Stepbrother Backstage (The Hawthorne Brothers Book 3) (53 page)

“It’s the least I can do,” Maddie tells me, “After what
we’ve both been through, we deserve a little magic, don’t you think?”

“Sounds about right to me,” I say, taking her hand in mine.
“How have you been doing out here since you got back?”

“Pretty great, actually,” she says, walking me over to the
cloud-like queen bed, “Ever since Cash got here, that is.”

“It’s still so hard for me to picture you guys as a couple,”
I say, shaking my head, “Opposites attract, I guess.”

“Porters and Hawthornes attract, apparently,” she laughs
wryly. “I wouldn’t exactly expect you and Luke to pair off, either. The
upstanding, super star athlete and the rebellious, snarky artist?”

“I know, I know,” I sigh, “But there’s a whole lot more to
Luke than his golden-boy veneer, I’ll say that much.”

“There’s more to Cash than his tatted-up bad boy act too,”
she nods, “Who knows? Maybe even John has a hidden self beneath that abusive
asshole thing.”

“Ugh. Let’s not talk about John Hawthorne. Preferably ever,”
I scowl.

“Deal,” Maddie replies, “Besides, there’s no more time for
small talk. We need to get you ready.”

Chapter Fourteen

I can feel the bass line of roaring rock music even before I
reach the ground floor. Each pounding beat vibrates up through my spike-heeled
feet, sending shivers of anticipation down my bare back. I smooth down the
front of my skin-tight red dress and give my artfully tousled hair a shake. I’m
far more accustomed to dance clothes than body-con, but any self-consciousness
I may feel is totally trumped by sheer nerves.

This is it
, I think to myself as the elevator doors
whisper open,
Moment of truth.

Drawing back my shoulders, I stride confidently forward with
as much swagger as I can muster…and promptly smack into a solid wall of
leather-clad muscle. I very nearly tumble over in my sky high stilettos before
a firm hand catches me by the elbow, pulling me to standing. The first glance
of my aide’s familiar profile sets my head spinning dizzily. For a second, I
could swear it was Luke who just kept me from sprawling across the carpet. But
upon second glance, I see that’s not quite right…

“What’re you, drunk already?” Cash grins, letting go of my
arm.

“No, but that’s not a bad idea,” I grumble, shaking off my
near-spill. “What’re you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be strutting your stuff
on the catwalk or something?”

“Maddie sent me out to wait for you,” Cash replies coolly,
ignoring my jab, “She thought we should make our entrance together.”

I appraise Luke’s big brother, decked out from head to toe
in pieces from Asphalt’s new line of menswear. I’ve said it before and I’ll say
it again—Cash Hawthorne is easy on the eyes. Not my type at all, but with just
enough of a resemblance to Luke to make our stint as Mr. and Mrs. Asphalt Denim
pretty weird. Especially now that I know he and my sister are an item.

“I know,” Cash shrugs, reading my mind, “The four of us are
gonna make for one pretty fucked up double date tonight, huh?”

“So Luke is coming, then?” I ask excitedly, hurrying after
Cash as he turns for the ballroom.

“Sure is,” he replies, shooting a glance my way, “And also,
I have to say…
called it
. Your little secret was no match for this big
brother.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, rolling my eyes, “You’re a real
super sleuth, Cash.”

“Just glad I could be of service, reuniting you with your
Casanova,” he replies, “I’m actually sort of surprised I got a hold of him at
all. Sounds like he’s been off on something of a spirit quest.”

I imagine Luke roaming off on his own, trying to make sense
of the hand fate has dealt us. What if he’s already sorted out his conflicted
confusion? Landed on a solution that doesn’t involve me? I guess I’ll find out
soon enough.

“Here we are,” Cash says, stopping before an
impenetrable-looking set of steel double doors.

“Ready?” I ask him, squaring my shoulders.

“Are
you
?” he shoots back.

“Not even remotely,” I laugh, “But what choice do we have
now?”

Cash makes a big show of offering me his arm, but I take it
gratefully all the same. I could use the extra support as I get ready to face
Luke again after three long weeks that have felt even longer. Together, Cash
and I step forward and push open the heavy metallic doors. A wall of music and
light hits me square on as I step across the threshold. The dizzying array of
sensation swallows me whole, and the only thing I know for sure is that I won’t
emerge from this event unchanged.

It’s almost absurd to call this place a hotel ballroom. It’s
more like a gutted and glamorized factory floor, all exposed brick and smooth
concrete studded with sleek fixtures and minimalist furniture. A stunning glass
and copper chandelier hangs overhead, with tons of Edison bulb lanterns
lighting the rest of the space. Cash’s face is plastered everywhere, along with
the faces of Asphalt’s other “everyman models”. But there’s only one man I have
any interest in laying eyes on right now…And he’s nowhere to be seen.

