The 405 was a fucking parking lot.
Teddy blew out a frustrated breath. She'd thought she'd left San Diego with plenty of time, forgetting how unpredictable LA traffic was.
Her eyes flicked up to her rear view mirror, checking her rich, dark brown hair. She'd pulled it into a messy topknot. A few wisps escaped, framing her heart-shaped face. Her hazel eyes were rimmed with dark green eyeliner and smoky eyeshadow, which made the green in her eyes pop.
At least she'd had the sense to get ready beforehand. When she finally got there she could just run to whatever ballroom they were holding the ceremony in.
Teddy's father was receiving a legacy award tonight at his field's biggest conference, which was being held this year in Los Angeles. Since she lived so close, she'd promised to drive up for the ceremony and stay the night.
Teddy was in her second year at SDSU, studying liberal arts with an emphasis in elementary education. She loved San Diego and hoped to get a teaching job there after she finished college.
She'd grown up in San Francisco, where her father and his second wife still lived. Her mother had had passed away unexpectedly when Teddy was just ten, and so it had just been her and Dad for a long time. When beautiful, smart, funny, and successful Adele came along Teddy had been happy for him.
At seventeen, Teddy had known she wanted to go away for college, but had hated the idea of her father all alone. Teddy had grown fond of Adele in the year she'd known her before going off to college, and she was thrilled when they'd announced the previous summer that they were going to get married.
They'd opted for a simple ceremony at the courthouse, and afterward, held a small reception at a swanky bar atop a historic Nob Hill hotel.
Yes, Teddy adored Adele. But her son—now that was a very different matter.
Her step-brother.
Her mouth turned down at the corners as she remembered her one meeting with Jackson, who was a couple of years older than Teddy.
He was annoyingly handsome and tall- probably around 6'3"- with dark blond hair and the sculpted face of a Greek god. And an ego the size of Montana.
She hadn't met Jackson until her father and Adele's reception. He was in law school on the east coast at one of the fancy Ivy Leagues and clerked during his breaks.
Although it was the only time they'd met, he had left a lasting impression.
Before they'd been introduced, he'd hit on her at the bar. Once he'd found out who she was, he'd been an grade A asshole the rest of the evening.
She shouldn't have let it get under her skin. She'd reminded herself that he was probably just trying to salve his bruised pride. But he'd gotten to her, and it annoyed her more than she wanted to admit. She sighed.
Jackson was also going to be in attendance tonight.
If she'd known earlier, she'd have tried to find a way to get out of going. Even now she wished she'd had the guts to say she'd come down with the flu. But she couldn't disappoint her dad, and now she had to make the best of the situation.
The traffic began to let up, and she sighed in relief. If things moved smoothly from here, she might actually not be all that late after all.
***
Jackson smiled and greeted the older man his step-father was introducing him to. He took a sip of his scotch, then almost choked as he caught sight of the woman hurrying toward their table.
She was petite, but with killer curves that the simple black dress she wore showed off to perfection. The heels she wore set off her shapely legs. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head in an artful knot that showed off her elegant neck and exquisitely beautiful face.
His stepsister was fucking stunning.
He looked away as she approached the table and threw herself into her father's arms. "Dad! I'm so sorry, traffic was awful—"
"Theodora," he chuckled, "it's all right! I'm just so happy to see you."
Jackson took another swig of his scotch as his mother got up and embraced her stepdaughter, and then her father made introductions all around.
He felt her eyes on him, and he glanced up from his drink to see that her mouth was twisted in dismay as she located the one empty seat at the table—right next to him. Then her face cleared and he almost wondered if he had imagined it.
Not that he would blame her. He'd been completely out of line the last time—well, the ONLY time—they'd met.
Jackson internally winced as he remembered their first meeting. He had been sitting at the lobby bar, waiting to meet his mother before going up to the reception, and pleasantly buzzed from the cocktails he'd had earlier visiting with an old friend. An incredibly beautiful woman had walked up to the bar. Their eyes met, a jolt of electricity had shot through him.
With his good looks and charm, not to mention his moneyed background, Jackson was used to girls pretty much falling into bed with him. So, with easy confidence, he'd walked right up to the woman he now knew was his stepsister, taken her hand, and kissed it. He looked deep into her eyes and given her his best line. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. You must tell me your name."
Rather than blushing and looking charmed, as he fully expected, her lips curved and she let out a tinkling laugh. She looked behind her, and, too late, Jackson noticed his mother and new stepfather not too far behind her. Teddy had gasped out that she was his stepsister, and then proceeded to double over with guffaws at his failed attempt at seduction.
Humiliated beyond belief—and maybe a little disappointed that his dream woman had turned out to be someone he'd never have a chance with—Jackson had proceeded to get shit-faced and had been purposely obnoxious for the rest of the evening, much to his mother's embarrassment.
Jackson pulled out his phone and pretended to check his email to occupy himself so that he didn't guzzle the rest of his drink out of boredom. Out of his periphery, he saw Teddy pull out the chair to his right and hang her small purse on the back of her chair, along with a filmy shawl.
He tried not to notice how the silky black fabric of her dress clung to her curves, outlining her hourglass figure. Or how, as she sat down, the hem of the dress rode up, revealing several inches of her creamy thigh. Jackson almost groaned aloud at the sight.
For fuck's sake. He was sporting a half-chub and the evening had barely started.
His fingers tightened around his glass of scotch. This was going to be torture.
***
After making her way through the crowded ballroom and locating their table, Teddy greeted her father and stepmother with affection. They were distracted by people coming by to congratulate her father, so she decided to go ahead and take her seat.
Looking around the table, which was set for 12, she quickly saw that the only option available was next to HIM.
Jackson leaned back idly in his chair with a glass of something on the rocks, the picture of bored indifference. Just like last time, he looked like he'd just stepped out of every woman's fantasy. His dark-blond hair was slightly tousled, his icy blue eyes trained on his drink, and he wore a charcoal gray suit with no tie. The top button of the white Oxford shirt he wore underneath was undone, showing a sliver of golden skin.
She hung her purse on the back of her chair and sat, reminding herself that although Jackson's packaging might be pretty, inside was nothing but a big turd.
