Stepbrother Broken (The Hawthorne Brothers Book 2) by Colleen Masters Page A

almost
becomes like a game for us … If I ’ m honest, I think it ’ s
kind of hot, having a secret like this. It certainly adds to the anticipation
as we wait for the perfect moment to sneak away together.
    A
couple nights into the trip, the eight of us attempt another big family meal.
Amazingly enough, not a single tear is shed from appetizers to dessert.
Tensions have died down remarkably fast around here. I guess we ’ re all a lot more adaptable than we give ourselves
credit for. Even Maddie, who was so upset the first night that I thought for
sure she was going to leave, seems much calmer. Come to think of it, she seems
calmer — and happier — than I ’ ve seen her in years. Maybe all
this lake air is doing her good?
    I ’ m standing at the kitchen sink, rinsing off plates and
stacking them in the dishwasher. As the rest of the family disperses, I feel a
thrill as Luke strides over to me, leaning against the kitchen counter. My spine
straightens under his intent stare, and I peer around to make sure no one ’ s watching us.
    “ Stay in character, Hawthorne, ” I murmur, keeping my eyes on the sink.
    “ Don ’ t
worry, ” he smiles, “ I ’ m a pro, remember? I just wanted to
see what your plans were for tomorrow morning. ”
    “ Oh … Uh … I don ’ t really have any, ” I tell him, “ Why? ”
    “ I thought you might be interested
in coming out for a run with me, ” he says, casually crossing
his arms.
    “ Is that some kind of a euphemism? ” I whisper conspiratorially.
    “ Maybe, ” he grins.
    “ Well then … sure, ” I say, excitement rising in
my belly, “ I ’ d
love to go out for a run with you. I need a little exercise. ”
    “ Great, ” he says, thumping his fist on the counter, “ I ’ ll see you at 5a.m. ”  
    I
promptly drop the plate I ’ m holding into the sudsy sink.
    “ 5 a.m.?! ” I splutter, “ What are you, some kind of
masochist? ”
    “ Come on, Soph, ” he grins at me, “ Aren ’ t
you dancer types supposed to be made out of steel or something? This should be
nothing for you. ”
    “ Made out of steel, maybe. But also very fond of sleeping in, ” I mutter.
    “ Hey, if you don ’ t want to …” Luke shrugs.
    “ Ugh. Fine, ” I sigh, “ See you bright and early, bro . ”
    That gets to him. I laugh as his face
twists uneasily at my address. Before he can reply, his brothers appear in the
kitchen behind us.
    “ Cash and I are going into town for
a few rounds at the Pourhouse, ” Finn says to Luke. “ You wanna come with? ”
    “ Always, ” Luke replies, turning away from me without another
glance.
    I
return to the task at hand as the boys file out, suppressing a smile as I
imagine what Luke has in store for me tomorrow morning.
     
    ***
     
    Though
I balked at the idea of rising before the crack of dawn, my eyes fly open
before my alarm even goes off. This is the first time Luke and I are stealing
away on our own, after all — it may as well be Christmas
morning. I roll out of bed and dig through my backpack, pulling out my most
flattering workout clothes and throwing them on at lightning speed. Mornings
here at the lake are pretty cool, so I slip into black leggings, a strappy sports
bra, and a lightweight pullover. By the time I ’ m
lacing up my favorite kicks, it ’ s 5a.m. Time to go rouse my “ running buddy ” .
    I
pad through the slumbering house, trying my best not to wake anyone as I
approach Luke ’ s bedroom door. My entire body is awake
with anticipation, energized and ready for him, whatever he has in store for
me. Taking a deep, steadying breath, I stop outside Luke ’ s door and raise my first to give it a light rap. But
before I can knock, the door swings open. Luke appears in the doorway wearing
nothing but running shorts and a small backpack. His sculpted chest and arms
are completely bare, and I can ’ t help but trail my gaze all along
his cut torso. The sudden, powerful urge to tackle him back into his room