Her Hometown Hero

by Melody Anne

  “Now that’s an idea . . .”

  “Look, Grace, I’ve never worn a corset or a garter belt. I don’t know if I can even make the dang things work. I’d probably mess everything up.” Sage eyed some pretty bra and panty sets that weren’t quite so wanton.

  “You will wear this, and then you will report to me how far his jaw drops when he sees you in it. Got it?”

  Grace grabbed Sage’s hand and the lingerie and led her to the dressing room in the back. Sage was absolutely mortified when an employee had to explain to her exactly how to wear such a getup.

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE how innocent you are,” Grace said as they drove back to the apartment that afternoon. “You missed out so much on crazy, down-and-dirty college romps.”

  “Um . . .” Sage wasn’t used to this sort of banter and had no idea how to respond.

  When Grace swung her head around to stare intently at Sage and say, “We are going to take your innocence, stomp on it, and toss it in the trash, as of tonight,” the car swerved violently.

  “Watch the road!” Sage squealed, her heart pounding triple time. She’d never make her date with Spence if Grace went on like this.

  “Oh, the roads are fine. The rock trucks came and got them nice and clear,” Grace said, waving her hand.

  “Well, they aren’t deicing the ditches, Grace, and that’s where you’re headed if you don’t pay attention.”

  “Quit being responsible for five minutes straight, Sage Banks. I want confirmation that you’re going to let it all go and live a little, and I swear I will land us in a ditch if you don’t agree to this date with this guy.”

  “I’m worried, Grace. We had that epic failure at sex once, and then I threw myself at him a second time, and what if it’s all me and I’m just horrible at the whole sex thing?”

  “Oh, honey, you will rock his world. He was in shock at finding you a virgin. That’s understandable. And then he was doing the right thing the other night. Only a cad would have taken you to bed when you were so vulnerable, so upset at losing that little girl. But tonight, you both know what’s going to happen, and it will be beautiful. The reason it will? Because it’s obvious that you’re in love with him.”

  “I think I am falling in love with him. It’s just that he’s so . . . so . . . I don’t even know how to describe it. He’s romantic, funny, sweet, understanding. He always knows what to say, and he seems to know exactly when I need him the most. I’ve really started to fall hard for him. I hope it’s not all just a big joke on his part.”

  “There’s no way, sweetie. He would be a total and utter fool if he dared to play a game like that with you. I’d most certainly have to kick his ass right into Idaho!”

  When they arrived at their apartment complex—safely, somehow—Sage practically floated up the steps with her purchase clutched tightly in her hands.

  “We only have a couple of hours until he gets here,” Grace said. “It’s time for me to work my magic.” She led Sage to the kitchen and sat her down.

  It didn’t take long for the curling iron, flat iron, and Grace’s huge cache of makeup to come out. Sage had a feeling she’d feel like a Barbie come to life by the time her best friend was done. Maybe Spence wouldn’t even recognize her. But she had to admit that, for tonight at least, she rather wanted to feel like an entirely new person.

  The dress fit like it was made just for her. Of course, this was from Spence, so it most likely had been. She didn’t want to know how he’d gotten her exact measurements. Still, the image of him sliding his hands around her body and sneakily writing down the details was far from an unpleasant one. Heck, the thought made her sigh and giggle at the same time.

  Once she was all dressed up and ready to go, Sage looked in the mirror with a critical eye. But there was nothing to be critical about. Beautiful wasn’t a word she often associated with herself, but right now, at this exact moment, that’s the way she felt.

  Her wavy red hair had been tamed—not an easy task—and her makeup, though subtle, highlighted her eyes, cheekbones, and lips. She looked ready to walk the red carpet and hoped Spence didn’t think she was trying too hard.

  Knowing that she was wearing the sexy lingerie underneath the dress made her feel even bolder. This was the night—she could feel it to her very bones. They were going to make love and it was going to be spectacular.

