Chapter 10 #2
I shook my head. “No, like James, I’m a notary. So, we can get things done quickly. And, that cheese Danish with apple filling looks to die for.”
“I’ve got you. Don’t worry.” We set up our paperwork in one of the corner tables as people walked in and out, and Harper didn’t stop moving.
She was constantly talking to customers and coming back to sign whatever she could.
I didn’t mind because I sipped my latte, did a few of my other jobs that I could do in public, and ate the best pastry I’d ever had in my life.
“Did you bake this?” I asked, as I nearly licked the crumbs off the plate.
Harper beamed. “I did. I love baking. And my brother Joshua is the one who really pushed me to do it. He’s the best. And that means he and Dorian can have all the food that they want.”
The second time she brought up Dorian. Interesting.
“Dorian is my brother’s best friend. He is always there to get free baked goods.” She rolled her eyes. “I keep trying to get Hudson in more often, but he only shows up to check on me usually.”
I laughed softly at that. “Hudson is one of the new brothers that I don’t know as well. He seems kind of quiet.”
“He is.” Something crossed her eyes that I wanted to ask about, but I didn’t think it was my place yet. “But you’re here now. Do you have any idea how long you’re going to stay?” she asked.
It was such an innocent question, but also a kick to the gut. “I’m not sure.”
Harper reached out and squeezed my hand. “With the whole small-town thing, we know a little of why you’re here. So I know we’re keeping an eye out for you, but there are a few rumors about you and Weston.”
I grimaced, even as I patted her hand before I let go. “I’m really not used to all of the attention.” I gestured toward the rest of the customers who were trying not to stare. They weren’t doing a very good job about it.
“We gossip. Sometimes there’s only that to do for the day. However, it’s out of love. Okay, the watching you because of a jerk is out of love. The whole Weston thing? We have so many questions. But I will be good and not ask them.”
“I’m not going to be good, I need to know. How did you get the stoic and quiet Weston to finally fall?” an unfamiliar voice said.
“Tracy, shush,” Harper said with a laugh before looking at me. “Ignore her. Seriously, we’re just glad you’re here.” She paused. “And glad that Weston showed up earlier with a smile on his face. A big smile.”
I could practically feel the heat radiating off my skin. “And on that note, I should probably get back to work.”
“Please don’t leave because I’m nosy.”
“I’m nosier,” Tracy called, and I laughed.
“You guys are adorable. And I am getting used to this whole small-town thing. Maybe. I do have to get to work though. Plus, my best friend’s coming tonight, and I want to make sure her house looks nice.”
“Oh, Cage family dinner tonight. Tell Blakely I said hi in case she doesn’t have time to come by.”
“You guys really do know everything,” I grumbled.
And everybody eavesdropping laughed.
I headed back to my car, drove to a few more businesses, and before I made my way back to the house, feeling slightly overwhelmed with all the curious questions and looks, I looked down at my phone and smiled.
Weston:
I hear you are making the rounds today. Are they staring at you as much as they’re staring at me?
I ignored that little clutch at my belly.
I had no idea what we were to each other, but there was no forgetting our moment. No forgetting everything that had happened. No forgetting him.
Me:
It is a bit weird. Mostly because I’m not used to it.
And I didn’t have any answers.
Weston:
I can growl at them if you want.
That brought a smile to my face.
Me:
Maybe. But I think I like your growls just for me.
Weston:
Well, on that note, I now have a hard on at work, and I want to know if your panties are wet.
I squeezed my thighs together, grateful for the tinted windows in my car.
Me:
I guess you’re just going to have to find out later.
Weston:
After your damn family dinner.
Me:
I can hear the grumble in your text. But yes, after the damn family dinner.
I paused, wondering what I was supposed to do now.
I wasn’t good at this. Though, I’d never truly had a real relationship.
I had dated, but Weston had been the closest to anything real.
And here we were, in a completely different situation and yet the feelings were complicated around that familiar tension.
Me:
I’d say you can come visit for the end of it, but that’s a lot of Cages.
Weston:
I know most of them. I might drop by just to get you out of the dragon’s den. Depends on the twins.
My heart warmed, and I pressed my lips together, wondering what the hell I was doing.
This couldn’t last. We weren’t in the same place in our lives or geographically.
He might not be a father, but he was sure acting like one.
The twin girls were in a huge transition part of their lives, so was Lance.
And I had no idea what I was doing. I had started a new job and yet I wasn’t even there.
I was doing so many new things, and I didn’t have an anchor.
Weston:
I can hear your mind whirling from here. I’ll stop by later.
Me:
You need to stop reading my mind so well.
Weston:
If I could read your mind, I’d own the universe.
Weston:
But I’m trying anyway.
We said our goodbyes, and I knew I would always make sure to end a conversation.
Because we hadn’t before. What an odd thing to be worried about.
Because it was true. We hadn’t ended our conversation the correct way before.
And now it completely changed every interaction I had with him and others in my life.
And now I was being way too philosophical this morning. I made my way back to Aston and Blakely’s place, and quickly made myself some lunch, and got back to work.
By the time I was done for the day, I was tired, a little cranky, and nervous.
This wasn’t my house, so it wasn’t as if I were the one who was playing hostess, and yet, I was here for a reason that still wore on my mind.
The door opened as I was working on dinner, and I grinned at the sound of my best friend’s voice.
“Isabella! Where have you been!”
I rolled my eyes at the familiar line from one of our favorite movies and laughed.
“I’m in the kitchen cooking.”
“Do we need to be worried about poison?” Dorian asked, and I flipped him off as he walked into the kitchen.
“Nice. Go grab an apron and get to work. I didn’t know you were coming.”
