Steele Family Romance Collection

by Cami Checketts

  Slade knew he hadn’t used the word dumpy. That wasn’t Mae at all, at least not to him. She was definitely beautiful on the inside, and he was attracted to the physical characteristics that he’d been able to glimpse through video chats—her mouth and her jawline, her smooth skin, and the obviously fit frame under her too-baggy T-shirts. He wasn’t about to get into a discussion with Lottie about how Mae wasn’t dumpy, though. “But why does she keep ditching the prince?” he asked instead.

  A few men in business casual walking by looked at him strangely. Slade forced a smile.

  “Because it’s not easy to get to happy ever after. Come on, you know that, bro!”

  Slade chuckled. “Okay. I’ll give you that. So, what do I do?”

  “Patience, my boy, patience,” Lottie said solemnly. Slade’s next youngest brother, Jex, the adventurer, was fond of that saying. Though Jex was crazy, he was also one of the most laid-back and patient people Slade knew.

  Laughing, Slade managed to say, “I love you, Lottie.”

  “I love you too. When your princess finds you, bring her to see me. Please, please, please!”

  “I will.” Slade said goodbye and slid his phone in his pocket, rushing through the sliding glass doors and toward the elevator. If only his princess would find him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mae woke up with a pounding headache. Light streamed through the large windows, and she clapped a hand over her eyes. “Make the sun stop,” she begged.

  The room mercifully got darker. She blinked her eyes open again. “Tylenol?” she whimpered.

  “I’ve got some.” Kit rushed to her purse and returned a few seconds later with some pills, grabbing the complimentary water bottle off the counter.

  Mae took the pills and washed them down with lukewarm water. “What happened?” she asked. She hated alcohol because her family had been killed by a drunk driver, so she’d never been hung over, but this must be what it felt like. “I can’t remember much beyond you helping me off the plane, into a car, and then into the hotel.”

  “Oh, Mae, I’m so sorry. It had to be the Valium pills. I messed it all up.”

  Mae took a slow breath. “It’s not your fault. I took them both.”

  “I gave you two of them?” Kit wrung her hands together.

  “I took one initially and one in the car before the bridge. Where’s my phone? Do you think I should text or call Slade, or should I try to get to him?” She groaned. “He’s going to think I ditched him again.”

  “I don’t know where your phone is. I wonder if you left it on the plane. I think you need to go to his office. The only way to fix this is in person. Let’s get you showered and fixed up.”

  Mae nodded and struggled to her feet. Her headache settled to a dull throb, and by the time she got out of the shower, she was feeling marginally better. Kit forced her to eat some toast room service had brought up and drink some peppermint tea, which did wonders for her head and her energy level. The thought of marching into Slade’s office was pretty invigorating, so maybe it wasn’t the tea that woke her up and cleared the fog.

  Kit had perfumed and aired out her taco T-shirt and paired it with a fitted black-and-white patterned skirt and some funky blue heels. Mae buttoned up a pink rayon shirt over her T-shirt so she would look professional going into Slade’s office. When Kit finally pronounced her ready—after wasting far too much time on makeup, in Mae’s opinion—they left the hotel and got an Uber to Slade’s business building. Boston Commons was beautiful and green, and instead of the anxiety she’d thought she’d feel in an unfamiliar place, she felt excitement to explore. This was Slade’s spot and she felt drawn to the place like she was to him. Mae wanted to tour the historic city, hopefully with Slade as her tour guide. Hopefully. Did he think she’d ditched him last night? What else was he supposed to think?

  Soon they pulled up to a tall glass-and-steel building in the financial district, close to the iconic Faneuil Hall. They thanked the driver and got out.

  Kit tugged on Mae’s hand. “No turning back now, baby.”

  Mae let her pull her through the doors and up to a reception area. They were informed that Steele Wholesale Lending took up floors twenty-one and twenty-two. The elevator ascended so quickly Mae was grateful for the toast and peppermint tea to help her belly. She was getting tired of being so stirred up all the time. Yet how could she calm down before she met Slade and tried to explain all the craziness she’d put him through? That was a tall order that she didn’t know how to fill.

