Six
The next two weeks passed in a blur. The office was on fire with work and party details. Derrick came in and out, looking and sounding grumpy and tired. The only thing that made him smile were the calls from Ellie. Spence seriously considered setting up a video system where Derrick could watch Ellie all day and maybe relax a little. Jackson told him no because he was pretty sure that crossed a line.
But Ellie had come through the weeks with little pain and no bleeding. The pregnancy was still considered high-risk and would be until the end, but Ellie had just moved into week ten and found some comfort in that, even though twelve seemed to be some sort of magic number for her.
Derrick hadn’t found any peace. Spence was pretty sure Derrick would never be calm and not panic where Ellie was concerned.
At least the party had started. Spence looked over the green lawn that stretched out behind the family’s Virginia estate. Set in the country, it consisted of acres of rolling hills outlined by tall trees for privacy. A rectangular pool that no one had been in for years lay perpendicular to the house. The pristine water glistened, as did the intricate inlay of stone surrounding it.
He grew up here but hadn’t been back for more than a year. Walking inside required that he exorcise more than one ghost, so he stayed outside.
His father hated anyone stepping on the lawn. The house rules were pretty strict. No one in his locked office. No one could eat dinner until he did. No noise in the house once he got home. Feet off the furniture. No running in the house. And those were the easy ones. He could go on for hours about how his property must be respected.
With that history, Spence couldn’t help but smile when he saw how Derrick had set up tall tables in the grass and all along the brick pathways that led from the house to the pool, then branched off to the pool house and over to the guesthouse. People mingled and servers passed food and drinks. Soft music blasted from the outdoor speakers and lights that had been strewn above him twinkled even though the sun had not gone down.
The place had a festive air. For the first time, in what had to be more than a decade, laughter floated around the property. People smiled and looked at ease. Everyone seemed to be having fun, including the mother-and wife-to-be who sat in her light blue dress at a table closest to the back patio area with Derrick hovering over her shoulder. She wore her hair back and greeted guests. If an internet gossip site hadn’t announced her pregnancy prematurely, people likely wouldn’t guess.
Everything looked perfect. The party took place in the backyard, which consisted of acres of rolling hills and a perfectly manicured green lawn. From where Spence stood in the rear of the soaring three-story redbrick main house, he could watch people bustle in and out of the four sets of French doors outlined by columns, leading into what his father always called the great room.
Ivy covered most of the first floor’s exterior walls. And there, standing on the second-floor balcony overhang above the house’s back entrance stood Abby. She wore a purple cocktail dress. Sort of a lacy material that slipped over her impressive curves, highlighting each one. Her brown hair down fell unbound and free. When she turned to point out something on the far lawn to Jameson Industries’ head of sales, the sun caught the strands, turning them a lighter caramel color.
A second later, she leaned in and the older man on the other side of her said something that made her laugh. That open, genuine smile stole his breath. He put his hand against his stomach without thinking. Her body made him ache to settle the anger that lingered between them and move on to touching.
“Is it wrong that I want this over?” Jackson asked as he joined Spence at one of the high tables.
Spence forced his gaze off the woman who snagged every thought out of his head and onto the friend he’d missed as he traveled around, away from DC. “Not having fun?”
“Your father is coming. Carter is supposed to finally breeze into town. Derrick is a damn mess and there is no way Ellie is going to sit for her own engagement party.” Jackson shrugged. “So, yeah. Everything is about normal around here.”
“When you put it like that, I’m wondering why the two of us didn’t go on an impromptu vacation and skip this.” Spence saw a flash of purple and looked up again. Abby was talking to a business associate now. Someone Spence considered forgettable. But her? No. She stood out in any crowd.
Her memory lingered. Seeing her here, out of the office, lighter and not bogged down by their arguments or a stack of work, eased some of the tightness in his chest. She put in almost as many hours as Derrick usually did, but now she looked relaxed. Or she did until she started talking to this new guy.
“Well, you’re in love and fighting it. I’m guessing that’s your excuse.”
Spence barely heard what Jackson said but he could tell from Jackson’s amused expression that he needed to. He shook his head and focused in on the conversation in front of him. “What?”
“Unless you’re okay with the idea of Abby dating...” Jackson spun around and pointed at a random blond-haired guy Spence had never seen before “...that guy. He was sniffing around her earlier.”
The words came together in Spence’s head and his insides froze. Heat washed through him, a kind of fighting preparation where his body switched to high alert and his brain kicked into gear.
“You seem pretty protective. Are you interested in her?” Because Spence had no idea what he would do then. He’d walked away from her and she was a grown-up. Next to his brothers, Jackson was his closest friend. They all considered him family. But damn.
“Hold up.” Jackson put up a hand and looked like he was trying to swallow a smile. “Don’t start swinging. I care about Abby as a friend. Only a friend.”
