"It's always true."

"You ready?" I ask, excitedly. I smooth out his shirt and straighten his tie for him.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

"Are you nervous?"

"A little bit," Shane admits.

He has a big speech prepared, but he hasn't let me see or hear it. He wanted to wait until today.

"Well, let's get it over with then," I smile.

I grab his hand and lead him outside to the car. Shane drives - of course - but he doesn't let go of my hand the entire ride. He needs me - and I love it.

"Beth, Beth!" I hear my name being called and turn around.

"Claire?" I respond. I'm completely surprised to see Claire here.

I haven't seen or spoke to Claire since I cleaned out my desk. She's been laying low over the last year as the investigation was taking place. She's no longer the social butterfly she once was. Even if she was, I still wouldn't expect to see her on this side of town at the opening of a community center. It's not really her scene.

"It's so nice to see you, honey," she says, embracing me. I feel slightly awkward, but I hug her back.

"You too," I reply, hesitantly.

"I knew I would find you here. I've been following the progress of the center on the local news," she explains, "and of course I heard about you and Shane Andrews through the grapevine."

"Oh," is all I say. The investigation is over, but I still don't know how I feel about shooting the breeze with Claire.

"Oh, honey," she sighs, "I'm so sorry about everything Chad - my family - put you through."

"It's okay," I reply, "it's in the past now."

"You had such a hard time though. It took months for you to find a new job."

"Yeah," I say.

"I made some calls for you. I tried to clear your name."

"Thank you. I appreciate that." I don't know how much help that would have been seeing as how she is a Westbrook. That name no longer holds any clout anywhere around here.

"Anyway, I wanted to let you know I'm leaving Park City. I'm actually leaving New York."

"Oh?" I don't know why she's telling me. It's not like we were ever very close and we certainly don't have any connection anymore.

"With Arnold and Chad both," she pauses, "serving their time, I don't have much left here." Despite her situation, Claire sounds more confident than she ever has, "my so-called friends wrote me off when the investigation became public. All of our assets, including the house, have been seized," she explains. It's not new information. All of the Westbrooks' affairs have been made public. "I have a small trust in my own name that was started by my parents long before Chad was born. I never needed it - but now - it's all I have."

I feel very uncomfortable. She's telling me everything. She must need someone to talk to. I remain quiet and let her finish.

Claire sighs and smiles, "so, I'm going to Florida. Of course I'll visit Chad - he's my baby. He was just following in his father's footsteps. He knew it was wrong, but Arnold was always so hard on that poor boy. I should have..." Claire finishes the thought in her own head, "anyway. I just wanted to wish you the best."

"Thanks," I say, "but honestly, why?" After I say it, I realize it sounds rude, but I still don't understand why she's telling me all of this.

"I just admire you, Beth," she reveals, "I wish I had the audacity to leave Arnold years ago. I feel like I wasted so much of my life. And now, I'm left with nothing. I'm happy for you. I always wanted you as my daughter-in-law, but what you and Chad had wasn't real love," she stares off behind me, "what you have now, is. For what it's worth, I want to wish you the best. I also want to thank you for making me feel like I can start my life again."

I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to see Shane, "Hate to interrupt, but we're about to start," he says, "Mrs. Westbrook," he greets her, extending his hand.

"Mr. Andrews," she takes his hand in both of hers and returns his greeting, "I wish you much luck and success - both in your career and with your wonderful bride to be."

Shane puts his arm around me, "thank you."

"I'll let you two go." Claire draws me into another hug.

"Thanks for coming," I tell her.

Claire smiles and walks out toward the groups of people gathered outside.

Shane puts his arm around me, "what was all that about?"

"I'll explain later."

Shane

"Thank you all so much for coming today," I address the large crowd before me, "this community center has been a dream of mine for several years. I would like to give you a little background about myself so you all can understand why this is so important to me. As a child growing up in Lawson, we didn't have a place like this - a place for children to come and spend their free time. A place to escape the hardships of their home lives. A place to learn and grow. A place to find security, comfort, and support."

I was expecting a big turn out, but nothing like this. The anticipation of the completion of the Lawson Center for Community Growth created a huge buzz over the last several months. The people in town genuinely cared about what was coming. They seemed interested. They offered their help. We haven't even opened the doors yet, and we have begun to make a difference. Now, I just have to get through this speech without getting too emotional.

"I was lucky to find all of those things in one special family. One family that took me in and made me feel like one of their own. One family that made all the difference in the world to my life and what it has become."

