on an enormous landscape mural in under an hour in front of a hundred strangers? While standing on scaffolding? While about to go into labor probably at any second?” Tessa gives me a smirk. “Nah. I can handle anything. I have seven kids, and I’ve got you.”

I grab her sides and pull her as close to me as her stomach allows. “I’m going to fuck you so hard tonight.”

Tessa blushes. We’ve still got the same fire we’ve had since that first night in San Francisco.

That might explain the seven children with one on the way, come to think of it. I can’t ever keep my hands off of my wife.

An hour later, we’re standing on the wharf, a microphone set up. The mayor is presenting Tessa with an award, and some idiot decides to let me speak in front of her fans assembled here.

I grab the microphone. “I’m Jax Hadley, also known as Mr. Tessa Bennet,” I joke. “I’m just the Trophy Husband.” The crowd laughs. “And I’m more than happy to be it. My wife needs no introduction, honestly. She’s sold paintings everywhere, and her murals cover the California coastline. I’m also Mr. Mom. I stay at home with our six daughters and Ryan, our only boy. Wave, Ryan!” He waves sheepishly. “Our oldest daughters, Ella and Jamie, are eight years old. They’re the two mini-Tessas there in the front row.” I smile as I see their shiny hair and brown eyes. “Then there’s Alex, our curly-headed six-year-old; Hannah, our boisterous four-year-old. And then the second set of twins, Allison and Leah, who are tucked into the stroller there.” The crowd oohs and aahs at their adorable, chubby cheeks with pacifiers sticking out of their mouths. “And we have one more on the way. Hopefully a boy to balance out the estrogen in my house.”

Everyone laughs again.

“But really I just want to say, before my wife finishes up this gorgeous mural behind us, that there is no one in the world I love more than I love her. She’s my everything. And I’m glad that I get to share her with all of you.” The crowd applauds happily, and I grab Tessa to kiss her. I make sure the microphone is turned off as I whisper in her ear. “Remember when I told you I wanted to fuck you on a stage in public? Now’s our chance.”

Tessa slaps my arm. “Maybe when I don’t look like a beached whale,” she replies, kissing me again.

“You’re the sexiest beached whale I’ve ever seen,” I retort. “Now go finish that painting so we can get home and I can finish you off.”

Tessa climbs up the stairs with help from her assistants. I go back into the crowd to hug all of my kids. The sun is setting over the ocean, and I realize I have everything I could ever want in this moment. Everything is perfect.

I am home.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vesper Vaughn weaves her fiction from her backyard writing studio nestled in the sunny, star-studded hills of Hollywood, California. Her interests include: smart-ass, sexy men; romantic comedy movies; gin and tonics, all Shonda Rhimes television shows, and the Hemsworth brothers. She is the author of the reader-adored bad boy romance novels STEP WILDE, HITMAN’S HOOKUP, and BABY LOVE.

MORE STORIES BY VESPER VAUGHN

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