  The receptionist who greeted them as they exited the elevator was friendly but reticent, a beautiful lady probably in her late fifties. “I’m sorry. Mr. Steele is very busy. Can I make you an appointment for … four-thirty-five?” she asked.

  “I’m Mae Delaney,” she explained. “I’ve worked with Mr. Steele for the past two years as an account rep via video chat, and I’m here to meet him in person.”

  The receptionist’s eyes registered recognition of her name. “I’ve heard of you, but he still doesn’t have any openings.”

  No openings? No time for her. Slade always had time for her. Well, most of the time he was the one who initiated the calls because her schedule was almost always open, but it hurt that he couldn’t fit her in. She felt insignificant and silly that she thought she could just waltz in here, give her name, and hope his important schedule would disappear.

  “Please.” Kit clasped her hands together. “You don’t understand.”

  “Help me,” the older lady said.

  “Okay, it’s like this,” Kit said. “Slade flew to meet Mae—” She pointed to Mae, and Mae waved, wondering what Kit was going to spill in the next few seconds. “—in Sausalito, California, and it got all messed up and he thought she was someone else and he kind of fell for the wrong woman, even though it was really Mae. Then speed ahead with some flirting and confusion to pass the time … he sent his jet for the real Mae so he could meet her last night, but her family was killed on Golden Gate Bridge and she’s never flown in an airplane, so I gave her some Valium, but she took two instead of one and it made her so tired and crazy. Like she was drunk!” Kit paused for a breath.

  People from offices were poking their heads out and Mae tried to shush Kit, but if it would get her in to Slade, she’d go through Public Humiliation 101.

  “So, I finally decided I had to just take her to the hotel, but we lost her phone, so I couldn’t even text or call Slade. She just needs him to see her and know she didn’t ditch him again. Then we’ll let him go back to his busy schedule. Please.” Kit clasped her hands dramatically together and begged the woman with her big teal-blue eyes.

  Mae wanted to tell Kit those eyes only worked on the opposite sex, but she added her prayers to Kit’s pleas and waited impatiently for the verdict.

  The lady looked indecisive, but eventually she nodded. “Two minutes.”

  Kit squealed, and Mae jumped happily and miraculously didn’t fall off her heels. “Thank you,” Mae and Kit said together.

  They hurried behind the woman, pumping up a wide, open staircase and toward an office at the end of the hall with double doors, obviously the biggest and most important office. Slade had been so down-to-earth and fun with her, and sometimes Mae forgot how successful and prominent he was.

  The receptionist cast them one more worried glance before knocking on the door.

  “Yes?” Slade called in response to the sharp rap.

  “Tell him my name is Josie, please,” Mae said quickly. Was that wrong? Poor Slade would be so confused. Oh man, she was nervous.

  The receptionist looked even more baffled, but she nodded, cracked the door, peeked her head in, and said, “A Josie to see you, sir?”

  “Josie?” He paused long enough for Mae’s nerves to reach hyperdrive. Her palms started sweating and her heart raced. Seconds passed without any response at all.

  The receptionist glanced back at Mae, compassion and the desire to do her job effectively warring in her brown eyes. �
�Excuse me for interrupting you, sir,” she said back through the door.

  Mae’s stomach dropped. She was right here, and she couldn’t even see him. Tempted to dart through the door, Mae clenched her hands and teetered on her heels.

  Clearing his throat, he said, “Send her in, please.”

  Relief rushed through her. The lady nodded to her, and Kit pushed her from the back. Mae stumbled in.

  Slade stood behind his desk, staring at her as if she were an apparition. He looked amazing in a black suit with a striped black-and-white shirt and a pale blue tie. “Josie?”

  She nodded, her tongue too thick in her mouth to talk. She was right here, he was right here, and she didn’t know what to say. Would he hate her when he found out she’d lied? She was going to dissolve into a puddle of stress sweat if she didn’t get the truth out soon.