  “You are a vision, an absolute vision,” Grace said from the doorway, her eyes tearing up. “I take full credit for the hair and makeup, but the total package is indescribable, and it’s all you.”

  “Thanks, Grace. I never could have pulled this off without you.” Sage gave her best friend a hug. “He’ll be here anytime. I’d better get downstairs.” She took one final look in the mirror and headed toward the living room. The doorbell rang just after she slipped on her borrowed shoes from Grace. Right on time—something she appreciated in a man.

  When she opened the door, Sage lost her breath. Literally. It just whooshed right out of her. The same thing had happened last time she saw Spence in fancy clothes. And here he was in his black tux with his hair smoothed back, a single red rose in his hand, and a smile on his lips—male perfection personified. The added sparkle in his deep green eyes completed the look.

  “I am one lucky man,” he murmured as he stepped over her threshold and pulled her into his arms. “The dress has come alive with you in it.” He bent down and kissed her, and she forgot the rest of the world existed, thought only of him and what they would do later tonight.

  “What are the plans?” she asked when he finally pulled back. She’d half wanted that kiss to go on forever and couldn’t help feel a twinge of disappointment when it didn’t. But if they were ever going to get out of her apartment, his lips would have to detach from hers.

  “That’s a surprise,” he said. “But don’t plan on an early night. As a matter of fact, don’t plan on being home until tomorrow night,” he said as he took her jacket and placed it over her shoulders. She’d much rather wear a pretty shawl or wrap, but the weather wasn’t going to allow that.

  “What about work?” She’d gotten off a ten-hour shift a few hours ago, and she was scheduled again tomorrow.

  “The boss gave you tomorrow off,” he said with a wink. She knew she should be upset that he hadn’t consulted her about that, but she was too excited to scold him.

  “Well, then, I guess I’m in your hands until tomorrow,” she said, feeling a wonderful freedom at letting him take over. When she was the one always in control, it tended to get a little draining. This letting go could become addictive.

  Spence led her to his truck, and soon they were traveling down the plowed roads. Snow was still threatening, but the night was clear for now. When they turned into the small airport, she looked over at him.

  “What’s going on?”

  “You just have to wait,” he said with a sly smile.

  They pulled up to the terminal and he parked the truck. Walking through the one-room building, they came out on the other side, where a private jet was waiting.

  “Okay, Spence, you have to tell me something,” she said, looking from the jet to him.

  “I’m taking you to dinner,” was all he said before leading her to the stairs.

  “Welcome back, Dr. Whitman,” a flight attendant said when they reached the top of the stairs and stepped inside.

  The jet was decorated in creams and cherrywood. It had a sleek leather couch along one wall, and a couple of matching chairs along the other. A television console was on the wall with a small bar beneath holding snacks and drinks.

  “We’ll sit in the chairs for takeoff,” Spence said. “If you’d like, we can then move to the couch.”

  “That sounds fine,” she said, though she was out of her comfort zone in his jet. She knew the Whitman family had a lot of money, but she wasn’t used to seeing things like this. “Is this yours?”

  “My family owns a couple of jets. They’ve come in handy with all the trips to Seattle. Plus, the
nearest commercial airport is almost an hour away. That’s far too much commuting for me,” he said.

  The flight attendant approached and asked them what they’d like to drink.

  “I’ll take a red wine, Laura,” Spence said.

  “I’ll have the same,” Sage said as she sat down.

  After the plane had taken off and had reached cruising altitude, Sage turned to Spence and asked, “So, are you going to tell me yet where we’re going?”

  “Nope. You’ll soon find out.”

  “You’re just lucky that I’m finding this all very exciting. I normally need to know everything in advance.”

  “I’m incredibly lucky that I get to spend the evening with you, Sage. You take my breath away—and I don’t mean just with your spectacular looks. I really enjoy our time together. I’ve just never been with a woman like you.”

  She gave a nervous laugh. “I don’t know if that’s a great line or not, but I have to tell you, it’s working.” If the guy was playing games, he was clearly the winner.

