Falling for his Step-Sister by Alie Garnett

Chapter Seventeen

Jonas had triedto ignore the fact that his underage sister was out drinking, but it was impossible. Neither had told him where they had gone, and he hadn’t been able to get to his car fast enough to follow them, which he had planned to do.

It was after midnight, and his sister wasn’t home yet. Not that Bea would even have to bring her back just to sleep, but she should. This was her home.

A lot of scuffling and a giggling got him out of bed in an instant. Out the door of his room, he saw Louisa’s arm about Bea’s neck as Bea led her to her room, the one that Louisa was pointing out because Bea hadn’t been on this floor before.

Rushing out, he grabbed his sister into his arms and carried her into her room—no need for her to stumble in there. Bea followed and closed the door behind them so as not to wake his parents or the boys, who weren’t home yet either.

His sister was wearing a tight gray T-shirt, and she was still giggling. Setting her down, she almost fell, but he grabbed her to steady her.

“I’m okay.” She tried to sound sober. “Just a little drunk.” Then she giggled.

“I can tell.”

“Next time, I want beer. Everyone drinks beer,” his sister complained.

“Right now, you need water, at least eight ounces,” Bea stated and went to the bathroom and filled a glass.

“I want another one of those drinks Harper had.”

“You weren’t supposed to drink hers. That’s why she cut you off,” Buzz said.

“Harper is Buzz’s older sister, and she makes the rules. She said I have to loosen up and have more sex while I’m young. That I’m wasting time not having sex,” Louisa proclaimed in a very series tone, then giggled again.

Trying to dissect the sentence, Jonas realized that Buzz was Bea, and Harper was her sister. It seemed maybe she was the wrong one to bring his innocent sister out on the town with. Based on his sister’s new goals, he wasn’t a big fan of Harper.

“No, she said you can’t put your focus on one guy. Play the field, especially if he’s not interested. She wasn’t exactly promoting that you just sleep around,” Bea stated.

“I kissed one of the bartenders tonight. It was a little gross, but I did it. Harper dared me to kiss a stranger. I think I’ll do it again, but not the bartender next time. Another stranger,” Louisa rambled as she tried to get her shoes off her feet.

“When did that happen?” Bea sounded shocked at the admission.

“When you went to the bathroom for like an hour. Harper dared me to do it.” One shoe came off, and the girl grinned.

“Sounds like her. I dropped her off at home, and her husband was a bit pissed. But he’ll get drunk sex, so he can’t complain too much,” Bea replied as she handed Louisa a glass of water.

“Anyone else getting drunk sex tonight?” he asked Buzz as they watched Louisa drink her water.

She flashed him an angry look, which meant it was a “no” for him. Because either she wasn’t drunk or not drunk enough to go into his room.

Once the water was gone, Jonas found out that Bea was pretty good at undressing and dressing drunk people, making him think that the sisters might tie one on quite often.

Once Louisa was tucked into bed, she had to hug them both. Bea patted her an extra time and whispered good night to her.

As soon as they were out of the drunk teen’s room, he pulled Bea into his room—there was no way he was letting her go. Her protest lasted close to three steps, but then she gave in.

It was easier to undress her than his sister, and he enjoyed it so much better. Finally seeing her naked again made him realize his memory was a little off. She was gorgeous in person.

* * *

By sunrise,Buzz was gone. But he knew she would be; she seemed very good at getting up in the night and leaving. After pulling on sweatpants and a T-shirt, he headed down to the kitchen in hopes of finding her, which he did.

But she wasn’t alone. There was a blonde in the kitchen, who was making French toast while Buzz watched her.

“Did you at least give her a lot of water before putting her to bed?” the blonde was asking.

“Of course. What am I, stupid?”

“Just saying, you usually have a hangover.”

“Not always.”

“You get one the most often. The rest of us have some control.”

“You were way drunker than me! You couldn’t even drive.

“I could drive. I just let you because then I didn’t have to drop you two off.”

Walking into the room, he saw both women stiffen and exchange looks. Based on that alone, he knew Buzz had been talking to her sister about him. It felt oddly good that she was telling people about him.

“Jonas, what are you doing up?” Buzz asked.

“It’s morning,” he replied. “Who is your friend?”

“Not friend, sister. Harper Hawthorn,” Harper provided, affirming his suspicions.

“Jonas Raiden.”

“The brother then?” Harper asked, adding six more slices of French toast to the pan.

“The brother,” Buzz mumbled.

“He’s cute. Not Kaine cute, but nobody is. Doesn’t look a lot like Lou. A little in the eyes, but she’s a lot cuter all around,” Harper said.

“Kaine is her husband, and he’s not that cute,” Buzz told Jonas and glared at her sister.

“You’re right. He’s fucking gorgeous. Way better than … this.” She waved her hand at Jonas.

“You may leave now.” Bea grabbed the spatula from the woman, who almost didn’t give it up.

“I will, but only because I have to get to work. Nobody else in this family really works, just me,” Harper huffed.

“Everyone works, you toad,” Buzz hissed at her.

“Who is this?” Judith had somehow snuck into the room with them.

Both sisters froze at the words, and both slowly turned to look at the older woman.

“I forgot something at home, and my sister was kind enough to bring it to me.”

“Tarragon. Bea puts it in everything,” The blonde stated as if it were actually why she was there. It was then that Harper saw who had been talking, at which moment, she went pale.

Judith looked from one to the other. Without another word, she walked out of the kitchen. Whether she believed the explanation or not, she was gone.

“That’s—” Harper’s eyes were wide as Buzz slammed a hand over Harper’s mouth. The sisters just looked into each other’s eyes until Harper nodded at the redhead. They had some communication that he couldn’t understand.

“I’ll see you later,” Buzz stated, letting her go.

“You will. I’ll be at the house at exactly 9 p.m.”

“Be alone,” Buzz replied and pushed her out the door, slamming it behind her.

Buzz turned and straightened her coat as she came towards him. “I have work to do, Jonas.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What was that about?”

“Nothing, just a sister thing.” She checked the French toasts and started flipping them.

“Does she know who Judith is?” he asked her in confusion.

“No, she just looks like someone we know. But it’s not her. Now go eat breakfast.” She dismissed him.

Ignoring her, he leaned against the counter, close enough to her that her coat brushed his bare arm. “Maybe I want to make out with the chef this morning.”

It was exactly what he wanted to do. It was the same thing he wanted every morning.

“She has no time today,” Buzz replied sharply.

He pushed off the counter, sensing she wasn’t in a good mood anymore. “I have meetings all day today, so you don’t have to make chicken salad for me.”

“Good, I’m running low on it,” she said and then cringed. She had just been caught serving the same meal until it ran out.

He smiled at her reaction. “How many days are you serving it?”

“Until Judith eats here once. Then I’ll change the menu,” she admitted.

“At least you’re honest.” He kissed her forehead, which made her wince before leaving her to do her work.

Heading up the stairs, he met Louisa coming down. He had expected her to look like death warmed over, but she looked just like every other day.

“Morning, Louisa.”

“Jonas.” Her tone wasn’t nearly as loving as it was the night before.

“How are you feeling?”

“Good. Better than expected,” she said and smiled at him with her backpack over her shoulder. Maybe she wasn’t going to skip school that day, which meant she felt a lot better than she had the day before. Maybe the night out was what she needed.