Her mother, Sophia, keeps a watchful eye on her through dinner, so instead of shoving my hand up her tight dress like I want to, I have to keep myself reined in. Every now and then I’ll reach over and place my hand on the top of her thigh when she speaks because I can’t help myself. But otherwise I mind my manners and don’t maul her with her parents watching. I just need to touch her and I don’t like not being able to.
“How long are you boys in town for?” Sophia asks as she passes around the desserts.
I help clean the dinner table and brought in coffee while we all relax. I love seeing Sage so happy as she leans back in her chair. At one point she put her hand on her belly and laughed as she said she was full, but I just kept thinking about what she would look like if she had a baby in there instead.
“We should be heading out Monday,” Brian answers, but I can see the crease that grows between his eyebrows as he says it. “But it’s still being decided.”
I watch as he takes his phone out under the table and checks it when his mom isn’t looking. The crease between his eyes deepens and he doesn’t like what he sees. He makes a frustrated sound as he shoves his phone back into his pocket and I wonder, not for the first time, what on earth has him so distracted. He’s normally pretty busy and I don’t think twice about him on his phone. But lately he’s obsessed with it and can’t seem to put it down.
“Where are you going?” Sage asks as she looks up at me with her big round eyes.
I want to tell her I’m taking her to her place where I’m going to take her to bed, but I know what she’s asking. Am I going to take off on another trip with her brother like we always do?
I don’t answer because I need to figure that out. I’m supposed to travel on Monday with Brian, but now that I’ve met Sage all of that is up in the air. I open my mouth to say something, but I’m cut off by her dad.
“With how much your brother is gone, I don’t understand why you think it’s safe to be on your own.” I’ve never seen Gary upset about anything, but right now he looks about as irritated as Brian.
This is something I haven’t thought about with Sage and now I’m sitting up straighter to hear Gary’s argument.
“Dad, we’ve been through this,” she says, and I hear her irritation.
“You’re alone a lot,” I say, realizing that as much as Brian and I travel, that means she’s in that place by herself.
“What about a roommate?” Sophia offers a compromise.
“I have a roommate. It’s your son.” I can feel the tension rolling off Sage, and I put my hand on her thigh before I can stop myself. She flinches but only for a second before she relaxes. “And the building has the best security with a doorman. Do we have to go through this every single time I come home?”
“Sugar, your father and I just want you to be careful.” Sophia looks at me and presses her lips together. I can tell she wants to say more but won’t do it with company here.
“Brian, back me up on this?” Gary says, but Brian is scowling out the window and not listening.
“What?” he says a second later when he realizes that we’re all looking at him.
Sage rolls her eyes and sighs. “Here we go.”
“Why don’t you show me around?” I offer as I stand from the table and hold out my hand to Sage. “We’ve already cleared the dishes, but I need to walk after that big meal.”
She puts her hand in mine so fast it surprises me, but I can tell she’s looking for an escape. I’ll be her excuse if she needs one, but I’m not about to give her a reprieve. I agree with Gary that she shouldn’t be alone. I just know better than to do it at the dinner table with her family watching.
“Thank you,” she mumbles as we walk out of the dining room and to the foyer. It’s a little cool outside, so I grab my jacket by the door.
“You looked like you could use some fresh air.” I put my coat on her shoulders as we walk into the cool afternoon and I take her hand in mine again.
“My family is a little on the overprotective side,” she says when we turn to the gardens that expand around the property.
This place is like something out of a movie and nicer than anywhere I’ve ever lived. The house is in a historic Georgian-style made of stone with ivy growing on it. The gardens that surround it are perfectly manicured and made for walking. Trees line one side and Brian told me earlier that there’s a lake out there they used to play in as kids. It’s incredible and I’m feeling envious. I’ve got the money to buy something like this, but why would I need a mansion with all this land if it’s just me? Especially when I travel so much. The thought of Sage filling our home with children and love burns the middle of my chest. I’ve never wanted anything like this before, but suddenly I’m craving a life that I’ve conjured out of thin air.