Chapter 15
STRICTLY BUSINESS
“How did the trip go?” Braylon asked him on Friday morning when they met for their weekly meeting.
“Good. There were some red flags right away. But everything seems fixable.”
“Sounds it,” Braylon said. “London emailed West on Tuesday morning explaining the situation with Belinda and then Chad.”
Spencer hadn’t been aware of that. Then he told himself he didn’t need to know those things.
That wasn’t what his job was.
“That will be West’s problem, but I think Belinda saw what happened. I feel for her in a way. She was sick, dealing with health issues and left it in Chad’s hands. She regrets that now.”
“Things like that happen too often. It’s why we monitor all investments as much as we do, then step in when need be. No one likes throwing money around to have it burned.”
“No matter how much you’ve got,” he said.
“Exactly. And how was London?”
“She was good. She knows her stuff.”
“I don’t doubt that. But how was she with the staff? Especially since things didn’t appear to go as well as planned.”
Braylon didn’t know the half of it. Nor would Spencer admit they shared a room.
There were some things that weren’t worth going into and it wasn’t as if anyone would know that.
“She was fine.”
“You don’t have to cover for her. I’m sure she was her normal...to the point self.”
“She had her reasons when it came out,” he said. There was no reason to throw her under the bus when it seemed Braylon was aware of her personality. “But she knew who to direct it to and when. In the end, everyone was fine. Belinda was upset over the turn of events, but very cooperative.”
“That’s good to know. How is everything else going? I remember going to Maine with West years ago. I felt the smell of lobster clung to me for weeks.”
Spencer laughed. “I showered twice that night and took an extra long one this morning again. I feel as if it’s in my pores, but you tell me. You didn’t notice anything, did you?”
“I’m not going to get up and sniff you to find out.”
“Nor do I want you to,” he said, laughing. “Just that you didn’t notice it when I came in. I wanted to burn my clothes last night. I washed them twice too. They seemed fine once I put them away.”
“It’s probably because we aren’t used to it. A nice area, but not much to do or see. We were only there two days. Laken spent more time there once it was finalized.”
“She had to hate West for that.”
“Actually, other than the smell, she liked the area. Said it was more relaxing than she’d thought it’d be.”
He might have felt the same way if he weren’t sharing such cozy quarters with a woman who made his blood boil.
In more ways than one.
He wanted to go back to having her annoy him rather than turn him on.
He didn’t seem to get that wish though.
“I can see that,” he said. “It’s a different change of pace. One I notice when I visit Angel and Coy.”
“Big city living isn’t for everyone. Foster and Elias hate it.”
“I don’t think Angel had it in her to live in a big city either. Me, I like it. Most times.”
They went back to work after the small talk, and he was walking back to his office thirty minutes later.
He left to go to the cafeteria, got an iced coffee and was returning to his desk when Noelle stopped him.
“Do you have a minute to go over a few things?” Noelle asked.
“I do. Come on in.”
He turned to his office, Noelle on his heels, then in the chair across from him.
“How did it go in Maine?”
“Well. London should be putting together a few things by early next week that will come to you, then to me to review.”
“I was hoping that,” Noelle said. “I knew they were going to hire another attorney, but didn’t think it’d be someone else I’d have to report to.”
This was news to him. “It was always going to be a senior position.”
“I know. I just thought maybe I’d proven myself.”
She was a few years shy of thirty, and from what he’d heard, pretty damn catty on top of it.
Not that he’d seen poor work from her, but she wasn’t someone to buckle down and show a ton of drive. Not like he did at her age.
“I’m not the one you take that up with,” he said. “Did you apply?”
“I didn’t even know it was posted,” Noelle said. “I just heard rumors. I thought for sure that it was only for Kenzie when she took the bar in February. You know, they’ll find a spot for her being Nelson’s wife.”
“Not my call,” he said. Spencer didn’t know where she was going with this.
“I know. Sorry. I’ve always felt I could talk to Braylon when I needed to. I mean, rarely, but if I had to stop in with work or set a meeting, he was around. But things have been crazy and now he has less time for me and more for Kenzie.”
“Which is why I’m here. I’ve got more time to meet and work with you.”
She smiled. “Really? So it’s like a mentorship?”
“I don’t know that I’d go that far. We’ve got a job to do and I’ll gladly help any way I can. If that is how you want to look at it, sure.”
He’d never been a mentor for anyone before, but maybe it’d be fulfilling.
“I hoped to travel some,” Noelle said. “That’s why I asked how Maine was. Do you think I’ll get that opportunity?”
“I’m sure if it comes about and you prove yourself, that it might happen.”
Best way to answer.
London would call that lawyer talk.
She’d be right.
What he hated was that she was popping into his head more than he cared for.
He hadn’t heard one word from her since they got off the plane on Wednesday.
Then he had to ask himself why he thought he would.
She had other clients and projects.
The same with him.
They needed this time away from each other to make it easier. To keep it professional.
“I’m glad. I’m finishing a few things up and hoped that maybe if you’re not busy around noon, we could go through it together.”
He pulled up his calendar. “I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes. It should be done by noon, but then I’ve got another at one thirty.”
“Perfect,” Noelle said, standing. “Do you want me to order lunch for us or are you one of those guys who brings it?”
He wasn’t sure how this turned into having lunch together, but since he had a packed day, he still had to eat.
And he really hated that she made him sound boring for bringing his lunch with him.
“I’ve got something,” he said. “I’ll see you soon.”
Noelle left his office, and Spencer turned back to his inbox to prep for his next call.
London’s name jumped out immediately.
His pulse kicked up. His eyes locked on the email like it had personally called his name.
He clicked.
It was short, professional, and efficient.
Then an attachment of a summary of their trip.
He opened it because everything about her made him continue rather than stop or pause.
There was nothing about the shared hotel room.
Nothing about the kiss.
Nothing even hinted at the night that turned his brain into a live wire and he hoped it’d done the same to her.
Not that he knew why he expected anything different in this report.
It was strictly business. What they’d learned, who they’d talked to, and what they’d accomplished.
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
It would be better for him if he just forgot the kiss. Hell, safer. Cleaner. But he couldn’t.
It was still keeping him up at night.
Still lingering on his lips like she was pressed against him now.
Still making him wish he’d stood up, hauled her into his arms, and felt all of her. Every line and every curve against him.
But if he’d done that…there might not have been any turning back.
And for a man who put everything in his life behind his career, he was terrified of this hold she had on him.