“Whew!” Kit blew out a whistling breath. “You’ve got that sexy alpha male thing down.”
“Kit!” Mae protested, but she completely agreed.
Slade chuckled and made another call. The cars arrived, and Mae hugged Kit goodbye. “Thank you for being the best friend ever,” Mae said.
“I love you and I’m so happy right now.” Kit squeezed her tight, then released her and shot Slade a look. “You might be a buff billionaire, but treat her right or I’ll pay someone to hunt you down and cut your ears off.”
“Whoa.” Slade nodded obediently, then grinned. “I’ll treat her right, because she’s amazing … and I like my ears.”
Kit winked, gave Mae one more hug, and slid into the car.
Mae and Slade sauntered to the next car. The driver opened the door. Mae slid into the middle seat, and Slade eased in next to her. Wrapping his arm around her, he said, “It’s about a thirty-minute drive to my parents’ house. You might as well kiss me to pass the time.”
Mae laughed. “I guess we have to do something to stave off the boredom.”
“For sure.” He pulled her in tight and proceeded to kiss her. Mae forgot about the driver, the opportunity to check out the sites of Boston, and everything but his lips on hers.
When they pulled to a stop and the driver got out and came around to get the door, she was flushed and startled. “No way was that thirty minutes.”
“Maybe traffic was light,” he murmured.
“Or maybe I just like to kiss you.”
He grinned and kissed her again.
Finally, Mae got embarrassed. “Your driver is going to think you’re nuts.”
“Naw. John likes me, right, John?”
“Yes, sir. And I don’t blame you for kissing her for over forty minutes, either. Traffic was heavy.”
Slade laughed as Mae’s face flushed with heat. Slade slid out of the car and offered his hand, which she gleefully accepted; she loved the sparks she felt from simply touching his hand.
She thanked the driver and then turned with Slade to look at the gorgeous mansion in front of her. It was a classic Cape Cod style set right on a bluff above the ocean. “Guess your parents had money before you become a raving success?”
He smirked. “They do okay for themselves.”
“Okay? This place is fabulous!” She shook her head, trying to hide how intimidated she was by his wealth and status. Could she truly fit in his world? “‘It’s one of my favorite planes,’” she said, quoting him from last night. “Stinking billionaire punk.”
Slade’s arm wrapped around her waist and he turned her toward him. “Take it back.”
“Or what?” She hid her smile and arched an eyebrow.
“Or I’ll kiss you until you do.”
“You do that.”
His mouth met hers, and she wondered if she’d ever get used to the explosion of joy, warmth, and desire that felt like fireworks in her soul. She thought maybe they should stop kissing where people might see them, but then she figured they were making up for lost time.
“Slade!” a girl’s voice called from the porch.
They broke apart, but Slade kept his arm around Mae’s waist as he escorted her through the gate and up the cobblestone path. “Lottie,” he called. “I brought her.”
“Josie or Mae?” She hurried down the porch steps to meet them, holding on to the railing for balance. She was a gorgeous teenage girl with long, dark hair, beautiful skin, and almond-shaped eyes that slanted slightly upward, characteristic of Down syndrome. She was dressed in a flowing pale blue sundress that set off her beautiful coloring.
“Both,” Slade replied, grinning down at Mae.
Mae returned his smile.
His sister reached them, and after Slade gave her a hug, she turned and squeezed Mae tight around the waist. Mae was taken aback by the familiarity with someone she didn’t know, but she instantly felt the sweetness of the girl’s spirit and hugged her tightly back.
“Hi,” Lottie said.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lottie.”
Lottie pulled back and demanded, “Now tell me ‘bout you—both Josie and Mae?” Her brow squiggled.
Slade said, “This is a story for you, Lottie. Better than any of your girl movies.”
“No!” Lottie’s mouth pursed, and her eyes widened.
“It’s the best story ever,” Mae agreed.
“Well, then, tell it to me.” Lottie put her hands on her hips.
“Of course.” Mae paused to think of how to condense it. “I was … in disguise the first time we met, and he didn’t recognize me.”
