StepBrother: New Rules (Stepbrother Romance) by Jayna King

steps, smiling brightly when the guests turned in their seats. She turned her smile on Malcolm, handsome in the front of the room, his gray suit several shades lighter than his son’s. William’s admiring gaze made Evelyn feel flushed once again, and before she knew it, she was at the front of the room, turning as the guests stood for her mother’s entrance.
    The brief ceremony was elegant and beautiful, and the vows Ella and Malcolm had written were simple, honest declarations of love and intention. As Evelyn watched the couple trade their promises to one another, she looked at William over her soon-to-be-stepfather’s shoulder. She wondered if she would ever stand in her mother’s place, ready to profess her undying love and commitment to share lives forever. She couldn’t help but think about William and whether he might be the person she could promise herself to, but with an almost imperceptible shake of her head, Evelyn banished the thought. She was too young, she told herself, with too much of her life ahead of her to even think about a commitment of that magnitude. William made her feel good at the moment, and she refused to let herself think about anything further down the road.
    Ella handed her bouquet to Evelyn before the couple exchanged rings and the kiss that sealed the deal. William winked at Evelyn over the kiss, and she couldn’t help but return his grin. As he took her arm to escort her back up the aisle between the chairs occupied by the small collection of friends and family joined to witness the marriage, Evelyn felt as though she was floating, as if she was only partially present.
    It was all so surreal, to think that William was now—legally—her stepbrother. Her secret boyfriend (for lack of a better term) was about to move in with her … along with his father, her new stepfather. The secret Evelyn harbored felt like it was too big, and she wondered if somehow it showed on her face, or in her posture, the way she leaned into William as he took her arm, as he held out his hand for their first dance at the small reception.
    As they turned around the floor, surrounded by the smiling faces of their loved ones, Evelyn felt like the pressure of her secret was growing to be more than she could stand. Though William’s hand in the small of her back was an anchor to reality, she still felt as if she was a ghost moving through the room—only partially there. As the last notes of the song played, Evelyn realized she desperately needed some fresh air. She dodged the waiting arms of relatives wanting to catch up and hear about the events of her life since they’d last seen one another, and she fled the room as quickly as she could and still appear at least partially calm and in control.
    The wind from the lake was brisk, and the edges of her pale peach dress fluttered as Evelyn wrapped her arms around herself. She looked out over the expanse of the water and wondered—just for a brief moment—how she’d managed to land herself in such a complicated situation.
    How was it even possible that the one person she felt completely comfortable with was now her stepbrother?
    “Evelyn?”
    The deep voice from behind her made Evelyn jump.
    “Malcolm,” she said, grasping for something coherent to say. “Congratulations. The ceremony was lovely.”
    “It’s freezing out here. Are you okay?” The concern on his face was apparent.
    “I’m fine. It just felt a little stuffy in there. I needed a little fresh air.”
    “Oh, good.” He relaxed visibly. “I was hoping you weren’t disappointed that we’d gone through with it.”
    Evelyn smiled with genuine warmth. “Not at all. I can tell by the way you and Mom look at one another that you’re meant to be together. She’s really happy, and that makes me happy.”
    Malcolm held out a hand. “Join me back inside for a dance?”
    “I’d love to.”
    Malcolm led her to the little dance floor in the center of the room, where William and her mother were