  “I wouldn’t do that to you, Sage. I’m falling hard.”

  “I think this jet’s temperature just rose a few degrees, Spence.”

  “Then I better stay where I’m seated, because if I come over there, I’ll mess up your glorious hair.”

  “Grace would get more than a little upset with you. She worked hard on it,” Sage said, then winked. “I, on the other hand, wouldn’t mind at all.” He began to get up when Laura came back in to refill their wineglasses.

  Spence’s eyes burned with hunger, but he remained where he was, and not long afterward, the jet started making its descent into Seattle. Their night was just beginning, and the need ripping through Sage’s stomach was rising degree by degree.

  “Where are we?” Sage asked when the car finally stopped. They’d landed in Seattle over half an hour ago and were now somewhere downtown. She’d never been to Seattle—she’d only seen pictures of it, or images in some of her favorite movies, like Sleepless in Seattle.

  “Dinner and dancing at the Vault Nightclub,” Spence told her.

  “I haven’t heard of it,” she said, wondering whether she should try to act a bit more worldly. At her age and with her level of education, she should know more about culture and entertainment, but she’d studied just medicine so intensely and for so long that she simply didn’t know what the outside world was like—let alone what the dating world was like.

  “It’s a cozy place with the best chef in the west, but only the best of the best are in on the secret. Otherwise the location would become too crowded. There is nothing like warm food and intimate dancing to heat you up in the thick of winter. We’re going to have a nice romantic dinner and then listen to soft music while I hold you close,” he said as he led her from the car to the club.

  After stepping inside, they were seated immediately, and Sage discovered that Spence hadn’t been kidding. The place was dark, small, and romantic, and their table was near the stage where a band was setting up.

  “They won’t start playing for another hour. We have plenty of time to enjoy a nice meal, then sit back and enjoy a drink before dancing.”

  “I bet you’ve been here a lot,” she said after they ordered and waited for their appetizers. He looked at her for a minute as if trying to decide what he should or shouldn’t say.

  “Sage, people like to play a lot of games. It’s natural and it comes to us easily. I like the occasional game myself, and I won’t lie to you about it. I’ve dated a lot, but what we have right now is fresh and new. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought you to Seattle, where I lived for so long, but this is one of my favorite places on earth. While I have taken many a date to dinner and dancing before, it wasn’t here. Most the women I dated in the past—let’s just say that this wouldn’t have been their cup of tea. I tended to date more . . . shallow women. One of the reasons I like you so much is because you’re so real—because you’re the type of woman a man wants on his arm forever, not just for a night.”

  Should she be offended by anything in his speech? Sage didn’t know. Was he saying the other women he’d dated were all show and no substance? Maybe. But was he also saying she was all wholesome and good for bearing kids, but not exactly a seductress? That should please her, but, heck, part of her really wanted to be femme fatale. Didn’t all women want the guys they were dating to think they were the most amazing creature ever? Didn’t they want men they cared about to be reduced to a drooling pile of mush in their presence?

  Okay, maybe not. She never used to feel that way before.

  “I agree about the games,” she finally told him. “I’ve seen a lot of men play them—and a lot of women, too. I don’t want to be dishonest. I was so focused on studies that in my downtime pretty much all I did was observe the world around me without actually living in it. I’m a little sad about that now. Yes, I’m proud of my education, but there’s more to life than just work and school.”

  “I agree, but I don’t play as much as you might think. The game has changed anyway. This has gone from my being fascinated by you to my not being able to go one hour without you on my mind. If this were nothing but an act, you’d be able to see it. When I was younger, I wasn’t interested in women for much more than a night. I hate to admit that, but it’s true. Now . . . well, my feelings are different. Now I never want to let you out of my sight.”

  “Should I be afraid? Maybe get a restraining order?” she asked, chuckling.

  “Afraid? Yes,” he said with a gleam in his eyes.

