"There is no way I'm going to that ranch for Thanksgiving dinner."
Sage sat at her grandmother's table with her lips pursed in frustration. Her grandma always cooked Thanksgiving dinner. It was tradition. Eileen always joined them, and they ate a scrumptious meal, then watched the football game on TV. That's what they did. Always.
"I'm sorry, darling. I just haven't been feeling well enough to cook a big holiday meal this year, and when Martin invited us over, I just . . ."
Sage instantly felt like the most horrible person on the planet. "I'm sorry, Grandma. I didn't know you weren't feeling well again. I can cook-okay, I can try, at least. I'm sure it wouldn't be that bad."
She couldn't go to the Whitman place. No way. She'd managed to avoid Spence last night, since he'd first been in surgery and then she'd been in a roomful of people when he'd emerged from the OR. Thankfully, he didn't attempt to kiss her in front of the rest of the hospital staff. That would have been mortifying.
Now, if he'd pulled her into one of the on-call rooms, slowly stripped . . . No! When had her mind started dwelling in the gutter? She'd been a straight-A student. She was controlled. Cautious. Responsible. Unlike so many others, she didn't have affairs in on-call rooms. That wasn't who she was. She'd screwed up in his hot tub, but no one was perfect. Still, she tried.
Why she was thinking about sex more than she was thinking about surgery was beyond her. She must be losing her mind. Maybe it was Montana. Probably something in the water. The population was so sparse, and because there weren't enough people around, the politicians were secretly drugging their water with aphrodisiacs, making everyone want to mate and bring children into the world.
No! No! No! She would not think about children and Spence-and aphrodisiacs-at the same time. This was getting out of hand. She had to pull herself together. She was strong, dang it!
"I guess we could just stay home and have leftovers. I'll have to break it to Eileen. She was really looking forward to spending the evening with Martin. I think there may be something going on between the two of them. They've been making googly eyes at each other for months now, but neither one wants to admit they have feelings. Oh, yes, Thanksgiving . . . Grace also said she wanted to come with us. You know she's had a mighty heavy crush on Camden for a long time, and she'd never go without you, but I understand . . ."
Sage didn't think it was possible, but she now felt even lower than low. How could she live with herself when she was clearly such a worthless human being? Because she was afraid to be in the same house as Spence, she was going to deprive everyone else of a happy holiday. They might as well call her the Thanksgiving Grinch and get her a green costume-no, make it in harvest colors-and a big bag to steal all the pies and all the paper turkeys and Pilgrim decorations while she was at it.
"I'm sorry, Grandma. I just wanted to have you and Aunt Eileen and Grace all to myself, but if you want to go out there for Thanksgiving, I'm sure that would be fine. I'd better call the hospital and double-check that they won't need me, though. I'm sure if they do, I can at least drive you out to the Whitmans' first," she said, feeling inspired.
She'd just volunteer, whether they needed her or not. That would solve everything. Everyone would then have a great Thanksgiving, including her. Lonely, but great.
"You can't work on Thanksgiving, sweetheart. You already have the day off. I called the hospital to verify before I made any plans. They don't put any elective surgeries on the board on the holidays and they already have an on-call doctor set up for emergencies, so you're free. I'm so happy. This will be a beautiful holiday." Bethel had perked up as she spoke.
Sage knew when she was beaten. It looked like she was going to have to put her acting skills to the test.
"I'd better get to making the pies," Bethel said. "After all, Thanksgiving is tomorrow."
Sage watched her grandma move with slightly too much grace and purpose around the kitchen for a woman who claimed she wasn't feeling well. Then Sage felt guilty again. She was certain Bethel was pushing herself to make sure she had something to bring to the dinner.
Sage would have liked to help her, but she had to leave for the hospital. "Don't work too hard, Grandma. I'll see you in the morning."
As she left, she hoped she could make it through tomorrow without getting burned.
SAGE WATCHED AS all the color left Grace's cheeks. "I did not tell your grandma I'd go to the Whitmans' place for Thanksgiving," Grace almost wailed. "I thought we were having it here."
"The car is here, girls. Don't bother taking your coat off, Grace." Bethel shut and locked the door with Sage and Grace still standing on the covered front porch.
Sitting in the driveway was one of the Whitmans' large SUVs, looking sleek and warm as it waited for passengers.
"Grandma said you really wanted to go," Sage said, looking at the open back door of the SUV. She didn't know what to think now. Her grandma wouldn't have intentionally lied. Certainly not. Bethel was as honest as the day was long.
"I'm sure she just got confused," Grace said, feeling the same way as Sage. There was just no possible way that Bethel Banks would lie. All the kids who'd known her called her Grandma and had been eating her cookies and special lemonade for as long as Grace could remember.
"Well, I'm not going alone, so suck it up," Sage growled through her teeth just as Bethel leaned out the door and called for them again. "Coming, Grandma."
"I have a bad feeling about this," Grace said as she and Sage stepped off the porch and began walking toward the waiting vehicle. They looked as if they were going to a funeral, not to a holiday feast.
By the end of the night, they might be. It very much depended on the behavior of both Spence and Camden, because, with the way those boys were playing with Sage's and Grace's emotions, the two women were likely to team up and off one or both of the men.
"I didn't think you were ever going to arrive," Martin called out from the wide-open front door as Bethel and her group made their way up the ornate front steps of the Whitman ranch house.
"You know how girls are," Bethel said, leaning in to kiss Martin on the cheek. "They like to take their time getting all pretty."
"It was well worth the wait. You ladies are stunning, and now we won't have just a bunch of old men sitting around the table," Martin replied, a special light overtaking his features as he glanced over at Eileen.
"Thank you for inviting us, Martin. I'm sure this will be the best Thanksgiving I've ever had," Eileen said shyly, surprising them all when a rosy color suffused her cheeks.
"I know it's already my best," Martin said, taking Eileen's arm and running it through his.
"Yes, thank you for having us," Sage said as she followed the group inside.
"I swear I'm going to kill you for this," Grace whispered as the door shut behind them. "You could have warned me or something."
"I couldn't warn you. Up until you arrived at the house, I thought you wanted to come. Besides, you won't have to kill me-I just might take my own life," Sage replied. "I'd rather eat crickets than be here and make small talk with Spence."
"Welcome, ladies," Michael said as they stepped into the parlor. "Would you like a predinner drink?"
"Yes!" Sage and Grace said in unison, grinning at each other. They might need five or six to get through the evening.
"Well, then, you're in luck-I've prepared my special eggnog," Spence said as he walked into the room. He was wearing a nice pair of slacks that were custom tailored and hugged his thighs to perfection. The green sweater covering his sculpted chest matched his eyes to a T and looked exquisite. Sage found herself wanting to run her hands over the fabric to see whether it felt as soft as it looked.
She forced herself to turn away as she struggled to find her tongue. She looked to Grace for assistance, but her friend wasn't in a position to provide it. Camden had just stepped into the room and was looking quite suave himself.
When Jackson came in with his new wife and stood side by side with his three brothers, Sage could understand why they'd been considered the cream of the crop during her school years. They commanded the room with their confidence, good looks, and incredible bodies.
What she didn't understand was how three of the four were still single. But men like them seemed to take forever to settle down because they could have anyone they wanted. Why should they choose just one woman when the world was their oyster?