  “How did you find me?” A muscle worked in his jaw as if he was fighting to control himself. Was he upset, excited, concerned? She was all three at the moment.

  “Well …” She swallowed and muttered, “You’re Slade Steele.”

  “So, you knew who I was that night?” He walked around his desk and toward her, stopping a foot away. His dark eyes were interested but wary. She’d envisioned him rushing to her and sweeping her off her feet.

  “Yes,” she muttered.

  “Why didn’t you say anything that night? Why haven’t you contacted me before now? I wanted to see you again.”

  “Do you still want to?”

  He pushed a hand through his hair, paused, and finally muttered, “I’m really confused. The woman I was supposed to meet the night I met you—the name I said after we kissed …” He looked adorably embarrassed. Well, as adorable as the enigmatic, perfectly handsome Slade Steele could look. “She was supposed to fly in and meet me last night, and …” He swallowed and glanced away. “She ditched me again.”

  His eyes swept over her carefully, longingly. “I haven’t been able to find you, and I can’t get the way I felt when I touched and kissed you out of my head, but there’s something about Mae, and even with you right here, I still want to give her a chance. I’m sorry.”

  Mae’s heart swelled. He’d felt a connection with Josie, but he still would give up a chance with her to meet Mae, who he thought had ditched him twice? He still wanted Mae, even with the beautiful Josie standing right in front of him? She almost cheered, but instead she muttered, “Funny story about that crazy Mae. She and I are actually … close.”

  He blinked at her, obviously bewildered that Josie knew Mae and that she was bringing it up now. “Excuse me?”

  Mae started unbuttoning her blouse, her hands trembling.

  Slade held up his hands as if to protect himself from her undressing. “Stop!”

  Mae laughed but sobered quickly as she was terrified what the next few seconds might bring. “I’m not stripping,” she said.

  His eyes widened, but he put his hands down as her T-shirt underneath showed. She pulled the other shirt off and dropped it; then she found her glasses in her purse and put them on, having to close her eyes so the double prescription didn’t make her sick. Then she pulled her hair back from her face with her other hand.

  She heard his sharp intake of breath. He knew. Was that a good intake of oxygen? A surprised one? In her dreams he’d rush across the space and hold her close, but real life rarely was like her dreams, except for the night she’d kissed him as Josie.

  Releasing her hair and taking the glasses back off, she stowed them in her purse and awaited his reaction. Did he truly care for frumpy Mae, or had she just ruined all his illusions of the mysterious Josie and upset him because she’d hidden the truth from him?

  His eyes flickered down to her T-shirt and back up to her face—desire, frustration, tenderness, and confusion all evident in his dark gaze.

  “You up for tacos?” she managed to get out.

  Slade crossed the distance between them so quickly that she gasped. He wrapped his arms around her lower back and leaned down. “Mae? You’re Josie?”

  She nodded, joy coursing through her veins. Of course Slade wouldn’t be mad or treat her poorly. He was Slade Steele, the man of her every dream, and he really deserved an explanation of all this craziness.

  She opened her mouth to give that explanation, but he cut it off by kissing her. The explosion of emotion his kiss created was stronger than it had been the first night she’d kissed him. He knew who she was, and he was choosing to forgive her quickly and show her with his lips exactly how interested he was in her. She felt so light that she could have floated away. Slade’s mouth caressed hers and his arms held her close to his firm body. She loved him, and she wanted to tell him.

  He slowed the kisses down and tenderly kissed her jawline until he reached her earlobe; then he whispered, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t know how.”

  He pulled back slightly, and his eyes reflected pain but also understanding. “I’ve been going through …” He shook his head but thankfully didn’t release her from his arms. “It’s been rough, Mae. I was falling for the funny, adorable Mae, but I couldn’t get the beautiful, mystical Josie out of my head. I still can’t believe you’re all … one.” He paused, giving her a chance to explain.