  Her stomach tightened with need. “I could skip the jazz,” she said. She was ready—more than ready—to go to his room.

  “I’d love to take you right now, Sage. But I’m not going to. I’m giving you a full first date before I take you to the hotel and ravish you.”

  “Fine. Then we had better talk about something else, because right now, even this thin material feels like a straitjacket.”

  Just then, the waiter appeared with their appetizers. He didn’t act as if he’d overheard, but Sage’s cheeks heated anyway. They definitely need to put the sex talk on the back burner.

  “I’m an open book. What do you want to know?” he asked, leaning back and opening his arms.

  “Tell me about your family. You were all so much older than I was, so I don’t know much about your brothers. Yes, I had a crush on you, but let’s not dwell on that, please,” she said and paused, but when he said nothing, she continued. “My grandmother and your father have been friends forever, but all I know is that you were adopted.”

  His eyes clouded, and she regretted asking him to open up about his family. Maybe it was a touchy subject.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked,” she said.

  “No. It’s fine. I love talking about my family. My brothers and father are the most important people in the world to me. It might take a week or so to fill you in on everything, though.”

  “It’s a good thing that I could listen to you talk all day and night for months on end,” she replied, then blushed again at how much she was revealing about herself. Luckily, he let that one pass.

  “Some of this you probably already know, so I hope I don’t bore you. Michael is the youngest—the baby, as we like to call him when we’re teasing him. He’s also the most sensitive, but don’t push his buttons, because I’ve seen that boy explode. He’s always jetting off somewhere—he buys and sells commercial real estate. I’ve noticed lately that he’s been home a lot more, though. We all have since our dad got sick.”

  “I didn’t know your dad was sick.”

  “He didn’t want to upset anyone, so he didn’t say anything, but since we’ve been back, he’s doing a lot better.” Spence kept his suspicions to himself. He’d feel horrible if he’d been thinking his dad was faking and then something really did happen. “Onward then. Camden is next in line. He’s the family lawyer, and we make fun of him because he’s always searching for unusual cases. I don’t know what he’s working on right no
w, but he’s pretty excited about it.”

  “Grace is doing something with Camden and she won’t tell me about it. It’s driving me crazy. Do you happen to know?”

  “I will do some investigating and see if I can find out.”

  “I guess that’s a start. This is the first time she hasn’t shared with me.”

  “Now you have my curiosity piqued.”

  “Well, there’s nothing we can do about it right now, so continue. I believe we are up to Jackson,” she said, and sipped at her wine.

  “Ah, Jackson. He’s had some rough patches over the years. He was married and then lost his child. To this day, it’s hard for him to talk about, but since he got married to Alyssa, he’s a new man, and I’m enjoying time with my brother more than I can express. He’s a good man.”

  “I can’t imagine losing a child. How did he make it through all of that?” she asked.

  “I really don’t know,” he said with a sigh. “It took a lot of time. He’ll open up eventually and share it all with his brothers, but for now, I’m just glad to see him happy again.”

  “It doesn’t always help to open up. I know everyone says that we need to talk about our feelings, but sometimes it’s just too painful to share them with anyone—like reopening a wound. It’s hard when you think the rest of the world can’t possibly understand.” Sage was remembering how alone she’d felt after losing her parents and grandfather.

  “It sounds like you might know something about this subject.”

  “Well, you know . . . girl problems,” she said flippantly, hoping he wouldn’t push this subject. She didn’t want to be mousy and pathetic tonight. Besides, she found it far more interesting to talk about him. “Do you know anything about your birth parents?”

  Spence paused for a moment before answering her. “My dad and my brothers don’t know about this, but I did find my biological mother about ten years ago.”

  “Do you still talk to her?” Sage asked with surprise.

  “No. I thanked her for giving me up for adoption, for allowing me to have a better life. She was so high, I don’t think she even knew her own name, let alone had any clue who the man was standing before her. I was just a baby when I was found at the doorway of a fire department.”