Chapter Twenty-Four
Tabitha
By the time we”ve all piled into the shop, Spencer has recovered from the shock of realizing he”d gotten the time line of the American Wives Club a little bit wrong. I know he”s worried about his brother, and that”s the real reason he”s been kind of out of sorts this weekend. But he relaxes considerably once Mom and Dad begin the tour of antiques in this shop.
”We have several areas of interest in this shop,” Dad says. ”We call them districts. See, over there we have the Victorian District. Next to that is the Mid-Century District, and in the corner there you”ll find the Art Deco District. That”s just the beginning.”
”Let”s introduce him to the gang,” Mom suggests. ”They”ll be tickled pink to meet our British friend.”
I lag behind the others just a little as my parents, Bree, and Spence approach the main counter at the front of the shop. Mom makes the introductions, but Spencer charms the pants off everyone with his wit and cheerfulness. Laughter echoes through the shop. Customers don”t seem to mind, and they go on browsing even while our little group is having a great time. I”ve stayed in the background strictly so Spencer can enjoy the spotlight.
Then he stretches out his hand to me. ”Come over here, Tabitha, please. Why are you hiding back there?”
I push through the crowd to reach him. ”Didn”t want to get in the way. You were having such a good time, and I was enjoying the Spencer Halfenaked Variety Show.”
”This lot find me fascinating only because I”m British. If I were Canadian, no one would give a toss about me.” He glances around the shop. ”This is the most interesting and inviting antiques shop I”ve ever seen. Well done, all of you.”
After a slow perusal of the shop, Spencer has had enough and wants to go back to the homestead to pick up our bags. He loved the shop, but we have to work tomorrow. We”ve got a six-hour drive ahead of us. After grabbing our things, we walk out of my tiny house. I lock the door, feeling a twinge of disappointment. But I”ve outgrown the tiny-house lifestyle. Still, I plan to visit my family much more often. I never want to become a stranger to my own parents or my sister.
I voice those thoughts to Spencer as we amble across the clearing, heading for the driveway.
”Sabrina will harass you endlessly to make certain you visit the homestead often,” Spencer says. ”But I”ve taken a job thousands of miles away from my home, and I won”t be able to see my family has often as I”d like.”
”They understand, I”m sure.”
”I do have a few mates who own private jets. Maybe they would lend me their planes once in a while so I could visit my family.”
”Yeah, I bet they would. From what you”ve told me about your friends, they sound like very generous people.”
He stops at our car, opening the passenger door for me. ”I”ll ask about that when we”re at Sommerleigh.”
My parents and Sabrina rush out of Mom and Dad”s house to hug us and kiss our cheeks and babble about how much they”ll miss us. Jeez, we”ll only be six hours away in Arlington. But as we start rolling down the driveway, I realize I do miss them already. For too long, I”ve let work dictate my life schedule, rather than the other way around.
Family first, from this moment on.
Spencer and I have another fun road trip back to Arlington, singing along with my favorite tunes and teasing each other with sarcasm. When we stop at a gas station, he disappears inside it for longer than seems necessary. I find out why when he climbs into the driver”s seat carrying a plastic bag stuffed with goodies. Yes, that means junk food. Bottles of pop too.
”We can”t possibly eat all of this food, Spence. You must have developed a serious sugar craving.”
”There are cheesy potato crisps too. And also three kinds of nuts.”
”Well, that makes it a healthy snack, then.”
He tickles my tummy until I”m laughing so hard that my eyes water. Then he gets a sneaky look on his face. ”Now I know the secret spots where I can tickle you. I have filed that information deep inside my brain. I won”t forget.”
”That sounds dangerous. A sexy Brit who knows how to tickle me into submission? Heaven help me.”
”Don”t worry, pet. I”m sure you can find my secret tickle spot if you try very, very hard.”
That steamy smirk always makes me melt for this man.
So, I settle a hand on his thigh. ”I accept your challenge. Sooner or later, I will find your sweet spots, and then I”ll have you enthralled forever.”
”But you”ve already done that, love. I was enthralled by you the moment we met.”
”We might need to pull over at the next rest stop. I need you to screw me so badly it”s embarrassing.”
”Tabitha Remington does not get embarrassed. You are a feisty yet kind free spirit.”
I have no idea how to respond to that declaration. Spencer always knows what to say to make me feel like I”m soaring through the sky with his hand in mine.
We arrive in Arlington at dusk. Spencer politely inquires whether I want him to drop me off at my apartment or take me to his place. We both knew the answer before he asked the question.
”I want to be with you tonight, sweetie. Need my British sex god snuggled up with me in bed.”
”Sex god?” he says with a slight chuckle. ”I”m not that good.”
”Don”t be so humble. You rock the bedroom, Spence. And the hot office sex too.”
His adorable little smirk proves he agrees with my assessment of his prowess. Just a few weeks ago, he would have been embarrassed by what I said. My, how things have changed.
In the morning, it”s time to get back to work. Since I didn”t bring any business clothes with me for the weekend, Spence had called Duane while we were on the road back to Arlington and asked if he would mind picking us up a little early. No surprise, Duane agreed. So, this morning, he waits in the car while Spence and I go up to my apartment.