Spence felt the tension ease out of him. “Oh, right.”
“A friend who will beat you to death if you hurt her again.”
Spence fumbled with his drink, almost dropping it before setting it down. “I didn’t see that coming.”
Jackson moved the glass out of spilling range. “You know Abby and I hang out all the time, right?”
“Well...no. You...you do?” Spence stammered his way through the response but his mind went blank. He didn’t even remember Jackson and Abby talking all that much before he left town.
“That will teach you to go away and not visit.”
Another apology Spence needed to make. He just wasn’t sure how to admit that he had to go away because seeing her chipped away at him until he couldn’t think straight. That he stayed gone until Derrick called because that’s how he’d learned to deal with personal conflict: he stepped away from it.
“Ellie’s brother is here. He seems to be behaving,” Jackson said as he gestured toward a nearby table.
Noah had a history of issues, just two of which centered on decision-making and controlling his anger. He had been a huge issue in Derrick and Ellie’s relationship at the start. But the twenty-year-old was brilliant and Derrick had become a mentor to him. Things were smoothing out on that front. “He’s doing better. Fitting in at work and is opening up a bit to Derrick, which is kind of funny to watch.”
Jackson nodded. “I love sitting in on meetings between the two of them, even though I rarely understand what Noah is saying.”
Spence cleared his throat as he searched for the right words. “About me leaving—”
“She’s been nervous lately, and that’s not her style. I’m not sure if it’s because of you or—”
“Wait a second.” The conversation kept rolling and Spence had yet to catch up, but he couldn’t let this part pass. “I have no intention of hurting her.”
Jackson lifted his glass and took another sip. “Because you love her.”
The words skidded across Spence’s brain. He wanted to deny but that’s not what came out. “Stop saying that.”
Jackson slowly lowered his glass again. “I notice you haven’t told me I’m wrong about the love thing. Not even a ‘get out of here.’”
“And I notice you waited to ambush me with this topic at a very public event.”
Jackson took a sip of his beer. “I’m a pretty smart guy.”
“You are.” Carter stepped up to the table out of nowhere. “And trouble. Six-foot-something of pure trouble.”
Seeing his baby brother, hearing that familiar amused voice, stunned Spence for a second. Carter looked the same except for the short scruff of a beard. He’d always possessed the clean-shaven baby face look. Not now. The straight black hair and black eyes were the same. He loomed tall and strong. None of that had changed.
“Carter,” Spence greeted his brother then stepped back for Jackson to take a turn.
More than one head turned as the three men shook hands and hugged. Spence saw a few people point. He glanced up to the second-story deck and saw Abby watching rather than paying attention to the man talking to her.
“Who takes more than four weeks to drive across the country? How lazy are you?” Jackson asked as he flagged down a server and grabbed a glass of water for Carter.
He downed it in one sip. “I was hoping Dad would come and go before I got here.”
Jackson shook his head. “You’re not that lucky.”
“None of us are,” Spence said.
Carter reached for another glass of water from a passing tray and scanned the area. “There are a lot of people here. Do we even know this many people? I sure don’t like this many people.”
None of them were that great with crowds, but Carter had “it”—the charm that allowed him to talk to anyone about anything for a good twenty minutes. The sunny smile and ability to chime in at the right times. After all that interested listening, he could slip away without crushing feelings.
Most people who met him described him as the kind of guy who really listened. Spence doubted that was actually true. Carter had perfected the art of faking it. A good skill to have if you wanted to survive in the Jameson family.
“Ellie insisted if this was going to be a big party, it had to include friends, family and work people.” Jackson shook his head as he spoke.
“She also demanded cupcakes,” Spence said.
Carter’s gaze traveled over the crowd, hesitating a few times before he spied Derrick and smiled. “Where exactly is my cupcake-eating future sister-in-law? I’m dying to meet the woman who managed to tame Derrick. She’s like a miracle worker.”
“You’ll like her.” Spence did. He couldn’t imagine anyone not liking her.
“She’s there.” Jackson pointed at the same table Ellie had been sitting at for an hour. Derrick had moved back, but not far. “The pretty brunette talking with my sister. The other woman at the table is Ellie’s best friend, Vanessa.”
“Who Jackson finds very attractive.” Spence had heard Jackson talk about Vanessa a few times, which was a few times more than he usually spoke about any woman in his life.
He shrugged. “I do have eyes.”
“Wait a second.” Carter’s smile widened. “Your sister is here?”
“She’s off-limits to you.” Jackson grumbled something about the Jameson men being nothing but trouble.
“You’ve been saying that for years.” Carter slapped Jackson on the back and took off. “I’ll be back. Try not to burn down the house while I’m gone.”
