Redeemed Complete: A Military Stepbrother Romance (6 page)

It wasn’t exactly a new occurrence, being checked out like that, but I was still getting used to it. The guys in New York were bolder with their attention and looks even if they didn’t approach, but something about them scared me a little bit still.

“When you’re dressed like a shameless hussy? I’m shocked!”

I let it slide. Maggie and I had always been like this. “So shameless.” I lowered my voice, trying to sound like I was serious. “In fact, since I’ve been back in town, I’ve already slept with 5 guys! Wait, no, 7!”

Maggie fired right back. “You’ve been back for, what, 4 hours? And only 7 guys? You’re slowing down, Laurel. Must be getting old.”

“So old, Maggie. You have no idea.” I pointed downward. “I can feel the eggs drying out. By next week I won’t be able to have children anymore!”

“I solved that problem. Got myself knocked up nice and early!”

“And with no one to knock me up,” I cried, ruefully, “I am doomed to walk the Earth alone, sleeping with fewer and fewer men per hour, longing for the good old days when three men per hour was the bare minimum!” I buried my head in my shoulder, mock crying.

“There, there, Laurel, it’s OK. You can come stay with Chris and me. We’ll have a room built with a separate entrance so your dwindling number of clients can come in and out without disturbing the rest of us.”

I sniffed. “Really? Oh, thaaaaank you, Maggie, that brightens the day of this crochety old whore.” I wiped away my fake tears and took a long sip of my drink, breaking character and laughing the entire time. Maggie joined me.

We did this sometimes. People in school always looked at us like we were nuts, cackling away like that. We didn’t care, it was too much fun.

We sat there, sipping our drinks and not talking for a couple minutes. Finally, Maggie broke the silence.

“So! How’s school going?” I’d avoided bringing up the subject in our increasingly rare calls and emails.
 

“It’s going well, I’m finally starting to feel like I’m getting used to it. But I did change my major again.”

“Why am I not surprised? What is it this time?”

“Journalism! I’m really excited about it, I think this could be the one.”

“I certainly hope so! You’ve been changing majors like people change hairstyles these last couple years.”

“I know, Mags, I know, I’m just trying to figure out what’s right for me, you know? I don’t want to get locked into something and figure out a few years down the road that I hate it. You know about my dad…” My father was successful, and provided well for his family, no doubt, but I could tell he was unhappy with his chosen career. I didn’t want to end up like that. I wasn’t the kind of person who could stick with something that wasn’t fulfilling, no matter the money involved.

“Yeah, I remember. But also, you gotta know it’s not like just because you get a degree in something that you’re locked into it forever, right? You can always decide to do something else.”

“Yeah, that’s true. I just want to, you know, be prepared? For whatever I’m doing next. It’s weird.” That was my cautious self coming out again. I might talk a big game about how I was new and improved and ready to take big steps, but I still preferred to look before I leapt.

“I know the feeling, Laurel. I’d like to be prepared for things too, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in life so far, it’s that being prepared gets you about, oh, 20 percent of the way there. The rest is, you know, figuring shit out as you go.” She leaned back and rubbed her tummy as if to emphasize her point. I got the hint.

“Are you alright?” It sounded like Maggie had something on her mind. You know, more than the whole being pregnant and sans husband thing.

“Sure, I’m great! Everything’s going smoothly, but if you’d asked me a couple years ago if I expected to be pregnant and nearly due with my husband thousands of miles away, I would have said no.”
 

“I know, it’s been tough, Maggie…”

“Yeah, it’s been tough, definitely. But, let’s face it, tough is the only way it is. And it’s not like things are gonna get easier. I’ve had a little time to think about that these last few months. When I was home, alone, or at work, alone, just me and the beach ball.”

“You seem like you’ve got things under control?”

“I’m glad it looks like that! I’ve managed to keep things together, mostly, but it hasn’t been easy.”

“You must miss him so much…”

“Chris? More than anything or anyone I’ve ever known. He calls whenever he can, but of course it’s not the same thing. He’ll be back in a couple months. Not fast enough for this little one,” she patted her stomach, “but all that matters is getting both of them home safe. As long as both of those happen, I’m happy no matter what.”

