Fix My Fall (The Fix Series Boo - Carey Heywood

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Table of Contents Epilogue Also by Carey Heywood Abby Spencer About the Author Acknowledgments Samantha & Brent

FIX MY FALL

Abby Thompson’s love life is a disaster. Everyone around her is blissfully falling in love, while she’s busy binge watching anime. The last thing she needs is a walking temptation, in the form of exnerd turned dreamy astrophysics professor, Spencer Hill, aka her new client. It’s her job to find Spencer his dream home, NOT fantasize about a ride on his space rocket. But the sparks between them are impossible to ignore, and soon, Abby is wondering if her losing streak in love could be turning around. Can she get over her anxiety he’s got her outbrained, and can he let go of the past and the fear that the girl he crushed on in high school is still out of his league? Find out in the new feel-good romantic comedy from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Carey Heywood!

FIX MY FALL THE FIX SERIES, BOOK 3

CAREY HEYWOOD CAREY HEYWOOD LLC

COPYRIGHT Fix My Fall Copyright © Carey Heywood LLC All right reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via other means without the permission of the publisher are illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Fix My Fall is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Created with Vellum

CO NTENTS

Also by Carey Heywood 1. Abby 2. Spencer 3. Abby 4. Spencer 5. Abby 6. Spencer 7. Abby 8. Spencer 9. Abby 10. Spencer 11. Abby 12. Spencer 13. Abby 14. Spencer 15. Abby 16. Spencer 17. Abby 18. Spencer 19. Abby 20. Spencer 21. Abby Epilogue Also by Carey Heywood

About the Author Acknowledgments Samantha & Brent

ALSO BY CAREY HEYWOOD

The Fix Series Fix Her Up (Finley & Noah) Fix Me Not (Paige & Asher) Fix My Fall (Abby & Spencer)

Him & Her Series Him (book 1) Her (book 2) Them (book 3) Sawyer Says (spin off) Being Neighborly (spin off novella)

Carolina Days The Other Side of Someday (Courtney & Clay) Yesterday’s Half Truths (Lindsay & Luke) Chasing Daylight (McKenzie & Mitch)

Love Riddles

Why Now? (Kacey & Jake) Why Lie? (Sydney & Heath) Why Not? (Reilly & Trip)

Standalones Better Stages of Grace Uninvolved A Bridge of Her Own

Audiobooks Him (also available on audible) Her (also available on audible) Better (also available on audible)

DEDICATION

Zachary, Aydan, Emma Thank you for our Naruto marathons, dark matter musings, and for inspiring me daily.

1

ABBY

“I

want to watch Moana,” Connie, my sevenyear-old niece, shrieks. “We’ve already seen it a hundred times,” Aidan, her older brother, groans. My eyes dart to Ethan, the oldest of the three, for help. He glances between his younger brother and sister before rolling his eyes and looking down at his phone. Crap. “Maybe we can watch another movie,” I say, trying to encourage sibling peace. “I want to watch Stranger Things,” Aidan replies. My mouth falls open. “No way, that’s too scary for you and way too scary for Connie.” “They’ve both already seen it,” Ethan mumbles, eyes still on his phone.

My eyes widen. “No way.” Both Aidan and Connie nod in confirmation. “It wasn’t that scary,” Aidan replies. Connie tugs at one of her braids, freeing strands at the back. “I don’t like the monster.” I motion to her, my eyes on Aidan. “See? Scary.” He crosses his arms over his chest and looks into my dining room. “Have any of you seen Naruto?” I ask, already knowing the answer. In unison, they groan and rustle with annoyance in their seats. “We don’t like ninja stuff,” Ethan says for the three of them. Ugh. “How can you not like ninja stuff? Ninja stuff and this anime show in particular is amazing,” I reply, standing to somehow make my argument stronger. “Where’s your cat?” Connie asks, not caring. I wave my hand toward the stairs. “Emo’s probably on the kitty playhouse in the spare bedroom.” Before I say anything else, Connie scrambles off of my sofa and out of the living room. I toss my remote to Aidan. “Try and find a movie everyone will like while I serve up the pizza.”

He focuses his attention on my TV and starts scrolling through the available titles. “Ethan.” When he looks up, I tilt my head toward the kitchen. “Want to give me a hand?” Shoving his phone into the front pocket of his hoodie, he pushes up off of the couch and trails me to my kitchen. It’s crazy how much he looks like Eli, my older brother, when he was Ethan’s age. At twelve years old, he’s too cool for bear hugs from me. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to do it anyway. Especially with all of the problems his parents have been having recently. For the sake of these amazing kids, I wish they’d get their shit together already. It has to be confusing to the three of them. Problem is, I know how much Eli and Brooke still love each other. If they could stop fighting and focus on that love, maybe they could work their problems out. Not that I can tell either of them that. Nope, I keep my mouth shut to stay in their good graces so I can still spend time with my niece and nephews. “How are things at home?” I ask, once I’m sure Aidan can’t hear us. Ethan shrugs, walking past me to pull plates down from my cabinet. “Dad moved back in but is sleeping on the couch. They don’t know I know but I went downstairs in the middle of the night to get a

drink and saw him there.” At this point, I’m not sure if that’s progress or not. The fact that he’s back in the house is good. For a few weeks he had been crashing at Gideon’s. Still, sleeping on the couch doesn’t sound like a good thing. “You know your parents love each other very much,” I tell him, making eye contact. “Yeah, yeah,” he murmurs. Deciding a subject change is in order, I ask, “How’s football going?” He opens the lid of the pizza and slides a slice onto the top plate. “We didn’t make it to the playoffs. Are we eating while we watch the movie?” I nod and he sets the top plate aside. Once he has a slice on the next plate, he says, “I’ll take these in for Aidan and me. Want me to go get Connie?” I guess that means question time is over. “Yeah buddy, thanks for helping me.” As he walks away, I get plates ready for Connie and myself. “What about Guardians of the Galaxy Two?” Aidan asks when I walk into the room. “I like Groot,” Connie replies from the stairs. “Work for you?” I ask Ethan. He shrugs which I take as a yes. “Go ahead and start it Aidan. I’ll be right back

with drinks.” I say, after setting Connie and my plates down on the coffee table. As far as I remember, they all still like strawberry milk. I set up an assembly line of cups, powder, and the milk on my island, before kicking the door to the fridge closed. The floor shaking groan that answers, is not normal. “Aidan, turn down the volume!” I shout. Ethan, white-faced, tip toes toward the opening of the kitchen. “He hasn’t started the movie.” The floor beneath my feet shifts again, my entire house moving with it. My eyes lock on his wide, scared eyes. Aidan and Connie rush up behind him, each grabbing onto one of his arms. “Auntie Abby, is this an earthquake?” Connie asks. Before I can answer, movement out of my left eye catches my attention. Turning my head, I watch in horror as the back right corner of my dining room starts sinking. “Oh my God!” Both Connie and Aidan scream. “Move!” I order, skirting around my island and ushering the three of them into my garage. They aren’t even buckled as I hit the garage door opener and start to back out. Once I reach my street, I park in front of my neighbor’s house.

“Ethan, call your father.” He nods and pulls out his phone. I twist in my seat to face Aidan. “Do you have your phone?” “Uh huh,” he says, pulling it from his back pocket. “Can you text Uncle Noah and Uncle Gideon, and tell them all to get over here?” He looks down, his thumbs already moving. “Dad, you need to come to Aunt Abby’s house right now,” Ethan says into his phone. Turning back to look at my house, I open my door. “You’re not going back in there!” Aidan shouts from the back seat as Connie quietly cries. Cringing, I close my door and look toward my house. As much as I want to go make sure Emo is okay and grab her, I can’t leave these kids right now. “Dad wants to talk to you,” Ethan says, passing me his phone. “I’m on my way,” he says the moment after I say, “Eli.” “Thank you,” I reply, switching the heat up when I notice Ethan rub his arm. “I couldn’t understand what Ethan was saying. Did something happen to your house?” I gulp. “The floors moved. I thought it was my surround sound at first but then the walls started

shaking and the back corner of my dining room was sinking.” “Where are you now?” My eyes move up and down my street. “We’re all in my SUV, I’m parked in front of my neighbors’. Whatever happened seems to only be affecting my house.” “What makes you say that?” “There are lights on in the other houses but we’re the only ones sitting outside in my car,” I reply. “That makes sense. Okay, hang tight. I’ll be there soon.” “I had Aidan text Noah and Gideon,” I say. “Hopefully they’re on the way too.” “They are,” Aidan replies from the back seat. I look over my shoulder to smile at him. Connie presses her hands to her stomach. “I’m hungry.” “Hey Eli, I need to go.” “Okay, see you in a few. Promise me you and the kids will stay in your car.” I glance back at my house. “I promise.” Passing Ethan back his phone, I shift in my seat to lean an elbow on the console, my back to my steering wheel. “As soon as your dad gets here, I’ll see if I can grab the pizza,” I say. Her lower lip sticks up. “But, I’m starving.”