“Slade!” Lottie’s tone was full of exasperation and reproof.
“She was more beautiful than any woman I’d ever met, and I’d only seen Mae with these huge glasses on that covered her eyes and part of her face,” said Slade. “It wasn’t completely my fault.”
“But you kissed her.” Lottie shook her head and pushed out a disgusted breath.
“I’m sorry, sis, but she was irresistible.” He winked and squeezed Mae’s waist. “In fact, I could kiss her right now.” He leaned in close, and Mae’s breath shortened.
“Story first,” Lottie interrupted. She grinned and added, “Then I watch the kissing.”
Slade gestured to her, and Mae continued, “When he didn’t recognize me, I told him my name was Josie, and at first I was upset that he didn’t recognize me as Mae, but he was so charming … I think I might have kissed him that night.”
“No,” he interjected. “I definitely kissed you, and no kiss had ever been so powerful. Until the one in my office today.” He winked. “And every one since then.”
Heat filled Mae’s body and she leaned into him. Maybe she didn’t fit in his world, but Slade didn’t seem to care, and all she cared about right now was being close to him.
“But when did you find out she was Mae?” Lottie asked.
“Just today,” Slade told her, his eyes drinking in Mae.
“We kept missing each other,” Mae tried to explain. “But now we’ve found each other.”
“Yay! So Josie is Mae?” Lottie nodded as if she had it all figured out. “Which one you love?”
Fire burned through Mae. Love? Were they there? Of course she loved Slade, had for a long time, but could he possibly feel the same? She’d hardly dared imagine a world where her adoration of him was reciprocated.
“Josie is Mae,” Slade reaffirmed. His dark gaze seared into her. “And I love them both.”
“You … love me?” Mae said faintly, her head whirling almost as bad as if she’d taken Valium again.
Slade nodded. “I know we just officially met, but despite the fact that I wasn’t looking for you, I’ve fallen in love with you, Mae. The connection between us is unlike anything I’ve ever felt.” He paused, then said, “You don’t have to say it back, but I wanted you to know.”
“Oh, I’ll say it back.” Mae slid close against him and framed his face with her hands. “I love you, Slade. I’ve loved you for two years, and now I’m going to do something about it.”
He chuckled. “Oh yeah? What are you going to do?”
She grinned, anticipation and desire swirling in the heated air between them.
“Kiss her, you tater tot,” Lottie called from the side, clapping her hands together and then waving them at her forehead. “It’s time now!”
Mae had almost forgotten their audience, but she figured it would be like watching a movie for the darling girl. Hopefully Slade’s parents wouldn’t think it was indecent exposure or anything.
“I can do that.” Slade swept Mae off her feet and proceeded to kiss her. As he deepened the kiss, every part of her body was flooded with delightful warmth. Mae wondered if this kiss might classify as over the top for a teenage girl to watch, but she was too wrapped up in it to come back down to earth.
Slade loved her. She would apologize to his parents for the passionate display in front of their beautiful, innocent daughter … later.
She could hear Lottie giggling and clapping as Mae returned the kiss. Maybe no apology was necessary. She hoped not because she wanted many, many more of these kisses.
Chapter Fifteen
Mae stood in Lottie’s sun-filled bedroom with her stomach twisting into knots. She’d wrongly assumed that once she’d connected with Slade, the anxiousness would disappear. With Slade by her side, she felt happy and light as if nothing could go wrong, but right now he was downstairs waiting for her with his brothers; all three of them had flown in for the weekend specifically to meet her and to attend a dinner party where Mae would meet other close friends and family.
Slade’s mom and dad had been friendly, warm, and open with her. Though they were both dressed up all the time and obviously were in a different socioeconomic class than she’d ever associated with, they treated her as if she were the future daughter-in-law they’d always wanted. Future daughter-in-law. She gulped and pressed a hand to her stomach. She and Slade had only been together for the past few days: they’d played tourist and guide in the beautiful city and surrounding areas, worked together at his office, dealing with the most pressing issues, and being amazed how much they could accomplish while sneaking in kisses. Most of all, they simply enjoyed each other’s company. They weren’t even close to engaged, and she needed to stop daydreaming and finish getting ready.
