“A little surprising considering the outside, huh?”
Catherine laughed and felt heat rush to her cheeks. “A little.”
Gracie winked. “I had the same reaction my first visit here. Wade owns the place, but his sister is the one who did all the interior design. She’s a genius.”
“No kidding,” Catherine mumbled as she looked around the large, open room. It was warm and inviting. Some of her jitters disappeared. High ceilings and white oak hardwood floors flattered the Asian-style, burgundy L-shaped couch and matching round chairs. She liked the steel appliances in the kitchen. She noticed an interesting wrought iron spiral staircase that led to a second floor. The modern design was very different from her parents’ big Victorian home in Georgia.
“Speaking of Wade, there are a few people that want to meet you. I hope you don’t mind.”
Catherine smiled. “Is your fiancé still trying to figure out if I’m on the up-and-up?” She knew Wade, the man who only a few weeks ago had asked for Gracie’s hand in marriage, was a private investigator, and he’d been a little suspicious of some woman coming out of nowhere and claiming to be Gracie’s long-lost sister. But she’d thought the background check he’d run on her had been sufficient proof. Maybe it hadn’t been.
Gracie waved a hand in the air. “No, no, nothing like that. But everyone is curious about you, and they’ve been dying to meet you.”
Catherine relaxed at once. “I understand completely. Besides, I’m anxious to meet them too.”
Gracie nodded. “The excitement is natural, but I still didn’t want to bomb you with the entire bunch at once. I wanted to have you all to myself when we finally met in person. So we’ve decided to sort of filter them in a little at a time.”
Cather
ine put her purse on a chair next to a long, barlike countertop before replying, “I wanted to meet you alone too. A friend of mine wanted to come with me on this trip, but I asked her to stay home. I guess I didn’t want to share this first moment with anyone else.”
“Your friend Mary? The one you told me about in your e-mails?”
Catherine crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. “The one and only.”
“She could’ve come. I would love to meet her.”
“You will soon enough.” She chuckled. “She’s a handful.”
“Can anyone crash this party or is it by invitation only?”
They both turned at the deep baritone. Right off Catherine recognized Wade from the pictures Gracie had sent, but the real-life version was quite a sight. The man was big, a little dangerous looking, and gorgeous as all get-out with his messy dark hair and ornery grin.
Catherine realized she was simply standing there staring and moved to apologize. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go mute, there.”
Wade shrugged and stepped forward. “Seeing you in person sort of threw me for a loop for a second as well. You and Gracie look so much alike it’s downright eerie. That Southern accent tends to give you away though.”
Catherine smiled, and looked over at Gracie and nodded. “I know what you mean. I feel like I’m looking into a mirror.”
Wade held out his hand and said, “Welcome to the family, Catherine.”
Catherine happily took it and thanked him, her heart soaring. She’d made the right decision in coming here. She knew that now.
Wade released her, then wrapped a strong arm around Gracie’s middle before pulling her in close. “Yes, welcome, Catherine,” Gracie added.
“Thanks, and uh, sorry for staring at your fiancé.” She winced. “Great first impression, there.”
“Aw, don’t worry about it.” She chuckled. “He has that effect on a woman. Wait until you meet Jonas and Dean.”
“Why wait?” Another voice chimed in.
Wade and Gracie moved to the side to let whoever owned the voice into the room. She heard Wade mumble something to the big, dangerous man, but she couldn’t make out what. Catherine froze in place as he approached her. He had the same dark hair as Wade. She couldn’t help noticing he appeared to be a little more muscular than Wade though. The black T-shirt seemed to be straining to contain him. And he looked almost angry. His dark brown eyes stared at her as if he wanted her gone. Like yesterday.
“Catherine, I’d like you to meet Dean, Wade’s younger brother and Deanna’s twin.”
This was the sweet-natured brother that Gracie had talked about? Really? The man in front of her didn’t seem to fit the description at all.
“It’s nice to meet you, Catherine,” Dean said as he stepped forward and extended his hand.