Her Hometown Hero(36)

"Mmm, how about this? Our fun day happens right here in this bed . . ."  What a wanton woman she was turning into. This was so not her.                       
       
           



       

"You aren't going to be able to walk if we make love again, Sage."

When she shifted, she finally felt the ache. And she had to groan when she sat up.

"Oooh, I think you're right," she said, chuckling as she moved to the  edge of the bed. She stood up in front of him completely naked, shocked  she wasn't embarrassed. Maybe it was because she'd suppressed her  sexuality for so long, and now it was coming out in spades. But when she  took a step, she winced. Yep, she was sore.

"I changed my mind. A day in bed is all the fun we need," he said,  making her turn toward him. Pure lust filled his eyes as he looked at  her body.

"Sorry, that offer has expired," she said with a smile. "The doctor has  ordered a superhot shower." With that she turned and walked to the  bathroom, adding an extra sway to her hips because she knew his eyes  were glued to her derrière. His moan gave her immense satisfaction.

Somehow, they managed to get out of the suite-after he joined her in the  shower and helped wash her back, and then the rest of her. Sage felt  she was on an all-time high, and the day couldn't possibly get any  better, even if it was cold and foggy outside and a serious chill crept  through her body. At least it wasn't snowing or raining.

"Are you going to tell me yet what we're doing?" she asked as the two of them climbed in the rental car.

"We're meeting up with my good friend Austin and his wife for a day on the water," Spence replied.

Sage looked doubtfully at the foggy skies. "Um, won't that be cold?" she asked.

"If people in Seattle waited for the clouds and rain to go away they  would never make it out on the water," he said with a laugh. "Just  consider it all a part of the atmosphere."

"I think I could be happy doing just about anything with you," Sage said as they pulled up to the marina and parked the car.

A couple was walking toward them, and Sage recognized Austin Anderson,  whom Sage last saw at the party at the Whitmans'. "I wasn't sure if you  were going to make it," Austin said. "When you said you were staying at  the Olympic, I figured you'd never get out of bed."

Sage blushed scarlet as Austin smiled with no remorse.

"Austin, that is no way to talk, and you know it," the woman on his arm  said. "Why do you Anderson men think you can run roughshod over people's  feelings? You've embarrassed this nice woman. I'm sorry about my  husband's behavior. I'm Kinsey, by the way."

She stuck out her hand and Sage grasped it, feeling ridiculously shy. "I'm Sage Banks," she said after a long pause.

"Are we going fishing, or gonna just stand here?" Spence asked as he clapped Austin on the back.

"We'd already be on the water if you hadn't taken your time getting down here," Austin replied with a grin.

"Well, I had a late night," Spence said with a waggle of his brows, making Sage blush even more.

They boarded Austin's boat from the private marina on Puget Sound and were soon gliding across the foggy but calm water.

"It's been a great fishing season," Austin told them. "Dad and I have  come out a few times. We've even managed to pull my cousin Lucas from  the office for a trip or two."

"That's a miracle," Spence said as their boat moved slowly through the  no-wake zone, allowing Sage to see everything. This was her first  boating expedition. Spence seemed to be treating her to a lot of firsts.

"I know. He's a workaholic. Still, he's slowed down since marrying Amy  and having his kids. Our trips nowadays are largely of the park  variety," Austin said with a laugh.

"Careful, Austin. You don't want the world to hear that a playboy  extraordinaire has been domesticated," Kinsey said before leaning over  and kissing him on the cheek. He turned quickly and hauled her into his  arms to kiss her properly. When they came up for air, Sage was blushing  yet again.

"Sorry. The kids were sick all last week, and I was lucky to get out of  my pajamas. This is a real treat, and some much-needed kid-free time was  warranted," Kinsey said with a grin that said she wasn't sorry at all.

"I look forward to those days," Spence said, shocking them all into  silence as they turned and looked at him. "Hey, I'm not as bad as Austin  was before you, Kinsey. I want kids."

Sage's heart grew a bit bigger for this man she was sharing the day with.

Austin pointed. "Over there is where Uncle Joseph lives."

Through the fog, Sage could just make out a couple of large towers. "Is that a castle?" she asked when they got closer.                       
       
           



       

"Pretty much," Kinsey said with a laugh. "And while it looks  intimidating, I've never felt as at home as in that house. Except at  home, of course."

"Impressive," was all Sage could say.

"We'll stop in and say hi a little later," Spence told her.

They pointed out several huge homes, making Sage's mouth hang open. She  wasn't a novice to wealth, but this area was a whole other world. "Are  there any normal-sized places out here?"

"Nope. I don't think so," Kinsey said with a giggle.

When the boat turned south and they began moving toward the Nisqually  Indian Reservation, the fog cleared, and Sage could finally take in all  the marine life. The air smelled sweeter, and the birds seemed to sing  more melodically. It didn't take the four humans too long to start  heading toward the shore off a private island.

"This is a good place to throw in," Austin said as he maneuvered the boat and dropped anchor.

"As much fish as you have all been bringing home, we're going to be eating it all year round," Kinsey said with a chuckle.

"Do you always do your own fishing?" Sage found it odd that a bunch of billionaires wouldn't just buy it from the store.

"No. But it's fun to take the boat out and do it ourselves on occasion,"  Kinsey replied. "Usually, it's just the guys who go, and personally, I  think it's because they want a safe haven to drink and grumble about  their wives."

"We would never grumble about you," Austin said gallantly.

"Sure, darling, sure," she said, giving him a quick kiss before getting  out of the way so he could haul up his catch when his line tugged.

It wasn't long before they were pulling in the lines. Some of the  catches were good, and some had to be thrown back. When they had several  large fish in the cooler, Spence turned with a satisfied look as he  patted Austin on the back.

"Dad will love this," Austin said, picking up his cell phone. Amazingly enough, it had reception and was answered quickly.

Sage sat back as he talked to his father, and from what she heard, they  were going to have an early dinner before she and Spence flew back to  Montana.

"It's all set. We're going to Joseph's dock to have a get-together,"  Austin announced, and he turned the controls over to Spence. "Let's open  this up for a nice ride before we end our trip."

"Sounds good to me," Sage said. She found herself laughing as Spence  picked up speed and the wind whipped through her hair. Yes, it was cold,  but she didn't care. Spence, always the Boy Scout, had made sure a warm  outfit was waiting for her at the hotel, so the only part of her that  wouldn't be able to feel anything after their boat ride was her cheeks.

Spence slowed as he pulled up to the dock at the Anderson mansion, and  now that the fog had dissipated, she could see the place well.

"I've never seen anything like it," Sage said.

They stepped onto a beautiful dock that was big enough to hold three or four large yachts.

"And you never will," Kinsey said. "It's a thing of beauty. Now come  meet the family." She took Sage's arm and pulled her ahead of the men,  who were busy securing the boat.

"Shouldn't we wait for the guys?" Sage didn't want to admit how nervous she was.

"They know the way." Kinsey wasn't going to let her go, so Sage had no choice but to follow along toward the mansion.

The men joined them before they stepped inside the marble entryway. The  wide staircases to the left and right made her feel like a child-she  wanted to run up them just so she could slide down the gleaming  banisters.

"It's about time you came to visit, Spence," Joseph boomed as soon as he  entered the room with his lovely wife, Katherine. He slapped Spence  hard enough on the back to knock him over. She was surprised he was  still on his feet.

"I was just here a couple months ago! And you were in Montana not long ago," Spence said with a laugh.