Stranded with My Stepbrother Chapter 144

McKenzie

“At least you didn’t get the dress,” Gwendolyn clucked, her clutch opening to reveal an all-occasion fix-it kit.

I didn’t know if I was more impressed at its contents or that it all fit in her little purse. “We were very careful,” I said.

She raised an eyebrow at me and gestured to the mirror where I could see my make-up was smeared, and my hair was coming out of its pins. “Yes, very careful,” she deadpanned.

I blushed. “Thanks for saving me.”

“Like I said, we need to help each other. Though, I am surprised Mr. Masterson did something like this during a charity event. That’s not his thing. Or maybe it is now.” She eyed me speculatively. “You’re kind of a game changer.”

“Without trying to be. I don’t know. He was a little sad and… things just kind of… evolved from there,” I said. “It wasn’t exactly planned.”

Gwendolyn turned me so she could get to work on my face. “Sad about what? He gave a great speech.”

“I know. It’s… complicated.” I wished there was someone I could talk to about the situation. But I didn’t know her that well, and Will and I were on dangerous ground as it was.

“Is he worried that he’s thirty and you’re nineteen? You’ve got to get thoughts like that out of his head as soon as he has them. If that was the issue, I would have fucked him six ways to Sunday, too.” She carefully used make-up remover on my light foundation. “You have great skin. Don’t bother with foundation next time. Especially if you’re going to end up cheering him up again.”

“Thanks,” I replied. “And, really, thank you, Gwendolyn. And yeah, sometimes he’s worried that I’m nineteen, and he’s thirty. As if that matters!”

“Boys are dumb,” she said sagely. “He’s handsome, cultured, probably excellent in bed, and he has money. Lots of money. You’d think they’d have nothing to feel insecure about.” She paused. “But, always have an exit strategy. And keep your body up. He’s got all that on his side, but we’ve just got youth, charm, and rocking good blowjobs on ours.”

My old insecurities surfaced. Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I still sometimes wondered what he saw in me. “He’s planning to marry me.”

“I know. I have three words for you: prenup, prenup, prenup! When another nineteen-year-old comes along when you’re in your late twenties or early thirties, you want to make sure you’re provided for,” she said. “Unless you’re planning to go back to dairyland.”

“I’m actually planning to finish college. I don’t want anything but love from him.” I winced when she poked me in the eye with the mascara wand.

Instead of apologizing, she gave me a little shake. “Snap out of it! I know you’re blissfully happy now, but eventually, you’re going to get used to this lifestyle. Whatever you were studying in college is not going to get you what you have now. If you want to keep it, prenup. Besides, if you want to work in your field after being the wifey for ten or fifteen years, who’s going to hire you for an entry-level position? Ageism is a thing.”

“But—”

“No buts. Prenup.” She went back to doing my make-up.

My shoulders sagged, and I felt a bit defeated.

“And straighten your posture,” she added.

I had to laugh and did straighten up. “Has Bran asked you to his Saturday pool party yet?”

“I was going to meet him in the men’s room to discuss it—and probably blow him—but this seemed more important,” she grinned.

“Oh no!” I realized I’d cost her an opportunity to trade up. Way up. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve caught his attention now, and it’s not like we could have done a lot with Mr. Masterson in there. Besides, I think I intrigue him because of you, and that’s something to be thankful for,” she said.

I blinked. “Because of me?”

Gwendolyn nodded. “Yes. Now, no talking, I’m putting on your lipstick.”

“But—”

“Shh.” She carefully applied the lipstick. “You’re my friend now. And he wants to get into your pants. So he’s going to try to do that through me. I doubt it’ll work, and when he figures that out, I’ll be yesterday’s news. But, in the meantime, I’ll get to have some fun and hopefully get some money I can put away for a rainy day.”

When she was finished with my lipstick, I asked, “He thinks he’s getting in my pants?!”

“He’s jealous of Mr. Masterson, of course. It’s well-known on the circuit that Mr. Lockwood is always going after Mr. Masterson’s conquests. Wants to prove he’s better, I suppose. I just… don’t think he’s going to be successful this time.” She winked at me. “You’re too far gone for that to happen.”

“Does… Bran know that you know his plans?” I asked.

Gwendolyn laughed. “Like I said. Boys are dumb. He doesn’t think women have two brain cells to rub together, much less catch on to what he’s thinking. But my mama didn’t raise no fool.”

“You should be a millionaire,” I said, impressed.

“Well, with any luck, I will be one day.” She turned me to look in the mirror. “Not bad if I do say so myself. I’m just going to adjust the pins in your hair, and then we’ll be ready to go.”

“Thank you again. Really.” I was truly impressed with her work.

She patted my shoulder. “No, thank you. I was never going to land Mr. Lockwood without your help.”

“What are you going to do about Leopold?” I asked, curious.