Lottie burst into the room, wearing a lacy peach-colored sheath dress with her dark hair in long curls. “You look so-o beautiful!”
“So do you.”
Lottie wrinkled her nose. “I always look beautiful.”
Mae smiled. She loved Lottie’s confidence and infectious happiness. She had been finishing getting ready in the bathroom earlier when Lottie banged on the door to tell her she’d be right back after she hugged her “boys,” as she called her brothers. Now she was back, and that was probably Mae’s cue to head downstairs.
Mae glanced at the full-length white-trimmed mirror. She was wearing one of the dresses Kit had sent with her. It was red and white polka-dotted, sleeveless, fitted at the waist, and a couple inches above the knee. She felt pretty, but it was a brave dress for her with the bright color and shorter hemline. Was it wrong that she preferred wearing dark colors and being in the shadows? She wouldn’t be able to hide tonight, and if it weren’t for Slade, she didn’t know that she’d even attempt going down those stairs.
“Let’s go.” Lottie tugged at her hand.
Mae’s high-heeled feet stayed planted on the wood floor.
“What’s wrong?” Lottie faced her, her lovely brow wrinkled.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Mae admitted.
“Do what?”
“Meet your brothers, meet all these people tonight. I’m not brave and confident like you and Slade.” Mae glanced out the huge windows at the ocean down below, embarrassed that she’d admitted so much to her new friend.
“Mae, you silly.” Lottie laughed, and Mae focused on her. “First, my boys are not to be scared of. They love you … just like Slade loves you.”
Mae bit at her lip, thinking first Lottie couldn’t understand how powerful, successful, and intimidating her family was, and second that they’d better not love her just like Slade did, or Slade would probably get in a fight tonight. Of course the sweet girl didn’t mean it like that. Slade did love her. The remembrance brought peace and helped settle her stomach.
“But also, Mae …” Lottie shook her long curls. “You don’t really know. I’m not brave or feel beautiful always. At school? Sometimes, kids make fun.”
Mae’s stomach twisted again. Who could be callous or mean enough to make fun of Lottie?
“My mama taught me something. She said …” Lottie screwed up her mouth as if remembering. “Everybody’s trying to find their spot.” Lottie nodded. “Close enough. And when someone makes fun, it’s ’cause they don’t feel good about themself. Right?”
Mae hadn’t had a mom to help her navigate high school, but Kit’s mom would’ve probably said something similar. Mae had made it through high school hiding in Kit’s shadow, and she’d been perfectly content with it.
“But the most important things? Like yourself and like everybody else. If you like yourself, it no matter what they say, and if you like everybody else, they stop being mean.”
Mae blinked at her. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. She reached out and hugged Lottie tight.
Lottie squeezed her back. “That help?”
“Yes, sweet girl. You are amazing.” Like yourself and like everybody else. It was her Christian philosophy to love everyone, but sometimes you could love others without really liking them, and it was really hard to be confident and comfortable with who she was. Like yourself. It could be that simple. If she was confident in herself and in Slade’s love for her, it really didn’t matter how tonight went. Slade wouldn’t ditch her if she tripped on her heels or said something dumb to one of his famous brothers or friends. Closing her eyes, she said a brief prayer of gratitude for Slade and Lottie, followed by a prayer that she could like herself as well as everyone else.
“All right.” Lottie pulled from the hug, clasped Mae’s hand, and said, “Let’s go. Slade is a mess down there!”
This time Mae let Lottie tug her out of the bedroom and into the wide hallway. “Why is Slade a mess?” Slade was always confident and perfect. Always.
“You’ll see.”
They were at the top of the wide staircase now, and voices floated up from down below, so Mae didn’t have a chance to grill Lottie about why Slade would be a mess. They descended the stairs, slowly. Lottie didn’t move fast on stairs, and Mae was grateful with the black heels she wore threatening to take her down.
A few steps from the bottom, Mae heard Slade’s voice. “Mae.”