“Want a mint?” I ask, praying the tin I have isn’t empty. She starts to cry. “I want pizza.” Well great. “Let’s try thinking about something else. Is there anything any of you guys were curious about? We can play twenty questions until your dad and uncles get here.” “Why don’t you have a boyfriend?” Ethan asks. I cough. “Huh?” “Yeah,” Aidan pipes up from the back seat. “Why don’t you?” “Um, well…” Connie wipes away her tears and blinks at me. My eyes move over each of them as they patiently wait for an answer I don’t know. “It’s complicated,” I reply. “You’re not ugly,” Aidan says, matter-of-factly. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I close my eyes. Not ugly, awesome. “Well, thanks for that buddy,” I say, opening my eyes. “So, why don’t you have a boyfriend?” Connie gets in on the fun. “I haven’t met the right guy,” I answer honestly. Ethan fiddles with his phone. “My football coach is single.”

Fantastic, I’m getting set up by a twelve-yearold kid. I decide against asking if my mother put him up to it. “That’s sweet,” I start to say but then abruptly stop when I realize who he’s talking about. “Hey, isn’t he in his fifties?” Ethan blinks at me. “Well how old are you?” “Coach Ferrao is funny,” Aidan offers from the backseat. Would it truly be such a terrible thing if my house swallowed me up whole? Forcing sweetness into my voice, I say, “I’d like to eventually date someone who is closer to my age and I hate to break it to you guys, I’m not anywhere near fifty yet.” “I’ll marry you Auntie Abby,” Aidan replies. He’s getting whatever he wants for Christmas. “Aww, thanks for the offer honey but I think there’re laws against that.” “Laws?” Connie asks. As ridiculous as the conversation is, I’m grateful it’s distracted her from wanting pizza. “Yes, sweets, we’re related because your daddy is my big brother.” “Does that mean I can’t marry Uncle Gideon?” A laugh escapes me at her horrified expression. “Yes, Connie, you can’t marry uncle Gideon and you wouldn’t want to even if you could because he burps and farts so much.”

Her expression morphs as she begins to giggle. She covers her mouth and points at Ethan. “Ethan has really loud farts.” “Shut up Connie,” he snaps. Resting my hand on his shoulder, I shake my head. “Please don’t shout at your sister.” Frowning, he glares at her but reluctantly, nods his head. Aidan points out the window. “I think that’s Dad’s truck.” He’s right. One gigantic pro of living in the same small town as the rest of my family does means it doesn’t take long to get to each other in a crisis. “Okay guys, hang tight in here. I’m going to talk with your dad for a minute.” “I’m hungry,” Connie whines. Ugh. I had hoped she’d forgotten. “Let me check with your dad and see if I can grab the pizza.” It strikes me then that I’ve been so concerned with the kids I haven’t even thought about what I’m going to do with my house. “Okay Auntie Abby.” One step out of my SUV and I instantly start freezing my ass off. It’s December in New Hampshire and I’m not wearing shoes or a coat. I didn’t have time to grab either before we all raced out of the house.

Eli shrugs off his coat and passes it to me the second he’s near me. “Do you have any shoes you can put on?” “I might have a pair of sneakers in the back.” Leaving me, he goes to look. Luckily, I was right. I belong to a gym but am hit or miss about going there. I started keeping a set of workout clothes ready just in case. While I pull them on, he checks on his kids, opening Connie’s door to give her a kiss. “I’m so sorry about this,” I say once he’s sure they’re fine. “Shut up, you didn’t cause this. Brooke will be here in a couple of minutes to get the kids.” With his warmth from his coat seeping into me, I look up at my brother. He’s a giant grouch and pisses me off on a regular basis. But, like every single time I’ve ever needed him, he’s here. Eli has never once let me down. “But I interrupted your evening.” His shoulders sag. “Don’t worry about it. I was already screwing it up all on my own.” “What did you do now?” I demand. He grins at me. “Just being my lovable self, I suppose.” We both turn when we see Gideon’s truck pull up behind Eli’s. “What the fuck happened?” He asks, the second he’s within earshot.

Eli glares at him. “The kids are in the car, asshole.” I assume he’s pissed because Gid cussed and decide against pointing out asshole is also a cuss word. “Shit, sorry,” Gideon says and I suppress a giggle. Eli clenches his fists and I wonder if he’s thinking about punching Gideon. A full minute goes by before he says anything. “Wait here, we’ll go check inside.” Slipping off his coat, I pass it back to him since I can wait in my car. “If it’s safe and you can grab Emo, will you please bring her to me?” “Sure thing, you know pus—” Eli smacks Gideon on the back of the head before he can finish his sentence. “Hey!” Gideon exclaims, rubbing the back of his head. Eli ignores him, putting his coat back on while walking around the left side of my house. Gideon trails after him and I get back in my SUV. “Where are they going?” Aidan asks once I’m inside. Ethan gestures out the window. “You’ve got eyes. They’re going to look in Aunt Abby’s house.” “Yes, I have eyes,” Aidan pouts. Connie pipes up next. “I don’t want daddy going in your house. It’s scary in there.” Great, now

they think my house is scary. “They’re going to see what made all that noise and shaking.” Connie presses her hands to her belly. “Will they get the pizza?” Crap, I should have asked them to grab it too. “Ahh—” I’m saved from answering when I see Noah’s truck turn onto my street, Brooke’s Highlander behind it. “Hang tight kids.” Noah reaches me first, giving me a hug. “Fin’s grabbing you a blanket.” “Finley came?” He looks down at me. “Like I could stop her from coming.” Brooke parks and beelines it for my SUV. “Are they okay?” Finley joins us and hands me a fleece blanket. I nod while Noah settles it around me. “They’re hungry, and their coats and shoes are still inside. We dashed out so fast I didn’t have a chance to grab anything.” “I have stuff they can snack on in the car until we get home.” With Noah and Finley’s help, we piggyback all three to her SUV. Ethan wasn’t thrilled, but he was less thrilled about the idea of walking in snow in just his socks. “I hope your house is okay Auntie Abby,”

Connie says, unwrapping a granola bar. “Me too honey,” I give her a smile and hug before making sure she’s buckled up. Once she leaves with the kids, Noah, Finley and I, head to my backyard. Eli and Gideon are walking out of my garage when we get there, Emo in Gideon’s arms. I reach out my arms for her. “Hey baby. Are you okay?” Gideon passes her to me. “Let me know if she answers you.” I barely suppress my eye roll. “Did you figure out what happened to the house?” Noah asks Eli. Eli looks right at me. “It’s a sinkhole.” My head jerks, my fingers freezing mid-rub on Emo. “A what?” “A sinkhole,” Gideon replies. “I heard him, I just didn’t believe him.” A couple of seconds go by as I wait for one of them to start laughing and tell me it’s a joke. Eli’s eyes soften. “Abs.” Apparently, this is no joke. “It can’t be a sinkhole. This is New Hampshire, we’re the friggin’ granite state.” “There was one a couple of years ago that shut down 93 near Concord.” My eyes move to Noah. “That isn’t helpful.” He lifts his hands and grins. “Sinkholes are rare

here, that’s for sure, but I just wanted you to know they can happen.” Pressing my face into Emo’s fur, I hold her closer until she meows in protest. Lifting my head, my eyes travel over my brothers and Finley. “What am I going to do?” Finley wraps her arm around me. “You and Emo are coming home with us tonight.” Her eyes move to Eli. “Is it safe enough for her to get anything from inside?” Eli and Gideon exchange a glance. “Well?” It’s Gideon who answers which isn’t a surprise because, out of all of us, being a landscape architect, he has the most knowledge on the subject. “Problem is we don’t know if the sinkhole will get any bigger. It needs to be tested and that isn’t going to happen tonight.” My eyes widen. “I don’t think my homeowners’ insurance will cover this.” They all frown, my gaze shoots to Noah since he does contracting work. “Can a sinkhole be fixed?” “Sometimes, but only a geologist will know for sure and they aren’t cheap.” With Emo still cuddled in my arms, I turn to look at the cute little Cape Cod I’ve called home for the last three years. The moment I saw the listing I knew it was the home for me.

My brothers are trying to sugar coat this to avoid hurting my feelings. They’ve done that my whole life and I’m sure if my other brother Asher was here, he’d be telling me white lies as well. Three years of lovingly updating this place all down the hole, literally. “There are things in there I need.” Eli moves in front of me. “Tell me what you need and where it is and I’ll go get it.” Gideon pushes past him. “No, I’ll go. If the sinkhole gets me it’s not like I have kids.” Noah coughs. “That we know of.” Normally, I’d laugh. Right now, I’m kind of too busy dealing with the fact that I’m pretty much homeless.