Dorian practically bounced on his toes as he came over and placed a surprising kiss on my cheek. “I’m here to annoy the hell out of you. Of course. And Joshua needs me to check on Harper. You know, big brother things. Which, I can do to all of you. I enjoy this whole big brother thing.”
I blinked at him and tried to do math. Without the family tree in front of me, it took a moment. “But you’re not that much older than me.”
“A year counts. I’m still the fourth in line.”
“And I’m still the old man,” Aston said as he came over and wrapped a single arm around my shoulder.
It was odd because he had never done it before, but maybe Blakely was wearing on him.
Or from the worried look in his eyes, it had everything to do with why I was here in the first place. “You doing okay?”
I shrugged and gestured toward the half-done dinner. “I’m fine. I could use some help in here.”
“Oh my God, I cannot believe you just used those words,” Blakely said, hand on her chest. “You just asked for help. Maybe Cage Lake does work miracles.”
“If we’re going to be all happy and chipper in here, I’m going to need a drink,” Hudson said as he stomped into the butler’s pantry where Aspen had it set up as a bar.
“I counted everybody and realized we had three from one side, and only me from the other.”
“I know Sophia’s coming, and Tyler’s in town, or at least in the state. So hopefully they get here soon so you can get the legal part out of the way.”
“From your mouth to the lawyer’s ears,” Dorian said as he handed me a glass of wine.
“You like Brut, right? Dry?”
I grinned. “I do. Sparkling’s my favorite.”
“Which always surprised me because I was the one who bounced around like I was on bubbles,” Blakely said with a laugh.
The doorbell rang, and Aston frowned.
“I told every single sibling that they can just walk in tonight.”
I shook my head. “If it’s Sophia or even Kyler, they’re not going to do that. We don’t just walk into each other’s houses.”
“You walked into mine before,” Blakley added.
I snorted. “Because you were trapped in your closet, and then that one time in that jacket.”
“You promised you were never going to talk about that,” she said quickly.
Aston gave us a curious look. “I’m going to need all the details. But let me get the door.”
“I’ve got it,” Hudson growled as he prowled toward the front of the house.
“I know Hudson has humor and smiles, but is he okay?” I asked softly.
Dorian shrugged. “Not sure. I’m going to come back and visit in a couple of weeks to annoy him. Plus I have a few business opportunities I need to deal with.”
“Should I be worried about those business opportunities?” Aston asked dryly.
“Yes. I’ve decided to work with the mob. The Cages need to be their own Family.”
Dorian twirled his invisible mustache, and I rolled my eyes as Kyler, Sophia, and Cale walked into the large open space kitchen.
I dropped what I was doing and ran over to Sophia, hugging her tightly. “I’ve missed you.”
“And I suppose you’ve missed me too?” Kyler asked with a roll of his eyes.
“She didn’t even move for us,” Blakley said, shaking her head.
“I’m just her favorite.” Sophia fluttered her eyelashes, before squeezing my hand and lifting them up between us.
Light glanced off something on her ring finger, and I let out a squeal. “Oh my God!”
“What?” Hudson asked as he whirled, and everyone stared at us.
Cale cleared his throat. “I know in some families you’re supposed to ask the patriarch, or the eldest, but I am frankly a little confused as to the pecking order of the Cages. And, well, I love Sophia so much I couldn’t wait.”
“Oh my God, my baby sister’s getting married?” I asked and promptly burst into tears. As Sophia hugged me, and everybody looked a little worried, I waved them off. “Stressful day, but I’m really so happy for you. But wow. Wow.”
As I met Blakely’s gaze, I knew she was thinking what I thought.
That’s fast.
Is it too fast?
Probably not. Sophia is finally allowing someone in.
Well, hopefully Aston pops the question soon.
Blakely rolled her eyes, and I just held Sophia’s hands. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Same,” Blakely said as she wrapped her arms around Sophia.
The Cage brothers moved around to say their congratulations, slapping Cale on the back, and I finally found myself in front of my future brother-in-law, and hugged him tightly.
“Are you sure you’re ready for us?”
Cale just laughed. “No. But I’m ready for Sophia. I know that it’s fast. And some people might question it, but I love Sophia. She is everything that I could ever want. She makes me a better person. And I love seeing her happy. I want to start a life with her. And I don’t want to wait.”
I was fully crying now as the others spoke, saying that Cale should start writing his vows now.
And as conversation turned into wedding planning, and I knew I needed to add my own thoughts, I couldn’t help but blindly reach out for my glass of champagne as Dorian filled glasses for everyone else in a toast.
Everybody was growing up and moving on.
And I couldn’t help but think what would’ve happened if I would’ve known why Weston had left. Would I have gone with him? I wasn’t sure of the answer. Because I had been there helping with my family. Starting my career. And I hated to think that Weston might’ve done the right thing.
“To Sophia and Cale,” Aston said softly, breaking through my thoughts. “And to a man who dares to enter into the world of the Cages.”
“I think I can handle you all,” Cale said and then paused. “Well, Sophia can help me handle you all.”
I grinned, and as I took my sip of champagne, the bubbles playing on my tongue, the doorbell rang again.
“I’ll get it,” Kyler said as he moved to answer.
“Should we have him answer in case it’s a fan girl?” Dorian asked, tilting his head.
“You know, that’s actually a good question,” Sophia put in, worry etched on her face.
When Hudson whistled through his teeth though, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, I turned, knowing exactly who was there.
Weston Caldwell smiled at me and didn’t look the least worried or nervous about standing with so many members of my family.
And I just blinked into those gray eyes, knowing that everything had changed once again. And I didn’t have a path.