I turn to my left and quickly glance at all of the Kaminskys standing by my side. All of them are here by my side - and that means the world to me. I continue, "Like many of you, I had a rough childhood. I had a hard time in school. I got into a lot of trouble on the streets because I wanted to be anywhere other than my own home." I face right and look at my own family, who have also come to support me today, "I could have grown to be like too many others - turning to a life of crime, trying to make ends meet any way I could manage - but I didn't."

I take a deep breath before continuing, "I didn't because I had the support of others. I had a mentor. I had someone who believed in me and saw the decent, caring, human being inside the troubled teen I was bound to become." I look again at the Kaminskys. They are all tearing up - except Big Dan - of course. "I'm sure many of you know Officer Kaminsky, or 'Big Dan' as he's known on the streets. Without his help - without his tough love - I don't know where I would have been - but it is because of him that we are all here today."

I turn again and see the look of surprise on Dan's face with the mention of his name, "Dan gave me the courage and will to change my life - not to become another cliche kid from the wrong side of the tracks. It was because of what he told me years ago that made me believe I was better than what I was brought up to believe."

I can't look at the Kaminskys again. I can hear sniffling and if I see the tears, I know I won't be able to go on. I glance again at my own family. My mother, her boyfriend, my uncle, and cousins are standing side by side.

"After I left Lawson, I was offered a second chance by another amazing man - my uncle. He gave me the opportunity to learn and to take responsibility for myself. I also owe him deep gratitude for his help and guidance. Without him, I wouldn't have the skills, the vision, or the tools to make this building - and my dream - come to fruition."

I'm having trouble holding myself together. This is much harder than I thought, but I need to say all of this. The feelings behind it all are as important as the structure itself.

"I was given support. I was loved. I was encouraged. It is because of this that I have the ability to stand before you, my family by my side, and dedicate the Lawson Center for Community Growth to you - the people of Lawson - with the hopes that it will offer the children a brighter future. A future filled with as much love and success as I have been given the opportunity to achieve myself."

"I would like to ask my fiance, Beth, to join me in the official cutting of the ribbon..."

Beth

I'm sure my face is a mess from crying - but this is Shane's big day - it's not about me. I can't worry about what people think right now.

My hands are shaking as Shane takes them in his. He gives me a reassuring squeeze. I focus on the reflection coming from the beautiful diamond on my finger. After two months of wearing it, the shock still hasn't worn off.

I can't say I was totally surprised when Shane proposed. I knew he was going to at some point - just not where and when.

For my birthday, he took me to a spa at the very end of Montauk - not far from what we call 'our spot' on the beach. We were having dinner on the outside deck overlooking a spectacular sunset. The flowers on the table, the sound of the waves crashing - the scene was pure romance.

The waiter brought our dessert. The plate was decorated with swirly colored sauces surrounding a fancy looking chocolate box. I told Shane it was too pretty to cut open. He told me to just take the delicate chocolate top off the box. I did as he said, completely unsuspecting of what was about to happen.

I gently removed the top, and there, resting atop a small mound of ripe berries, was the most beautiful engagement ring I've ever seen. Shane got down on his knee and made an equally beautiful proposal.

Everyone in the restaurant was in on it. The table next to us recorded the whole thing, and the minute I said 'yes', the waiter appeared and popped a bottle of champagne. Everyone cheered. It was incredible.

This whole year has been full of surprises and life changes. From Shane's sudden reappearance, to Chad's arrest, the house of my dreams, a new job, the proposal, the opening of this center. It's been like a dream.

If you had asked me a couple of years ago where I saw my future, it would not look anything like it does now, but I wouldn't change a thing.

I look around. On one side of us stand Shane's mother and extended family. I've finally, after half a lifetime, gotten to know Janis Andrews. I'm glad I know her as the woman she is now and not the person she used to be. She's a genuinely caring woman and she's lovingly accepted me into the family, as have his uncle and cousins.

My parents and siblings are standing on the opposite side. Mo's face is beaming with pride. Nick, Abby, and even Zach look on with admiration. I swear I see a tear trickle down my father's face, but I pretend not to notice.

Behind us all is this beautiful building built by my soon-to-be husband. We hope the community receives the same pride, dedication, and love, he put into it.

With Shane's body resting against mine, our hands together, we cut the red ribbon lining the front of the new community center.

I look into Shane's eyes as the crowd cheers. Not everyone believes that dreams come true, but us - this moment - is living proof that they do.

JESSICA MARX HAS A MAILING LIST!.

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Part I

Naughty!

Naughty

A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance

Copyright Jessica Marx 2016 This book is a work of fiction. All the characters in this book are fictitious and any similarity to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidence.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

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