Blindsided - A Stepbrother Romance Novel Read Online Free PDF

“Well, my mother had a large insurance policy…”
    “That’s in Darren Stark’s name.”
    “Yes, but if he’s convicted of her murder he won’t be able to collect on it, right?”
    She at least looked sympathetic as she said, “Right, but the insurance company won’t release it to next of kin until he is and you’ve filed a motion in a court of law and won. The whole process could take years.”
    Sam wanted to cuss, or kick the desk but she didn’t do either. She looked at her little brother’s face and back at the woman and said, “I’ll get a job. I’m really good with cars. I can find a job at a parts store or a mechanic’s shop…”
    Once again she looked sympathetic as she interrupted, “The court will expect you to have a job before you’re given custody of the minor.”
    “His name is Aaron.” Sam hadn’t meant to snap but she was sick of people talking about both of them like they were less than human.
    “Of course, Aaron…” The woman stopped in mid-sentence and looked up at the door behind them. “Can I help you?”
    “Samantha?” Sam’s back straightened at the sound of the voice. She turned around slowly. Luke Glass, her father was standing in the doorway holding a handful of papers.
    “You came!” It was almost a whisper, like she was afraid if she said it out loud, he’d disappear.
    He smiled at her. It was the closest she’d come to crying in years. She hadn’t even cried when her mother died although her heart was broken. “Of course I did. I was so sorry to hear about your mom. I’ve been having problems with my phone. I didn’t get your message until really late last night…”
    “Excuse me, who are you?” the social worker asked.
    “I’m Luke Glass,” he said, offering his hand. “Samantha is my daughter and these papers here also give me custodianship of Aaron.” Samantha and Aaron looked at each other. Her brother’s eyes were wide and disbelieving. Luke handed the papers to the woman at the desk and she looked through them.
    Looking shocked the woman said, “How did you manage this so quickly?”
    Luke shrugged. “I have a good friend who is a lawyer that has a good friend who is a family law judge. The only catch here kids is that in order for me to take guardianship of Aaron, you’ll have to move to California and live with me.”
    Sam and Aaron were still looking at each other. Aaron shrugged. Sam smiled and looked back up at Luke. “Thank you, I guess we’re moving to California.”

CHAPTER 5
     
     
     
     
    Luke had to return to California that evening. He told Sam and Aaron he’d be back in three days with a trailer for the Mustang and a truck for the rest of their things. When Sam asked him why he was doing all of this he said, “Because I’m your Dad and it’s about time, don’t you think?” Samantha did cry that night, alone in her room. She cried for her mother and the loss of her own childhood and she cried for what her brother had to endure in his life. She also cried for all of the years she’d missed with her father. If her mother was still alive she’d be furious with her. As it were Sam figured she’d suffered enough.
    The next day she walked over to Troy’s house and found him as usual in his garage. “Hey girl, are you finally ready to start looking at the damage you did to that engine?” Sam had put him off all week and now she had to tell her best friend…her only real friend besides the racing crew they hung out with, that she was leaving.
    “Not exactly, there’s something I have to tell you.”
    He pulled his head out from under the hood of the old GMC he was working on and wiped his greasy hands on a shop towel. As soon as he actually looked at Sam’s face he said, “Uh oh, what happened now?” He looked over toward Sam’s house. “Darren’s not back out is he?”
    “No, he won’t be out for a while, if ever,” she said. “It’s actually mostly good news.”
    Troy grinned. “That’s new.”
    Sam