Alex looked around the massive yard of Jolene and Gavin’s home. She was still trying to figure out how she got roped into coming here for a Labor Day party. Well, a party celebrating Labor Day, but on Sunday.
The brewery was closed for the day with all the staff here, or so she’d been told by Cade when he all but dangled the carrot in front of her to come and meet the rest of his siblings.
The bar and restaurant were still open, but no family was working today.
She really didn’t want to attend, but public relations were part of the job too. The part she hated the most.
Keith had thought she’d be perfect rubbing elbows with people since she’d been in pageants. He didn’t believe her when she said how much she hated doing them. Hated kissing ass and schmoozing with judges. Putting all those fake smiles on her face and pretending to be happy all the time. Just because she never placed less than runner-up didn’t mean she wanted to do them for any reason other than a means to an end.
Discovering on social media this morning that Keith was engaged to a younger, hotter, blonder version of herself pushed her to come here and put it behind her. To move forward and forget about everything she wasn’t or didn’t want to be. Rumor, lies, and indifference that ruled her life for way too long.
She couldn’t be what Keith wanted, even if she’d wanted it herself. Which she didn’t.
The next best thing to do was to focus on her work now... and maybe Cade.
Cade who’d been on her mind more than he should be. And when he asked her to come to his parents’ party she was trying every way possible to decline so that she didn’t have all these confusing thoughts and hormone surges. She’d never been good enough for someone like him. She’d been down the road with the wealthy boyfriend and it didn’t end well.
Meeting his siblings and working with them on new ideas was just too good to pass up though. Especially since Cade had said they were all so impressed with everything she’d done so far. Mason leading the pack. And since Mason had the biggest online presence and shop, he was the one she really needed to meet.
Cade had told her the party was starting at one, but she was showing up at two thirty. She really had planned on coming earlier—once she decided to come—but she went into the shop and tried to finish an order to get ahead of the game. If she could produce products faster than promised at times, that would go a long way toward future business.
Now she was standing off to the side looking for a friendly—or at least a familiar—face. She’d seen at least one of Cade’s brothers, but she had no clue which one.
“Alex.”
She turned and saw Cade walking toward her, his smile bright, a beer in his left hand, his right hand reaching for her. Not to shake, but to hold...briefly and she let him...hormones welcoming it like a long lost lover. Damn, she needed to get those thoughts out of her head.
“Cade. Thanks again for the invitation. Sorry I’m late. I got held up doing a few things.”
“Not a problem. I was worried you were going to bail, but then I told myself you wouldn’t do that. You’d never be cowardly.”
She turned and narrowed her eyes at him, causing him to laugh, then tweak her hair. He was playful too; she liked that. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist. Just picking. Come on and I’ll introduce you to the gang.”
He’d let go of her hand and she was slightly disappointed in that, but would never admit it. Again, not a date.
“Alex, this is Brody, his wife Aimee, and their daughter Sidney.”
“Nice to meet you,” Alex said, reaching her hand to each one of them.
“No,” Brody said, grinning. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
If she thought his tone had a hidden meaning, she didn’t let on. She didn’t know anyone well enough to know hidden or honest meanings, even if his eyes were sending a message she couldn’t decipher.
“So far we’re loving everything you’ve been doing,” Aimee said. “I’d love to throw some ideas out if you get a chance today. I work with Cade on promotions now and again, so he told me I could. No one gets to step on Cade’s toes or we’ll never know what he’ll do to us.”
Brody and Aimee laughed. “Uncle Cade,” Sidney said, reaching her arms up to him. “Can we play a joke on Grandma? I like to see her run.”
Cade had the grace to look embarrassed, but picked Sidney up, kissed her cheek and set her back down. “Another time, sweetie. A big party isn’t the time to try to scare Grandma. Trust me when I say you don’t want to know how she’ll get even with you.”
“Come on, Sidney,” Aimee said, taking her daughter’s hand. “Let’s go see who you can play with and stay out of Grandma’s hair for her party today.”
Alex watched as they walked away and then turned to Cade. “So you are the prankster of the family?”
“Someone has to be,” he said good-naturedly. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to Aiden and Nic. They’re over by the grill.”
“Nice to meet you,” Aiden said, eying her and then Cade, then back to her again. She didn’t know what was going on, but she felt like she was being measured today for some reason that had nothing to do with her work. She hadn’t felt this out of place since her first pageant when she saw all the girls with fancy expensive dresses and she was wearing one her grandmother had made for her.
“You too,” Alex said.