2

SPENCER

“I

don’t have time for breakfast mom, I need to get to the university.” She points to the seat across from my father, a plate loaded with steaming eggs already at it. “You will sit and you will eat. You’re too thin.” There’s no point arguing again that there’s a difference between lean muscle and no muscle. “I can’t stay long.” She smiles, not caring since she won. I’ll have to push getting my own place farther up my priority list. In moving back here, it was only logical to move into my parents’ basement. Their home is conveniently located near work and since I paid off their mortgage four years ago, it’s rent-free. However, part of my moving home was to be closer to them, just not this close. If I didn’t have degrees confirming my

understanding of mass, I’d swear this house has shrunk. How is it if I’m approximately the same size as when I left, it feels smaller? That’s a question I’ll have to consider further when I have more time. She sits at the chair to my right and sips her coffee. “Did you hear what happened to the Thompson girl?” Reflexively, my ears perk up at the name. All through high school I had a massive crush on Abigail Thompson. My father lowers his newspaper. “I didn’t. Care to share?” “She has a sinkhole in her backyard. From what I heard, it’s a bad one.” My father pushes up his glasses. “Don’t think I’ve ever heard of a good sinkhole.” “Oh, you know what I meant,” my mom retorts, setting her mug down. He nods and returns his attention to his paper. “I do, and it’s too bad. She was a good student.” My dad has taught high school English for thirty years but never forgets how his students both performed and behaved in his class. “A couple of her brothers were a handful, though.” My mother chuckles. “That’s the truth. I had the youngest one in one of my classes.” She turns her attention to me. “Didn’t you have

a few classes with Abigail Thompson?” “I did.” Ten. I graduated one year ahead of her, but during the three years we were in the same school, we had ten classes together. “You should hire her to be your realtor.” “That isn’t necessary. There are listings online that will suffice.” She looks at my father but points her mug toward me. “Do you hear him? Now he doesn’t need a realtor.” Her gaze shifts to me. “There’s more to life than what’s past Earth’s atmosphere.” I stand, picking up my now empty plate. “Not today there isn’t. Thanks for breakfast, I need to run.” My mom stands as well. “I’ll call Abigail and set up an appointment for you.” That stops me in my tracks. “Please don’t.” “Oh, let your mother set up an appointment. What’s the harm in using a realtor and, considering this sinkhole business, she could most likely use the commission.” What could possibly go wrong? Oh right, everything. But, if my buying a house from her will help her in her current predicament, so be it. “Fine.” Before she can talk me into anything else, I

make a hasty retreat. During my drive to the campus I evaluate her proposal to form a hypothesis. Most likely, given the state of her personal affairs, she’ll be far too busy to assist me. Another possibility is that, even if she can assist me, it will be nominal assistance at best. Pleased with both of those scenarios, I park and scan my badge then make my way into the science wing of Woodlake University. While the majority of the campus is closed for winter break, the research floor is open for grad students and people like me. I’ve been hired by the university to assist in the research of supernova stars. The bulk of our work will be in locating stars that are early in the supernova stage. Then our partner researchers will study them. “Morning, Spencer.” My head turns and when I see the source of the words, I lift my hand in greeting. “Morning, Duncan.” “The images from last night are a dud,” he tells me as we begin to walk together. I turn to look at him. “None of the stars appeared brighter?” “Not one.” “Maybe we should consider widening our search to include more galaxies.” Our footsteps echo as we make our way down

the hall. The pungent aroma of stale coffee hits my nose the moment we’re inside our lab. “How long have you been here?” He lets out a sheepish laugh. “I fell asleep at my desk. Woke up around three with a bitch of a crick in my neck.” “You make a habit of that and we’ll have a cot set up for you in the back.” “I don’t plan on making a habit of it.” We both sit and my chair squeaks as I swivel to face him. When I moved out of the dorms and into an apartment, my only focus was proximity to the campus. One of my professors rented me the space above his garage. It was all I needed and came with the added bonus of access to the workout equipment he housed in the garage. Now that I’m back on the east coast, and intent on having a semblance of my own space again, I’m curious as to the living arrangements of my colleagues. “Do you live near campus?” He swivels my way. “Need a place to stay?” My brows furrow and I shift back to facing forward. “I’m in the market for a house but I am not looking to cohabitate with anyone.” He faces forward as well. “Fair enough.” Something compels me to explain myself. “I’ve

lived alone for years. When I moved back here, I moved into the basement of my parents’ house. It’s proving to be more difficult living there than I anticipated.” He swivels back toward me. “No privacy huh?” I nod, already certain a forced breakfast will be the least of my concerns. Mid-way through my day, my phone buzzes in my pocket. After reading it, I lift it for Duncan to see. “Looks like I have an appointment with a realtor this evening.” “You move fast. When did you set that up?” Shaking my head, I tap out a reply and hit send. “My mom set it up.” He smirks. “Sounds like your folks want their space back.” Slipping my phone back into my pocket I shrug. “It’s not that. I argued since the listings are all available online, I could easily find a place all on my own. She disagreed and it wasn’t worth arguing over it. My guess is having me meet with the realtor today is her way of ensuring I’ll use her and not do it on my own.” “Smart woman.”

“W ANT TO WALK OUT TOGETHER ? It’s the only way I can guarantee you don’t sleep here again tonight.” He pushes away from his desk. “Good call.” We part ways at the main doors and make our way to our vehicles. He turns around, walking backward and calls out to me, “See you tomorrow. I hope your meeting with the realtor goes well.” “Thanks. Bye.” Earlier, when we discussed my meeting with Abby, I avoided mentioning her. It’s been years since I graduated. That doesn’t mean I’m not curious to see how those years have treated her. The coffee house my mom listed in her message is packed when I get there. With two warm-toned wooden accent walls, and a back wall made of stacked stone, the shop manages to be both cozy and rustic. If the coffee is as good as the ambiance, I’m not surprised it’s packed. One quick sweep of my eyes across the room confirms I beat her here. I’m twenty minutes early so it’s no surprise. After getting a cup of decaf, I grab one of the few free tables and pull out my laptop. A friend from school recently published a paper on event horizons of black holes. It’s good to see her getting published. We were close, but it’s been well over a year since the last time we spoke. Even with my attention on reading, I know the moment she walks in. She tugs free a thick red scarf

as her eyes move over the crowd. I wait for them to land on me, and for that flicker of recognition to flare. Her eyes do meet mine but it’s not familiarity I see, rather curiosity before her gaze moves away. She doesn’t recognize me. Pulling her phone from her bag, she looks at something on it, before glancing around the room again. I’m torn between wanting to observe her and needing to put her out of her misery. Pushing down the screen of my laptop, I close it with a snap loud enough to draw her attention back over to me. Tucking strands of caramel-hued brown hair behind her ear, she smiles at me. I was curious if the years would change her. In some ways, as expected, they have. Her smile is still the same, though, still as warm and infectious as it was back in high school. It was the thing that drew me to her. Standing, I lift my hand. Her smile falters at my approach. We weren’t friends in high school so I decide against calling her Abby. “Abigail Thompson?” “That’s me. Have we met before?” Offering her my hand, I say, “I’m Spencer Hill.” She’s unable to disguise her surprise as she shakes my hand. “You look so different.” “So I’ve heard.”

She laughs, pulling her hand back. “Have you been waiting long?” Shaking my head, I motion toward my table. “Not at all. Would you like a cup of coffee?” She waves me off. “Oh, I’ll get it.” While she orders, I move back to my table. A woman seated at a table near mine leans toward me. “Do you come here often?” Looking around first, I point to myself. “Were you talking to me?” She wets her lips. “I was.” Leaning back in my chair, I attempt to increase the space between us. “This is the first time I’ve come here.” She tilts her head. “I come here all the time if you want any recommendations.” “Thank you but that won’t be necessary.” At that moment, Abby arrives. The woman looks her up and down before turning her attention elsewhere “Is now good?” Abby asks, discreetly motioning to the woman I was speaking to. Standing, I move to pull out a chair for her. “It is.” She blinks but recovers quickly. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. How have you been?” Once she’s seated, I return to my chair. “Work has taken up most of my time. I’ve been living in California. Moving back here mid-winter was a

shock.” She takes a drink of her coffee before shrugging off her coat and letting it hang over the back of her chair. “I hope you’re not regretting it.” Before I’m able to reply, she continues to speak. “I still can’t get over how different you look.” “My old place had a gym in it. I used it quite often.” She laughs, her laughter as infectious as her smile always was. “You must have, but what I really don’t remember is you being so tall. Since I’m short it’s one thing I always remember about people.” “I grew four inches my freshman year of college.” “Some people have all the luck. I peeked height-wise in high school. I think you’re as tall as my brother Noah. Did you ever meet him?” The Thompson family is well known in Woodlake since they own the local hardware store. “I tutored Gideon and have met Asher. I don’t believe I’ve formally met either of your other brothers.” Lightly smacking the table, her mouth falls open. “I completely forgot you tutored Gideon. Did you know he became a landscape architect? I swear he would never have figured out his science classes and graduated high school if it wasn’t for you.”