My heart reached out to her, sitting there, so strong and collected in the face of such uncertainty. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how that must feel every day, not knowing if or when your husband would be back safe.

Maggie looked at me, seeing how distraught I was. “Whoa, there, things getting a little deep in here. I thought we were celebrating? I better get a good ginger ale buzz going or this party’s gonna shut down really quick!” Maggie reached down to her fizzing glass, inspected the bubbles popping just over the rim in rapid succession, then picked it up and took a deep sip.

I laughed; Maggie always knew how to brighten a room like that, even one as dark as the Crown. I joined her in taking another long sip of my drink, starting to feel the warm buzz in my stomach. I was still getting used to drinking. I’d had a little too much to drink on my 21
^st
birthday and since then I’d made sure to pace myself and even the drinks out over the course of the night. I liked the feeling of a good buzz but I also liked keeping my head on my shoulders.

I didn’t want to take the risk of making bad decisions, because knowing me, I’d make them any chance I got.

We both finished our drinks at the same time, and Maggie picked hers up and shook her glass at me. I got the very subtle hint, nodded, and stood up. I made my way back to the bar. This time there was no one else waiting, and I got my drink order in right away.

Chapter 05 - The Fight

Standing at the bar waiting for the drinks, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turned around, finding myself face to chest with with the guy who’d been checking me out before. “Hey there,” he smiled at me. I slowly looked up from his chest. He had a nice voice, a little higher than I expected, but nice. I could get used to it.

I smiled back, looking up into his deep blue eyes and longish blond hair. “Hey yourself.” I was glad he worked up the courage to come and talk to me, but from the way he stood and stared at me, I had a hunch courage was not something he had to search for very often.

“I saw you back there.” Interesting approach.

“Oh, I remember. I saw you too.”

He grinned. “Yeah.” He let it linger, and I bit my lip. He was really cute, in an earnest way. Like there wasn’t any guile or pretense about him. It was kinda refreshing, given the guys in New York. “You’re in town for the week?”

“Yeah, just visiting family and friends, you know how it is.”

“I guess. I live here, so it’s a little different.” Whoa, that was unexpected. Not too many people stayed in Summitville when they had a chance to leave.

“Really? And you stuck around?”

“Summitvile’s not all that bad,” he laughed. “We have some redeeming qualities.” He looked at me, those deep blue eyes boring into me, an expectant look on his face, like he was waiting for me to agree with him.

“Alright, a few, I’ll give you that.”

My drinks arrived, and I turned around to pick them up. I turned back to the guy; he looked down at the drinks, noting there were two of them, and his eyes questioned me. “Are you here with anyone?” Of course, he wanted to know if I was here with a guy. Time to make sure he knew that no, I was not.

“One’s for me, one’s for my friend over there.” I lifted one drink higher than the other, gesturing in Maggie’s direction. Of course, Maggie was watching me with a smile on her face and in her eyes, and waved as the guy’s gaze caught hers. I could see him relax a little bit. No real competition there, unless he thought Maggie and I were together…

As if to further confuse him, Maggie pointed to her giant stomach and then back at me. I cracked up. “Ignore my friend over there. She and her husband,” I paused to emphasize the husband aspect of it all, “are expecting a baby son any day now.”

“I’m sure they’ll be very happy together,” he replied, waving at Maggie and turning back to me. “I’m Steve. Steve Clausen.” He held out his hand.

“Laurel.” I raised the glasses in each of my hands to show that I couldn’t shake but appreciated the gesture, and he smiled.

“Laurel! Such a pretty name.”
 

“Thanks.” I got that a lot, not too many Laurels around these days. We were a small, unique, and proud club. We had a handshake and everything. Meetings were Saturdays at 2pm by the old creek.

“You must have gone to Summitville High School, or we’d have met. I went to Western Reserve.” Western Reserve Academy was a really prestigious, and no doubt expensive, private school. My family was relatively well off but there’s no way we could have afforded it. It was a boarding school, though, which meant after Harrison and his mother came into our lives, I’d wanted to go.

Anything to get out of that house and away from him. Living with Harrison had been torture - not only was he mean to me, but living with someone you couldn’t stop thinking about but couldn’t actually have was no fun at all and I had the experience to prove it.

