Stranded with My Stepbrother Chapter 149

Will

I couldn’t have timed it better myself.

While Bran grimaced at his clothes, I pulled McKenzie into my side and touched her cheek. I would have laughed and congratulated her on a job well done if she hadn’t looked so sick. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t feel good. I want to go home,” she replied.

“Bran,” Gwendolyn finally said, more firm and less bubble-headed than I’d ever heard her be. “We’re going away for a weekend together not three weeks from now. Please, just let them go home!”

He stopped pawing at his shirt and glared at her. Then at me. But, thankfully, not at McKenzie. I’d have had to punch him if he did. I’d had more than enough of his bullshit.

“They’re staying here. It’s non-negotiable.” Bran gave Gwendolyn a speculative look. “And you’re going to have to watch your tone. How are you going to make it up to me?”

I could see her vacillating, her mind doing gymnastics I understood. Bran was a great catch. Probably the greatest catch she was ever going to land on the circuit. Keeping him a while longer could have her set for life.

On the other hand, I knew she was coming to despise him and wanted to leave just as much as we did.

Ultimately, she chose her future over her present upset. “I don’t know, Bran,” she simpered, clinging to his arm. “What do you want?”

Bran chuckled. He knew he’d won on all fronts. “We’ll discuss that… privately. Some things aren’t fit for innocent young ears.”

I looked down at McKenzie, who looked woozy. “Tell me where our room is. McKenzie needs to lie down.”

“That’s better. I’ll have Marvin take you. Gwendolyn and I have… matters to discuss.” He snapped his fingers.

Marvin popped up like a gopher from a hole. “Mr. Lockwood?” he asked as though he hadn’t heard every word.

“Good, you’re here.” Bran didn’t sound surprised. “Please escort Mr. Masterson and Miss Kent to their room. Miss Evers and I will require energy drinks and some Powerbars brought to my suite. Will? Anything for you?”

I ground my teeth. “Miss Kent will require some tea.”

“Hangover tea?” Marvin asked without missing a beat.

“Yes. Thank you,” I replied.

“This way please, sir,” Marvin said.

I carefully picked up McKenzie in my arms. I didn’t care if she threw up on me, but I didn’t want to make her feel worse.

She groaned and burrowed her face into my neck, snuggling into my bare shoulder.

“Are you sure you won’t need Powerbars and energy drinks?” Bran laughed after us.

Without jostling McKenzie too much, I managed to flip him off.

She still whimpered.

“It’s okay, honeybee,” I said softly. “We’ll have you lying down soon.” Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Bran grabbing Gwendolyn roughly by the wrist and dragging her off.

I did not envy her. Whatever was about to happen was not going to be pleasant.

My focus, however, needed to be elsewhere. “We’re just about there, love.”

“Uh-huh.” McKenzie panted, her breath tickling my skin.

Marvin finally finished navigating us through the halls of the massive mansion and stopped in front of a solid wood door. “Here you are, sir. Please let me know if you will require anything else.”

“Thank you, Marvin. That will be all,” I responded and strode quickly into the room. I laid her down on the bed then went to the bathroom and got a warm, soft washcloth to wash away the small amount of residue around her mouth. My brilliant love had managed to get almost everything in her stomach on Bran.

“Is it always like this?” she asked, tossing an arm across her forehead. “People do this for fun?!” Then she winced at the volume of her own voice.

I gave a sympathetic laugh. Quietly. “Most people don’t start with shots of Patrón.”

“Yeah, I can see why.” She rubbed her stomach. “Ugh.”

I kissed her cute, bare little belly button. “We’ll get you through this. Don’t worry. And then you never have to drink again.”

“I have to,” she said.

“Why?” I asked, frowning.

“Champagne. Wedding.” She started digging her fingernails into her palm.

I knew what the problem was. I scooped her up again and got her to the bathroom just in time for her to heave the non-existent contents of her empty stomach into the toilet. I gently held back her ponytail. “All right, but just a sip or two.”

“What if he wants to do another stupid game?” she said, her head hanging listlessly.

“We’re not going to play his games,” I replied flatly. “Not anymore.”

McKenzie sighed and turned to look at me. “Do we have a choice?”

“There’s always a choice, and I’ve made one. I’m going to see Grandfather myself,” I said.

“Didn’t Ike already tell you that you had to see him?” she asked.

“Yes.” I rubbed her back. “But I’d been planning to put it off as long as possible. I’m going to find out what he wants and begin negotiating. This is ridiculous.”

She frowned. “Do you think they did it on purpose? Ike and your grandfather? The whole Bran thing? I mean, knowing what your relationship is and what an ass he is?”

“Hm.” I gave that some thought. “You might have something there.” The idea made me angry. No, incensed. They already had us by the balls and decided they needed to pile more hardship on just to have a better negotiating position?!

It was a great business move, I had to admit. But a shitty, shitty thing to do to one’s own flesh and blood.

“I don’t like your grandfather and I haven’t even met him yet,” she grumbled. “But then, you knew that already.”

“And I don’t blame you one bit. I’ve known him my whole life, and I’ve never liked him much. But now I hate him,” I said.

“That’s his fault. Don’t feel bad about that.” She sighed. “I think I’m ready to go back to bed.”

I nodded. “Probably a good plan.” I smoothed a lock of hair away from her face. “Would you like me to carry you again?”

