Page 63 of Forty, Flirty & Fall Inn

"He had jars of it, Sage.Labeled jars."

The doorbell rings, saving me from further discussion of my questionable dating history.

"I'll get it!"I practically leap up, desperate for escape.

I yank open the door to find the last sight on earth I expect.

Luke Sterling.Here.

Standing on my parents' porch and looking like he's stepped out of a catalog for "Casual Billionaire Chic."

I swear, that man is never beating the Clark Kent lookalike allegations.

Decked in pair of thigh-hugging, dark jeans, a wool sweater with sleeves pushed past a set of veiny forearms, and those glasses that make him look like a sexy professor who definitely doesn't have tenure yet but all the students have crushes on anyway.

"Luke?"I blink, as if the hallucination I think I’m experiencing will disappear."What are you—how did you know I was here?"

"Mira.”One large hand holds up a folder."I called the inn about the unsigned paperwork for the SafeStay collab, and she told me you were at family game night.”

“She did?”

“In her defense, she is stressed from being left kid-sitting Buttercup.”His jaw works, a semi-smile spreading on his handsome face.“She may also left detailed directions and mentioned your mother makes excellent seven-layer dip."

"Of course she did."I'm going to have to have a talk with my assistant about information security."And you drove all the way here?"

"The contracts are time-sensitive."One side of his full mouth tips up."Also, Mira may have mentioned you've never won a game night in fifteen years.That seemed statistically improbable."

"Did she also mention I have a meddling employee who gives out personal information to anyone who asks?"

"She might have used the phrase 'Sage needs all the help she can get.'"

"I'm firing her."

"She also said you'd say that."

"Sage, who is it?"Mom calls.

"It's—"

“Sage’s, uh, friend Luke!”Claire appears behind me like a pregnant ninja."Oh my god, Luke, perfect timing!You have to come in!"

"I don't want to intrude?—"

"Nonsense!"Mom materializes with the speed of a woman who smells potential grandchildren."Any friend of Sage's is welcome here.I'm Patricia.You must be the Luke we've heard so much about."

"Nothing weird!"I say quickly."Just normal amount.Of hearing.About."

Luke's definitely fighting a smile now.He adjusts his glasses."All good things, I hope."

"Oh, we've heard about the kissing," Claire coos under her breath, and I consider whether siblicide is really that bad of a crime.

"Come in, come in!"Mom's already dragging him inside."Have you eaten?We have food.So much food."

"I really should?—"

"He's staying," Harper announces from the doorway."We need even teams for Pictionary."

And that's how Seattle’s sexiest—and most stoic—CEO ends up sitting in my parents' living room, holding a plate of my mother's famous seven-layer dip while my father explains the house rules for competitive Pictionary.