Cash and I make our way to the heart of the party, turning
heads with every step we take. The pounding hard rock music provided by the
live band doesn’t quite drown out the murmurs that follow in our wake. If only
these gawking guests knew the true nature of my and Cash’s relationship. Then
they’d really have something to talk about.

“There you are!” I hear Danny call out from the long steel
bar running along one side of the room. He and Greg grab their martini glasses
and rush over to me and Cash, eyes agog. 

“You look incredible!” Greg breathes, taking in my ensemble.

“You two don’t clean up too badly yourselves,” I reply,
noting their artfully distressed denim and slick jackets.

“And who’s your escort?” Danny asks, raising an eyebrow at
Cash.

“Oh, this is Cash,” I tell them, “Luke’s brother.”

“And the man of the hour, I see…” Greg observes, looking
around at the larger than life projections of Cash’s face all over the room.

“That’s me,” Cash laughs, shaking my friends’ hands, “I’ve
gone from ex-military mechanic to model matchmaker in three weeks flat. These
Porter women will do a number on you.”

“By ‘do a number’ you mean ‘make your life infinitely
better’, right?” I hear Maddie say as she appears at Cash’s shoulder with an
adorable redheaded woman at her side.

“Holy crap,” the redhead says, catching a glimpse of me,
“You’re Sophie? Maddie’s little sister?”

“Guilty,” I tell her.

“You’re
stunning
,” she gushes, laying a hand on her
ample chest, “I’m Allie, by the way.”

“My own personal bad influence,” Maddie tells me.

“Well, it looks like the gang’s all here,” Cash says,
looking around at our little circle.

“Almost…” I murmur, glancing anxiously around the room.
Still no sign of Luke that I can see. What if he’s changed his mind about
coming?

“He’ll be here, Soph,” Maddie says, taking my arm and leading
me toward the bar. “Come on. Brand ambassadors drink free.”

“That is a mighty dangerous offer,” I laugh, “But it’s
certainly not one I’m going to turn down. Not tonight.”

I drink down my liquid courage and hit the dance floor with
Greg and Danny, determined to look every bit the breezy free spirit I don’t
exactly feel like at the moment. Still, my mood can’t help but be lifted by the
rocking music, dashing company, and complementary liquor. By the time an hour
has gone by, I’m hardly faking my enthusiasm at all—even if Luke has blown way
past the point of being fashionably late.

I’m sandwiched between Greg and Danny, bumping and grinding
like my life depends on it, when I catch a glimpse of Maddie flagging me down
from the edge of the dance floor. 

“Soph!” she yells over the blaring music. “Come here a sec!”

“Nooo, you’re gonna throw off my groove!” I crow, twerking
ridiculously in her direction.

“Are you gonna make me drag you off the floor?” she presses,
planting her hands on her hips.

“Ugh. Fine,” I pout dramatically, picking my way through the
crowd to her side. I grab a glass of champagne off a passing tray as I stop in
front of my sister. “What is it?”

“I want to show you something,” she says, grabbing my wrist
and towing me across the room.

“What?” I ask, struggling to keep up on my staggering heels.

“The, uh, view from the terrace,” she says bobbing and
weaving through the crowd.

“It’s the same view from my room,” I protest, “Come on. How
am I supposed to drink and dance my nerves away if you keep—?”

“It’s just through here!” Maddie goes on, stopping in front
of a frosted glass door. I’m surprised to find Cash and Allie waiting there for
us, too. They’re both wearing wide, knowing smiles as I approach with
Maddie. 

“What is this, a field trip?” I ask.

“Not exactly,” my sister says, taking me by the shoulders,
“We just wanted to give you two some moral support.”

“You…two?” I breathe, heart leaping into my throat.

“That’s right,” Maddie smiles, nodding at Cash and Allie to
open the doors, “Enjoy the view.”

And with that, my sister grabs my champagne flute and gives
me a gentle shove through the doorway. I step out into the warm July night, a
granite terrace stretching out before me under a canopy of white string lights.
I’m sure that the waterfront view is absolutely stunning in the gathering
twilight, but I can’t say for sure. My gaze has been arrested by a sight that's
far more breathtaking.

His form is backlit by the wide expanse of sky and sea
beyond the terrace. That familiar shape I’ve come to know so well—from
memorizing the feel of it, and feeling the hole it left in my life upon
departing—is here once more. Close enough to touch, but only if I dare.

