Chapter Fourteen
Andrea’s closet was practically bursting with options.
Silk blouses in pretty patterns. Cashmere sweaters in creamy white, soft brown and moss green.
Wrap dresses, sweater dresses. Back when she worked at the museum, there were many opportunities to dress up, not just for her day-to-day but for the numerous events she attended.
But somehow, now, nothing felt quite right as she pulled on outfit after outfit in front of her full-length mirror.
All of these elegant and well-tailored pieces felt like a relic of her past, like they belonged in a different kind of museum, a place showcasing a past version of herself.
A person who’d once been strong but had been brought down so unceremoniously, whose self-esteem had been so tarnished.
Now, in her new home where she existed mainly in blue jeans and cozy sweaters, she felt like a new, best version of herself.
But something told her a crewneck sweatshirt wouldn’t pass the test at the Taylor household for dinner.
She glanced at the clock. “Dammit,” she muttered.
Time was running out before Seth was due to collect her for Thanksgiving dinner.
She’d offered to drive, but he insisted on picking her up, and when she considered how nice it might be to have a glass of wine with dinner to calm her nerves, she’d acquiesced.
She finally settled on a slim-fitting black knit dress and a chunky gold necklace with earrings, hoping she’d fit in at the Taylor family Thanksgiving table.
It wasn’t that she’d never dined with wealthy people before.
But this was Seth’s family. And while she was still feeling an itch of uncertainty about what was developing between them, she cared about making a good impression, so much so that when she smudged her eyeliner, she let out an exasperated sigh.
Andrea took a deep, steadying breath and looked at herself in the mirror.
There was no reason to make this a bigger deal than it was.
Part of her trepidation about this dinner was that it was very clear Seth had a complicated relationship with his family, and she was shouldering some of that.
Hopefully, Daniel and Mike would be there.
She liked them and felt comfortable in their presence.
It was five minutes after Seth was scheduled to pick her up when the doorbell rang.
Andrea descended the stairs to the main floor and swung open the door.
“I’m so sorry, I just need a few—” She stopped midsentence when she took in the sight of Seth standing with a giant bouquet of burgundy dahlias, bright yellow sunflowers and chrysanthemums in rich fall colors.
His eyes were playful and smiling, and nothing about his presence indicated he was eager to get on the road.
He held out the bouquet, and her stomach did somersaults. “I thought these would look nice on the reception desk,” he said, nodding to the area where Andrea planned to welcome guests.
“Thank you,” she said, accepting the bouquet. “I’ll put these in water. Want to come in for a minute? I don’t want to make us late, though.”
“Not to worry,” Seth said. “Eloise is routinely the last one to arrive. If we show up a few minutes late, we’re still in the good books.”
Andrea swallowed. The idea that they could be outside the good books was a foreign one. Her parents had always been laid-back, nonjudgmental, at least as far as she remembered.
Seth kicked off his boots and followed her to the kitchen, where she pulled a pottery urn from the top cupboard, then poured in the pouch of plant food and warm tap water and extricated the stems from the wrapping. “These are gorgeous,” she said. “Thank you.”
Harold had bought her flowers, only when he bought them for her, he made sure everyone knew about it.
The first time was an elaborate arrangement of crimson peonies and velvety red roses that showed up on her desk a week after they’d started dating.
Then, a showstopping bouquet of calla lilies on her birthday, with a note reminding her about their surprise date that night.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like surprises. It was that when the date itself was revealed, it was clear that Harold didn’t really know her at all, or if he did, he was more interested in doing something up his alley than making sure she enjoyed herself on her birthday.
“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—compound might 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.
“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.