“Don’t burn the food,” Cade said, grabbing her hand and pulling her away. “Sorry about that. Aiden isn’t normally that quiet. I’m not sure what his problem is.”
“No worries. Is everything okay? He looked like he wanted to ask me something, but didn’t.”
“He probably just has a lot on his mind. Mason and Jessica are over there. Mason is quiet, so don’t worry if he doesn’t say much.”
“Hi, Alex. Great to finally meet you. Those glasses have been a huge hit with my staff,” Mason said. “Expect a bigger order soon. Cade, I’m going to run something by you this week at the next meeting.”
“I’m glad everyone likes them,” Alex said, wondering why Cade said Mason was quiet. Right now he seemed the friendliest and most normal.
“So how are you and Cade getting along?” Jessica asked from the chair she was sitting in with her hand on her overly large belly. “I’d get up, but it’s too hard right now.”
Cade laughed. “We’re getting along just fine. Why would you even ask that?”
“She didn’t ask you, Cade,” Mason said, smirking first at Cade and then her.
Alex pretended the question wasn’t odd and now wondered why she thought Mason was the normal one. One thing was for sure, she was glad she was an only child.
“We get along great. He’s been so helpful to me and the business. I can’t thank him enough,” she said, turning to look at Cade. If she noticed Cade’s eyes get all soft, she pretended not to see that. “When are you due, Jessica?”
“Not for a few more months. Yes, I’m huge, because those stupid Fierce genes put two boys in me.”
“You’re having twins?” she asked, a huge smile on her face.
“Be thankful it’s only two,” Cade said. “You could have had five like Mom and then Mason would have to push you around in a wheelbarrow. He’s probably going to need to do that soon anyway.”
Alex gasped. “That’s just mean, Cade. Tell Jessica you’re sorry.”
Mason burst out laughing. “You better do it, Cade. Mom isn’t that far away and she might have just heard your comment.”
Cade turned his head fast, making Alex do the same. Jolene Fierce was indeed watching them both carefully, then she winked at her, but turned narrowed eyes to Cade.
“Sorry, Jessica,” Cade said. “So I guess giving one of them my name is out of the question.”
Jessica laughed. “Only if you can convince Mason to let me use my clown plates.”
Cade put his arm around Alex’s waist and pulled her away, laughing after he’d said, “That will never happen.”
“Do I even want to know what the clown comment was about?”
“No. Something I did to Ella and Mason when we were younger. They’re both terrified of clowns now. We don’t talk about it much. Or if we do it’s as a joke, but I’m usually the only one laughing.”
“I’m surprised you’re still alive and walking by the sounds of things. Or what you did to everyone.”
“Not as surprised as the rest of us,” Alex heard behind her. “I’m Ella. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Alex looked at the lone female Fierce sibling. She was in shorts and a shirt with sandals, but she was still looking slightly fancier than everyone else dressed similarly.
“I was going to ask how you managed to stay sane being the only girl, but I’m starting to think Cade is the one that was lucky to make it out unscathed,” she said.
“Oh, I like you a lot,” Ella said. “Catch up to me once Cade is done showing you off to everyone and we can talk about a few ideas I’ve got too.”
Ella walked away and Alex asked Cade, “What did Ella mean by showing me off?” Cade’s family sure was strange or at least acting strangely.
“Who knows with Ella. Do you want a drink? My beer is almost gone and I was going to grab another one.”
“Sure. I’ll walk over with you if you don’t mind.”
He still had his hand around her waist and she wasn’t willing to move away, or do anything that would cause him to drop it. She’d hated being held like a possession when she dated Keith. Or any man for that matter. But when Cade did it, well, that felt right.
***
“Look at them, Gavin,” Jolene said. “I told you the party would work.”
“She’s been here all of thirty minutes. How can you even tell?”
“Because Cade has protectively marked her. You know how he is. Whenever he wanted something as a kid, he’d put his hands on it and carry it around so no one else could grab it.”
Gavin laughed at her. “That’s just rotten. I can’t believe you just said that.”
“Am I wrong?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head.
“So what are you talking about, Mom?” Ella said.
“Ella,” she said. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Just a second. I came over to see if there was anything you needed help with. Were you talking about Cade just now?”
She looked over at her husband, saw his grin and decided to lie through her teeth. “Not at all. I was just saying how much fun everyone was having and your father agreed with me.”
Ella laughed. “If you say so, Mom.” Then walked away.
“I told you she was on to you,” Gavin said.
“Hush now. It’s fine. I’ll deal with Ella another time. Let’s just watch the show. I might have to give Cade a little shove.”
“I don’t even want to know,” Gavin said, walking away from her too.