Mine: A Stepbrother Romance: (With bonus novel Bossy!) by Kim Linwood Page A

both want.
    My breath comes faster, and my face is warm, but it’s not from the run. My mouth opens slightly, and his lips brush against my own.
    Oh God.
    Panting gasps and heavy feet sound behind us. We freeze. The cameraman has caught up, and now the moment feels way too public. I’m sure it’d be great for ratings if I moved just a hair, and kissed him. But I don’t want to. I don’t want to share this moment with millions of people.
    Hunter seems to agree. He pulls away with a regretful look on his face. “Later,” he mouths silently. Just a single word, but it’s so loaded with promise. My face isn’t the only thing warming up anymore.
    Catching me off guard, he moves one arm to my waist, and the other to my shoulder, dipping me with what must look like great passion. My heart hammers wildly. Hunter has angled us so the camera can’t see our faces, but I’m sure it looks like an amazing kiss.
    The kind of kiss I wish I was getting.
    He whispers in my ear, “It’s for the viewers.” His hand drifts a little south, resting on my ass.
    “The viewers?”
    “Okay, mostly the viewers.” He swings me back to an upright position, both of us laughing.
    We still have time to kill, so we take a walk down the shore. He asks me questions about my life, which makes me nervous, but I tell him little truths while hiding the big lie.
    I’m twenty-five. I live in upstate New York. Not much family aside from a difficult mother I’m not close to. I went to college for a year, but left to start working in a dentist’s office.
    A warm breeze washes in over us, keeping us comfortable. The day is peaceful and other than the occasional passing boat, it’s pretty quiet. At one point he puts his arm around me and pulls me closer. I let him, leaning my head against his shoulder.
    Every single thing I say is true.
    But I’m still a gigantic fraud.

Liz
    I follow Hunter up the stairs to the restaurant. The sun hangs low in the sky, gold and orange stretching across the water, radiating from the horizon. Over the door, a small sign reads: Bienvenidos. Welcome . A message both modest and full of heart, just like the people who run the place.
    Soft salsa music drifts out the windows, and the door swings wide almost as soon as Hunter knocks. A barrel chested man with steel grey hair and an infectious smile fills the doorway. His apron is tied tightly over his chef’s clothes, Chef is embroidered over his breast. No need for a name, there is only one in this house. Chef Dominguez.
    He’s exactly as I remember him.
    Throwing his hands out in a broad, welcoming gesture, he hurries us in. “Señor Campbell! So good to see you. It has been too long.” His accent is thick, but well-spoken, as always. They clasp hands and greet each other with a quick, friendly embrace. I’m included in Chef’s smile, but his eyes pass right over me without really stopping. My heart aches at being a stranger in a place I’d always felt at home. Somewhere in the last ten years, Hunter has smoothly slipped into the life that was supposed to be mine.
    Maybe it’s unfair, but I hate him a little for it.
    Chef Dominguez. Mr. Dobson. My island. My life. Is there anything I get to keep? I’m afraid to start poking around the house and find him sleeping in my old room.
    “So, are you going to introduce me to your lovely lady friend?”
    Hunter laughs. “Of course. Where are my manners? Chef, let me introduce you to the beauty that is gracing us with her presence this evening, the ravishing Miss Sarah Dreyer.” Hunter takes my left hand in his, and with his right at the small of my back, he propels me a step forward.
    My name sounds fake and plastic coming out of his mouth. I hadn’t thought much beyond Hunter when I started this whole mess. Being introduced to a man I used to know feels somehow even more dishonest.
    “Hello. It’s nice to meet you, Mr—” I catch myself before I blurt out his name. No one’s told me yet. My hand trembles slightly