McKenzie held up her arms. “Please?”

Like she was a small child, I lifted my fiancée up in my arms. “This will pass sooner than you think.” Where was Marvin with the tea?!

“I hope so,” she replied. “Because this is going to get really old, really fast.”

I tried not to chuckle but wasn’t able to hold it back entirely, my chest shaking.

She swatted me as I laid her back down. “This isn’t funny!”

“No, it’s not. But your reactions are pretty funny. Not that you’re silly, falling-down drunk or anything like that. Just how indignant you are,” I smiled, lying down next to her.

“I should be indignant. That asshole tried to poison me!” she complained.

“True enough.” I kissed her forehead. “Where is Marvin with that tea? I thought for sure he’d be here already….”

“Maybe hangover tea takes more time to steep or something. Or maybe he’s harvesting some special herb from the garden as we speak,” she suggested. She caressed my cheek. “Don’t get mad at the staff just because Bran is a shithead.”

But the staff are watching us as well. I didn’t say the thought aloud. I didn’t want to upset her more while she was sick. Besides, she was a bright girl. She was going to draw the same conclusion all on her own.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said when I didn’t answer right away.

“Oh?” I feigned innocence.

McKenzie nodded. “You’re thinking the staff are watching us, too.”

I winced. “Yes, I am.”

“That’s still not Marvin’s fault. I’m sure he’s under orders,” she pointed out.

“And being paid quite handsomely for following them,” I responded bitterly.

She touched my bare chest, and my dick remembered Bran saying something about Powerbars and energy drinks. “Still, not his fault,” she insisted.

I took her hand and kissed it before the warm skin-on-skin contact led to other things. “We’ll have to agree to disagree, I think.”

“I guess so.” But she didn’t sound angry about it, which was good.

Then she winced and rubbed her stomach again.

I sat up, deciding to go summon Marvin. “I’ll be right back, honeybee. I’m just going to see what’s going on with the tea.”

“Okay,” she agreed, which was a testament to how awful she felt. Usually, she would have wanted me to stay by her side.

I went to the door and turned the handle, ready to give Marvin a piece of my mind.

The handle clicked uselessly.

I turned it again.

Still nothing.

Fuck!

“Will?” McKenzie asked, sitting up on her elbows with a grimace.

“We’re locked in,” I said.

“What?!” She sat up fully.

“That motherfucker locked us in!” I repeated. I slammed my fist against the door. “Bran, you sonofabitch!”

Carefully, she slid off the bed and came to my side. She reached out and tried the door handle herself.

I didn’t blame her. I would have done the same thing. I would have had to see for myself.

“Oh my God,” she murmured, jiggling the handle a few times. “That asshole!”

“That’s what I’m saying. Are you a big fan of Marvin’s now?” I asked.

She scowled. “No. Not really.”

A key turned, and suddenly the door opened. “Did I hear my name?” Marvin asked pleasantly.

I snatched the tea tray from him. “Did Mr. Lockwood tell you to lock us in?”

“Yes, sir. He didn’t want you wandering around. He thought you would get yourself into trouble,” he replied. It was an easy reply, as though he was strolling through the park and not holding two people captive against their will.

“How kind of him. And you,” I shot back.

He shrugged and indicated the large tea tray that I was still holding. “There are two different teas on the tray. One is for Miss Kent. One is for you.”

“For me?” I echoed. “Why is there one for me?”

“It seemed only polite, sir. A nice chamomile to calm the nerves,” he said.

“I wouldn’t need to calm my nerves if Bran wasn’t—never mind. Fine. Just fine. You can leave us now,” I replied, frowning at him.

“Of course, sir.” He nodded to both of us. “Have a nice rest.” He left, locking the door behind him.

I made a frustrated sound and set the tray down. There were neat, embossed labels next to each china teapot, one with my name, one with McKenzie’s.

“Maybe we should just drink our tea and take a nap,” she suggested.

With a sigh, I nodded. It wasn’t as though he could poison us, and she needed to feel better. I poured us each our own tea, then shooed her back to the bed, holding her cup while she propped herself up against the pillows.

I handed McKenzie her cup and sat down with mine. “I suppose I should have asked if you wanted milk or sugar.”

“Ugh. No. Not with the way my stomach’s acting,” she said. She sipped her tea slowly.

I sipped mine, then took a small sip. It was the perfect temperature and tasted slightly sweet. All in all, not bad.

“How does yours taste?” I asked her.

“Good.” She took another sip. “And it’s not poisoned, so there’s that.”

I groaned. “How is it you always read my mind?”

“It’s because we’re two smart people stuck in the same situation. We’re bound to have the same thoughts,” she said.

I chuckled. It really wasn’t funny, but then it sort of was.

McKenzie rolled her eyes. “You’re doing that laughing-at-stuff-that-isn’t-funny thing again.”

“If I didn’t laugh, I’d probably cry. Or break the tea set,” I said.

“Don’t do that! It’s a lovely tea set,” she responded with a grin.

I took a generous drink of my tea. “I’ll ask Bran if you can have i—” I stopped, suddenly feeling dizzy. And drowsy.

Very drowsy.

The teacup suddenly slipped from my hand as I slumped backward.

McKenzie cried out.

I only had one last thought.

Bran. You. MOTHERFUCKER.