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“Thank you so much for having us.” I nod to her as I step inside. “Your home is so charming.”

Charming is an understatement. Their home is large and grandiose, but also very inviting. It looks like they have updated and added on throughout the years, but the house has still kept its original charm. I can see two fireplaces from the entryway, their hearths lit and crackling, keeping the home warm and cozy. The smell of freshly baked bread and turkey makes my stomach growl hungrily.

Mrs. Windell leads us through the foyer and into the dining room, where four extremely tall, handsome men are chatting amiably with each other. The tallest of them I recognize as Dr. Windell. His hair has turned more grey than blonde since the last time I saw him, but he’s still a very nice-looking man.

They stop their conversation when we enter. Dr. Windell steps forward with a warm smile, but before he can utter a word, the one with long, curly hair and dimples strides forward to take my hand.

“Enchanté, mademoiselle,” he says with a wink and a quick kiss to the back of my captive hand.

“Don’t mind Brooks. He can’t seem to behave himself. He may look like an adult, but he has the maturity of a 6-year-old,” Dr. Windell says seriously, though a smile plays at the corner of his lips.

My parents laugh politely. Brooks just shrugs and gives us a dimply grin as he steps back.

Mrs. Windell gestures to the men lined up in her dining room. “Odette, this is my husband, Ted.” She briefly touches Dr. Windell’s arm, who I cannot imagine referring to as simply Ted. “And you’ve now met my youngest son, Brooks.” She shoots a quick glare in his direction. “I’m sure you remember my oldest, Madden?”

My mouth becomes dry, and the blood drains from my face as soon as I look at him. Has he somehow become better looking since I last saw him? I want to be unaffected by him and his stupid chiseled jaw, broad, muscled shoulders, and wavy, dark-blonde hair–the type I’d love to run my fingers through. But his handsomeness is incredibly distracting.

Pull yourself together, Odette! You’re not some silly teenager who’s never seen a handsome man before.

Madden’s glacier-blue eyes are wide with shock. He probably realizes now that he saw me at the reunion and didn’t know who I was. The thought gives me a little jolt of satisfaction.

“Wow. Hi, Odette… or, Red?” He smirks, then has the grace to look a little flustered. “I’m sorry for not recognizing you before. That was very rude of me.”

He looks into my eyes and flashes his gorgeous, pearly white smile. I swear the room just got ten degrees hotter. It must be the fireplace.

Why does my skin have to be so pale? I’m sure the entire room just watched my face change color like a mood ring.

Pulling myself together, I try to speak evenly, but my voice comes out as more of a high-pitched squeak. “That’s okay! Good to see you again.” Wow, Odette. That’s the blandest thing you could’ve said.

The doorbell rings and Mrs. Windell scurries off to answer it while Dr. Windell introduces David, who I remember being several years younger than me.

“I’m sorry that our daughter, Sophie, couldn’t make it this year,” Dr. Windell says. “I’m sure she would’ve loved to see you all. Her husband is deploying to Afghanistan soon, so they’re spending as much time together as possible.”

Mrs. Windell returns to the room with a woman named Heidi and her parents, who look about the same age as Dr. & Mrs. Windell, and a pleasant-looking man named Drew and his little girl. After introductions have been made all around, our attention turns back to the table.

“Well, dinner is ready! Let’s have a seat and get started! We have a few more guests coming, but they won’t arrive until after seven.” Dr. Windell says with a flourish toward the perfectly set table.

We look around for our places, marked with lovely floral place cards embossed in gold calligraphy. I definitely want to keep mine. Maybe I can sneak it into my purse without looking like a huge dork.

Once I find my seat, I immediately break out in a nervous sweat when I notice that Madden is seated next to me. The very poised and glamorous Heidi sits on his other side. Maybe she’s his girlfriend?

Dr. Windell says a quick prayer and we pass the food around as multiple conversations start up at once, but I’m too busy sneaking peeks at Madden to contribute. He’s chatting animatedly with his brothers across the table.

I hear everyone talking and laughing around me, but all my senses are tuned to the man sitting next to me. There’s something more to Madden than just his looks, I decide. He has a confident presence–just like his father–and his intelligent eyes seem to look straight into my soul.

I hear Madden clear his throat. "Would you like some potatoes, Odette? I made them myself.”

“Yes, please, I love carbohydrates.” Oh my gosh, quit being weird.

Madden just chuckles. “Then you’ll be happy to hear that my mother baked five different pies for dessert.” He pauses and takes a deep breath

Is he nervous? The thought makes the tips of my ears flush warm.

He shifts in his seat to meet my eyes. “So… I heard that you just moved back to Wichita from D.C. What kind of work did you do there?”

I have suddenly forgotten what on earth I did for work in D.C. Thankfully; I make a quick recovery. “Oh, yes, I moved back this summer. I worked as a legislative assistant and really enjoyed it, but it’s great to be back near my parents.”

“I’m pretty interested in politics myself,” Madden responds with a smile that quickly disappears as Brooks and David snicker from across the table. Within a few seconds, though, Brooks suddenly stops laughing and shrieks, then glares in Madden’s direction.