She forced herself to turn away as she struggled to find her tongue. She looked to Grace for assistance, but her friend wasn’t in a position to provide it. Camden had just stepped into the room and was looking quite suave himself.
When Jackson came in with his new wife and stood side by side with his three brothers, Sage could understand why they’d been considered the cream of the crop during her school years. They commanded the room with their confidence, good looks, and incredible bodies.
What she didn’t understand was how three of the four were still single. But men like them seemed to take forever to settle down because they could have anyone they wanted. Why should they choose just one woman when the world was their oyster?
“I’d love to try some,” Grace said, and Sage couldn’t figure out what the heck her best friend was talking about.
“And you, Sage?”
She turned toward Spence, at a complete loss.
“My special eggnog?” he prompted slowly.
“Oh. Yes, please.” Her cheeks colored. She was really going to have to focus if she expected to have any shred of pride left at the end of the night.
“I’ll get yours, Grace,” Camden said, stepping up to the table with the snacks and drinks. “Come over here.”
Grace had no choice but to follow if she didn’t wish to appear rude, so she left Sage’s side. Soon she and Camden were having an intense discussion in the corner of the room, and not long afterward, they disappeared.
Hmm. Interesting.
“Spence is a mighty fine boy, isn’t he?”
Sage looked around to find Martin, Spence’s dad, beside her. “Yes, Mr. Whitman. He’s wonderful at showing fledgling doctors the ropes,” she said, accepting another drink. She hadn’t realized she’d guzzled the first one in a matter of seconds.
“Of course he’s a fine surgeon, but he’s also a great man. That’s why the hospital had to have him. The people in this area have so much more comfort knowing top-flight medical care is right around the corner. Before Spence took over the ER, we had a quality staff, but Spence is a shining star and we’re lucky to have him here.”
“I’m very lucky to have him supervising my training,” she said, taking another big gulp from her cup. The last thing she wanted was to discuss a man about whom she was having insanely lustful thoughts with his father. Her cheeks were going to stay a constant shade of red if this night continued the way it had begun.
“I just wish my Maybelle had been alive to see these boys grow up. She would have loved them so much.”
“I’m sure she does love them, and she’s looking down upon you all and is proud of what a wonderful man she was married to. You are such a great father that the town surely forgets three of them aren’t biologically yours. How old were they when you adopted them?” She couldn’t quite remember.
“Now that’s a story you should hear from Spence.” His eyes were suddenly caught by Eileen’s, and it became clear that his attention had wandered from Sage, though he stood with her a moment longer.
“I’ll have to ask him,” she said politely. Martin nodded sweetly at her and then sauntered toward his targeted female.
Now Sage was curious, but what if he didn’t want to talk about it? She knew Spence had been adopted, but until now she hadn’t wondered why. Did he have any contact with his biological family? So many questions were burning through her, but she didn’t know how to bring up something like that.
Sage wandered over to a wall filled with old photographs. The boys were splashing in the creek, riding horses, in football uniforms, and holding trophies of all sorts. Martin was clearly very proud of his sons. To have their pictures be the main focus of his den showed what a family man he was.
“My dad likes photos.”
Sage turned and found Spence next to her. He should have a warning bell attached to him. Her stomach dipped as his arm brushed against her shoulder. Did he need to stand quite so close?
“It looks like one of my grandmother’s walls,” Sage said. “I don’t remember a whole lot about my parents—they died when I was only ten. But I have their faces burned into my memory because my grandma has always kept pictures up around the house, beautiful images of them with me at the park, ice-skating, at the zoo . . . all these happy places. I wish I could remember more.”
“That’s why pictures are more precious than almost anything else. It captures the moment, making us able to relive the memories for an eternity.”
Sage had never imagined that Spence could be so sentimental. She had to admit she liked this side of him.
“Are you ready for dinner?”
“I’m suddenly starving,” she told him as the aromas of good cooking drifted through the open doorway. Spence held out his arm to lead her into the dining room, and she hesitated for only a moment—probably not long enough for him to notice, she hoped. She was a guest in his home, and there was no need for her to be rude.
“You two sit here,” Martin said as Sage entered on Spence’s arm.
Sage looked around with suspicion when everyone was seated. This all seemed to be set up a bit too conveniently. What were the old folks doing?
“Do you think your dad and my grandma are up to something?” she asked Spence. She should be irritated, because this seemed almost like a date, but the eggnog was doing its job—she’d already gulped down enough of it—giving her a touch of I-don’t-care attitude.
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind, Spence.” He seemed to suspect nothing, so she let it go. Almost by surprise, she found herself enjoying a nice meal at the Whitman table, with great food and boisterous laughter.