Free My Charming Stepbrother by Grace Valentine Page B

And I understand her getting upset about me corning her at my dad’s funeral—only because the timing was terrible, but for over six years she’s avoided going anywhere I could be. She only sees her mom if she knows I’m not in town. I mean we should be able to be in the same room together right?”
    Everett shrugged. “She seems to have been busy.”
    He turned the computer screen toward him and Andra’s photo stared back at him. She was beautiful, even more so now. “She’s a journalist now. The only reason why I found out she even graduated is because her mom talks about her nonstop.”
    “ Well then why don’t you get her to do the story on you? Who better than someone who knew you from your formative years? It would make the expose even better. Your fans would eat it up. You could do a series of articles and space them out enough to keep people excited until your movies releases.”
    Now that wasn’t a bad idea. “How the hell am I supposed to get her to do that when I can’t even get her in the same room as me. “
    “ She’s new, just getting her feet wet, and any journalist, new or seasoned, would be stupid to say no to an opportunity like this. You’re the shit Garrett, and this series of articles could make or break her career. She can’t say no,” Everett said and rubbed his hands together. “I’ve got this.”
    Garett’s smile grew. He couldn’t wait. If Everett managed to get her assigned to his story, then she’d have to spend time with him. That would give him the opportunity to finally get what he wanted: her. His dad had been gone for six years now. If she wanted him the way he wanted her, the fact that their parents were once married wouldn’t even matter anymore.
    He left his manager’s office feeling lighter than he had for months. Life couldn’t get any better. He’d accomplished his dream, was filthy rich, and could have any woman he wanted—except the one he always wanted. But he planned to change that. She wasn’t in college anymore. She had her fun, now it was time to get what he wanted. And Garett Beck always got what he wanted.
    * * * *
    I sat at the computer lost in thought. It was hard to even believe that Garett had followed his dream and he had gotten it. He was the hottest actor around, and every woman wanted him while every man wanted to be him. And I was no exception to every woman’s desires. Only I’d wanted him since I was young. Even though I did everything in my power to avoid him in person, I was guilty for stalking all of his social media. His new movie was premiering in less than a month, and it was supposed to be the best one yet. I was biased and thought they were all amazing but this one—it was going to be racier; sexier, with more of an intimate feel. At least that’s what reviewers were saying.
    I clicked the ‘x’ closing out the page and sighed. I was terrible. He’d tried getting in touch with me a lot through the years, but I’d managed to steer clear. I knew it was a jerk thing to do, but I couldn’t be near him. He was everything I’d ever wanted and couldn’t have, even if my mom lectured me saying I couldn’t do better than him. She didn’t seem to remember that at one time she was married to his father, or maybe like Garrett she didn’t consider us to be related.
    Technically we weren’t, but even if I allowed it, what would happen when the media got a hold of the information? He’d be ruined. I didn’t want that for him. He worked too hard to get as far as he had come. The stigma of ‘seeing’ his stepsister probably wouldn’t do him any favors. Wouldn’t it be wrong for me to be with him? It was the same argument I’d had with myself since I first developed feelings for him.
    And even though I knew we weren’t related and his father had been gone for six years now I couldn’t get over it. Or I was just worried that if I finally gave and started seeing him and gave into all the built up desires that had been stored