“Don’t worry. He already has eyes on Natalie Grace. She’s eighteen, you know.” She rolled her eyes. “Who knew nineteen was the new sixty?”

I laughed, yet sort of felt bad for Natalie. “Who knew?”

We walked back to the hall together with me hanging on Gwendolyn’s arm. As she suspected, Leopold was already chatting up a raven-haired, thin young beauty who was now occupying Gwendolyn’s chair.

Bran patted the one next to him. “Come on over here, Gwennie. Looks like you’ve been displaced, to my good fortune.”

‘Gwennie’ giggled and went over to Bran after depositing me back next to Will.

“Seems there’s been a change in the game,” Will whispered, looking around the table.

“Yeah, a happy one, too,” I said. “Gwendolyn’s trading up. Leopold’s getting a younger model. Everybody’s happy.”

“Younger model? Lord, pretty soon he’ll be taking them from the cradle,” Will muttered.

“I had the same thought.” I almost leaned on him but then thought better of it. Make-up.

“I think, next time, you should forget about foundation. Then we can be closer.” He voiced my thoughts, holding my hand instead.

Still, I had to tease him. “Maybe I shouldn’t wear underwear, either.”

He chuckled. “Maybe not. But you know that’s not what I was talking about.” He softly kissed my neck. “Now, you tell me what’s gotten you out of sorts, and I’ll tell you what I bid on for us.”

“You bid already?!” I gaped. “When did you do that?”

“I hoped you wouldn’t mind. You took longer to get ready than me.” He squeezed my hand. “If you want to make the rounds with me—”

I thought of my wobbly legs and shook my head vehemently. “I’m sure you found some lovely things to bid on.”

Will smiled. “I did. The auction of the larger items is starting soon, but don’t try to get me sidetracked. Something you talked about in there made you uncomfortable.”

The man was psychic. How did he always know these things?! “I was talking to Gwendolyn….”

“That’s a given.” He gave me an expectant look.

“And… she just happened to mention… a lot of things about securing my future since… um….” I didn’t quite know how to tell him without upsetting him.

He raised an eyebrow. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“Probably not,” I mumbled.

“Are you losing your confidence in us again?” He sounded disappointed.

I did exactly what Gwendolyn told me not to. I hunched my shoulders. “Well, she was just saying how people like her and I don't exactly have… a lot more to offer… than being… pretty.”

Will groaned. “I knew this wasn’t going anywhere good.”

“I can’t help it. I get insecure sometimes,” I defended myself. “It just… it doesn’t always make sense why you’re into me. I mean, Bran was just talking about—”

“What was I talking about?” Bran asked from across the table.

The man had ears like a bat! “Um… nothing,” I said quickly.

“I was just about to find out why you’re a bigger asshole than I already thought,” Will returned without missing a beat.

Bran burst out laughing. “I’d love to know why I’m at the center of your little spat. It looks as though you’re gearing up for a good one.”

“I think it’s probably the comment you made about McKenzie not being my usual type,” Will replied, his expression daring me to contradict him.

I winced. He wasn’t wrong. “I’m sure he was just making an observation.” Wait, why am I defending the asshole who wants to get in my pants?!

“Uh-huh. No, darling—” Will began.

“Honeybee,” Bran corrected him with a smirk.

Will glared death at him. “Bran’s just being a world-class jerk. He was trying to poke holes in your confidence.”

Bran put a hand to his chest, his jaw dropping theatrically. “Who, me?”

“Yes, you.” Will squeezed my hand. “You have nothing to worry about. No one compares to you. No one ever has. No one ever will.”

“And just in case, get a prenup.” Bran grinned.

I groaned. “Why does everyone want me to get a prenup?”

“Because it’s the smart thing to do,” Bran replied logically. “That way, when Will realizes he misses his older, sophisticated women—”

“You’re going to want to stop yourself right there,” Will growled.

Bran held up his hands. “All right. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“If we get a prenup, it’s going to say McKenzie gets my whole fortune in the event of a divorce,” Will said. “End of discussion.”

I stared at him. “What?!”

“End. Of. Discussion,” Will repeated.

Even Bran looked taken aback. “Wow. That’s putting a lot of faith in a nineteen-year-old country girl.”

“I have a lot of faith in my nineteen-year-old country girl,” Will replied. “And as for you….”

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mr. Nieves said from the podium, preventing Will from completing his thought. “It is now time for the auction. Bidding is closed on the silent auction, and winners will be announced at the end.”

Excited murmurs filled the room.

“Now, our first item is a weekend retreat at the Masterson vacation home on Lake Geneva…” Mr. Nieves said.

I had a very bad feeling.

“…with Mr. Masterson and his lovely fiancée McKenzie Kent…”

“Ike is a dead man,” Will grunted.

Bran was grinning. 

This was very, very bad.