“It’s nice to meet you, Sage,” Katherine said as she reached for her hand.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, too. You have a beautiful home,” Sage said.
“What am I? A sack of potatoes? I’d like to be introduced to your girl, too,” Joseph said with a glare at Spence.
Austin laughed. “How could anyone forget your presence, Uncle?”
“Underappreciated, that’s what I am,” Joseph grumbled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, young lady. We’ll have a wonderful dinner with the family.”
Sage found his hand surprisingly gentle for a man his size with such a loud voice. “Thank you for having me,” she said, hoping that with the awkward introduction over with, the focus would now turn to someone else.
“Let’s leave the men to boast about their catches while we have a more civilized discussion in the sitting room,” Katherine said, and Sage nearly sighed in relief.
“We’ll join you soon,” Joseph called after them when Kinsey took Sage’s arm and they followed Katherine.
“Take your time,” Katherine called back.
Sage walked quietly behind the regal woman as they went down a wide hallway with beautiful paintings and family portraits decorating the walls. This home was certainly a castle, but it was also a lived-in home, and not a museum. She was even more impressed now.
Stepping into the sitting room, she soon found her nerves calming and laughter coming easily. This family was a lot like the close-knit group in Sterling. Yes, they were wealthy, but they were pleasant and inclusive.
She knew that Spence bringing her here, sharing this part of his life with her, was a big step for him. Was she ready to move so quickly in this relationship, to become an actual couple? It seemed it didn’t matter, because, ready or not, she was in a relationship now. She had zero doubt about it.
And the amazing thing was, she didn’t want to change it.
“Have you proposed yet?”
Spence laughed as he took the glass of scotch Austin had just poured. “Wow, Joseph, you must not have wasted any time at all back in your day.”
“Are you calling me an old man, son? I may have a few gray hairs now, but that only makes me more wise and mature.” Actually all of his hair was white, but no one called him on that.
Spence held up his hand in surrender. “I would never call you old. You look as spry as a twenty-one-year-old.”
“So answer my question,” Joseph demanded.
“Oh, you’re serious?” Spence said, then laughed again. “No. I haven’t proposed. I will admit that I may just have to do that.”
“Are you serious, Spence?” Austin asked in surprise.
“I know, I know. It’s strange for me, too. I barely remember Sage from when I was a teen. I mean, she is eight years younger than I am, but since I met up with her again, I can’t get her out of my mind.” He moved to an easy chair and sat down. “When you know, you know.”
“Yeah, that’s how it happened with me. I knew almost from the moment I met Kinsey that she’d be my wife. There hasn’t been a single day I’ve regretted chasing her so hard.”
“Before you gloat, Joseph, I’ve already figured you and my dad out,” Spence said with a mock glare Joseph’s way.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Joseph said, taking a long sip of his drink and looking down at the floor.
“I’ll bet you don’t. However, just because you threw us together and it worked out, that doesn’t make it right. It could have gone in an entirely different direction and your messing with our lives could have brought disaster,” Spence said.
“Well, it didn’t go wrong at all, did it?” Joseph growled. “So I should be hearing a thank-you, not getting a lecture from a young buck.”
“Thank you, Joseph,” Spence said, surprising both Joseph and Austin.
“Well . . . um . . . you’re welcome,” Joseph said, an unexpected catch to his voice. He turned around and walked to the huge window in his den, and both Austin and Spence gave him a moment to compose himself.
“I think I just heard the door,” Austin said, and sure enough the den door flew open a moment later and in piled several members of the Anderson and Storm families.
“Ah, I see my nephew Tanner is here,” Joseph said as he strode over to slap him on the back.
“How are you, Uncle Joseph?” Tanner asked.
“I’m good, boy. You remember Spence?”
“Yes, of course. It’s good to see you again, Spence.” Tanner’s dark hair lay straight against his head, and his trademark blue Anderson eyes sparkled with humor. Though he was technically Tanner Storm because his father had been stolen at birth, depriving him of growing up with his brothers, Joseph and George, his genes were all Anderson.
“What are you doing in Seattle?” Spence asked as he walked with Tanner over to the liquor cabinet.
“I’m working on remodeling a building in town. I don’t see an end in sight, but my father says he has complete faith in me.” Spence could see the man’s tension—clearly he was under some stress—so despite his curiosity, he decided not to press him.
“And make the building shine you shall,” Joseph boomed.
The young men both looked up and laughed, and the tension evaporated. Spence knew the story of the Storms, knew that Joseph and his twin, George, had lost a third brother at birth. It turned out their mother hadn’t known she was carrying triplets, and the delivery had been a difficult one. When she came to, she’d been relieved to see that her twin boys were alive and healthy, never learning that she’d had a third son. Dr. Storm, her doctor, and his wife had decided to keep that boy for themselves.