Spencer watches me changing clothes.
Yeah, that was my idea. He loved it.
”That suit looks the best on you,” he says. ”The color enhances your complexion, not that you need any enhancing. Your natural beauty is stunning.”
I”ve just slipped my shoes on, and I walk up to him, then straighten his tie a little bit. ”You can feel free to lavish me with compliments for the rest of our lives.”
”Do you plan on staying with me for that long?”
I touch my lips to his. ”Forever with you sounds like a dream come true.”
”Glad you feel that way. I can”t picture my life without you in it anymore.”
Maybe we didn”t expressly state our feelings for each other, but I believe we both know what we meant.
Once we”re inside the car, Spencer waves a hand toward the windshield. ”Make haste, Duane. Our princess must not be late to court.”
Duane grins. ”You”re one strange guy, Spence. But I”ve always liked that kind. It”s the serious ones who make me nervous.”
I give Spencer”s knee a quick squeeze. ”I like the strange ones too, Duane. Why wouldn”t I? Everyone thinks I”m weird too.”
”Normal is overrated.”
After Duane drops us off at work, Spencer encourages him to ”go have some fun” while he waits for us to finish the day”s tasks. Spencer has just climbed out of the car, so I lean over the front seat to plant a firm kiss on Duane”s cheek. Then I wink and kiss his cheek again.
I swear he almost seems to be blushing.
My knight in a dark-blue suit helps me out of the car. Spencer always insists on taking my arm even when we”re walking through an underground parking garage or riding in the elevator. He doesn”t let go until I sit down at my desk.
Even then, he bends over the desk to give me one last kiss before the workday officially begins. I crane my neck to watch him walking away. That suit highlights his muscles, and it makes his ass look so damn good that I want to race into his office and drag him onto the desk with me on top.
The big bosses don”t arrive at work until nine fifteen, for reasons I”ve never understood. Shouldn”t everyone show up at nine on the dot? The big bosses are board members, which I guess explains it.
At precisely nine seventeen, Spencer emerges from his office and halts at my desk. ”I”ve made an appointment with my immediate superior, Desmond Rademaker. We are to report to his office right away.”
”We? You told him we both want time off?”
”Yes.” He takes hold of my hand, kissing my palm. ”Don”t worry, darling. Desmond isn”t a monster, and I sincerely doubt he will give us any trouble when we ask for extended leave for the wedding. I mentioned to him that my brother needs my support. He seemed receptive to the idea.”
”Oh, good. I was actually getting a touch anxious about that.”
”I had a feeling you were.” He threads his fingers with mine as he leads me toward the elevator. ”Would a quick shag on the way up to the eighth floor ease your anxiety?”
The laugh I tried to squelch comes out a snort. ”I know you”re joking. Thank you for trying to lighten the mood for me. But I don”t think walking into Desmond”s office with my hair a mess and my skirt hiked up is the right way to meet him.”
The elevator has just glided open, and Spencer gestures for me to go in first. ”Oh, I would”ve helped you straighten your clothes, Tabby. Not much I could do for your lipstick, though.”
He”s just the cutest. No wonder I fell for him.
We hold hands in the elevator but separate as we approach the receptionist”s desk at Desmond Rademaker”s office. A very efficient gray-haired woman greets us with a professional smile and tells us to go on in. She even gets up to open the door for us. Have I been remiss in my administrative assistant duties? I”ve never opened the door for anybody. No one told me that was a requirement for my job.
Okay, yes, I know it”s not a requirement. But I do now feel like the low-rent assistant. I get coffee for Spencer, but I”ve never offered him mints. This woman does that too.
But I”d bet all the money I have that she never screws her boss on his desk.
As we enter Desmond Rademaker”s office, I notice that Spencer is lagging a step or two behind. I don”t know what to make of that until it hits me like a bolt of lightning. He”s being chivalrous again, letting the lady go first. Come to think of it, I”ve seen him do that with lots of women. Showing respect for women might be the hottest thing he”s ever done.
Desmond Rademaker rises from his chair when we approach his desk. He waves toward the two chairs in front of us. ”Please, do sit down.”
Spencer waits for me to sit, then he does the same.
I cross my legs and set my tablet on my lap. I”d brought it just in case I need to take notes or bash this guy over the head. The latter seems unlikely.
Desmond Rademaker isn”t what I expected. I”ve heard of him but never knew much about him including what he looks like. He has short gray hair, brown eyes, and a smattering of wrinkles, mostly around his eyes. I”ve never been great at guessing ages, but I feel confident in pegging him at his early sixties.
He folds his hands on the desktop. ”What can I do for you two this morning?”
Spencer remains calm as he meets the big guy”s gaze. ”Tabitha and I need to take this week off. My family needs me, and I need Tabitha.”
My heart just skipped a beat. He needs me. I had no idea.
Desmond Rademaker stares intently at Spencer. ”Explain to me why I should give you a week”s vacation after less than one month on the job.”
Oh, shit. He”s going to fire us both.