“I’m sure that’s not true. He would have managed somehow.” Her brows lift. “If you say so.” “How have you been?” She gulps and smiles. This smile is nothing like the ones I remember. It isn’t infectious. “I’ve been great, thanks.” She is under no obligation to share her troubles with me. Lifting my coffee for a drink, I watch as she pulls a small leather notebook and a pen from her bag. She opens it to a page with my name already scribbled in neat letters across the top. Giving her pen a click, she meets my eyes. “Now, tell me what you’re looking for in a home.” Leaning in, I set my mug down. “I’d like to be near the campus.” She quickly jots that down. “How many bedrooms would you like it to have?” “I only need one.” Her pen freezes and her sky blue eyes lock on mine. “So you’re looking for a condo?” My brows come together. “No, I said I only needed one bedroom.” She sets her pen down and folds her hands, one on top of the other on her notebook. “It would help if I could narrow down the style of home you’re interested in. Though, this time of year the market is almost nonexistent so if you want to buy something in the next three months, the available

inventory to choose from will be seriously limited.” “Another con to moving back this time of year.” Her infectious smile reappears, making the corners of my lips tip up. “Good thing you’re working with me. I haven’t failed on finding exactly what my buyer is looking for yet. It might take time but we’ll find the perfect home for you.” “Thank you.” She lifts her mug. “Shall we toast?” I press my mug to hers. “To finding exactly what you’re looking for.” I incline my head in agreement. From breakfast this morning I learned Abby is currently experiencing some troubles. Sitting here with her, I’d never know. Her ability to focus on the task at hand is commendable. It’s not surprising though, the Thompson family has a reputation for being hard workers. “Your mom gave me your number but I still need your email address. Tonight I’ll get you all set up on our MLS system. I can set a search criteria for everything within a ten-mile radius of the campus. Until you have a better idea of what you’re looking for, we’ll keep the other search criteria broad. We can narrow it down more in the future. Sound good?” “It sounds great. Thank you.”

Her eyes seem to sparkle. “Don’t thank me yet, wait until I’ve found you something you like.” “Sounds reasonable.” “I’m going to see Gideon tonight. He’ll get a kick out of me being your realtor.” “Tell him I said hello.” “I sure will, and please tell your folks I said hello as well.” Movement beside us has both of us looking that way. The woman who started a conversation with me earlier loudly packs up her things. “She’s doing that for your benefit you know,” Abby murmurs. “Excuse me?” “She’s giving you a chance to catch her before she leaves.” “I’m not sure why she would do that.” Abby smirks. “She was flirting with you.” I frown. “I gathered.” Her smirk falters. “Your mother said you were single. I guess she’s not your type.” I blink. “My mother told you I was single?” She lifts her hands. “I know, total mom move. In fact, it sounds exactly like something my mom would do.” I clear my throat. The woman, now gone, was perfectly fine in theory. She was attractive, confident, and appeared to be close in age to me. There is no reason why I shouldn’t be interested in

her. Except that I’m not. The concept of type doesn’t sit right with me though. Over the years, I’ve been attracted to many women. “Currently, I have little free time outside of my work,” I blurt.

3

ABBY

“D

o you remember Spencer Hill?” Samantha, my closest friend and coworker in crime, squints at me. “The name sounds familiar.” My hands join the conversation, something I can’t avoid when I’m excited or flustered. “He was one grade ahead of us in high school. He was way short and wore these thick glasses.” She shrugs, recognition still not kicking in. “He tutored Gideon in science.” Her brows lift as a memory must kick in. Figures all I had to do was relate it to something with one of my brothers. Over the years, I think Sam has crushed on all of them. “The super nerdy guy who always had his head in a book?” Was that how she saw him? I mean, sure, he

was nerdy, but super nerdy? “Well, I had coffee with him and he looks nothing like he did back in high school.” A feline grin stretches across her beautiful face. “Oh, from geek to chic?” A laugh escapes, both at her words and her expression. “Something like that. When I got there, I had no clue who he was. He started talking to me and like a total idiot I thought he was about to ask me out.” “How good looking are we talking?” Pressing my lips together, I pull up a mental image from earlier. “He’s gotten tall for one thing, I think taller than Gid. But, don’t tell him I said that. I think he has a complex being the shortest. Back to Spencer, he still has glasses but now they look seriously hot on him, and he doesn’t have a beard. Thank god for it because his jaw is so chiseled it took all I had not to touch it.” Her brows come together. “You wanted to touch it?” My hand raises, palm toward her to swear on it. “If I didn’t need money so bad I would consider referring him to someone else. He’s so hot it’s distracting. He might ask me for a duplex and I’ll show him a retail space.” She presses her hand to her chest in horror and I laugh. “Just kidding, I’d never screw up that bad or

give up a client.” That’s not exactly true. On the rare occasion I had a buyer interested in a house that I represented the seller, I’d refer the buyer to Sam or someone else in the office. It’s not the worst thing in the world to represent both; it’s just not something I’m comfortable with. She relaxes. “You had me going there for a second. Please tell me you got a stealth pic of him.” I shake my head. “I have something even better.” “What? Did you make him pose or something?” Brandishing my phone, I reply, “I Internet stalked him.” She lunges for my phone and I press it to my chest. “Heel Cujo, I’ll show you his pics.” As she leans back, she jabs my knee, probably for the Cujo thing. Sam is a total dog person and still doesn’t understand why I got Emo. Once I have a good picture pulled up, I pass my phone to her. “Damn, he’s fine now.” Turning the screen for me to see, she points at it. “Are you positive this is the same guy?” Falling backward, I go from sitting on her bed to lying on it. “Yep.” “What’s the problem? Ask him out.” Shifting to my side, I prop my head on my hand.

“I don’t think he’s into dating. I watched a woman flirt with him at the coffee shop and he shut her down fast. At first I assumed he didn’t know she was flirting. Turns out he did. He’s a workaholic, basically said it himself, just not in those words.” She frowns. “Why do the hot guys always have issues?” “No clue.” “Well, at least he’ll be nice to look at while you work with him.” “It’ll be nice to have something to take my mind off the house.” She cringes. “What’s the latest?” My throat tightens, dreading to say the words out loud. “Nothing good.” “Let it out babe.” Taking a fortifying inhale first, I do. “There’s no saving it. Or, more accurately, I can’t afford the cost to fix it. No lie, the estimate I got was three hundred thousand dollars. My house wasn’t worth that before the sinkhole and since my homeowners’ insurance is covering jack, I’m screwed.” “Holy shit.” Closing my eyes tight, I mentally agree and then congratulate myself for getting all of that out without crying. I’ve cried more in the past two weeks than I have in years. My parents offered to split the cost with me but I can’t let them do that. The money they’d give me

is part of their retirement. My brothers all offered to pitch in as well. “Even if I had the money to burn, it would be stupid to do it. I spent a hundred thousand on it. With the improvements I’ve made, and its location, it might be worth two fifty. If I let my family do this, I will have invested close to half a million on a house that will never be worth that.” “But you love your house.” This time, a tear escapes. “I can love a new house.” She flops onto me, hugging me. “Oh honey. I hate that you’re hurting.” Damnit if that doesn’t make me cry even more. “Stop hugging me. You’re making me cry.” She rolls off me and shoves at my shoulder. “It’s okay to cry.” I wipe at my eyes. “Yeah right, you didn’t grow up in a house full of brothers.” She sits back up. “Oh, was crying not allowed?” “Basically.” Grasping my hand, she pulls me up as well. “I know your brothers would lose their minds over anything that made you cry.” “That doesn’t mean they didn’t take satisfaction in being the ones to make me cry.” “What? No way.” “Please, when we were little it was Lord of the Flies around my house.”

She stands and I follow her. “On that note, want more wine?” “My house is being condemned, do you even have to ask?” She retrieves our glasses from her table and heads toward the kitchen of her condo. For someone who sells real estate for a living, it’s funny that Sam has no interest in buying a single-family home. Not that I blame her after what happened to my house. Hell, I’m probably going to rent until I stop feeling traumatized. “Thanks for letting me crash with you, and for giving me wine.” “You’re always welcome here and you gave me the excuse I needed to pull the trigger on getting my new bedroom set.” Sam’s not impulsive, almost to a fault. She’s wanted to upgrade her bedroom set for ages. We were in her room to assemble the new furniture she got. There’s a decent chance she bought it just so I could put it together. Her old dresser and arm chair are now in my room, the rest she donated to a local shelter. Assembling furniture is one of my favorite things to do. Since Sam refuses to watch anime with me, this had to be her plan to cheer me up. “Your bedroom is perfect for you now.” Her last set was boring. Sam may not be impulsive, but she’s not boring.

Now, with antique elements, her new set is all luxury. “What if you switched out your light fixture for a crystal chandelier?” She sets the wine glasses on the countertop and taps her chin. “I like that idea. A chandelier would look amazing in there.” She makes short work of uncorking another bottle and refilling our glasses. “What are you going to do?” “Honestly, I’m still figuring that part out.” All of my stuff, minus what I moved in here, is now in storage. Luckily, or unluckily, the only thing that was affected by the sinkhole was the house itself and, when I say all of my stuff, I mean all of my stuff. We pulled every single cabinet and fixture. The stuff that I wasn’t attached to, I’ve already sold to Noah. He’s a contractor and can use it in his remodels for clients who might want something at a discount. “This whole thing has put me off owning anytime soon. Noah’s trying to talk me into it but I just don’t know.” “Don’t let one failure keep you from trying again.” “Losing my house feels like a pretty big failure. I’m scared to jump back in.” “That’s understandable. Give yourself time. It’s December, it’s not like you could buy anything

even if you were ready.” Taking my glass, I move to her sofa and sit. “That’s true. I emailed Spencer earlier, after I created a profile for him in the system. Even using broad search perimeters, there’s nothing out there.” She comes to sit beside me. “You had to know that would happen.” Taking a sip of my wine, I shrug. “There’s usually a few stubborn people who list even in the winter.” “That or they couldn’t sell in the fall,” she replies. With all the noise from putting together Sam’s new furniture over, Emo comes out of wherever she was hiding. She moves by Sam first, rubbing against her legs as she passes her. Sam reaches down to pet her. “You’re lucky I like your cat.” “And that you haven’t gotten a dog yet.” She nods, lifting her hand when Emo tires of her pets and moves over to me. “Maybe I’ll get a dog in the spring, when it won’t be so miserable to walk it.” Sam has been talking about getting a dog for years. For some reason, just like not being ready to buy a house, she can’t commit. Emo gracefully settles herself in my lap and I scratch behind her ears. “Hopefully I’ll be out of here before then.”

