LITMIR.BIZ

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this family! I will not tolerate another slut getting her hands on the Garrison fortune!”

      He faced his mother. “You have no say in the matter,” he ground out.

      “I’m disappointed in you, Stephen,” Bonita said, her voice frigid despite her inebriated state. “First your father betrays this family, then you do. Don’t we have enough turmoil to deal with?”

      In fact, he’d been thinking the same thing, but he rebelled at putting Megan in the same category as his father’s faithlessness.

      His fling with Megan may have been careless, but it sure as hell hadn’t amounted to marital infidelity.

      And it wasn’t the fact that he had fathered a child out of wedlock that bothered him. It was having a child and not acknowledging her for years that, for him, created uncomfortable parallels with his father.

      The longtime housekeeper, Lisette, appeared in the archway, no doubt having heard raised voices.

      Bonita knocked a wine bottle to the floor, sending more wine, as well as glass this time, everywhere. Then she rose unsteadily to her feet.

      Stephen stood, and Adam did the same.

      Immediately, Lisette moved to Bonita’s side. “Let me help you, Mrs. Garrison.”

      Stephen watched, along with Adam and Brooke, as Lisette helped Bonita from the room.

      His hands bunched at his sides. He figured Lisette, as well as the missing Garrison family members, would find out soon enough what caused tonight’s ruckus.

      “Well, another rockin’ Garrison family dinner!” Adam said, then picked up his glass and raised it in a mock salute before taking a swallow.

      “Why don’t we continue this conversation outside on the patio where the wet bar is?” he said to Adam and Brooke. Outside, they would be away from any prying eyes and open ears among the household staff. “We can let the staff clean up in here.”

      They’d almost finished with dinner, anyway. He looked down at the spilled wine and broken glass in distaste.

      “Sorry,” Brooke demurred. “I think I’ll pass.”

      Stephen noticed his sister continued to look pale.

      “Is something wrong?” he asked. “Did my news shock you that much?”

      “N-no,” she stammered.

      He searched her face. “You look upset.”

      “I’m concerned about Mother’s drinking.” She lowered her voice. “Did you notice she drank almost a full bottle of wine at dinner—before she spilled the rest?”

      Yeah, he had, and he hated to think how much his mother had imbibed before dinner.

      Still, he had to admit that sometimes he’d felt the need for a fortifying drink before a Garrison family dinner.

      They’d all moved to one end of the dining room, and he gently chucked Brooke under the chin. “Don’t worry, kid. Let our mother deal with her own problems. But if it makes you feel better, I’m planning on having a talk with her.”

      Fat lot of good it would do, but he’d try. For some reason, today’s dinner aside, Bonita usually held her tongue with him, and he figured that gave him some leverage. He’d also have to make clear that he wouldn’t tolerate his mother taking any more cheap shots at Megan.

      After he and Adam had said goodbye to Brooke and had retreated outdoors to the patio, he went to the marble-topped wet bar to pour himself a Scotch on the rocks.

      The patio was dominated by an Olympic-size pool and lined with queen palms that swayed in the cool breeze. There was an unobstructed view of the ocean.

      Their surroundings were serene, which made the recent tumult inside the mansion seem all the more out of place.

      “Drink?” he asked Adam, who’d taken a seat on one of the bar stools.

      “Booker’s Bourbon, thanks.”

      From there, the conversation quickly moved to local business and politics. By an unspoken agreement, he and Adam put the ugly scene inside behind them as quickly as possible.

      “The president of the Miami Business Council is retiring next year,” Stephen found himself observing after several minutes.

      “Yeah, I know,” Adam said. “I’ve been thinking of running to be his replacement.”

      Stephen shook his head. “The Business Council wants to uphold a certain image. Only married men have ever won election.” He raised his glass and took a sip of his drink. “And you and I, little brother, are far from the image they want.”

      He and his brothers had well-earned reputations as players. Except now, Parker was married, and he’d probably be heading the same way soon, too, though he didn’t feel the need to share that news with Adam just yet.

      “So, what are you going to do about Jade? I’d like to meet her.” Adam paused. “I’m an uncle, and I didn’t even know it!”

      “Try finding out that three years ago you became a father,” Stephen replied ruefully. “And don’t worry, you’ll get to meet her.”

      All the Garrisons would, even if he had to move heaven and earth to make it happen.

      His brows snapped together as he recalled Megan’s accusation that he’d cheated. He could barely remember the night she’d referred to, or the woman who may or may not have tried to come on to him. But he knew he’d never two-timed anyone.

      Still, he’d have to jog his memory somehow about the night she was talking about. It infuriated him even now that she had continued to be skeptical even in the face of his denial.

      “How did you feel when you found out you had a child?” Adam asked, curiosity lacing his words.

      Stephen considered his brother’s question. As he looked out at the water, Megan’s words came back to him. You wouldn’t be thrilled to discover I was pregnant.

      Four years ago, he’d been happy to live in the moment. Yes, he’d given a passing thought to the fact that Megan was the one woman he could settle down with, but he hadn’t taken any concrete steps in that direction. The truth was he’d have been blown away to discover he was a father.

      Now, though, he thought about the little girl he’d seen yesterday. She looked like him, and he’d felt an instant connection.

      He knew he wanted to be a father to Jade.

      “It was unbelievable,” he said, his gaze moving from the ocean to his brother. “She looks just like a Garrison, and the protectiveness automatically kicked in.”

      In fact, he was mad as hell at being shortchanged on the past three years.

      “I’ve heard having a daughter changes everything for guys,” Adam commented. “Suddenly you can’t look at women the same way.”

      Tell me about it, Stephen thought, his mind traveling over all the women who’d blended into his past. Adam was right. He wouldn’t want Jade to grow up and fall for the kind of smooth operator he’d been for most of his adult life.

      “So, you’re going to publicly acknowledge her?” Adam shook his head doubtfully. “I hope you know what you’re getting into. As much as I hate echoing our mother, what do you know about Megan Simmons?”

      “Enough,” he said shortly.

      “I remember meeting her when you dated four years ago,” Adam went on. “Think she’s one of those women who believes getting knocked up by a rich guy is like hitting the jackpot?”

      “Shut up, Adam.”

      “No, really,” his brother pressed.

      “You don’t know anything about it. She was hiding the

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