Bend (A Stepbrother Romance) (25 page)

Matching shrieks pierced my ears and two girls wrapped their stick-thin arms around me. “Your picture!” one of them exclaimed, “I love it!”

“We’re so excited for you!”

I hugged the two women back. I’d been hesitant to become friendly with any of Justine’s models, mostly because after knowing Kelly and her ilk, I was reluctant to have anything to do with any models at all. But Madison and Brooke were fun, and funny, and sarcastic like me. I’d had to throw all my preconceived notions out the window after drinking with them at one of Justine’s parties.

“Thanks, guys,” I said.

“Did you get to meet Will?” Brooke asked, referring to Justine’s matchmaking victim.

“I did,” I said hesitantly. “He’s nice.”

They both scoffed. “Sounds like you mean boring,” Brooke said.

“We’ll find you someone else to hook up with,” Madison said, “A couple of the musicians were cute.”

“No!” I exclaimed, making them jump. I smiled meekly. “No musicians. I’ve sworn off musicians.”

“Shame,” Brooke said with a casual shrug. “They can be pretty hot.”

“There’s plenty of other hot guys in the city.” Madison hugged me against her side. “Any one of them would be lucky to make out with you!”

“Well, no one here,” I said. “Want to get drinks after?”

“Hell yes!” they said in unison.

“All right, we’ve got to go look pretty near the photos of us,” Madison said. “But let’s definitely make a plan. Maybe dancing?”

“Maybe,” I said, though I was already feeling a little tired.

They were scampering off when the music turned down again for the band to pick up where they left off. I wasn’t paying any attention until they made an announcement. “We have a special guest tonight who’d like to perform a new song for you all—and for one of our artists in particular.”

I wondered who it could be. I couldn’t see them due to the way the gallery was laid out, with pillars separating the room in order to display more photos.

But as soon as I heard the first chords of the song, I knew. My throat clenched and my heart seized in my chest. I knew this song.

Bent notes and broken rhythms littering my sheets

Worlds turn to the tune and the cadence of our heartbeats

I’ll drink a liquid fire, and we’ll

Breath the fumes together, and she’ll

Kiss the jackal goodnight

My vision blurred with tears. Was this really happening? Or had I finally officially lost my mind? I drifted away from my spot near my photo and peered around the corner to see the band across the room.

And there he was. Keir Sonder. I covered my mouth as he continued singing.

The rhythm, the notes, the chords and the words,

They’re yours

The lights, the hues, the heat and this heart

They’re yours

I bend, I break, I breathe,

For you

I’m yours…

That meant he’d finally finished writing the song.
And he came all the way out here to sing it to me?
Brooke caught my eye and raised a questioning eyebrow, and I mouthed back at her, “Later.” Great, that meant my eyeliner was running already.
Just how I want him to see me
.

Scraps of a soul in a disoriented blur

The kiss and the burn of a tempting hazel liquor

Falling lit-drunk-high in this heartsick syndrome

Love put me in my place and took me home

The song wrapped up and he stepped away from the band, his eyes searching the room as everyone applauded. This wasn’t exactly a rock and roll crowd but a few people knew his name and cheered at him as he passed through the room.

He smiled when he spotted me. The band began playing their own music again, more suited for the atmosphere, and people returned to their drinks and conversations.

“Hey,” he said simply, ducking his head as he reached out to take my hand. He stopped, though, an inch away, and let his arm drop back to his side.

“You finished it,” I said. “It was… I loved it.”

“Good,” he said, “It’s yours.”

“You look different,” I blurted, unable to control my racing thoughts. He still had the same messy black hair, but he was wearing clean, dark jeans and a button-down blue shirt. He looked borderline professional—but he still looked like himself. Still wild, still rock and roll, just… restrained.

“New gig,” he said. “Torn jeans don’t exactly command respect.” I wasn’t interested in any of that—not yet. I was too caught up in his presence.
He’s here. He’s really here
. I hadn’t stopped thinking about him in all our five months apart and now, as if summoned, he was here on one of the best nights of my life.

And now it really was the best.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, though I knew the answer. “I thought… what you texted me…”

“Shh.” He stroked my chin with his thumb. “I’m sorry. I flipped out, and I’m sorry. It wasn’t the first time, either.” Keir dropped his head. “I’m here because I wanted to ask you to forgive me. Again. I’ll even beg for it, if that helps.”

“No,” I said, my mouth still hanging open with shock. There were so many things I wanted to say.
I understand. I didn’t stay mad for long, I was only sad. Why didn’t you contact me earlier?

“I shouldn’t have waited so long to apologize,” he said, as if he could read my face. “After the divorce, though… I never forgot my promise, you know.”

“Promise?”

“That I’d wait for you until after the split.”

I thought guiltily about Will. I hadn’t said more than five words to the poor guy, but still. “I thought about breaking it,” I admitted. “I thought you’d never want to see me again. I thought you hated me.”Keir leaned in closer, his hands hovering around my waist, his words breezing through my hair. “Impossible. I’m in love with you, Cadence. Everything about you. I think about all the times I was wrong about you and I want to kick myself so hard.”

My hands were behind his neck without me even realizing I’d moved.

“Please say something,” he said, looking down into my eyes.

“Please just kiss me,” I replied.Keir claimed my lips with a sharp intake of breath, and the whole gallery melted away. Somewhere I heard one of my girlfriends—Brooke or Madison, or maybe even Justine—make a wolf whistle at us, but it was so far away. His kiss consumed me like every other one had, making my blood run hot and my heart swell—was it breaking all over again? I didn’t know. It ached, but it was a good ache, and when he broke away and let us up for air, I stood on my toes and breathed into his ear.“I love you, too.” The truth of it made me light-headed. “I wanted to talk to you but I was scared.”