Spence watched as Carter stopped in front of Ellie and Zoe, Jackson’s sister. He picked Zoe up and spun her around. After some whispering with Ellie, he pulled her to her feet and hugged her, too.
Spence shook his head. “The charmer.”
“In case you were wondering, I saw Abby go into the house.” Jackson peered over the top of his glass at Spence. “Just helping.”
“She’s free to move around.”
“How very open-minded of you.”
“I mean...” Yes, he wanted to talk with her. Spence could at least admit that to himself. Seeing Derrick happy and Carter at home had Spence longing for something he couldn’t quite name or describe. The sensation hit him in waves and each time it crashed in, her name formed in his mind. “Fine.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Spence reached over and polished off the rest of Jackson’s drink. “You’re not as smart as you think you are.”
Jackson laughed. “Yes, I am.”
* * *
Abby was now very clear on what the phrase “made my skin crawl” meant. Ten minutes ago, she’d turned to leave the balcony and go down and check on Ellie. Got two steps before Jeff Berger slipped in front of her. She hadn’t known he was invited but she guessed she should have assumed. His company often went up against Jameson Industries on bids. Management from both companies joked about a friendly competition between the companies. She now knew that carried with it a seedy underbelly.
“It’s been a long time. I’ve called and haven’t heard back from you.” Jeff swirled the liquor in his glass. “I’m beginning to think you’re ignoring me.”
“Weird, right?”
“Honestly, I’m not used to that type of response.”
She guessed it would cause a scene if she tossed his sorry butt off the balcony of this sweet house, so she refrained. “From women?”
“From anyone.”
Lovely. But she was not surprised to hear it. Jeff had that look. The typical DC dude-with-money-and-connections look. He was older than Derrick by about ten ears, maybe forty-five or so. He had twin boys in private school. They played lacrosse because Jeff had. They’d probably go to some Ivy League school because Jeff did. Grow up to take over Daddy’s company like Jeff intended to do.
He walked around in a fog of privilege, once commenting that it was amazing how far the Jameson family had gotten, what with having a Japanese grandmother and all. As if their background should have discounted them from making money or fitting in with the old-money boys who liked to drink their lunches on Capitol Hill restaurants.
Jeff wasn’t old. There was nothing infirm about him. The receding hairline did nothing to dim what Abby supposed were his objective good looks. At least that’s what other people said. He did nothing for her.
He played golf and belonged to a country club because he was supposed to, but he stayed fit. Every time there was a charity run in town, he was there with his sneakers on...making sure to get his photo taken for the newspaper. He put on a hell of a show. Abby had to give him that.
She sensed he also secretly despised Derrick and his success. “I’m surprised you’re here.”
Jeff’s phony smile faltered a bit. “Derrick and I are business acquaintances.”
“Not friends.”
He made an annoying tsk-tsk sound. “What does that word even mean?”
No surprise he wouldn’t be familiar with the definition. She decided to cut through the garbage and get straight to the only issue between them. “Despite the covert agent thing you did with the note—and I will be talking with Rylan about that, by the way—I won’t be showing up to the meeting as ordered.”
“Of course you will.” Jeff took another swallow as he watched the activity on the grass below. “And do you know why, Abby? Because you are a very smart woman. You also have a lot to lose.”
The anxiety churning in her stomach took off now. She’d gone from wanting to see Spence and hating how much she wanted to see him, to dreading this conversation. Life kept whizzing by her and she could not grab on and slow it down.
But she wasn’t about to buy into whatever nonsense Jeff had planned. “Threats?”
“Think of this more as a conversation. One that will benefit you, if you play the game right.” He leaned down with his elbows on the banister and surveyed the property as if he owned it. “After all, you wouldn’t want Derrick or Spence to think you betrayed them.”
The word twisted in her head. Now that he’d planted it, she doubted she’d think of anything else. “I didn’t.”
Jeff stood up straight again and stared down at her, letting his gaze wander all over her. “You will.”
The look wasn’t predatory. This was a power play. Another one she’d walked into the middle of thanks to her work. “Don’t even try it, Jeff.”
His eyebrow lifted. “Word is Spence is sniffing around you again. You wouldn’t want to mess that up.”
“Go to hell.”
He winked at her. “We’ll talk soon.”
* * *
Spence started up the carved staircase running up the middle of the house. It rose then stopped at a landing and split with separate staircases going off to the right and left. As kids, he and his brothers would race cars down the steps, but only when his parents weren’t home to yell about the game.
This time when he looked up at the landing, he saw strappy high-heel shoes and long legs. Amazing legs. Like, killer those-things-should-be-insured legs. The edge of a purple cocktail dress. A little higher as his gaze slipped over her hips then on up.
Abby.
His heart revved. He could feel his blood pressure spike. All that talk about her and love, and there she was.