“What, you don’t want to live with me forever?” I laugh which annoys Emo. “As much as I love you for letting me stay with you, I miss having my own space.” “I get that.” My eyes settle on the clock display of her cable box and I down the rest of my wine. “I need to change. Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” Sam fidgets with the hem of her skirt. “No, I think I’m going to head to the office to finish up something.” She’s a terrible liar and up to something, I’m sure of it. Deciding against calling her out on it, I let it go. “You know you’re always welcome if you change your mind.” Sam’s gaze meets mine. “Thanks babe.” I rinse my glass and put it in the dishwasher before heading to my borrowed room to quickly change. Since I’m on his way, Gideon is picking me up for dinner at Noah and Finley’s. I’m putting on my earrings when Sam announces Gideon’s arrival. “Stop flirting with her,” I order when I walk into her living room. Gideon holds up his hands. “I wasn’t flirting.” Bullshit, he’s always flirting.

He holds the door for me as I wave bye to Sam. “Have fun at work.” I don’t miss the way she blanches before the door closes. What is she up to? Gideon’s new truck is double parked right in front of the entrance to her building. “You’re lucky I was ready or you could have gotten towed.” He smirks. “I’m on good terms with the property manager here. She won’t tow me.” I open the passenger door and climb in. “Gross. I don’t need to know about any of your conquests.” He grins as he fastens his seatbelt. “I never said I slept with her.” I roll my eyes. “You didn’t have to.” That makes him laugh. “Hey, do you remember Spencer Hill?” He cocks his head toward me. “Of course I do. He tutored me. Why do you ask?” Tugging off one of my gloves, I push my hair behind my ear. “I’m working with him. He’s moved back to town and wants to buy a place.” “No way. I’ll have to look him up.” For some reason, this surprises me. “Really?” “Hell yeah. I always liked that guy. He could have been a dick to me and made me feel stupid when he helped me with science but he wasn’t.” “If you meet up with him, be ready for a shock.” He stops at a red light and glances over at me.

“Why’s that?” A deep grumble fills the air as he presses on the gas. “He looks nothing like he did in high school. When I met him for coffee, I didn’t recognize him at all.” “What does he look like now?” Tall, dark, handsome. “He’s a lot taller and built now.” Traffic slows as a car a few lengths ahead of us stops to make a left-hand turn. “You got the hots for him?” “Shut up.” Gideon laughs and the urge to punch him in the ribs comes over me. “You need any advice on how to get a man?” “You need any advice on how not to end up in a shallow grave on the side of the road?” He coughs. “Like you could take me.” “I’m pretty sure Eli would help me.” He turns onto Noah and Finley’s street. “In that case, I’ll shut up.” Before Noah and Finley built their garage, we always parked on the street. Now there’s plenty of room for Gideon to park in their driveway. My chest expands when I see Asher’s truck in front of us. “Paige must have talked Asher into coming.” It’s not that my older brother would need to be talked into spending time with us, per say, it’s just

that he’s happier away from crowds. If everyone shows up, it can turn into a crowd just counting our immediate family. “Paige is cool.” Gideon pushes open his door and then leans back toward me. “And hot.” I shake my head. He’s such a dork. We use the kitchen door and are greeted with the appealing aromas of whatever Finley is making. Not only is my future sister-in-law the perfect woman for my brother Noah, she’s also a kick-ass cook. Seriously, if he hadn’t of fallen in love with her I might have considered doing so myself just so she’d feed me on a regular basis. Finley turns from her fancy gas stove when we walk in. “Hey guys.” Gideon pulls her into a hug and kisses her cheek. “Hey gorgeous.” “Hands off Gid,” Noah orders while Finley laughs. Gideon releases her with a pout and makes his way past Noah and into their den. “Is there anything I can help with?” Finley gives me a hug. “Nope, between your mom and Paige, everything’s covered.” I pull away and stand next to Noah. “So you’re telling me I arrived at exactly the perfect time?” He drapes his arm over my shoulders and kisses the side of my head. “How are you doing?”

My entire family has been treating me like I’m fine china ever since it became clear I was going to lose my house. “I’ll be okay.” There’s no point in lying to any of them. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay with us?” Finley asks. I’m saved from answering when Aidan bursts into the kitchen. “Auntie Abby.” “Hey dude. How are you?” He races over to give me a hug. “I’m sorry you’re homeless now.” “Aidan,” Brooke warns. I run my hand over his hair. “It’s okay and trust me, I’m sorry I’m homeless too.” One good thing that came out of all the drama surrounding my house was Brooke and Eli have been so busy convincing the kids that their house, and their grandparents’ houses, and their schools won’t get sucked into sinkholes to fight. Brooke comes over to give me a hug. “I never had a chance to thank you for how well you handled everything that night. Thank you.” I stare at my sister-in-law. “You don’t have to thank me for that.” She gulps and nods. “Trust me, I do.” Before I can talk to her more, she leads Aidan back into the den. My mom walks in, bearing an empty bowl. “Gideon just told me you’re going to help Spencer

Hill find a house?” “Well hello to you too mom,” I greet. She huffs and sets the bowl on the counter before reaching for a bag of chips to refill it. “Yes, I met with him earlier today.” “Who’s Spencer Hill?” Noah asks. Our mom moves to throw the now empty bag away. “You had his father for English in tenth grade.” Noah still looks confused so I say, “He graduated one year ahead of me and tutored Gideon.” “Is he single?” My mother surprises no one by asking. “Mom.” She has the nerve to look offended. “Would you rather I call his mother and ask her?” Finley’s eyes widen while Noah chokes. “He’s a client, so please do not call his mom to find out if he’s single.” “I don’t see what the problem is. I’ve known her longer than you’ve known Spencer.” There’s no use arguing. “He’s single, but I promise you he’s not looking.” “No one is truly looking for someone until they find them.” “Good to know. Now, I’m going to go say hi to everyone else.” I make a hasty retreat before she can drive me

crazy. Gideon is cringing when I join him in the den. “Sorry.” “Yeah, thanks for that. I should tell her you said you wanted to settle down to get you back.” He hangs his head. “I didn’t know she was going to go full matchmaker when I mentioned Spencer.” “Please, it’s our mother, assume she’ll always go full matchmaker.” Her response answers the age-old question of what’s worse, having a daughter who’s homeless or one who’s single. Ugh. Either way, as much as I love her, I’m not going back into the kitchen while she’s there. “Can you go get me a glass of wine?”

4

SPENCER

“W

ho is that?” My head turns from my computer screen to narrow my eyes at Duncan, who is looking over my shoulder. “It’s rude to pry.” My words don’t seem to faze him. “I’m a scientist. It’s in my very nature to be observant.” “Go observe the most recent galaxy images.” “Oh come on. I’ve been evaluating all of the recent images. I need a break from it.” “A nice brisk walk through the campus should suffice. Don’t forget to bundle up.” He stomps back over to his desk and slumps into his chair. “You’re no fun.” Leaning back in my chair, I turn toward him. “She’s my realtor.” He perks right back up. “I have a sudden desire to invest in real estate.”

I turn back to my computer. “Shut up.” “Never. Just think, it’s the perfect set up. I’ll buy a house from her and then ask her out.” Time to point out the obvious. “You’re already married.” He straightens the collar of his shirt. “She won’t mind.” That has me turning back. “She won’t mind?” He frowns. “She lives in Peru. I doubt she’d notice.” Lifting my hand, I pull off my glasses and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Why does your wife live in Peru?” “My guess? She lives in Peru because I don’t.” “Are you pulling my leg?” He makes a show of examining his hands. “Fine, even if your wife wouldn’t mind, you’d be wasting your time trying to date her.” He nods. “She isn’t single.” “I didn’t say that.” “Then what’s wrong with her?” I stare. “I never said anything was wrong with her.” He squints at me. “You’re telling me she’s single, has nothing wrong with her and you still haven’t asked her out?” “I don’t have time for this conversation.” It’s a lie. At this point, since 90% of our data is back and evaluated, I have nothing but time. If it

was a topic I enjoyed, that is. “Why are you looking at her picture online if you’re not into her?” My hand goes to my mouse and I minimize the browser I had opened. “It’s not like that. I was going to email her.” “That you like her?” I close my eyes. “No, that I’m firing her.” He jumps from his chair with such force it rolls back, hitting the wall behind us. “Why would you fire her?” “Lots of reasons.” He folds his arms over his chest and I drag my hand down my face. “Let’s hear these reasons.” “My parents aren’t annoying me as much as they did the first couple of weeks I was here, there’s no inventory so even if I wanted to buy a house, I couldn’t.” When I don’t say anything else, he drops his arms. “Be patient. One or the other will change, I promise you. The market will be flooded with available houses in the spring and I’m certain your parents will annoy you enough to want your own place again soon.” What I didn’t tell him was, her presence unnerves me. “The concept of hiring someone to help me find a house is not logical. I have access to the internet and can easily navigate the listings on my own.”