“All the way in Hudson?”

“Yeah, it’s not so bad. I had a good time there.”

“And you’re still in Summitville these days?”

“Yeah, I’m working at the family business, figuring out what I want to do next.”

“That sounds nice. What’s the family business?” Steve was a local, definitely not my normal type, but he seemed to give off a good vibe. “More importantly, do you enjoy it?”

“Yeah, it’s not so bad. We’re in manufacturing. A good stepping stone, you know? Get some experience under my belt, then move on to bigger and better things.”

“Sounds awesome.” And super vague, but promising nonetheless. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed some motion, and I turned to focus on it. Maggie waved at me from our table. Shit, I’d forgotten about the drinks.

“I have to get this to my friend or she’ll start rolling around and breaking things,” I told Steve.

“Need an escort? These bars can be dangerous going alone.”

I giggled. “I’d like that. Lead the way.”

“Don’t get lost behind me. If you had a hand free to hold, I would.”

“Oh, I won’t. You’re hard to miss.” I giggled again. Steve definitely was charming and it seemed like we got along well.

The Crown was beginning to fill up, so we had to zig-zag back to the table. As we passed by I noticed groups of people I used to know. For a fleeting second it felt like we were back in the Summitville High School cafeteria, complete with the funny looks and quieting conversations as you passed by. When we got to the table, Maggie beamed at us.

“Took you long enough! And I see you brought a new friend! What’s your name, handsome?”

“I’m Steve.”

“Maggie.” She patted her stomach. “This is Beach.”

“Hi, Beach,” Steve waved at Maggie’s stomach, playing along.
 

Maggie smiled at him and turned to me. “I like this one, Laurel. He catches on quick.”

I admit, I was a little smitten too and I winked at Maggie, who nodded. “Here you go,” I said, setting the drinks down on the table. Maggie immediately grabbed hers and took a long sip.

“I don’t understand it, I am always thirsty these days. Cannot get enough.” She took another quick sip before setting the glass down on the table. I could tell I’d be going back to the bar soon enough. We should just a dispenser wheeled out to the table. Or move closer to the bar.

With this crowd, that last one was unlikely.

“How far along are you?” Steve asked.

“Due any day now.” Maggie sounded like she couldn’t wait to be rid of Beach, but I knew she was just anxious to get the next step going.

“Congrats!”

“Thanks, love.”

Steve turned to me, a question on his face.

I hesitated, before smiling. “Won’t you join us?”

Maggie looked at me, now the question on her face, before she turned back to Steve. “Yes, please join us!”

“Sure.” We all sat down. I didn’t know what was happening, but I went with it.

“Steve went to Western Reserve,” I explained to Maggie, “and he works in the family business now - what is it that you all do?”

“Manufacturing. Supplies for businesses. It’s not all that exciting.”

We sat in silence for a few seconds, everyone smiling politely at each other. Maggie finally spoke. “Well, I’m gonna go use the bathroom. Don’t you two disappear on me while I’m gone. Unless you really really want to, you know.” She chuckled as she spoke, rolling herself off the chair and lurching toward the other side of the bar. “Stuck the landing!” She did a little pose. “And now I’m off. Enjoy, lovebirds.”

With that, Steve and I were alone at the table. I was a little nervous. It’s not like guys never flirted with me, it’s just that I was still getting used to the feeling. And they weren’t usually this hot.

Steve, for his part, sat back in his chair and just looked at me, his lips curled upward in a lazy smile. I could feel myself blush as he appraised me; he looked like someone who did a lot of appraising.

“Where were we?”
 

“You were telling me about manufacturing.”

“Was I?” I liked the way his eyes glinted when the light from the TVs caught them.

“Yeah. Tell me all about it.”

“There’s not too much to tell, Laurel. The business makes industrial equipment for factories and other industrial companies. We lease out and sell our own stuff. It’s been around for a few generations.”

“And what do you do there?”

“Oh, I’ve done a little bit of everything.” He started to look just past me, like he was remembering something. “I’ve worked on the line, run errands, made coffee, a little bit of managing here and there. You name it, I’ve probably done some of it over the years.”