“Welcome, welcome. Y’all come on in,” his father’s voice sounded from deeper in the house. The man’s thick Texas drawl was a direct contradiction to the modernness that was his lifestyle.
JJ’s hand tightened on his.
Baz grinned, leading the way through the large open foyer with its dual staircases—complete with floating steps and glass railings—that led to the second floor. JJ was looking around, her eyes wide as she took in the decor. In the center of the circle was an enormous bonsai tree that his father cared for like his own child. The thing was fed by a rainwater delivery system, for fuck’s sake.
But he figured JJ hadn’t noticed the indoor topiary because her attention had been ensnared by the bookshelves that lined the outer walls, two stories high and filled to overflowing with vintage and antique books. There was no pretentious library for Wesley Buchanan. Nope. The man’s love for reading superseded any desire to keep his prized possessions hidden away.
“Is that what you expected?” Baz asked.
“No.” Her voice lowered. “Dead animals, maybe, but not books.”
Before he could explain his father’s love for the written word, Wesley appeared before them, his expressive face shifting into a wide grin. “There’s my boy.”
As expected, JJ’s eyes widened as she took him in, and he knew without asking that she noticed the resemblance. Baz was the spitting image of his father, always had been. They shared the same thick blond hair and teal-blue eyes, along with the square jaw and thick eyebrows. The only thing Baz hadn’t gotten from his father was his height. At six one, Baz was a few inches shorter. Since his mother topped out at five two, he considered himself lucky.
Baz smiled at his father. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Jessica James. JJ, meet the old man.”
Wesley’s bright blue eyes settled on JJ, and Baz saw the insta-love that glittered in them. That was Wesley Buchanan for you. The man did love a beautiful woman, and in Baz’s humble opinion, there wasn’t a more beautiful one on the planet than JJ.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ladybug,” Wesley said, his deep voice rich with awe. “Tell me I can hug you, girl.”
JJ giggled nervously. “Sure.”
As though he was handling a fragile package, Wesley put his arms around JJ and pulled her into his big body, hugging her warmly. His father was a big man, but it wasn’t just his above-average height and those broad shoulders that made him larger than life. His personality was just as big, and Baz figured JJ would fall in love with his irresistible charm the same way all women did. Well, notexactlythe same way, but he had no doubt she would find him fascinating.
Over JJ’s head, Wesley’s eyebrows rose, his approval evident as he smiled at Baz.
Releasing her, Wesley turned his arm, draping it over JJ’s shoulders as he steered her away from the entry and deeper into the house. Baz followed behind them, grateful JJ couldn’t see his smile.
“You have a beautiful home, Mr. Buchanan,” JJ told him.
Baz relaxed a little, pleased that she was making an effort. He’d been waiting for this day. The day he would introduce the people who meant the most to him to the woman he loved more than life. From the moment he’d met JJ, Baz had known one day she would be embraced by his family, and now that the day had arrived, it would forever be imprinted on his brain.
“Call me Wes, darlin’. And thank you. It’s my sanctuary.”
They walked down the wide hall that bracketed the courtyard and one of two swimming pools that his father utilized often. The house had been designed around the courtyard, forming a C and lined with glass to let the outdoors in as much as possible.
“What can I get ya to drink?” Wesley asked, guiding JJ through the living room and toward the kitchen, which had always been the heart of this home.
“Iced tea would be good, Dad,” Baz answered for her.
“With lemon or without?”
“Without,” JJ said, her tone relaxed.
Expecting to find stepmother number six waiting for them in the kitchen but finding it empty, Baz asked, “Where’s Aretha?”
“Your mama dragged her off to the store with her. Somethin’ about a cake.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I don’t know about them girls.”
JJ grinned up at him when Baz moved to stand at her side.
“You good?” he whispered.
When she nodded, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She sighed, relaxing against him.
“They should be back soon.” Wesley peered over, pulling a glass pitcher out of the fridge, his eyes filling with affection when he saw Baz with his arm around JJ. “Y’all go on and get comfortable. Can I get you somethin’ to eat? We’ve got a big spread all ready to go. Aretha’s all about brunch.”
Baz looked at JJ. She shook her head, so he relayed the answer to his father, then led her over to the thick slab of sealed granite that created the table in the breakfast nook. Of course,nookwas a term he used loosely since the table seated ten and took up more space than Baz’s entire kitchen at his apartment.
