Chapter 21: The Secret Brother
Moana

“Uncle Ethan!” Ella jumped up and ran over to Ethan. Smiling, he picked her up and twirled her around in a circle. The quiet air of the garden became briefly filled with the sweet sound of the little girl’s giggles before he sat her back down and patted her on the head.

“I think your grandma is looking for you,” he said, to which Ella immediately perked up and took off to find Verona.

I was still sitting on the bench, utterly shocked by Ethan’s presence. “Fancy seeing you here,” he said, walking up to me and standing in front of me so that his tall body blocked the light.

“Fancy seeing you here, too,” I said, standing. “I had no idea you were related to the Morgan family.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said, running a hand through his hair. Even now, dressed in his formal attire, I could see a small smudge of paint on the artist’s left pinky. “The whole ‘Bradley’ last name is just a pseudonym. Well, sort of; it was my mother’s maiden name. I use it now to protect my true identity.”

I nodded, not sure of what to say. Ethan turned and walked over to the fountain, gesturing for me to follow, which I did.

“So… You’re Ella’s au pair, right?” Ethan asked as we slowly walked together around the garden. The summer air was still and humid, but the feeling of the cool spray coming off of the fountain was refreshing.

where Ella had just gone. “I have been for a

trees, Ethan casually reached up and plucked one. I watched as he expertly peeled the orange while keeping the peel in one long strip, then tossed the peel into

of orange, “I can’t think of anyone better to be Ella’s nanny. I know how much the kids

smile widened. “Thank you,” I replied. “I love Ella. She’s a good

feeling of the cold marble permeated through my sandals and cooled my feet. The arched ceilings

asked, leaning on the railing of one side

live here now, part of the time, whenever I need to have some peace

laughter. Through one of the large draped windows that led to the banquet hall, I could see the silhouettes of people ballroom dancing. I was a bit glad that I was outside just now, as I

the music, bobbing his head a bit for a few moments before turning toward me and holding his hand

“Care for a dance?”

my face get

know how,” I admitted, staring down at

pulling me away from the railing. “It’s easy. Besides, no one is here

blush deepened as Ethan took my other hand and placed it on his shoulder, then placed his other hand on my waist.

“It’s like this…”

leading me, it was easy to move along with him. Soon enough, we were spinning around the colonnade to the faint music and the sound of the crickets, laughing along

our breathless faces hovering close enough to one

placed me back on my feet and stepped away with

“Some

pounded from our near-kiss, but I knew that it would never happen; not only was I just a human, but it would also be wildly inappropriate for

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