Sweet Love - Mia Kayla Page 0,24

help him.

After releasing a slow breath, I said, “If there is anything I can do that will make a difference, I’ll help you.”

His eyebrows shot to his hairline, and without thinking, he brought me in, squeezing me so hard and so fast that I nearly fell over. I for sure would’ve fallen over if I wasn’t sitting down.

He cleared his throat and backed away, visibly embarrassed, but not before our eyes locked in a gaze so intense that I could feel it, taste it, bottle it up.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice shaky and so soft that it vibrated like silk against my skin.

I nodded, unable to breathe for a second as goose bumps pebbled along my arms.

He ran one sexy hand through his hair and stood, turning to go back to his seat. “We can start this weekend.”

Holy mother heat wave.

I placed a trembling hand on my neck. “Okay, this weekend.”

Chapter 8

Charlie

I drove slowly in the right lane because I didn’t want to go home to Mommy dearest and my super stepdad.

As far as stepdads went, he was pretty perfect—for now at least. He was smart and owned his own company, and he doted on my mom left and right. But part of me wondered how long this facade would last. I mean, they had known each other and dated for six months, and then they had gotten married.

Or maybe they’d last forever. Maybe he’d make her happy. Maybe I was thinking the worst because he simply wasn’t my dad.

My father had died right before I graduated high school, right before I’d made the decision that would change the trajectory of my life—going to computer tech school. I knew that if my father had been alive, my career path would have ended differently.

When my father passed years ago, my mother had been devastated. We both were, but for once, she turned into someone I had to take care of, as she went through bouts of depression. One thing that my parents had instilled in me was the importance of family, and because of that and because I loved my mom, I had known that wherever she went, I’d follow.

After going around in circles, I entered the new McMansion that I now called my home. Richard had bought my mom this house, so they could start a new life together even though his paid-off, older mansion was in the same city.

They’d bought the place months ago, wanting to start a new life together. Now, here we were—me, mom, my new stepdad, stepsister—all in one big, fake happy, blended family.

It was odd, driving to this place. Given my parents had been blue-collar workers, we’d only been able to afford a modest home with two bedrooms and a one-car garage. It was as if I had gone from rags to riches overnight.

My new place of residence was huge. My temporary room had its own bathroom and walk-in closet fit for a queen. When I’d mentioned that I wanted to move out, my stepdad had hired construction workers to remodel the pool house as my own personal apartment. Currently, it was my art room, where I was working on my pieces for the exhibit.

The maid, Elsa, greeted me when I entered. She tried to take my laptop bag, which I refused to give her because what idiot didn’t know how to put their own stuff away by themselves?

The door chimed behind me, and I turned. In stepped Sandy. All of my muscles tightened, and I wanted to stomp back out, get into my car, and go over to Casey and Alyssa’s. Sandy with her sandy-blonde hair and her crystal blue eyes and a figure that only belonged on the cover of a magazine. Sandy, my evil stepsister. Evil personified. When she spoke, I pictured her breathing fire through her nostrils.

She dropped her bag on the floor and handed Elsa her jacket. Remember what I’d said about what idiot couldn’t put away their own belongings? That was my evil stepsister.

I’d been determined to be nice to her because we were finally family now, but after the tenth time of her being bitchy to me, I’d had enough. I wasn’t even trying anymore. I treated her like the bully she was. I simply ignored her.

“Charlie, how have your first few days at work been? Did you happen to not offend anybody in the first week?” She brushed her hand through her perfect locks, and I swore the curls bounced like they would in a shampoo