Read Online The Other Brother Part 2: Taboo: Stepbrother Billionaire Romance by Lauren Hawkeye, Tawny Stokes - Free Book Online Page A

of her window and look in. She never sleeps with her blinds closed. In fact, I remember that she likes to sleep with her window open, so the breeze can gently caress her and so she can smell the oleander trees.
    “Fine.”
    Tristan bends over a little, and I plant my foot on his back, trying to find the best footing on his beefy shoulders, when I hear someone clear their throat from the shadows near the balcony off the kitchen.
    “What the fuck are you doing?”
    Tristan stumbles sideways, as do I, and we both tumble onto the grass, like a freaking circus act.
    I look up to see Allegra glaring down at us.
    Tristan gives her a finger wave. “Hey, Killer. Been standing there long?”

Chapter Nine
    SETH
    T he detonating sound of Metallica jolts me from a rather dead-like sleep. It took me hours to fall asleep after Allegra kicked Tristan and me out of her yard and I was forced to return to the hotel, tail between my legs, knowing that she was in that house with Theo.
    I’d made Tristan stand watch. I’d had to promise him a lifetime of free pizza, but he’d done it.
    God, the noise . Blindly I reach for my phone on the side table and pull it under the warm covers with me.
    “Hello, Mother,” I mumble.
    “Why are you still sleeping? It’s nearly noon.”
    “I had a long night.” I roll onto my back and scrub at my face. I so don’t want to get up, but I know I have to. And this reminds me so much of the last time I was in Galveston, Mom waking me from a dead sleep after I’d stayed out partying.
    “It’s living in New York that’s doing it to you. You should move to somewhere quieter.”
    “Actually, I’m not in New York.” I yawn, and then sit up, because she’s not going to like the next part. “I’m in Galveston.”
    There’s silence on her end. At first I think she’s hung up, but I can hear her playing with her earring. It clinks against the phone. It’s a clear sign that she’s none too happy.
    “Why on Earth, Seth?”
    “There are some things I need to take care of.”
    She sighs. “Is Allegra okay?”
    I smile. She always had a soft spot for Allegra. I knew that she had loved her like a daughter and it had killed her when she finally left. Allegra had been right when she’d said that I had abandoned her, and Sam and my mom. I had. But what she didn’t know, what I didn’t tell Allegra, was that I had gotten back in contact with my mom when she’d left Galveston. I’d set her up with a cute little house on the beach in Palm Springs. We spend Christmases together, and I call her at least once a month. Thankfully she had forgiven me for what I’d done. And she’d made me promise to keep her updated on Allegra and Sam.
    Because she was the one person who knew why I had done what I’d done to Theo. And she worried too.
    “She’s good. She’s a feisty one.”
    My mom chuckles. “That doesn’t surprise me. I bet she’s busting your balls.”
    “Mom. Seriously.”
    “What? I’m not allowed to say balls? That’s stupid. I’m a grown woman. I can say balls if I want to. I can say shit, fuck and cock, if I want too as well.”
    “I’m hanging up. Why did you call me anyway?”
    “I was just feeling lonely and wanted to hear your voice.”
    She always knows how to guilt me. It’s one of her many fine qualities.
    “I’ll call you later, okay? How about I fly in to see you after I’m done here? How would that be?”
    She clucks her tongue. “Will a beautiful redhead be joining you?”
    “ Mom .”
    She knows how I feel about Allegra. I didn’t even have to tell her, she just guessed. Maybe it wasn’t too hard to tell back then. I’d acted like a grade-A douchebag toward her, but still Mom knew.
    And actually… I’d love to take Allegra to Palm Springs. I’d love to take her everywhere.
    “What? Can’t I dream?” Yeah, she dreams all right. She wants grandbabies, and she’s not shy about letting me know.
    “If I see Sam, do you want me to tell him you say hi?”
    She