Chapter Eighteen
“I told you that you need to get laid,” Erika whispered over her shoulder as she ogled Spencer while he talked with Ben over by the refreshment table. “Only mind-blowing sex can put that kind of smile of a woman’s face.”
“Shh….” Nicey tried to hush Erika so her voice wouldn’t travel across the room towards Spencer. “I couldn’t believe it when you said that the first time and I can’t believe you said it again.”
“Sorry, it must be the hormones,” Erika apologized taking a sip of her sparkling cider, “but I’ve been saying what’s on my mind lately even Dylan has gotten on me a couple of times.”
“No big deal,” she answered then smiled when Spencer turned and waved at her. “I’ve to admit that I do feel like a different woman since he can into my life.”
“What woman wouldn’t? He’s gorgeous and I’m very hurt that you kept him a secret for such a long time.”
“How could I tell you I was in a relationship with him when I kept fighting him? It took a lot of work on his part for me to even agree to a first date with him,” she confessed. “I’m surprised I didn’t scare him off.”
“I’m shocked at you. I thought you knew,” Erika uttered.
Focusing her attention away from Spencer and the small dinner party he decided to have caterer in his living room a week after he suggested the idea to her. Nicey pinned her family member with a confused look. “Thought I knew what?”
“A man never gives up when he finds a woman beautiful, interesting, and one hell of a challenge. You probably had Spencer the second you walked away from him.”
She never thought about it like that but Spencer had been persistent in his pursuit of her and a part of her loved the fact that he didn’t give up on her. He knew what they could have and he worked until he made her see the same thing.
“Spencer is a wonderful guy and I’m totally in love with him.”
“How did it go when you got introduced to Ben, isn’t he a cop?”
Nicey tried not to think about Ben’s profession to much because she didn’t want it to freak her out.
“I hadn’t met him yet. I think Spencer wanted to talk to him first, so I suggested he waited until Rishelle came since Sarah already had plans with her husband and we can make the introductions then. ”
“I’m sorry that I won’t be able to stay longer,” Erika apologized taking a peek at her watch.
“Hey, you showed up and introduced yourself to Spencer. I think the two of you got along fine,” she smiled. “I’m hoping that Rishelle doesn’t ask him a million and one questions. You know how she can be.”
“Yeah, the soap box queen,” Erika snickered.
“Speaking of the devil I better go before she shows up. Dylan is waiting for me at home with a surprise. I can’t wait to see what it is.
Last time it was a baby’s first scrap book and we’ve already started to fill it up.
I’m really hoping that he has put the crib together in the nursery. ”
Nicey gave Erika hug and walked her to the door. “I hate for you to leave but I understand.”
“Will you tell Spencer I said good-bye? Maybe I’ll have another chance to meet Ben maybe at your wedding to Spencer,” Erika hinted then kissed her on the cheek and then sauntered out the door.
As she was going to her car parked in the driveway.
Rishelle was getting out on hers that was parked on the street.
Nicey was thankful that both women just spoke to each other and left it at that.
“Come on in here,” Nicey yelled at Rishelle as she hurried towards the house.
Rishelle gave her a quick hug and came inside the warm house. “I didn’t know your man lived out here in the boonies. I almost decided to turn back around and go home.”
“I’m so happy that you didn’t,” Nicey stated. “How about I fix you a cup of hot chocolate and then I’ll go introduce you to Spencer and his friend.”
“When have you ever known me to turn down a cup of chocolate,” Rishelle chuckled as she followed her to the kitchen.
“I haven’t that’s why I asked you,” Nicey answered as she went in the direction of the kitchen with Rishelle at her heels.
* * * *
“I can see why you had me look up Nicey’s license plate. She is stunning,” Ben said. “Now I wished that I had taken off and gone to that party with you.”
“Keep your eyes in your head and stay at least thirty feet back from my woman,” Spencer threatened with a teasing tone to his voice and then sobered up. “Seriously Nicey is a little leery of cops so don’t go messing with her. I know how you can be sometimes.”
“What is she hiding? Do you want me to check her out in the computer again?” Ben suggested in complete cop mode. “You know that I’ll do it for you.”
Terrified that Nicey might overhear Ben; Spencer grabbed him by the arm and yanked him over to the patio doors.
“No, I don’t want you checking her out. Tonight, I only want you to be my friend and nothing else.
I can’t wait until you fall in love. Maybe it will smooth out some of your rough edges. Have you ever been in love?”
Ben got this faraway look in his eyes for a second and then it disappeared. “Yeah, I was in love with this woman a few years ago but it didn’t work out.”
“It happened after I got my last divorce. She was beautiful and totally in love with me, but I ruin it so badly. I don’t think I’ll ever find anyone else like her again.
‘What happened?”
“I was working undercover and she walked in on something that she shouldn’t have. I tried to explain it to her, but she just won’t listen to a word I said. After two months of trying I finally got tired and gave up on her.”
“Do you regret it now? Do you think she was the one?” Spencer asked surprised by the remorse in his friend’s voice.
“Yeah she was the one and I have never found another woman like her and probably never will,” Ben uttered glancing away from him. “Hey, why are we discussing me when this party is about you and Nicey?”
Spencer wanted to dig deeper and find out how Ben ruined his relationship with this mystery woman, but he could tell the topic was closed now and Ben wasn’t going to revisit it.