  “I’m so sorry. I was a mess that night at the restaurant. When you didn’t recognize me, I kind of flipped out and all my insecurities overwhelmed me. I couldn’t imagine that the perfect Slade Steele would ever want Mae anyway, and then the waiter—Dirk? He encouraged me to give you a test to see if you’d fall for the beautiful lady or hold out for frumpy Mae.”

  “Please don’t ever call yourself frumpy, Mae. Even with those glasses on you, were appealing to me.”

  “Thank you.”

  Someone rapped on the door.

  “Yes?” Slade called, but he didn’t release her from his arms.

  The receptionist poked her head in. “Sir, your eleven-fifteen is here.”

  “I’m sorry, you’re going to have to reschedule my appointments for …” He gave Mae an irresistible and almost wicked grin. “At least the next week. John will be happy to step in.”

  The receptionist’s eyes widened, but she nodded.

  “Yes!” Kit hollered. “Yes, my girl did it!”

  The door shut, and Slade tilted his head. “The blonde who was with you?”

  “My best friend, Kit. I wouldn’t be here without her.”

  “I can’t wait to meet her, in a few minutes.” He kissed her tenderly, but when he pulled back, his jaw tightened. “So Dirk manipulated you? The guy was hoping to have his own shot at dating you.”

  “It wouldn’t have mattered. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.”

  Slade grinned and kissed her soundly.

  When they broke apart, Mae asked breathlessly, “Can you ever forgive me for not telling you the truth, and then the confusion last night? Kit gave me Valium to help me get over the bridge and on the plane. I took two instead of one, and it knocked me for a loop.” She didn’t want to get into all her issues about the bridge the first time she met the man of her future. Well, sort of the first time. Would he still want her if he knew about her past and her fears?

  “Why are you afraid of the bridge and flying?”

  Mae bit at her lip. Apparently, the issues would have to come up. “My parents and sisters were killed on the bridge. I’ve never flown before, and I haven’t driven across the bridge since I was fourteen.”

  “I’m so sorry, Mae.” His condolences were sincere, reflected by the pain he felt for her in his eyes.

  “Thank you. I’m sorry my issues kept us apart.”

  “It’s all right. We got here.” He smiled. “You conquered your fears to be with me?”

  She nodded. A rush of accomplishment overcame her, along with happiness that she was finally in his arms. “Yeah, I did.” She took a steadying breath. “Will you please forgive me for all the craziness?”

  Slade studied her. “On one conditio
n.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You come with me to meet my little sister.”

  Meet his sister? She loved the commitment of that. She tilted her head. “On one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You buy me a taco … after you kiss me again.”

  Slade grinned. “I think I can handle those conditions.”

  His head bowed toward hers, and Mae clung to his neck as she proceeded to kiss him with all the desire she’d been storing up for him. His answering kiss told her he’d forgiven her for any craziness and he would be there when she had insecurities and fears. His touch brought a sense of excitement and home she hadn’t felt since she was fifteen.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Slade had taken Mae and Kit to a late breakfast slash early lunch at a fabulous Mexican restaurant that specialized in street tacos. The entire story of Mae being Josie spilled out, with Kit throwing in all kinds of funny details, and they all laughed and enjoyed being together. It was the first time in Mae’s life that a man hadn’t gone gooey-eyed over Kit. She adored her beautiful blond friend, but she wasn’t sharing Slade with anyone. He held her hand under the table every chance he got, and Mae knew she’d never been this happy.

  After breakfast, Slade called his driver and they all walked out into the balmy summer morning. He squeezed Mae’s hand. “Are you still okay to stay for a few days, or as long as I can keep you?”

  She nodded, speechless. He wanted her to stay. The anticipation of spending more time with him felt like a tickling of warmth all over, like sliding into a hot bath with lavender-infused salts in it.

  He glanced at Kit. “You’re welcome to stay also.”

  “Oh, no.” Kit held up her hands. “I am not the type to play the third wheel. I’ll catch a flight back to San Fran as soon as there’s an opening on standby.”

  “No,” Slade said decisively. “I’ll have a car take you to my airplane, and they’ll fly you home.”