He stroked my hair. “I know. But you never need to be afraid to talk to me. Besides.” He held me back a step. “They split. There’s nothing to keep us apart, now.”

“Nothing.” A laugh spilled out of me unexpectedly. “You’re right,” I giggled, feeling giddy. “I never thought I’d be happy about anyone getting divorced, but, wow.”

“Let’s not talk about them anymore,” he said, pulling me close again, crushing me against his chest.

“You’re here,” I sighed, running my hand down his muscular back. God, I’d really missed touching him.

“I’m here. I’m with you, Cadence.”

The tears threatened to stop again. Luckily, Justine interrupted.

“Cadence! This isn’t the nice boy I was trying to match you up with. Are you going to introduce me?”

Keir and I broke apart, and she gasped. “The stepbrother?”

“Not anymore,” Keir said firmly. “The boyfriend. The rest of the family split up.”Justine looked between us, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Well that’s good news. I always thought it was a shame, what you two went through. Come, Mr. Sonder. Let me give you the tour.”

I laughed and wiped my eyes as she led Keir away.

He wouldn’t be going far, though. Just around the gallery. And then home with me. His words echoed in my head, and imprinted on my heart.
I’m in love with you. I’m with you.

I glanced back over to where my photo hung on the wall. How the hell could one night be so perfect? How could I be so damn lucky?

Justine returned him to me with two glasses of champagne. “Go on home early,” she said with a wink. “I’ve got enough help tonight.”

“Thanks,” I said, blushing profusely. I downed my drink and made my goodbyes in record time.

Keir slipped his arms around me from behind as I stepped into the street to hail a cab. “Home?” he asked, nuzzling my neck.

“It’s tiny,” I warned.

“It’s perfect, if you’re in it,” he said.

I turned to kiss him again, cab momentarily forgotten. “I love you,” I whispered again, just for the sake of saying it, and he said it again, too. And the ache was gone, replaced with a joyously warm glow.

He was here.

And he was mine.

EPILOGUE

Keir

ONE YEAR LATER

I didn’t believe in Happily Ever After. How could I, when I watched my father claim “this one’s it” over and over?

But I’d found it with Cadence.

Moving my record label to New York was easy.

Adjusting to city living was less so, but I finally found a place in upper Manhattan that I liked—near the water and plenty of parks, it was easy to escape all the bustle and noise.

And now, a year later, Cadence was moving in with me.

I watched her hang her favorite Justine Gunn print next to the kitchen doorway.

We’d come a long way since the nightmare morning when we found out we were stepsiblings.

I slid my hands down her sides and kissed her jaw. “Looks good there,” I said. “Glad you’re making yourself at home, finally.” Her boxes had sat around for almost two weeks now without being unpacked.

“That’s because you’ve kept me too busy,” she said, leaning back against my chest. I slid my hand beneath her shirt and palmed her breasts. She inhaled shakily, then released a soft moan. Music to my ears.

“When can I hang one of your photos?” I asked.

“Nuh-uh. It’s pretentious to hang your own work.”

“I’ll put it up in the kitchen. You’ll never see it then.” I snickered at my own joke and dodged her jabbing elbows.

“I cook,” she said.

“Sure,” I said mockingly, pulling her back toward the couch.

Cadence pouted. “Cooking is another thing you don’t give me enough time for.” She did have a point. Between her jobs and my jobs, we didn’t get to see much of each other—and when we did, well, it was hard to keep our clothes on long enough to accomplish much. We lived on Chinese take-out and pizza and had only half-decorated the apartment.

But I was happier than I’d ever thought possible. I missed playing live music sometimes but I loved my work and my life with Cadence.

I sat down on the couch, and Cadence followed, straddling my hips and settling back on my thighs. It had become a familiar and favorite position when I was making love to her—but that wasn’t what I was after in that moment.

I pulled something out of my pocket.

“Mmm,” she said, misinterpreting the movement. “Getting ready to distract me some more?”

“I’m always ready to distract you,” I chuckled. “But no. I have something for you.”

Her eyes narrowed and she grinned. “Is this the opening to a dirty joke?”

Her expression changed when I slipped the ring onto her finger. “Keir…” She lifted her hand to look at it. Simple, but very shiny. Her jaw dropped.

“Baby, I don’t know how to describe the extent of what you’ve done for me,” I said. “All the bullshit swept aside, you led me to my family, and I can never repay you for that. But I want us to start one of our own.” My throat tightened. Damn, was I getting choked up?

She sure was. Tears fell from Cadence’s eyes when she blinked, and a croaking sound came out of her mouth when she tried to speak.

“Yes?” I asked, wiping her cheeks dry.

“Yes,” she squeaked. “Yes!” She kissed me, chanting “yes” against my lips until I laughed and held her away. She was crying and giggling at the same time.

“You make me so fucking happy,” I said, laughing with her.

“You, too!” she said. She cupped my chin in her hand. “You make me laugh every single day. And you wrote me a song.” She placed a hand over her heart. “What girl wouldn’t love that?”

“Told you, you’re a muse,” I said. “I don’t write songs for just anyone. Seems like that part of my brain loved you from the start and the rest of me just had a little catching up to do.”

“Let’s not think about the past,” Cadence said, admiring the ring. “We should be talking about the future. There’s so much ahead of us.”

“You’re right,” I said, pulling her in for another long, slow kiss. I was getting really worked up; I always did. She was right, I did “distract” her too much.
But she loves it
. She was breathing heavily herself, grinding down against my growing erection.