He taps the edge of his desk, an annoying habit he seems to do whenever he points out a flaw in my reasoning. “You were fully aware of that when you hired her in the first place.” The flaw in my reasoning. “True. However, there’s no point in my meeting with her today since I can plainly see the available listings have not changed.” “You never said you were going to see her today.” Damn. Lifting my glasses, I rub at my eye. “She asked to meet for coffee.” Retrieving his chair, he quickly sits back down. “As in a date?” Frowning I readjust my glasses until they’re back in place. “It’s not a date.” His brows lift. “How do you know that?” “It’s coffee, not dinner and a movie.” He shakes his head. “Dates can be anything.” “What do you know, your wife lives on another continent.” He shrugs and reaches out to grip the edge of his desk, pulling his chair back to it. “At least I managed to get married.” Her picture is posted next to the contact field on her website. I motion to it. “Women like her aren’t

interested in guys like me.” Duncan’s forehead wrinkles. “Guys like you?” “You know what I mean.” “No, I don’t. You’re an attractive man—” I lift my hand. “Please stop.” He stands again and slams his hand down on his desk, making me jump. “You’re handsome, and brilliant and you need to know it.” “Duncan.” He moves closer to me. “So handsome.” I lift my hands to block him but he’s faster than I and leans over to hug me. “What are you doing?” “Just go with it.” My eyes drift up to the ceiling. “You can stop hugging me now.” “Nope, just a little longer.” He’s trying to be funny. Too bad it backfired and is annoying instead. “Duncan.” Reluctantly, he releases me. “There, feel better?” “Worse actually.” He huffs, and then asks. “What time is your appointment?” Glancing down at my watch, I jump up. “Shit. I’m going to be late.” The email I was going to send will have to wait for another day. Or, I can tell her in person at our meeting.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.” “And?” He laughs. “You’re too much Spencer. Look, if you want to work on Christmas Eve, that’s up to you, but you won’t see me here.” My family was never big on holidays so as far as I’m concerned, Christmas is just another day on the calendar. “I assume that means you won’t be here Christmas either.” He nods. “You would be correct.” With a shake of my head, I leave. Abby beats me to the coffee house, her head coming up as she watches my approach through the window. It’s the same one we met at last time. She surprises me by meeting me at the door. “How badly do you want coffee?” Was Duncan right? Is this some sort of date? “Excuse me?” “There’s a condo around the corner that’s going to come up for sale in the spring. The owner might be willing to sell early. Want to see it?” Kicking myself for thinking Duncan could be right, I nod. “Sure.” She wraps her red scarf tighter around her neck. “Let’s go.” I follow her from the coffee house and walk beside her.

“You were vague on your price point. This condo will most likely list for one hundred and fifty thousand. Have you looked into financing already?” “I don’t need financing.” She rocks to a halt. “You intend to pay in cash?” Stopping as well, I reply, “Yes.” Her brows come together. “Is one fifty within it?” “I have four hundred thousand set aside.” She starts walking again. “Well, all righty then. Let’s go look at a condo.” Given the length of her legs, she has a surprisingly quick stride. One that I need to concentrate to keep up with. As promised, the building she takes me to is around the corner from the coffee shop. While I didn’t have a chance to partake in another cup today, it would be a perk to live close since I enjoyed the cup of decaf I had the last time. She pushes open the main door and I hold it for her. “Part of the reason I wanted you to see this condo is because it comes with private access to the roof.” “I don’t see many rooftop parties in my future.” She pauses in the foyer of the building, her hand loosening her scarf. “I thought you could set one of your telescopes up there.”

I freeze. She laughs at my expression. “God, I feel stupid. You must have high tech stuff at the university you use.” “It’s not that. Yes, the university has telescopes more powerful than mine, but I do have some and I was surprised you would think to consider that in the properties you’d show me.” Her embarrassment melts away as a confident smile stretches across her face. “This is what I do. Now, as you probably noticed when we came in, this building does not have a key or passcode to get into the foyer. That’s something to keep in mind.” “Noted.” She leads me toward the elevator. “This building is four floors and has both this elevator and a freight elevator. There are four units on each of the first two floors and two larger units on each of the top two floors. The two fourth floor units each have private roof access.” What surprises me is she shares all of this information from memory. At no point since our arrival has she referred to notes. She obviously wasn’t lying when she confidently shared this is what she does. It’s interesting to see her in her element. When we reach the fourth floor, she knocks on the door. “Is the current owner still here?” I ask.

She shakes her head and types something into her phone before pressing it to the lockbox hanging from the doorknob. “No one should be here but I’ve learned the hard way to knock just to be on the safe side.” Her words spark my curiosity. “What happened?” A pink flush creeps over her cheeks. “What hasn’t? Before I learned my lesson, buyers and I have walked in on anything from owners or tenants showering, to people having sex.” I can’t help but crack a small smile. “I don’t blame you for knocking.” She takes a key from the lockbox and opens the door. Reaching past her, I hold it for her to walk through, inhaling to catch the faint scent of her perfume as she moves past me. “Thanks.” Once we’re inside she locks the door behind us and turns to me. “What’s your first impression of the place?” When I don’t reply, she says, “Should I bust out my Vanna White impression to really show this puppy off?” She looks serious until she bursts out laughing, making me laugh as well. More relaxed now, my eyes roam across the space, cataloging pros and cons. “It’s alright.” Her lips twist as she looks at me. “Come on

Spencer. I’m going to need more than that to go on.” Folding my arms across my chest, I stand my ground. “I’m currently living in my parents’ basement. Before that, I lived in the room above a garage for years. As long as my new place has a working kitchen and bathroom, I’ll be content.” She turns, a mischievous smile on her face. “You’ll be thrilled to know this condo has both. We’ll start here though. The entry opens into the combined living and dining space. Sadly, the fireplace isn’t functional but, as you can see, the windows do give you a decent view of historic Woodlake.” Moving closer to the window, I check out the view. “And, if you come this way, you can take a look at the working kitchen.” Walking behind her, my lips tip up at the teasing quality of her words. “Do you have a preference between an electric or a gas stove?” I shake my head. “I’m not much of a cook so it wouldn’t matter.” She nods. “Would you like your kitchen to have a dishwasher?” I wonder what she’d think if she knew I mainly ate takeout. “I can live without one.” She shows me the bathroom next. It doesn’t

surprise her when I step into the tub to gauge the height of the showerhead. From where it’s currently mounted, its stream won’t reach higher than my neck. “This is an issue.” She adjusts the nozzle so it’s aimed at my chest. “You sure you don’t take all of your showers kneeling?” I bite back a laugh and shake my head. “Short person perk. Showerheads are rarely an issue for us. Lucky for you, having the showerhead mounted higher would not be an expensive fix if you bought this place.” From the bathroom, she shows me the two bedrooms. Neither is awe-inspiring but both of them are functional. “Now, the roof.” I’m not surprised she’s saved the feature I’m most intrigued by for last. We leave the apartment, Abby locking it up behind us, and use a second key to access a separate stairway. Twelve steps lead us to the roof door. Once there, I can’t help it, I look up. Cloud cover blocks out my view of the night sky. Comfortable with my place in the universe, I don’t need the sky to be clear to know the position of hundreds of stars. Still, this rooftop offers a view clear from any trees. I scan the buildings around this one to get an idea of how much light they

create. For the telescopes I have, the darker the better for clear images. Only downside to this place is being right on top of and next to my neighbors. Earlier, while we toured the unit, I could hear the TV through the wall of the other unit on this floor. That could get old after a while and as much as I like the roof, the thin walls are a deal breaker for me. “Well, what do you think?” She leans against the doorway, wind tugging strands of her hair free, causing tendrils to dance around her unchanged face. What I would have given in high school to share a moment like this with her. “This is pretty cool.” Her face lights up. “I was hoping you’d say that.” “The space is great, but I’m not sold on the idea of buying a condo. I think I’d like to look at some single-family homes.” Tilting her head, she motions for us to leave the roof. “It’s cold up here. We can talk more inside.” Kicking myself for not noticing the way she was shivering, I close the distance between us. “Of course.” I wait as she locks the roof access and double checks the lock on the door to the unit before returning both keys to the lockbox. While she does this, a heated conversation starts next door, causing

both of us to turn our heads. Each word is clear through the thin walls. “It’s not my fault you have a limp dick.” Abby’s eyes widen and she presses the call button for the elevator. “I asked you not to talk about my erectile dysfunction that way.” Pressing the button again, she looks ready to burst out laughing. “You shouldn’t have criticized my cooking.” It’s not until we’re in the elevator that she says, “I have a feeling I know why you’d like to focus on single-family homes.” The teasing tone is back in her voice, making her words sound like we’re in on the same joke. I’m no stranger to magnetic fields and the effects of gravity. Her very presence behaves like both, pulling me in. “The roof access was a good surprise though. I appreciate you noticing that detail and showing it to me.” We walk out of the building together. “That didn’t take as long as I thought it might. Still want that cup of coffee?” The coffee house also serves food but mainly of the breakfast, Danish variety. “Have you had dinner?” She looks down at her watch. “I’m supposed to be meeting Gideon for dinner in an hour.”

