He rested his hand on my knee, giving it a little squeeze. “Remember I said my sisters have a birthday party they wanted me to attend?”
I nodded.
“It’s tomorrow. Perfect timing, right? I may be out of a job but…family.” Another squeeze to my knee.
He listened to my family speech. It was so unmanly of him. Guys could hear, but their ability to listen was low. Another theory of mine. “I’m your date to your sisters’ birthday party?”
“It’s not really a plus-one party, maybe a bounce house, but nothing formal. Are you OK with meeting my family?”
Such a simple question, but the answer was a bit more complicated.
“Are you?”
He laughed. “I’m the reason your ticket ends in Portland. Yes, I think it’s fair to say I’m good with introducing you to my family. They’ll love you.”
Do you love me?
“Then you’ll tell them we met like three weeks ago and that you flew to China to kiss me, and they’ll think I’m a witch that’s cast a spell on you. I do believe you told me you’re not impulsive.”
“Threeyears. We met three years ago, not three weeks.” He winked.
“That’s our story? Really?”
“No. The story is in your purse.”
I narrowed my eyes. He nodded toward my purse under the seat in front of me. I grabbed it and unzipped the top. A notecard, of course.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Tell me, this is killing me! What does this mean?”
A grin, it’s all I got. He seemed quite proud of himself. For what? I had no idea.
“It’s official.I’m nervous. This is insane.” I squeezed Cage’s hand as the cab pulled into his mom’s driveway. “You’re taking some girl home to meet your family and you’ve never even mentioned my name.”
“You’re right. They’ll probably make you sleep on the porch with the dogs until they can trust you.”
“I’m serious.” I glared at him over the roof of the cab as I shut my door.
He paid the cab driver and took our luggage. “So am I. But don’t worry about it. The hammock on the porch is ridiculously comfortable and Dora and Diego, the Brittany Spaniels, love the company.”
“Dora and Diego?” I followed him to the front door of the two-story brick house. The front porch lights were on as the sun, low in the sky, made its exit.
“My sisters, Hayden and Isa, named them. They were six at the time.”
He opened the front door and plopped the luggage inside. “Where’s the welcome wagon?” he called.
A stream of high-pitched squeals and barking preceded the tornado of two white and hazelnut-colored dogs jumping on Cage’s legs as two girls with long, blond hair practically tackled him to the ground.
“Cage! It’s Cage! Mom? It’s Cage!” one yelled.
“You came! I can’t believe you came! Are you staying for our birthday party?” the other asked with her arms wrapped around his neck.
“Birthday? What birthday?” he teased.
“It’s our birthday tomorrow, silly.”
“Oh, well, I think I can stay for a day or two if you’re willing to share your cake.”
