Abby Gaines - The Engagement Project / Her Surprise Hero - The Engagement Project / Her Surprise Hero

He headed to the door, wondering and worrying about what other surprises the night might hold.

Megan was feeling pretty good when Gage pulled into the long, winding driveway of the country club. The fact that the first awkward moments had passed allowed her to hope that the evening might not be a complete disaster. A feeling that dissipated with every step they took toward the doors.

Ashley had insisted that she wanted the engagement party to be an intimate gathering of family and close friends, but somehow the guest list had swelled so that nearly sixty people were expected to attend. And the number of cars in the parking lot suggested that most of them were already there.

The valet gave Gage a ticket, which he tucked into his pocket before reaching for Megan’s hand, linking his warm fingers with her icy ones.

“Nervous?” he asked.

“It’s silly, I know, but—” she halted at the bottom of the steps”—this is probably a very bad idea. You’ve done nothing to deserve being subjected to my family.”

“I’ve met your sister and your cousin,” he reminded her. “They didn’t seem so bad.”

“They’re mostly harmless,” she agreed. “I can’t say the same about everyone else.”

“Every family tree has some baboons hanging from it.”

She smiled at the analogy, but her smile faded when he tugged on her hand, leading her closer to the elaborately carved doors at the entrance.

“I’ve never brought a date to one of these events before,” she felt compelled to confess.

“And you’re worried that all your aunts, uncles and cousins will make a big deal out of the fact that you’ve brought one this time?”

She nodded.

“So why did you ask me to come?”

Because he sounded more curious than concerned, she answered honestly, “Because Paige dared me.”

His smile was wry. “That hissing sound you hear is my ego deflating.”

Her lips curved, just a little, as she shrugged. “I never expected that you would say yes.”

“Are you sorry that I did?”

“No, but you might regret it.”

He squared his shoulders. “You don’t think I can handle your crazy uncle Wally?”

“As a matter of fact, I do have an uncle Wally,” she told him. “But he lives in Canada. It’s my great-aunt Vivian you need to watch out for.”

“I appreciate the warning,” Gage said, and squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Now let’s join the party.”

They were on their way to do just that after checking their coats when a cool voice said, “Excuse me, but the upstairs banquet room is closed for a private event.”

Maybe she should have been flattered rather than annoyed that she hadn’t been recognized, but annoyance won out, as it too often did when it came to dealing with members of Megan’s family. “I know. It’s my sister’s engagement party.”

The older woman’s eyes popped wide-open and her mouth snapped shut. “Meg?”

“Yes, it’s me, Aunt Viv.” She dutifully kissed her aunt’s dry, papery cheek.

“But where are your glasses?” Her gaze skimmed over her niece with obvious disapproval. “And your clothes?” Then shifted to Gage. “And who is this?”

And so it begins, Megan thought, but managed to hold back her sigh.

“This is Gage Richmond,” she said. Then, to Gage, “My great-aunt, Vivian Roarke.”

“Richmond,” she said, and narrowed her gaze. “As in Pharmaceuticals?”

Before Gage could respond, Lillian glided down the stairs in a cloud of flowing silk and sweet perfume.

“There you are, Megan.” Lillian smiled at her daughter. “Your sister was just wondering what was keeping you.”

Megan couldn’t remember ever having been so grateful for her mother’s interruption, despite the subtle censure in her statement.

Then her mother looked at Gage and smiled. “Although I think I’ve found the answer to that question.”

It wasn’t quite so easy to hold back her sigh this time. “Mom, this is Gage Richmond. Gage, my mother, Lillian.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Gage said.

“The pleasure is mine,” Lillian said. “And I’m so grateful you’re here with Megan this evening.”

It was an effort to keep the smile on her face, to pretend her mother’s comment hadn’t been a slap in the face.

Of course Lillian was grateful for Gage’s presence—it allowed her to pretend, at least for one night, that her daughter wasn’t a complete social misfit, who never had a date for family events.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Megan said, to no one in particular, “I’m going to find Ashley.”

Gage caught up with her at the top of the stairs. “You weren’t trying to abandon me down there, were you?”

“Haven’t you ever heard the expression ‘every man for himself’?” she asked.

“Sure,” he agreed, reaching for her hand. “Except that tonight I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”

He stroked his thumb across her knuckles. Megan’s eyes widened and the pulse at the base of her throat jumped.

He hadn’t really thought about what he was doing, hadn’t intended to change the rules of their game, but suddenly, there was an awareness simmering between them that hadn’t been there before. Or maybe it just hadn’t been acknowledged.

She swallowed. “All I need is a couple hours of your time.” Her gaze darted away from his, but not before he saw the nerves lurking beneath the surface. “And maybe a glass of wine.”

He could use a drink himself, and was grateful to see that there wasn’t much of a line at the bar. “Red or white?” he asked her.

“Oh. I didn’t mean—you don’t have to—”

“Red or white?” he asked again.

Her cheeks flushed. “Red.”

He gave her hand a friendly squeeze before releasing it. “I’ll be right back.”

She watched him make his way toward the bar, and wondered if she’d imagined the zing she’d felt when he held her hand, and the heat she’d seen in his eyes when they’d locked on hers.

She saw her cousin Camilla in line in front of Gage, and she turned slightly to speak to him, smiling flirtatiously and laughing at whatever he’d said in response.

Yes, she’d definitely imagined it, because Gage Richmond couldn’t possibly be attracted to her—not when a woman like Camilla was around.

When the bartender gave Camilla her drink, she fluttered her fingertips at Gage before moving away.

“You can thank me later.”

Megan turned to Paige. “For what?”

“The fact that you got a pedicure and a gorgeous date for the evening.”

“You made sure the former was contingent on the latter,” Megan reminded her. “But speaking of dates.?”

“Ben’s on his way,” Paige said. “He got caught up at the office.”

“On a Saturday?”

“He’s got an important deposition on Monday.”

“You’ve got to start dating men in another profession.”

“Where would I ever meet any?”

“You’re asking me?”

Paige glanced toward the bar again. “Hey, does Gage have a brother?”

“He does. Married.”

“Damn.”

Megan chuckled.

“Oh, double damn,” Paige muttered, and grabbed Megan’s arm. “Gage is in trouble.”

She turned and winced. Gage might have survived his encounter with cousin Camilla, but now Aunt Vivian had moved in. “If he comes back after a one-on-one with Aunt Viv instead of bolting for the door, I’ll be surprised.”

“Forget surprised,” Paige said. “I’d snap him up and never let him go.”

Megan shook her head regretfully, because she knew that wasn’t an option.

While he was waiting at the bar, Gage noticed that Megan’s cousin, Paige, had joined her, so he ordered a drink for her, too. And when he turned away with his hands full, he found himself confronted by Megan’s elderly aunt.