Hearing the door close behind me, Luke glances up across the
space, turning his face my way. His eyes alight on me, and I feel my body come
alive under his gaze. It’s as though I’ve just woken up for the first time in
weeks, but only to find myself in the middle of a fabulous dream.

“I hope you don’t mind my cutting in,” Luke says, his voice
rich and full as it draws me across the terrace, “But I didn’t think this was a
moment that should go down on the dance floor.”

He stands there in a perfectly cut charcoal suit, his hands
tucked into his pockets. His chestnut hair is a bit longer than when we last
met, its slight wave pushed back away from his sculpted face. Those green eyes
that memorized every inch of me just weeks ago shine like lighthouse beacons
now, filling me with hope that my days being lost at sea are over.

“You’re here,” I say softly, drawing to a stop within paces
of him.

“You sound surprised,” he says, taking a swinging step
toward me.

“I just…I wasn’t sure. I guess I was afraid to hope I’d see
you here,” I breathe.

“Well, once I had official marching orders from your sister,
there was no backing out,” he says, the corners of his lips lifting.

“Oh god,” I laugh nervously, wishing I still had a drink in
my hand, “I hope you weren’t manhandled into coming here tonight.”

“Are you kidding?” he replies, raking his eyes down along my
form, “Once I knew you’d be here, nothing could have stopped me.”

“But…You knew where I was, Luke,” I say, “I was right where
you left me. All these weeks…You could have just come back if you wanted to see
me again. I thought—”

“It’s not as simple as that,” Luke says, his brow furrowing,
“I couldn’t have just stayed in that place, Sophie.”

“Why not?” I ask softly, clasping my hands, “Why did you
have to leave, just like that?”

His mouth straightens into a hard line. No amount of
engineering by our siblings could have made this a seamless, perfect reunion.
There’s too much we need to work out. Too many grievances to air. But I’ll stay
out here all night if I have to. I won’t risk another word going unsaid between
us.

“That place, Sheridan, is a part of my past,” Luke begins
slowly, turning to look out across the water, “The person I was there—the
brochure-perfect track star, the MBA-grubbing suit—that’s not the person I
really am. Just like I’m not the responsible, family-man of a son that I’m
forced to be in my hometown. After everything that happened to us that last
night at the lake, I needed to go some place where I could find out which
version of me is the honest one.”

“And did you?” I ask, taking a small step forward.

“I did,” Luke murmurs, swinging his gaze toward me, “But not
during these past few weeks. I realized I’d already found it. I found it the
first time we were alone together. When I finally met someone that didn’t need
me to be anything different—anything
more
than I am.”

“I sure as hell hope you’re talking about me,” I whisper,
heart pounding, “Otherwise this is going to be awkward as fuck…”

“Of course it’s you, Sophia,” Luke laughs roughly, grabbing
hold of my hand and tugging me toward him, “It’s been you this whole time. I
was too much of a fucking idiot to see it.”

“At any other point these past few weeks, I would have
agreed with you…” I laugh, resting my hands on the panes of his chest, “But I’m
having trouble being even the slightest bit mad at you right now, to be
honest.”

“Oh no,” he grins down at me, circling his hands around my
cinched waist, “Does that mean makeup sex is off the table?”

“Why don’t you kiss me and we’ll find out together?” I say,
lacing my fingers behind his neck.

Luke lifts a hand to my chin and tilts my face toward his,
beneath the twinkling string lights.

“I feel like we’re in one of those shitty teen movies,” he
laughs, shaking his head.

“Well, that just won’t do,” I reply, pressing my body to
his.

“Hold on,” he says, glancing over my shoulder, “I’ve got
it…”

I gasp as Luke grabs hold of my hips and lifts me
effortlessly off the ground. I circle my arms around his shoulders, my caramel
hair falling across my face as Luke strides across the terrace. The coarse
brush of brick against the bare skin of my back makes me shudder with delight
as Luke presses me up against the warehouse wall. I hook one leg around his
waist, letting my dress slip dangerously high as he lowers me down, pressing
his perfect body to mine. My eyes flutter closed as he pins me to the wall with
his hips, letting me feel the glorious length of him pressed up against my
thigh.

“That’s better,” he growls, running his hands down my smooth
sides.

“Much,” I breathe, catching his face in my hands.

His mouth finds mine in the shadow of the warehouse, and I
fall open to him as I have so many times before. I bury my fingers in his
chestnut hair as his tongue sweeps against mine. The taste and smell of him
bombard my senses, filling me with such longing and relief that I nearly lose
it right there. Not until this moment have I let myself confront just how much
I’ve missed him, missed
this
.