Hard: A Step-Brother Romance Read Online Free Page A

settled, the better.”
    “Of
course.” I agreed even though I didn’t have a clue what to expect. After Momma
died, the only things of hers I settled was finally throwing out her creepy
little salt and pepper shakers in the shape of demonic-looking children. I never
dealt with wills or trusts or money. “Let’s get started.”
    “Can
I get you coffee?”
    “No
thanks,” I said. “I think we’ll be in and out pretty quickly.”
    At
least I knew how to bluff, even when I was supremely uncomfortable. I didn’t
want any of this. My goal in life was to make it through college, find a nice
teaching job, and be a force of stability for the kids I taught. I’d be that
someone who would listen to them, help them, and comfort them, especially if
they didn’t have it at home.
    Instead?
I faced the attorney instrumental in my parents’ divorce. Still, I smiled as I stared
at the listing of assets Dad hid to avoid alimony.
    To
my surprise, most of Dad’s fortune was in a trust for me . I never asked
how much I was set to inherit if only because it sent Momma into a spiral, calling
on the Lord to cast the devil of greed out of me. But I knew I’d be more than
comfortable, especially since Dad was good with his money and investments.
    “Shay,”
William took my hand, though the southern gentleman was just consoling himself.
“Let me tell you, I am so sorry for your loss.”
    This
particular one, or when Dad originally ran out on us when I was thirteen?
    I
nodded anyway. “Thanks. I know he was your friend.”
    “A
good one. The world lost a good man.”
    If
he said so.
    “So,
uh.” William shuffled a couple papers on his desk. “I don’t know how much your dad
told you about his estate and how he planned to have it managed after his
death.”
    “I know
he has a trust for me.”
    “Oh,
yes. The trust is set to release on your college graduation. That is definitely
secure.”
    I frowned.
Why wouldn’t it be secure?
    “But
I’m talking about the rest of your father’s assets. His personal fortune,
investments, land holdings, new house.”
    “New
house?”
    William
folded his hands. He looked as uncomfortable as I felt. “Okay, Shay, I know
your father hasn’t really…been in contact with you lately. But believe me, he meant
for this to be a second chance. He wanted to start a new family and include you
in it. He loved you very much. He made sure you would be entitled to so much.
And, Shay…there’s more than you think.”
    “Okay,”
I said. “What exactly are you talking about?”
    “Your
father recently purchased a new estate just outside of Atlanta.” William
shifted. “A rather…large estate.”
    “How
large?”
    “About
twenty-five million dollars’ worth.”
    Oh.
    My.
    God.
    “Dad
had that much?”
    William
cleared his throat. “Your father had some considerable holdings. A
couple very recent investments that worked in his favor.”
    “O-kay?”
    “Just
before his death, he was worth over a billion dollars.”
    And now I knew what Gran meant about swooning. I gripped the chair, but even its arms couldn’t
hold me up.
    First
the best sex of my life and then I inherited a billion dollars?
    Jesus,
I had good weeks before, but that was the result of a nice haircut and no eight
AM finals, not becoming a modern day princess!
    My
stomach did a victory dance…but the rest of my body didn’t recognize the steps.
I leaned over and gulped as much air as I could get. That only made it worse.
William panicked, raking through the mini-fridge beside his desk until he found
his lunch. He cast the Chipotle burrito aside and handed me the paper bag.
    I
breathed in, crinkled the bag, spat out the receipt, and tried to calm down.
    A
billion dollars.
    Dad
had a billion dollars.
    I’d
pop the damn bag and rip it to shreds if I didn’t breathe fire first.
    “Dad
had a billion dollars and my mother lived downtown alone in a two
bedroom apartment for years?”
    William
grimaced. “He offered your mother