“You’re right. The party is for Nicey. I wanted to show her how much she means to me. Plus Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and I wanted to start it off with something special for her.”
“I think this is pretty cool,” Ben whistled as his eyes scanned the room. “I don’t see how you can top this party. The food was delicious and I can see how much you love her so she’s bound to know it too.”
“This is only the topping on the cake. What I’ve planned for Valentine’s Day is going to blow her mind,” Spencer grinned rubbing his hands together. “All I’ve to do is make it there and not ruin the surprise.”
“You’re going to ask her to marry you,” Ben stated without a doubt in his voice.
“Damn right I am,” Spencer nodded, “and if you give it away tonight at the party I’ll disown you as my friend.”
“Hey, it’s your surprise my lips are sealed.”
Spencer spotted Nicey coming towards them from the corner of his eyes with her friend. “They better be or I’ll close them for you,” he threatened and then he faced the love of his life.
* * * *
Moving forward Spencer wrapped her up in his arms while his friend Ben continued to stare out into the yard through the patio doors.
He was acting strangely like he didn’t want to be here with them anymore.
“Beautiful, have I told you how spectacular you look in this blue dress tonight. It almost made me cancel the party.”
“I know this dress would get you all hot and bothered. That’s why I stayed a while in the bathroom until Ben showed up. I couldn’t have you messing up my hard work,” she murmured sliding her fingers inside his shirt. “Once you start kissing me I forget about anything else.”
“I think I better cut in or this will get rated R really quick,” Rishelle cut in laughing.
Embarrassed by her lack of control Nicey moved back from Spencer next to Rishelle, “Sorry about that I always get carried away when I’m around him.”
“Don’t apologize,” Rishelle scolded. “I used to be the same way with the man I was in love with but that was a very long time ago. Now are you going to introduce me to your boyfriend and his friend?”
“My manners are horrible tonight,” Nicey sighed. “Rishelle, meet my boyfriend Spencer Davis. Spencer, meet my best girlfriend Rishelle.”
“Nice to meet Spencer.”
“Same here Rishelle,” Spencer answered.
“I believe the silent man with his back turned to us is named Ben and he’s Spencer’s best friend.” Nicey waited while Spencer got his friend’s attention.
“Sorry about that honey,” Spencer apologized and then tapped his buddy on the shoulder. “Stop staring at the walls and turn around here. Your face isn’t that ugly and I want you to meet my girlfriend and her friend Rishelle.”
Nicey’s smiled at how easily the word girlfriend rolled off Spencer’s tongue. She hadn’t been anyone girlfriend for a while and she loved the sound of it.
“I apologize,” a rich voice uttered then spun around to face her and Rishelle.
“It can’t be you!” Rishelle screamed by her and then took a step back.
Nicey saw the devastation in Rishelle’s sienna eyes and it scared her. She had never seen that look in Rishelle’s face ever in her life. “Rishelle do you know him?”
“Ben, do you know Rishelle?” Spencer blurted out the question beating her to it.
Before Ben could answer Spencer’s question, Rishelle touched her on the arm, “I’m so sorry but I can’t stay.
I’ve got to go.” Rishelle’s eyes darted back over to Ben one last time and then she made a beeline for the door.
Seconds later the sound of a car speeding down the street echoed in the house.
Pissed that Rishelle left the house with an eye full of tears Nicey directed her anger at the man who caused it, “What have you done to Rishelle? Spencer, make him answer me,” she shouted taking a step towards Ben totally forgetting that he was a cop.
“Honey, wait a minute. Let’s find out what’s going on,” Spencer urged restraining her with his hand on her elbow.
“Fine, but you make him tell us. I’ve never seen her that upset.”
Ben blinked at them a couple of times like his mind was cloudy then he focused his attention on Spencer instead of her. “I never knew that she didn’t leave town. I could never find her.”
“She’s the one you were talking about,” Spencer said leaving her confused and angry that she was left in the blue.
“Rishelle is the one what? What do you know that I don’t?”
“I have to go,” Ben uttered hurrying around them “I need find Rishelle and try to explain to her make understand that what she saw was a mistake.” He opened the front door and slammed it closed behind him.
Nicey didn’t want Ben to leave until he answered all of her questions. She tried to go after him, but Spencer tightened his grip making her stand still. “Let me go. He can’t leave until I find out what he did to Rishelle.”
“Nicey, let it go. It’s between Rishelle and Ben. I don’t know the whole story with them but it doesn’t involve it us.”
She swallowed hard, lifted her chin and stared directly into his eyes.
“Spencer, I love you so much but my friend needs me and I’ve to find out what’s wrong with her.
You don’t understand. Rishelle is one of the toughest women that I know and she left here in tears. I need to help her please understand.”
“I know and that’s why I love you so much. Go and see if you can find her. Call me later if you want to come back out here and I’ll come and get you. I don’t want you driving out here late at night,” he said escorting her to the door.
Opening the door he leaned against the frame and at the precise moment Nicey realized that Spencer was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. “Do you still want me to be your Valentine?”
“You better believe it and don’t you forget it. Or I might have to remind you how much you love me,” he teased.
“I could never forget how much I love you, Spencer.”
She planted a soft kiss on his mouth and then raced to her car. Once she got on the inside Nicey waved at Spencer, pulled out of the driveway, and made her way back to town. She was going to find Rishelle and uncover what the deal was about Ben.