Page 45 of Snowed In With the Maverick
“That’s so kind of you. We love it here,” Imogen said. “Leave your shoes on. Or do you want some slippers? Lina will take your jacket.” She nodded to a woman in a demure blue suit who stepped forward and extended her arms for Andrea’s coat, then gave her a warm smile and a subtle nod of the head. “Ma’am,” she said, then disappeared down the hallway.
“Follow me,” said Imogen. Her confidence was as prominent as her red lips as she led Andrea and Seth into the living area. The din coming from the space as they approached sounded like what most homes celebrating a family might sound like: voices talking over one another, smatterings of laughter, the odd note of sarcasm. For all their wealth and privilege, if Andrea closed her eyes she might imagine being back in her aunt and uncle’s home on the holidays she spent with her father’s family in Boston, crowded into the Back Bay apartment where they’d eat turkey with chestnut stuffing, half glasses of port and cherry cheesecake for dessert.
But when Andrea rounded the corner and took in the scene in the Taylor family living room, she knew that the similarities between their families were limited.
She was glad to have carefully chosen her outfit: while the Taylor family wasn’t necessarily dressed up, they all had a polished sheen to them, what Andrea guessed would come up in a Pinterest search for “western elegant” or “rustic glam.” A sprawling charcuterie board sat on the large coffee table, where a silver ice bucket held two bottles of champagne.
There were children running around somewhere—she couldn’t see them, but their playful shrieks sounded from somewhere nearby—but in this room, the adults were enjoying a drink. Through the window, Andrea spotted a couple of teenagers throwing a football out on a grassy area at the side of the home.
“Everyone, this is Andrea Spence,” Seth said. Andrea gave a quick wave to the room.
“Hello,” Andrea said, doing her best to find a way to remember everyone’s names as Seth listed them off. She was relieved to see Daniel’s and Mike’s familiar faces.
She accepted a glass of champagne that Billy poured her and perched on a leather ottoman beside Seth.
“Cheers,” said Allison, reaching out from her spot on the couch. “When Mom told us Seth was bringing a date, no one believed her.”
“But then I spilled the intel about your visit to the observatory,” Charlotte said, nestled in beside Billy, her feet tucked under her. “How did you like it?”
“It was beautiful, thank you,” said Andrea.
“Seth’s not exactly known for romantic gestures,” said Charlotte, raising an eyebrow and grinning at her brother.
“Alright, alright,” said Seth. “Can we change the subject?”
Andrea smiled at him and took a sip of her drink. The Taylors and their significant others were nice. Welcoming. And right out of a television show—every last one of them, partners included, was gorgeous.
Other than greeting her, his father hadn’t said much from the leather club chair opposite the fireplace, but she felt him observing her with the watchful eye of any parent whose child stood to inherit a fortune: curious, and just a little untrusting. She shifted in her seat, and Seth reached over and placed a hand on her knee, a gesture that calmed her.
Imogen appeared in the room to welcome them all to the table.
As they made their way to the dining room, Ryan leaned closer to Andrea, his voice low and teasing. “I’ve been wondering what’s behind the big, goofy grin my brother’s been wearing lately,” he murmured. “He’s a good guy, though. Awful taste in music—but a good guy.”
Andrea laughed, but before she could respond, Seth’s voice cut in with mock indignation. “What kind of lies are you feeding her now?”
“She deserves the truth,” Ryan replied, a sly grin spreading across his face as he shot his brother a knowing look.
* * *
Having Andrea sitting beside him at his family Thanksgiving felt better than Seth could have ever hoped for. Finally, he wasn’t the odd one out with no date. But it was more than that. Sitting in this familiar space, where he’d had countless family events, most he was fairly neutral about attending and felt like a perfunctory obligation, now it felt really, really nice.
And it seemed like everyone loved her. This was no surprise. Andrea was gracious, elegant. When people spoke, she listened intently and asked follow-up questions, and it was clear she made people feel important and listened to.
At one point, when Eloise, who’d slid in at the table at the last minute with Dante, asked Andrea where she got her earrings, Andrea revealed they were from a flea market in downtown Denver. Seth glanced at his mother to gauge her reaction. Imogen was a Cartier kind of woman. But she only made brief eye contact with Seth and the look in her eyes was definitely one of approval.
“So, Andrea, how did you and Seth meet?” asked Ryan, his arm slung around Gabrielle.
Seth looked at Andrea and smiled. “Andrea’s consulting on a project I’ve been working on for the last few months.”
“An investment property?” asked Ryan.
“No, something different,” Seth said. He cleared his throat. He wasn’t exactly busting to talk about the park and face his father’s skepticism again with Andrea by his side, but so far, Thaddeus had been quiet. “You hear about those dinosaur bones that were found near Tenacity?”
“’Course,” said Ryan. “It was all over the news for a few days there. You’d think they found a live T. rex or something.”
“We’re not sure what it is yet,” said Seth. “But it’s the second time bones have been found close by. Andrea here is a paleontologist.” Saying it out loud to his family, Seth experienced a surge of pride. Not only was the woman next to him drop-dead gorgeous, but she had a beautiful brain and a fascinating job.
“I’m a recovering paleontologist, actually,” Andrea said, flashing a tight grin. “Right now, I’m working on opening a guest ranch right outside of Tenacity. But when Seth called to see if I could answer some questions about the bones, and the area, I was happy to help.”
