My stepfather was picture-perfect. I never saw a hair out of place. He always had a smile on his face. Joseph was a handsome man. He had dirty blond hair slicked back in a preppy style and bright green eyes. Fashionable and rigid, he held the air of someone superior. He was tall and spent most of his free time looking down his nose at me.
“Darling, you really shouldn’t be drinking coffee in your condition,” he said to my mother before slowly sliding his eyes over to me in a moderately calculative move. He then paused and grinned sheepishly. “Oops. I just meant she was probably dehydrated,” he quickly added.
“I already know about the baby. Congratulations, Joseph.” I smiled at him, though the joy didn’t quite reach its full potential. I should have been happy about a new baby, right?
He smiled, like he was thoroughly pleased with himself. “You’ll have to come visit our new house and see the nursery when we get back from Paris!”
My mother started waving her arms, as if he wasn’t supposed to say something. I laughed nervously. “Well, of course I’ll come visit. I’m staying with you and commuting to school,” I replied. “I thought that was the plan since your new house is so close to campus.” Where the fuck else was I going to stay?
Joseph tilted his head to the side and gave me a sympathetic look. Oh no. What did this mean?
“I thought your mother told you?”
“Told me what?” I asked while turning to look at Mom. She looked like there were crickets in her coffee mug. I watched her lips pucker in annoyance. More secrets. Was this the new norm?
“Jack and Joseph found you an apartment. We figured you would want your own space, you know. It’s only thirty minutes from our new house and is right on campus. You can still visit for dinner and attend events. Jack was going to surprise you with it. Your new grandfather thought an apartment would be a fun graduation gift. He’s so excited that you’re attending Greenwich.”
I turned to my stepfather. “Wow. He really didn’t have to do that,” I said.
Joseph walked over to my mother and bent down to kiss her on the cheek. “We just assumed that you wouldn’t want to live with a couple of newlyweds. You’re eighteen now. You can get a head start on the college experience. My father even mentioned an internship at his office if you’re interested.”
I wasn’t going to school for politics, but the way Joseph suggested this new opportunity, I got the feeling it wasn’t optional. I guess in some ways, politics and social work went hand in hand. The Beauregards were all about their image.
“I’ll think about talking to him about it,” I replied noncommittally. “Thank you, Joseph. I really appreciate it. But are you sure you don’t want me to stay at home, Mom? With a new baby and all, I really don’t mind helping.” What I meant to say was that I didn’t want to miss out, but the words wouldn’t form. Maybe most people would be happy to leave their parents and start their journey of independence, but she was all I’d ever known. I wasn’t ready.
“She will have more than enough help with me and the nannies I’ve hired,” Joseph replied, ending the conversation.
“I lost my virginity to our nanny,” said a smooth voice. I hadn’t even noticed Hamilton walking back up the steps toward us. My spine straightened as I glanced his way. Hamilton stalked up the steps with a grimace. Shit. His entire demeanor had changed. He was calm with me, but now I sensed a hardened edge to his presence that bled through his expression.
“Hamilton,” Joseph said. “You’re such a crude fucker. Be polite while meeting my new family.”
Hamilton arched a brow and walked over to shake his brother’s hand. “Congrats on the wedding,” he said, though it didn’t sound at all congratulatory. Hamilton had seemed sweet when it was just us. Something changed, and I wanted to know what.
I eyed both Beauregard brothers, trying to find traces of similarities in their expressions. Hamilton was all shadows and mystery. Cocky mischievousness wrapped up in a sinfully sexy package. Joseph was like polished fine china or bars of gold.
Hamilton sauntered over to us, and I crossed my arms over my chest. “This is my new stepdaughter, Vera,” Joseph said while nodding in my direction. Hamilton grinned like a Cheshire cat. I was about to admit that we’d already met, but Hamilton cut me off.
“You look so familiar. Have we met before?” he asked while holding out his hand to shake mine, as if we hadn’t just had a conversation on this very porch. As if I hadn’t walked in on him last night. As if I didn’t know how hard he liked to fuck strangers.
So, this was how he wanted to play it? Great.
“I don’t think so. If we had, it must not have been memorable,” I replied. I wasn’t necessarily mad about our little secret, just amused.
“And this is my new bride, Lilah,” Joseph then said with warm affection before placing a possessive hand on my mother’s shoulder. Loving the attention, Mom stood up and patted her hair before reaching out to shake Hamilton’s outstretched palm.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Mom greeted.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Hamilton purred playfully before bringing my mother’s hand up to his lips to place a lingering kiss on her skin. “You’re much prettier than my brother. How’d he snag you?”
She blushed. “I had no idea your brother was so charming, Joseph,” she said to her husband. I fought the urge to roll my eyes at her comment. I had the feeling Hamilton was the sort of man to make women fall to their knees in front of him.
“I was
