Free My Master (Stepbrother Romance #1) by Ellen Lane

My Master: Stepbrother Romance 1
     
    Laura Lee
    “Oh shit!” My eyes widened, and heat crept up my neck and face. What the hell was he doing here? How had he found me? Panic seized my chest, and I pressed my hand between my breasts in a weak attempt to calm my racing heart.
                  “What? What’s wrong?” Daryl asked me, glancing around furtively.
                  “Nothing,” I said quickly and averted my gaze, hoping and praying my ex didn’t see me. I knew if I pointed him out to Daryl, Daryl would try to have him thrown out of the gallery. That’s the last thing I needed tonight. It was my debut showing, and even though I worked at the gallery, I didn’t own it and I couldn’t risk losing my job or my connections to this place.
                  Daryl eyed me suspiciously. “Nothing? Are you sure, Laura? You look like you just saw a ghost or something.”
                  I smiled, looped my arm through his, and led him further into the gallery. “Yes, I’m sure. I guess I just got momentarily overwhelmed. I mean, it’s not every day your art is displayed in one of the city’s most prestigious galleries for the world to see.”
                  He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “And I’m so very proud of you, sis. You’ve worked hard for this. Enjoy it, and don’t worry about anything, okay?”
                  “You clean up nice,” I said, hoping to distract him from my outburst. “A suit and tie look good on you.” Normally he was in jeans and T-shirts, a baseball hat, sneakers or work boots. Daryl was the quintessential outdoorsman. He loved to travel and hunt and play sports. A man of few words with unshakable confidence. I wished I could be more like him, that I could have more of a “who gives a fuck” attitude, but in the art world, I had to play nice if I ever wanted to make it.
                  “So do you.” His gaze raked over me appreciatively.
                  I smiled bigger and rested my head on his shoulder. Daryl was my step brother, but he was also my best friend. We shared everything with each other, and I’d be lost without him in my life. When my mom married his dad, we were thrown together. At first, I hated the idea of having a sibling because I’d been an only child for the first twelve years of my life, but Daryl grew on me, and now I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Thankfully, I knew I’d never have to find out.
                  “Hey, Laura, come here.” Cora, my boss and the gallery owner, waved me over.
                  I reluctantly let go of Daryl’s arm and gave him an apologetic shrug. “Duty calls.”
                  “Go.” He grinned. “I’ll be here wandering around.”
                  Daryl winked at me, and my stomach had that weightless feeling, the one I always used to get when I had my first crush and my first kiss. It was a great feeling, but it was weird to have it about my own step brother. I mean, that was so wrong and taboo, right? Yet, the idea of that excited me in ways it shouldn’t, made my body react in ways that were forbidden between siblings. I watched him walk away for a moment, and then I turned to go see what Cora wanted.
                  “Ah, there she is. The star of the evening.” Cora put her arm around my shoulders and handed me a glass of champagne.
                  I graciously accepted it and took a drink, the bubbly liquid calming my nerves. “You’re too kind,” I said, giving her a sideways glance.
                  “Laura, I’d like you to meet Bill Reigns. He’s one of my biggest investors and a huge art aficionado.”
                  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Reigns,” I said, extending my hand to him.
                  He took my hand and shook it, then held onto it. His hand was