No Regrets (A Stepbrother New Adult Novella) Read Online Free Page A

so happy, happier than she had been in a long time, and this was the least she could do for her.
    After that, her mom came to life with ideas and plans, and the ladies were soon separated from the men, lost in conversation. Liv barely got a word in as her mother told her about what they wanted—and what they needed from the two of them.
    “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re so accepting of Richard, Livie. He’s a good man.” Her mother clasped her hand in Liv’s.
    “I am happy for you, Mom. I’m just—well, I’m concerned. How long have you two known each other? How does he treat you? Where will you live?”
    Her mother chuckled. “I know you must have many questions, my dear, and I don’t mind answering every single one of them.”
    An hour later, Liv finally walked to the den and slumped into the chair. Her mother answered every question. That much was true. Liv’s head hurt with the amount of information she’d heard. She listened to the men chuckle in the kitchen, and then her mother joined them.
    She leaned her head back and closed her eyes for a moment, but even without seeing him, she knew Parker was there the moment he came into the room.

Chapter Six

Parker
    H e felt something deep down inside as he watched her. She was nothing like the women he was usually attracted to, but the attraction was there, there was no question about it. She was petite and curvy in all the right places, and yet he had no doubt that she could defend herself when necessary. He followed the arch of her neck with his eyes, lower and lower, until they roamed over her entire body. The noticeable tension in the air indicated that she knew he was there. He took a sip of his drink and settled across from her.
    “It appears that you and I will be spending a lot of time together in the near future.” He watched her eyes flutter open, her inky lashes long on her pale cheeks. He also saw the slight frown cross her face before she responded.
    “It seems that way, yes. They’re so happy.” She pulled her hair around to one side of her graceful neck and leaned on her hand.
    “Yes, they are, indeed.” He looked away from Liv. “I hope he knows what he’s doing.” He muttered it to himself, but he saw the heat begin to rise in her eyes.
    “Just what is that supposed to mean, Parker? Is that some dig at my mother?” She stood up then, and he watched her. She put her hands on both hips. “I’ll have you know, my mother is a good woman. A damn good one, to tell the truth.”
    He let her stand there as he waited for the fireworks to die down, watching her seethe.
    “No Liv, that’s not what I meant at all. I’m a pretty good judge of character. I know she’s a good woman. That doesn’t make me any less concerned about what they’re doing.” He smiled at her as she fumed. “Are you always like this?”
    She relaxed some and crossed her arms in front of her. “Like what, exactly?”
    “Angry.”
    “I’m not always angry, I simply react when people make me angry.” She calmed down some more and took a deep breath. “Maybe you're right, maybe I am angry. This is just something big, and on top of exams and, well, everything.” She bit her lip and looked somewhat gloomy, and he wanted to pull her close.
    He frowned at this thought. What was wrong with him? He felt this compelling need to help her somehow, and that was entirely new to him. She just looked so…vulnerable. She had mentioned exams.
    “What school do you go to? I go to St. John’s.”
    She regained some composure. “I go to State U. How funny, we’re only an hour apart. Both schools are only an hour or two from here, so, I guess that’s good—you know, for this wedding planning.” She smiled slightly at him, and he couldn’t help but smile back. They were certainly in a situation. She picked up her sweater from the chair and walked toward the deck. “I’m going outside for a bit.”
    He watched her go and waited before he did anything