Page 44 of Snowed In With the Maverick
“You okay?” Seth said, and she pulled herself out of her reverie.
“Yes,” said Andrea. “Sorry.” She paused. “If I’m being honest, I’m actually a little nervous about tonight.”
Seth’s expression shifted, his eyes filled with concern. “That’s my fault. I haven’t really painted a great picture of my family.” He reached out and put his hand on her arm, and even that small gesture made her feel steadier. “They’re actually not all that bad. My dad is…challenging. But I’m sure my mom’s spoken to him, and he’ll be on his best behavior. And if anything, nothing will be directed your way. They’ll love you.”
She looked at him skeptically.
“How could they not? You’re perfect.”
The sense of steadiness disappeared, but the ungrounded feeling she was now experiencing wasn’t a bad feeling. It felt like walking on a bouncy castle, like she wasn’t on solid ground but if she fell, she would be okay. And it was because of the man in front of her, with blue eyes steeled with care and resolve, and the firm grip like a fortress around her.
“C’mon,” Seth said, his voice low and gravelly. “I’ll show you.”
Andrea nodded, then closed her eyes as Seth leaned in, kissing her lips gently. “I’m glad you’re coming,” he said, his breath warm against her skin.
“Me too,” said Andrea.
“Shall we?”
She’d picked a bottle of wine from her rack, a Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, which hopefully would be nice enough not to be noticed, but not too nice that she’d be seen as trying too hard. They chatted easily on the hour-and-a-half drive to Bronco Heights, and Andrea felt her nerves calming at Seth’s grounding presence, the honey-colored glow of the late afternoon sun on the snow-covered plains and the soft music coming out of the speakers in Seth’s warm car.
It was only when the snow-capped peaks of the mountains appeared in the distance that her nerves started to prickle just slightly. Driving through the town, Andrea observed how different Bronco Heights was from Tenacity.
The storefronts were expensive, and the flickering lights of the restaurants with their gold-painted signs and sandwich boards advertising specials like porterhouse steaks and penne arrabbiata. There was a gourmet deli across from a store selling high-end athleisure wear, and at the end of the street was a pretty jewelry boutique with a display in the window that no doubt twinkled with real diamonds, not cubic zirconias.
They passed through town, and after another ten minutes, Seth turned on his right blinker and slowed before turning up a long, winding road with a Triple T Ranch sign at its base.
“Home sweet home,” said Seth, and looked at her with a resigned but still completely handsome grin.
Andrea searched in the distance for the ranch. “Where’s the…” She stopped when they crested a small hill, and the architectural wonder that was the Taylor family home—compoundmight be the better term—was revealed.
“Wow,” was all she could say. She’d lived in Colorado for many years, and seen some gorgeous ranches and ski chalets, but this… This was on a whole other level.
“A lot of home for one family, right?” said Seth.
He pulled into a parking area where four other luxury vehicles were already stationed. “Just as I predicted,” he said. “Eloise still hasn’t arrived.”
“Remind me who’s who again?” Andrea asked.
“You know Daniel already,” Seth said. “And Mike. My other brother Ryan’s here with his wife, Gabrielle. Then my sisters, Eloise, who’ll be here with her husband, Dante, Charlotte and her husband, Billy, and then there’s Allison and her fiancé, Rowan.”
Seth must have seen the alarm written on her face, because he broke into a wide grin. “Don’t worry,” he said. “No one’ll be testing you. I haven’t even listed off the kids yet.”
“No name tags, then?” Andrea said.
“You’ll be great. Let’s go.”
Andrea followed Seth up the polished granite path, which must have been heated as there wasn’t a speck of snow on it.
The door swung open as they scaled the steps, and a woman in a perfectly tailored plum-colored pantsuit appeared in the entrance. Her blond hair was pulled into an ornate updo, and large diamond studs sparkled in her ears. “Hi, honey,” she said to Seth, and then looked in Andrea’s direction. “You must be Andrea,” she said. Her wide grin on her lipsticked lips was genuine enough.
Andrea returned the smile. “Hello,” she said, and extended her hand as she approached. “Andrea Spence. You must be Mrs. Taylor.”
“Imogen, please,” she said. “We’re so happy you could join us.” She stepped back to allow Seth and Andrea through the doorway into the vast foyer of her home.
The space smelled of garlic and cinnamon and fresh-baked bread, and down the hallway, Andrea spotted a fire blazing in an imposing stone fireplace. The caramel-colored wooden beams added warmth to the space, which had some modern finishes as well.
“Your home is stunning,” Andrea said. Even after all the decorating shows she’d watched, she’d never seen anything quite as fine as the Taylor house.