I make a noncommittal noise. I knew it. I knew Duncan was wrong and that she wasn’t interested in me. She’s polite, friendly and just doing her job. Any pull I felt earlier is clearly a residual emotion tied to the crush I had on her in high school. “Would you like to join us?” Earth’s atmosphere is twenty-one percent oxygen which makes my current level of breathlessness confusing. “Excuse me?” She gives me a half smile. “Do you have plans tonight?” Whatever neurological pathways control speech fail me, so I shake my head. “Good, you’re having dinner with us. I hope you like Mexican food because Gideon picked the restaurant and he’ll get pissy if we try and change it.” “I like Mexican.” It’s true, I do. Though, even if I hated it there’s a high probability I would have lied and pretended otherwise for an excuse to spend more time with Abby. “Awesome. It’s not far from here. Want to ride with me? I can drop you back off at your car afterward.” “Are you sure Gideon won’t mind?” Her nose crinkles with her smile. “Are you kidding? He flipped when I mentioned your name. He was going to call you on his own to see if you wanted to hang out.”

“He did?” I make no attempt to mask the shock in my voice. Her smile softens into something sweeter. “He said you were really cool with him when you tutored him. It meant a lot to him.” Gideon was a sophomore and I was a senior when I tutored him. With good looks, amazing athletic ability, and his charismatic personality, he was a legend even in his freshman year. I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t want to tutor him in the beginning. My history of interacting with people like him had conditioned me to assume the worst about him. I figured he’d get me to do his homework by threatening me in some way. Gideon Thompson was a complete surprise. Instead of being the stereotypical dumb jock, he was smarter than most people ever gave him credit for. Yes, when I first started helping him, he was struggling. That turned out to have nothing to do with his capabilities and more to do with the teaching style of his science teachers. They tried to put him in a box and force the knowledge onto him in a way that didn’t work for him. For as grateful as he is to me, I am to him as well. He opened up my eyes to judgments I wasn’t aware I was making of people. Telescopes use mirrors to absorb more light than the human eye can. Working with Gideon was like looking into a

different mirror and I was ashamed of what it reflected. “You don’t mind?” She starts walking. “I wouldn’t have offered if I did.” Her SUV is impeccably clean. Before climbing into it, I thought my car was clean. “I keep it this clean because I drive around clients all the time.” “How did you know I was thinking that?” She pulls out onto the street. “Your expression.” “You are very observant.” Reaching down, she presses a button, switching on the seat heaters. “It’s helpful in real estate. I can walk into a house with a buyer and know within ten minutes if they’ve fallen in love with a place. Also, I try to keep track of the things that light them up in every house we look at so I can recommend houses they may not have thought would work for them.” Even I can admit, she’s better at this than I thought she’d be.

5

ABBY

A

fter I park, I check my phone. I’m not surprised to see a text from Gideon letting me know he’s already here. Hopefully it won’t be too hard to drag him away from whatever girl he’s probably chatting up. “The food here is amazing.” God, I’m trying to small talk him. What sucks is I’m not sure if I want to ask him about his work. How embarrassing would it be if I couldn’t understand it? Side by side, we walk up to the restaurant. “Do you eat here often?” More stupid polite small talk. “I sure do. Hey, do you believe in aliens?” He pulls open the door for me. “I do.” That stops me short and he bumps into me. “Oh sorry.”

I ignore his apology. “You really think there are aliens out there?” He frowns. “I’m not saying I think there are little green men but I do believe there is life on another planet in another galaxy. What that life looks like? I don’t know.” Interesting. Moving farther into the space, I see Gideon right away. The hostess picks up two menus when she sees us. “Table for two?” I shake my head. “We’re meeting someone. He’s over there.” I motion to where Gideon is, leaning over the bar, flirting with a pretty red-headed bartender. Our hostess sighs. Honest to God sighs. I want to, but I stop myself from rolling my eyes. “Did he get a table, or has he been at the bar the whole time?” I’m not surprised she knows. “He went right to the bar when he came in.” Figures. “Could we have a table for three?” She nods, and then notices Spencer. When her motions slow and she bites her lip, I internally groan. You’d think I’d be used to women falling all over my brothers that I wouldn’t even notice one

doing it to Spencer. You’d be wrong. We follow her to a table and I poke Gideon in the ribs when we pass him. He jumps, making me snort. He’s ticklish which cracks me up more than it should. Growing up, I could always win at wrestling, even though I’m smaller than him, just by tickling him. “Abby. Quit fucking poking me,” he grumbles. “We’re being seated.” I don’t miss the bartender slipping him her number before he moves to follow us. When I paused to poke him, Spencer moved around me. Gideon doesn’t realize he’s with us, until we all end up at the same table. He puffs out his chest, and folds his arms, one over the other. “Who’s your friend Abby?” “You don’t recognize Spencer Hill?” My question is unfair since I didn’t recognize him either. Still, it’s fun to watch Gideon’s face morph into shock. His arms drop and he offers Spencer his hand. “Jesus. Abby said you looked different but I didn’t believe her. You get bit by some radioactive spider in your lab man? ‘Cuz, holy shit, you’ve grown.” Spencer grins as they shake hands. “In my line of work, it’d be more likely gamma rays.” Gideon pulls out his chair. “You work with gamma rays?”

Okay, that sounds like something out of a movie. Are gamma rays even real? “Indirectly. I’m mainly tracking new supernovas.” “That’s cool man and it’s good to see you again.” I’m ashamed at myself for not believing Gideon and Spencer could be friends because they are so different. Watching their easy conversation proves how wrong I was. “We need to exchange numbers so we can hang out sometime without this one.” Gideon motions to me with his thumb. This one? “For that comment, you’re treating tonight.” He ignores me. “You have a girlfriend?” My mouth falls open. I quickly close it to say, “You can’t just ask him that?” My eyes move to Spencer, my cheeks getting warm. “I’m sorry he has no manners.” Gideon makes a face at me before looking back at Spencer. “Don’t listen to her.” “I’m single?” I force myself not to laugh at the fact that the way Spencer said it made it sound like a question. “I’ll take you out and be your wingman. The ladies will love you.” Wait, what? I choke on my water. Now Gideon wants to take him out on the

town? For some inexplicable reason, this bothers me. “Gideon.” “Did you see the hostess when we walked in?” Spencer sets down his menu. “Now isn’t a good time for me to date. I’m spending most of my free time at the university.” Gideon spreads his arms. “It’s the holidays. You need to be celebrating.” If Spencer weren’t sitting here, I’d remind Gideon that sleeping with anything that breathes is not how most people celebrate Christmas. Our waitress brings us chips and salsa. Before we can dive into them, she takes our drink orders and since we all know what we want, takes our food orders as well. “My parents are going on a cruise. When they booked it I was still in California. They offered to cancel it but I told them not to. We’ve never made a big production out of the holidays. I had planned to put in some extra hours.” Both Gideon and I stare at him. “On Christmas?” When he nods, Gideon says, “You can’t work on Christmas. That’s just sad. Since you’re all alone, why don’t you hang out with us?” It’s Spencer’s turn to stare. “With your family?” Gideon shoves a chip loaded with salsa into his mouth and speaks around it. “Yeah. Our mom is all

the more the merrier.” “He’s not lying,” I add. “I couldn’t.” Gideon shakes his head. “It’s too late to say no now that we both know you’re going to be by yourself. If you do, one of us will mention it to our mom. She’s got ninja skills when it comes to finding people around the holidays.” Spencer blinks at me. “Your mother will find me?” I shrug. “It’s been known to happen.” He stares at the both of us while we casually munch on chips. To a lot of people, our family might seem crazy, our parents in particular. When I was younger, it even embarrassed me the way they would parent my friends and people we went to school with. Now that they’re getting older, I realize how blessed I’ve been to grow up with parents and siblings who all cared about me and the people around me. Earlier this year, my mom had a health scare. That really put things into perspective for me. She might drive me crazy trying to find me a boyfriend. I’ll gripe at her but nothing more than that. She’s my mom, I wouldn’t trade her for anything. “Should I bring something?” I have to hold back my laugh at how quickly Spencer caved and derailed my train of thought. “Wine is always appreciated at family functions.”