She walked down the stairs, taking her time. Enticing with a slight sway of her hips. Mentally slicing his control to shreds as she took each step. She stopped on the one above him but didn’t say anything.
“There you are.” His gaze met hers and the picture in his head—the one of them together, him stripping that dress off her shoulders—screeched to a halt in his head.
She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. She scanned the downstairs as if looking for someone and not wanting to see them. His dad, maybe? Whatever was happening inside her had her looking uncharacteristically shaky and unsure.
He reached out for her hand and was surprised when she grabbed on. “Hey, are you okay?”
He guided her down to the floor, hearing the click of her heels against the polished hardwood. He slipped her hand under his arm and touched her fingers. Ice-cold.
With the fake smile in place, she cleared her voice before answering. “Fine.”
“That’s not really believable.”
She shook her head. “Spence, I can’t discuss this right now.”
“Okay, wait. You’re obviously upset.” He guided her around the banister and into a hall. It ran the length of the right side of the house.
Leaning against the wall, he tried to block their view from the people walking in and out of the house. Many stopped and stared at the artwork trailing up the staircase and the massive chandelier hanging in the center hall. Others smiled on the way to one of the house’s nine bathrooms a few doors down.
A thousand thoughts streamed through his head. He blamed his father for putting her in this state. He also played a part. So did too much work. There was a lot of responsibility to go around, but he wanted to lessen the burden. “Talk to me.”
“I’m on edge and...” She shook her hands in front of her, like she was trying to get the feeling back in them.
He had no idea what was going on in her head but the aching need he had for her turned into something else. “What is it? Tell me so I can help.”
She looked at him then. Met his gaze straight on. “I have all of this energy bouncing around inside me. Add in alcohol and, well, it’s a combination for bad decisions.”
“Am I a bad decision?” He knew the answer but asked anyway.
Her gaze traveled over him. Hesitated on his mouth, then dipped lower. To the base of his throat. “The absolute worst.”
That look. It was almost as if... What the hell was happening? He grabbed on to the last of his common sense. Something was wrong. She didn’t seem like herself and there was no way he was going to take advantage of that. “Maybe you should go upstairs and rest and then we can—”
“Kiss me.”
That fast the world flipped on him. Tension ratcheted up. Not the I’m-worried kind but the let’s-get-naked type. “Excuse me?”
“Where does that door lead?” She pointed at the one over his shoulder and when he didn’t answer, she reached across him and turned the knob. A quick flick of the wall switch and the oversize pantry was bathed in light. “This will work.”
He was pretty sure he was having a stroke. His muscles refused to work. He couldn’t form a sentence. It was a struggle just to get out her name. “Abby...”
She backed him up against the packed shelves lining the wall. Their bodies barely touched as they brushed over each other. It was enough to set off an explosion in his head. The good kind. The kind where he wanted to touch her and taste her and do everything he’d dreamed of doing with her but figured he would never get the chance.
“I’m tired of wanting you and fighting it.” She grabbed the post behind his head with one hand. The other went to the top of his shirt to play with the buttons there. “I’m tired of trying to do the right thing.”
Wanting you? He was half-sure he made that part up in his head. “Abby, what’s going on?”
“I’m here in this beautiful place. Watching you. Seeing all these people. Thinking about my choices.” She dropped her head down to rest on his chest.
Her scent wound around him. Soft hair slid over his skin. He was pretty certain she could hear his heartbeat because it hammered loud enough to fill his ears.
Knowing he could pull back if she asked him to, because that would always be the answer for him, he slipped his fingers through her soft hair. “Is this the alcohol talking?”
“I’ve only had one half-filled glass of Champagne.”
Her voice vibrated against his chest. Warm breath skipped over his bare skin.
There was no way he was going to survive this.
His fingers continued to gently massage the back of her neck. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
Her head shot up. “You’re not your father.”
“What?”
“Kiss me.”
Her eyes were clear and he didn’t smell alcohol. But the stench of regret would be sickening and strong if he got this moment wrong. “I’m trying not to be a jerk here.”
She undid his top shirt button. Then the next. “I’ll sign a release if you want or go tell a witness I asked for this or—”
“Stop talking.”
He left her for a second. Didn’t go far. With his hands shaking, he turned the lock on the door, grateful there was one. The mumble of voices rose and fell outside the door as people walked down the hall. No one tried to come in, but there really wasn’t a reason to. At least he hoped that was true.
He looked at her, studied that stunning face and saw the heat move into her eyes. Still, they had to be clear because this could go so wrong. “Be sure.”
“Spence, you are never going to get a greener light.”
She stood there in that sexy dress with her hands crossed over her chest. She wasn’t hiding from him. No, he got the sense she was ready. Very ready.
“You’ll tell me if—”
She reached out and hooked her finger through his belt loop. Pulled him close. “Green light.”