The way he said her name, all breathy and longing, made her heart thump faster and her stomach swirl with delicious heat. She glanced up to smile at him, tripped, and went flying.
“Mae!” Lottie yelled, and luckily their hands sprung apart so Mae didn’t pull her down.
She hit the floor, catching herself with her hands and groaned. Embarrassment rushed in quickly as her dress had flung all the wrong directions, but only her palms stung from the impact.
“Mae.” Slade rushed to her side and squatted down close. “Are you okay? Is anything hurt?”
“Just my pride and dignity, and they are pros at taking a thumping.”
She heard laughter and focused on Slade’s handsome face. He grinned at her. “Can I pick you up, or will that injure your pride and dignity further?”
“Hmm, you’re cute enough I will allow you to sweep me into your arms.”
Slade chuckled and obeyed. He wrapped his arms around her waist and plucked her off the ground. Holding her close, he tilted her chin so she focused on him and not the rest of the room, who’d all unfortunately witnessed her clumsiness.
“You look so beautiful,” he murmured, his eyes tracing over her face.
“Really? Sprawled on the floor with my dress over my head, I looked beautiful?”
Some deep chuckles came from far too close by, and Mae wanted to look to see if there was shock or disgust on Slade’s brothers’ faces. Were they laughing at her, or with her?
“It was a great look on you.” He winked and turned her to face his family.
His parents, Lottie, and all three of his brothers smiled kindly at her, as if they wanted to see the best in her. She could feel the love they had for Slade through those kind looks.
“You still like you, right, Mae?” Lottie asked.
“Some days it’s rough, my sweet friend,” Mae said.
“Nope. Every day you like you.” She gestured around. “These are my boys!” She clapped her hands together and then waved them at her forehead excitedly.
Slade still had his arm around her waist, but his mom, Sarah, came forward and gave Mae a hug. “You look beautiful, dear. I’m so thrilled to have you here with us.”
“Th
ank you.” Mae was teary-eyed again. How could Slade’s mom be so kind and so perfect at the same time? Mae might be the dowdy girl next to her, but Sarah only radiated love and acceptance.
Slade’s dad came forward and shook her hand. He looked a lot like his boys, well-built and handsome, but his dark hair was interspersed with lighter gray. His dark eyes twinkled. “Sarah and Lottie have been waiting for another female in the family for a long time.”
“Vince,” Sarah reprimanded, but Mae didn’t mind the insinuation. Not at all.
Slade’s hand tightened around her waist as his three brothers stepped toward them. They were all dressed in button-down shirts and slacks. With their dark hair and eyes, smooth, tanned skin, and short facial hair, they closely resembled Slade.
“Okay. I’ve got these guys down. I’ve been studying,” Mae said, hoping for some of the confidence Lottie had infused in her upstairs. “Preston, the football hero.”
Preston chuckled and shook her hand. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t mind his fake Southern drawl,” Slade said. “He’s been in Georgia too long and thinks it’ll get him dates.”
Preston shrugged. “I have to beat the groupies off with a stick.”
“I’m sure you do.” Mae laughed, then nodded to the next brother. “Gunner, the military hero.”
He shook her hand, his smile a little more solemn than his obviously mischievous brothers. Mae wondered what he’d seen in his time with the SEALs. “Pleasure to meet you, Mae.”
“You too.” She turned to the last one. “Jex, the crazy man.”
Everyone but Jex exploded in laughter. “Aw, come on,” Jex complained. “Preston and Gunner are ‘heroes.’ The way you look at Slade is like he’s the most perfect man on the planet, and I’m crazy?”
Mae lifted her hands innocently. “Sorry, but I have been watching your YouTube videos. Crazy is a mild way to describe you.”
They all laughed again. Slade nodded to his brothers, and they each took a large step back and started unbuttoning their shirts.
“Boys!” Sarah cried out.
Lottie grabbed her mother’s hand. “It’s okay, Mama. Just watch.” She grinned broadly at Mae. “You can watch too. It’s PG-rated.”
Steele Family Romance Collection Page 10
