TASTE: A Stepbrother Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

holding up his cell phone with a wicked grin on his face. I bolt upward, lost in confusion. “D-Damon?” My eyes implore him to tell me what is going on.
    He lets out a laugh. “I just needed proof that my charms are enough to melt the Ice Queen. Mark and the others will have to eat their words.” He snaps another picture and shoves his phone in his pocket.
    My heart is pounding uncontrollably. This can’t be happening to me. “ Mark ?” I remember the presumptuous idiot who gave me a ride home the other night. “The others? What the hell are you talking about Damon?” I am looking around frantically for my dress.
    “Just a little bet that I am going to win,” he says.
    My entire world has just crumbled. I look into the eyes of the man I thought that I was in love with. All I feel now is betrayal and hatred, with a hell of a lot of hurt mixed in. “ Get out!” Tears pool in my eyes. I give up trying to locate my dress and pull the duvet from the bed over my half naked body. He is standing there just staring at me.
    For a minute I think I see regret flash in his eyes. But I am much too livid to take in the meaning of my quick analysis.
    “Alice, I—"
    “I said get out!” He turns and strides out of the room. I hope my mom and Jared haven’t heard me yelling.
    My room door closes and I throw myself down on the bed and sob uncontrollably. I have been thoroughly humiliated.
    It was foolish of me to think that Damon would be interested in someone like me. I will never be able to live this down.
    I now hate Damon Ryder with an all consuming passion.

Chapter Four
     
    My mouth is hanging wide open. I quickly snap it shut, remembering that I am sitting in a fancy restaurant among sophisticated people. I can’t believe what I have just heard. I am staring at my mom and Jared as if they have both just grown extra heads. I lift up my glass of wine and drink deeply. I’m not usually one to over indulge in alcohol, but at the moment, I really need it. I close my eyes briefly and let the wine flow down my throat.
    “What do you mean you’re getting married?” I ask, trying not to sound too outraged. So this is why they bought me here. Mom probably figured I would be less likely to lose my head in a public place.
    “It’s like I just said, sweetie. Jared and I are getting married.”
    My eyes narrow to slits. I am very irritated by the sweet smile she is giving me.
    “We are hoping to make it happen as soon as possible,” Jared pipes up.
    My eyes fly to him. “I think the whole marriage thing is great, really I do. But, don’t you think it’s a little bit too soon?” My eyes implore them both. “I mean seven months into a relationship hardly warrants marriage.”
    My mom cocks an eyebrow and reprimands me with her eyes. I know what she is silently saying—that I have no say in the decisions she makes about her love life. “Honey I am a woman of a particular age. When a woman reaches my age, she has experienced it all and knows exactly what she wants.”
    I remain silent and take another sip of wine. At the rate I am going I will have to be carried out of the restaurant. I turn her words over in my mind. I suppose she is right. I have never known her to make any decisions without thinking things through properly. I know because I am a lot like her in that way. I now feel horrible for discouraging their decision to get married. I glance up to them gazing into each other’s eyes lovingly. They make such a cute picture, that I think it might make me sick. I sigh inwardly. Who am I to stand in the way of love? “Well, it is clear that you are both head over heels in love with each other. So, why not tie the knot?” I raise my glass, “I’m on board, here’s to love.”
    I offer a smile when my mother beams at me. She mouths ‘thank you’ and I nod. My gaze swings over to Jared. “Jared, thank you for making my mom happy and I am delighted that you will soon be a part of our family.”
    He grins broadly.