Hollywood Heir (Westerly Billionaire #4)(71)

He’s worried. Sage’s heart swelled. She didn’t need to ask herself how a man who had so much could be so unsure. He understood what it was like to be left behind and how it made a person wonder if it had been their own fault. His recovery encompassed more than just his drug use. Another man might have tried to hide that from her. His honesty was a humbling gift.

“I was scared about tonight, but Bella said that even if a riot breaks out in there, she knows you and I will share a laugh about it over coffee tomorrow.”

He hugged her to his chest. “Bella rocks.”

“Yes,” Sage murmured against his chest. “So does this.”





Chapter Nineteen

The wave of introductions began as soon as Sage and Eric entered an enormous sitting room that could easily have been used to entertain fifty people. It wasn’t nearly as overwhelming as it would have been had Eric not already told her about each of them. Eric’s older brother, Brett, had the aura of a hard-core businessman, but his wife and child softened him. No special gift was required to see how much he loved them.

Rachelle gushed over Sage and Eric, a little too eager, but she obviously wanted the evening to go smoothly. Prince Magnus stayed beside his very pregnant wife like a guardian angel. He was polished and polite, but his approval would need to be earned.

I don’t mind that.

Spencer had an easy sense of humor. His wife, Hailey, and her daughter, Skye, gave Sage a warm, friendly greeting. After talking to them for a while, Sage agreed with Alice that Eric’s family was more grounded than many would have been at their level of wealth.

Eric introduced Michael as if he were another brother but left off the tag of how he fit into his family. Sage remembered meeting Michael at Delinda’s house. That Delinda had included him and that he was being treated as one of the family did a lot to improve Sage’s opinion of Delinda.

Reggie and his wife fit into the group with more ease than Eric. Their precocious children appeared and disappeared from the room, just as they said they would.

At Sage’s prompting, Axton and Liana invited Skye to join them and—whoosh—she was off and laughing. Eric assured Spencer that she’d be fine. “Probably. She’s not afraid of heights, dark places, or snakes, is she?”

Spencer excused himself to check on where the children had gone.

After he’d gone, Eric leaned toward Hailey and said, “I shouldn’t tease him, but he’s so easy.”

Hailey laughed and wagged a finger at him. “Careful. Payback’s a bitch. Spencer has become surprisingly protective of Skye. It’s kind of adorable.”

“Adorable?” Eric scoffed as he watched his brother emerge from one of the secret passages, looking worried. “It looks painful.”

“Parenthood is,” Hailey assured him. “At least it was at first. I did a lot of panicking. It’s easier now. We take turns freaking out. Look at me, cool as a cucumber because I know Spencer’s on this one.”

Eric gazed warmly down at Sage. “Everything is different when you have someone to share it with.”

A small commotion in the corner caught Sage’s attention. Young Skye had her hands on her hips and was laying down the law to Spencer. He headed back over toward Hailey.

“Oh no!” Hailey exclaimed. “He can’t let her win.” By way of explanation, she said, “Skye spends a lot of time with Delinda. It’s been good for her, but . . .” As she walked away, she could be heard saying to Spencer, “No, I can’t do it. You have to go over there and tell her you meant what you said.”

Sage exchanged a look with Eric and said, “A mini Delinda?”

With equal mock horror, Eric said, “Can the world handle two?” They shared a laugh.

“Where is your grandmother?” Sage had just realized she wasn’t in the room. Oh no. Please. Please. Please. Don’t let them be together. “Where’s Bella?” She started to walk around, hoping to spot one of them.

“Reggie,” Eric called out as he kept in step with Sage, “have you seen Bella?”

Reggie pointed toward the French doors that led outside.

Sage quickened her pace. She had no doubt Bella could hold her own, but the Westerlys were from a power tier far above her friend’s. Not even for Eric would Sage allow Bella to be mistreated or threatened. Nope, not going to happen.

Eric halted Sage gently. “What are you worried about?”

Sage searched his expression. Her usual unwavering optimism shook beneath the weight of recent experiences. “I’m sorry. It’s just that they are both strong personalities, and I’ve seen the other side of Delinda.”

“You never will again,” he said with a confidence that calmed Sage. The loyalty in his eyes said he would go to battle for her, even if it was against his own family. “I won’t let anything happen to you or your friend. My grandmother and I have discussed—healthy boundaries.”

“Okay.” She believed him. Even Delinda deserved a second chance.

Alice came through the French doors and walked over to join them. “Oh my God, Eric, your grandmother is a hoot.”

“Is Bella out there as well?” Sage asked.

Alice nodded. “And King Tadeas.”

“How is it going?” Eric’s hand on Sage’s back tightened even though he asked the question calmly enough.