Still, there was no denying how special this little boy was. My son. James' son. Our beautiful baby boy.
“Hi, Frank,” I whispered, cuddling him close. “Welcome to the world. It's a hard place to live, but it'll be okay. Your mommy and daddy love you more than anything.”
I held him close, marveling at his tiny little fingers and big, beautiful eyes.
James kissed my forehead and held his family close.
My billionaire stepbrother was a father. Together, we couldn't be happier.
An extended preview of my other stepbrother romance:
Stepbrother Hero: A Forbidden Military Romance
It took me about two rumbles of thunder to reach the spot I had in mind. I snapped a couple of shots, checking the lighting and trees. It was going to be perfect. There were so many options on how to position the family with great backdrops, yet the trees were sparse enough that the light was actually pretty good, even with the thunderstorm moving in.
I took a couple more pictures, imagining the happy family smiling and laughing as I took their picture. A mom, a dad, and a month old baby boy with blond hair like his father's. The perfect family. And these would be spectacular pictures.
A cold breeze made me shiver. The storm was a lot closer than I had anticipated and I had lost track of time taking pictures and imagining the family. The family I envied and wanted. The smell of rain hit me and I knew I needed to get back to my car before they rain hit or I'd risk my camera.
The leaves whispered warnings of the storm as I hurried down the path as the wind whipped through them. This was going to be a wicked storm if the wind was any indication. It was past time for me to have left.
The football field was empty. Ian and all his kids and equipment were long gone. I wondered just how long I had sat in that grove taking happy pictures of the imaginary family in my head that looked suspiciously like Ian and me. Too long.
Rain started to sprinkle at about the half way point of the field and I started running to the car. I didn't want my camera to get wet, let alone the SD card with all the football practice pictures. A peal of thunder rang out, loud and strong as I sprinted to my car and got inside just in time to escape the deluge of rain.
***
Big, fat raindrops the size of quarters hit the windshield as the storm hit. But I was safe inside my little car. I let out a relieved sigh and checked my camera. Not even damp. That got another relieved sigh as I put it back in it's bag and tucked it safely under the front seat with the rest of my equipment. Luckily, I hadn't taken anything else out since the weather had been cooperating up to this point.
Lightning lit up the sky and the thunder was loud enough to shake the windows. The storm was here in full force.
“Time for me to go,” I said, putting the key in the ignition and trying to start the car.
Nothing happened.
“Come on, baby,” I coaxed, trying the engine again. “I promise to get you to the mechanic as soon as I have a little bit more money...”
The engine turned over and started working as if nothing had ever been wrong in the first place. I gave the car a stern look and hit the gas. I really needed to get this car fixed. Maybe I could ask Ian...
I could barely see through the rain and I drove at a snail's pace. But, since it was a country road that no one ever used unless they were going to the park, I wasn't worried about blocking anyone's path or running into anyone. I had the road to myself.
I went slow until I wasn't going anymore.
I revved the engine, feeling my little car shake with the effort, but not go anywhere. In the rear-view mirror, I could see mud spraying up behind me and I groaned. The dirt road had turned to mud and my car with the horsepower of a miniature pony was stuck.
“Perfect.” I slouched in my chair and watched as yet more rain fell from the sky. It was peaceful, in a gray, rainy kind of way. It would have almost been pleasant if my car hadn't been stuck in the mud.
I didn't dare go out and look at it until the rain stopped. There was no reason. I couldn't push the car out by myself, and in the rain it would be stupid to try. Once the rain stopped, I could put some sticks down for traction and get myself out. It would just take a while for the storm to clear.
I turned off my engine, leaving my headlights on in case a car did come. Thunder shook the windows again, the lightning closer. At least I was safe in my car.
I turned on the radio just in time to hear the ending of an emergency broadcast. Tornado watch with possible flooding and strong rains. Thunder rattled the car again and I wished I would have gotten the warning just a little bit earlier. The sky was growing darker and the wind stronger. I wished I had another way out of here. The wind howled through the trees and rocked the car.
Yup. Totally wish I was anywhere else but here right now.
Rain was coming down in sheets so thick it was impossible to see more than a few feet in front of my car. I hadn't seen a storm like this in years, but Dad had kept telling me that they were getting stronger every year. He claimed it was global warming.
I squinted as two lights came into view. Headlights. Who the hell was crazy enough to out driving in this? I thought. Well, other than me. But at least I was headed out of the park. Whoever this was had to be insane to be heading in.