Sage hurried down the hallway, cursing herself for somehow turning her alarm off.

She had always teased Tansy for relying on her cell phone for everything, when a good old-fashioned alarm clock was dependable and impervious to bugs and crashes.

She had no idea why hers hadn’t gone off this morning.

Sage stopped short when she reached the kitchen.

Her little sister stood at the stove.

And Burton stood behind her, his hands on her hips, his lips in her hair.

They were whispering to each other, and making omelets.

An unexpected pang of bitterness surprised Sage.

She loved Tansy more than life itself and it seemed inevitable that she would wind up with Burton, whom Sage liked very much.

Still frozen in the doorway, Sage searched her feelings. The only one that made sense she pushed aside.

Obviously she was a little lonely, after spending so much time trying to wrap up Helen’s estate, and worrying about Tansy’s education.

And it was natural that it might be tiresome for just about anyone to be around such lovey-dovey couples. She’d been enjoying getting to know Arden better but since the botanist had mated with Drago the two could hardly keep their hands off each other long enough for a good conversation. Sage would be pretty lonely until all these lovebirds got used to their good fortune in finding each other.

It was not that she was pining for Riggs.

She did not wish that was her at the stove, lost in her own alien’s embrace.

Sage Martin was not prone to flights of fancy. The family could only have so many free spirits. And Tansy had obviously taken on that role.

It wasn’t until she felt a hand at the small of her back that she realized she wasn’t the only one in the hallway.

“Shh,” Riggs whispered into her hair.

Sage closed her eyes, willing herself not to melt as her whole body came to life at his touch.

“Good morning,” Drago boomed, coming down the hallway behind them.

Sage nearly jumped.

She scuttled into the kitchen as quickly as possible, hoping that her sister hadn’t seen her with Riggs, watching.

Burton stepped politely away from Tansy to greet everyone.

“Good morning,” he said, his dark eyes twinkling.

Someone had gotten lucky.

“Brother?” Riggs asked.

Burton nodded and Tansy grinned down at her omelet.

Sage went over to her, wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“Are you happy?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” Tansy nodded with a shy smile.

“Good,” Sage told her, patting her once between the shoulder blades. “Need any help with that?”

“I think it’s almost done,” Tansy said.

“Thanks for cooking,” Sage said. “I’ll grab plates.”

Arden joined them all a few minutes later and the kitchen was soon filled with the sounds of dishes clinking, omelets being flipped and the laughter and remarks of the little group.

Sage carried a tray of juice and the coffee carafe out to the picnic table.

After she put it down, she looked out over the farm.

It spread out in every direction, a quilt of greens and browns under an ocean blue sky. The breeze made the leaves of the sycamore whisper.

It had almost been lost to them.

She had convinced herself that was exactly what she wanted.

Now she wasn’t so sure.

“It’s so beautiful,” she said to herself.

“But not as beautiful as you,” Riggs said.

She spun to face him.

He studied her with a serious expression on his obnoxiously handsome face.

“Why do you keep sneaking up on me?” she demanded.

“I assumed you were going off on your own so that I could come find you,” he said politely.

She cocked her head, trying to figure out if he was teasing. His voice was always so deep and his delivery so deadpan it was very hard to tell. Did aliens make jokes?

Arden came out with a stack of plates before she could get to the bottom of it.

Sage shook her head and marched back to the kitchen to see what else needed bringing out.

“She’ll come around,” Drago said quietly to Riggs, obviously thinking Sage was out of earshot.

“By the seven rings of Ryadal, I hope so,” Riggs whispered back fiercely.

Sage shook her head and continued into the heart of the kitchen, trying not to notice that his words had sent a shiver of electricity down her spine.

“Thank you, Sage,” Tansy said warmly, stopping in the middle of the kitchen with a platter of fragrant omelets. “Thank you for always supporting me in everything. In case I don’t say it often enough, I love you.”

“I love you too,” Sage said.

And suddenly the burden of so many changes at once felt a little lighter.

“We’re going to have so much fun,” Tansy assured her.

The laughter outside supported this theory.

“It’s almost like when we came here when we were little,” Sage said, “with the whole family.”

“It’s just like that,” Tansy said meaningfully, heading out with her platter.

Sage looked after her in wonder.

Was it possible this little group was becoming a family?

It had certainly begun to feel that way.

The idea of being responsible for such a large flock was overwhelming. Sage’s role had always been the organizer, the caregiver. One little sister had been more than enough to keep her busy.

She felt her heart beat faster.

The dishes in the sink called to her, offering an escape from the frightening realization.

But Sage turned firmly toward the open door and the light and laughter on the other side. Whatever awaited her under the sycamore tree, she was ready.