“You all right?” he asks, glancing at the front door then back at me.
“Yeah,” I assure him, clapping him on the shoulder. “I’m good.” I dip my head toward the foyer. “That’s probably Cypress.”
“Right.” Rubbing his hands down the front of his pants, he heads toward the door, and I return to the room and Mom.
Her gaze meets mine as soon as I enter, and the unease and apprehension clouding her blue eyes has me crossing over to her. Sliding an arm around her shoulders, I squeeze her close.
“It’s going to be fine, Mom,” I murmur to her, low enough so neither Father Donovan, Beth, Robert, or their niece can hear.
“I know, honey,” she whispers, patting my hand. “Dan’s so excited…”
“And you’re happy for him.” I bend my head closer to hers. “But you’re nervous, too. I’m just giving you fair warning. If she’s still the little snot she was at thirteen, I’m snapping her bra strap like I did back then.”
Her scandalized gasp is music to my ears, and I don’t bother hiding my wide grin. “Jude Aaron Gordon, youdidn’t.”
I shrug, neither confirming or denying. But sure, I’d been an ass on occasion. And when Cypress had pissed me off one too many times, I’d sometimes retaliated. Nothing too bad because Mom had raised her sons to respect girls and women. But damn, Cypress could’ve made St. Francis of Assisi say, “Fuck this shit!” and hit a bottle of Hennessey.
“The prodigal daughter has finally arrived, huh?” My brother Simon materializes on the other side of her, another bookend. Another shield.
Knox should be here. The thought slips in and lodges in my head. He would’vewantedto be here, to stand by Mom. If she’d let him.
“You two promise to behave yourselves. It’s important to Dan that she feels welcomed,” Mom warns, pinning us with her patentedstraighten up and fly rightside-eye. My mother discovered and perfected side-eye before it was a thing.
“Yes, ma’am. Scout’s honor.” Simon holds up two fingers in a pledge I’m pretty damn sure he didn’t learn from the Boy Scouts. Especially since he never was one.
“…so glad you’re here.” Dan’s resonant baritone drifts from the hallway, growing nearer.
“Thanks for inviting me,” replies a lighter, huskier voice.
A voice that is somehow familiar.
I frown, stiffening. No.It’s not possible…
Dan appears in the living room doorway, and a tall brunette steps from behind him. She lifts her head, and…
Holy fuck.
“Ro?” I rasp.
The same dark blue eyes I stared down into as she swallowed my cock a week ago widen, the shock ricocheting through me reflected in that gaze. The hell is she doing here?
My brain isn’t connecting the dots. Not when my memories of her include eating her out and finger-banging her ass before burying myself in a tight, hot pussy that still makes me jerk awake with my fingers wrapped around my hard flesh. No, those images don’t click with the woman standing next to Dan, my stepfather.
Because that would mean I fucked his daughter.
That would mean I fucked my stepsister.
Chapter Six
Cypress
No.
No-no-no-no.
This can’t be happening.
God couldn’t possibly hate me this much.