Gideon nods in agreement. “Did you guys look at a place earlier?” “We did, a condo off of South Street,” I reply. “Since you’re not talking contracts, I take it this place wasn’t the one.” Gideon makes air quotes with his fingers on the words the one. Spencer leans back in his chair. “Great space, thin walls.” Our server returns with our food and Gideon helps her pass out our plates. “You’ll get that with all of the condos around here, even the newer ones.” “He’s decided to focus on single-family homes going forward.” “There are a lot of great places around here. Come spring, you’ll have so many to choose from you won’t know which one to pick.” “That’s what Abby’s said. It appears I’ve picked a bad time of year to begin my search.” “Gotta love the snow if you’re going to stay here. Hey, do you board?” “Board?” Gideon leans forward. “Snowboard.” Spencer shakes his head. “I’ve never tried it.” “You ever want to give it a shot, there’re some okay hills around here. Not as big as Killington or Sunday River but the perfect place to learn if you want to.” It’s cool to see them together. Gideon has that

effect on people, he’s never met a stranger. Even though Spencer offers, Gideon picks up the tab when we’re all done. Normally, I’d fight it, but ever since the sinkhole happened, I’ve stopped trying to stop my brothers from taking care of me. Being Miss Independent has been put on hold. “See you tomorrow.” Gideon’s goodbye is halfhearted. His attention is already on the pretty bartender from earlier. I stop myself from reminding him to wear a condom. “Bye.” Spencer watches him as well. “Thanks again for dinner.” It’s not until we’re near my car that he says, “He doesn’t seem to need a wingman.” I laugh but stop when Spencer doesn’t return it. “Was he only saying that out of pity?” Oh man, I can see why Spencer might think that. “No way. He doesn’t pity you, he likes you and it was his way of saying you guys should hang out.” “Why wouldn’t he just say that?” I climb into my SUV and crank the heat up. “You’re being too literal about this.” That shuts him up. “What I’m saying is there’s no reason for you to pick apart or overthink what he said.” There’s a faint click over the blast of the heater as he fastens his seatbelt. “Are you looking for

another house?” His change of subject must mean he’s finished talking about Gideon. Everyone I know is curious about what my plans are house-wise. Sinkholes aren’t that prevalent around here so it’s made me somewhat of a pitiable celebrity. “Yes, and no. I didn’t own my home outright. Even though I bought it at a decent price, there’s no point trying to get another mortgage.” “You’re still paying a mortgage on a house you can’t live in?” “Sounds insane, right?” I’d laugh but there’s nothing funny about my current situation. “What are you going to do?” I pull out onto the street. “Right now I’m trying to cut down my expenses so I can throw every spare dollar I have at the loan. Do you remember Samantha Abernathy from high school?” “She was one of your friends, right?” The cab starts to feel a bit too warm, so I turn it down a notch. “She still is and is helping me out big time by letting me stay with her rent-free.” “That’s a good friend.” I glance over at him and grin. “She’s the best. If it wasn’t for her, I might be living with Gideon right now. As much as I love him, I think we’d kill each other if we lived together.” “What about one of your other brothers?”

“I’d love to stay at Asher’s place. If he lived closer to town, I probably would. He has a great place right on a lake. Best part, is he has a guest cabin so it’s not like I’d be in his or his fiancée’s way. Noah and his fiancée, Finley, offered to let me stay with them. Their place rocks, but they’re all lovey-dovey and I would feel like I was intruding.” “What about your parents?” This makes me laugh. “Don’t get me wrong, I love them, I really do, but I will hopefully never live with them again.” Then I remember he’s living with his parents. “No offense. I don’t know how obsessed your mom is with your love life, but mine is. If I moved in with them, I’d be subjected to surprise dinners with any nearby man of what she considers to be a marriageable age.” “Why would she do that?” Familiar streets and buildings flow past us as I take my time to answer him. “It comes from a good place. For her, happiness came from marrying my dad and having us kids. I think she worries about me and thinks finding someone will solve all my problems. What happened with my house did not help.” “Ahh, because your boyfriend, or husband, would have swooped in to save you.” “Exactly. What she’s completely overlooked is even though I’m not romantically involved with

anyone, I have no shortage of people ready to help me.” “If you don’t mind me asking, how much do you have left on your loan?” “Oh, you know, seventy-five thousand, three hundred eighty-six dollars and twelve cents.” “Wow, you know it to the penny.” “I do. Hopefully, I’ll be able to knock it down by ten grand soon. Noah has been helping me sell fixtures from it. He has a lot of building contacts around town and they’ve been offering stuff from my house to their clients, with their knowledge at a discount. He might even have someone buy my shingles.” “You can reuse shingles?” I park in front of the coffee house. “Apparently, if you’re careful removing them.” “For someone who has lost so much, you’re handling it remarkably well.” It’s not every day a genius tells me I’m remarkable. “When it first happened, I didn’t handle it well at all. I still have woe is me moments where I feel like cursing out the universe. None of that helps anything so I’ve decided to focus on a plan.” “Under the circumstances, couldn’t you make a deal with your lender?” “It would hurt my credit score so it’s not something I’ve considered, but don’t worry about

me. This is a setback, not the end of the world.” Before he gets out of my car, I give him my parents’ address and let him know what time to get there. Then, I watch as he makes his way to his car and wait for him to leave before I do. It’s been a long day. All I want to do is cuddle Emo and sleep for a hundred hours when I get back to Sam’s. Given the time, I’m surprised her car isn’t here when I park. We’re both adults so it’s not like she has to clear her schedule with me first. Still, especially since I’ve moved in with her, we’ve been keeping each other in the loop schedule-wise. Unlocking the door, I push it open. “Emo. Here kitty, kitty.” The floors in Sam’s place are a dark wood so Emo blends in. Meow Dropping my purse on the entryway table, I head for the kitchen. “Are you hungry?” Meow “I’ll take that as a yes.” I’m filling up her bowl when Sam walks in. “Hey chica,” I say turning to greet her. “I was expecting you to be home when I got back. Where were you?” She sets her purse down next to mine and gives me her back as she shuts and locks the door behind her. “I had to work late.”

We work in the same office. My having a condo to show Spencer at all was nothing short of a Christmas miracle. There’s no work and we both know it. I decide against calling her out on the lie, praying whatever she’s up to, has nothing to do with me. She can have her secrets, once she’s ready to tell me, she will. “Spencer tagged along for my dinner with Gideon.” She spins. “Really? How’d that happen?” I reach down to give Emo a pet. She gives me an aggravated meow and smacks my arm with her tail. If I had to guess, I’d translate it as, “look lady, I’m trying to eat here.” “I invited him.” She moves past me to get a bottle of wine and two glasses. “Tell me everything.” “There’s nothing to tell.” Still, she has wine so I follow her into the living room. She’s a pro at uncorking it, her eyes never leaving mine. “Say that again while looking me right in the eyes.” Maybe I should call her out on her working late bullshit. “There’s nothing to tell.” I slowly enunciate each word as I hold out my hand. She passes me a glass while squinting at me. “I think you like him.”

Grateful for the wine, I take a very unladylike gulp of it and slump back against the couch cushions. “You’d be wrong.” Her couch is soft and comfortable. There’s a decent chance I’ll be sleeping on it tonight since I’m too tired to get up and go to the spare room. “Why am I wrong? According to you he’s gotten hot and I think you’ve enjoyed hanging out with him.” He wore a turtleneck tonight. Never in a million years would I think that was sexy but damn if he didn’t make it look good. “I like him as a friend.” She snorts. “A friend you want to bone.” “Oh my God. I do not want to bone Spencer Hill.” “Why, because he was all nerdy in high school?” I glare at her, well, I’m tired so it’s more of a half glare. “I’m not that shallow.” “Exactly, so what’s stopping you?” I see what she did there. “If I liked him like that, which I don’t, now is also not the right time to start anything with anyone.” Emo settles herself next to me and stares at me in a way that says, “You may pet me now.” “Not the right time is such an excuse. Babe, you were saying that before anything ever happened to your house and if you let yourself,

you’ll still be saying it years from now.” “Well, ignore the whole timing thing. What should I do, throw myself at him? Slip a pair of my panties into his pocket? Oh yeah, and the fact that I’ve spent all of a handful of hours in his presence in the last decade.” “Are you attracted to him?” I drink some more wine. “I have eyes.” She sets her glass down and crosses her arms over her chest. “Then what is stopping you?” “So what if I think he’s attractive. He hasn’t hit on me so maybe I’m not his type.” She makes a face at me. “Yeah, gorgeous knock out who is a sweetheart isn’t his type. Right.” “He’s basically a rocket scientist Sam. Seriously, what do I have to offer a guy like that? Sure, he could be interested in me physically for a while but what would keep him interested in me? I’m not like Gideon, I’m not going to throw myself at anyone just because I think he’s hot.” Sam stands so fast, she bumps the table, knocking over her glass. “Shit.” Emo goes airborne at the commotion and races out of the room so fast you’d think the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels. I jump up as well and dash to the kitchen for paper towels. Sam reaches for them as soon as I’m near and manages to mop up the spill before any of it hits her rug.

“Are you okay?” I ask. She makes a pile of the used towels before she pierces me with her gaze. “If I ever hear you imply you might not be intelligent enough to hold the attention of some fucking dude ever again, and I don’t care if it’s Stephen-fucking-Hawking, I will kick your ass.”

6

SPENCER

G

ripping the handles of the gift bag in one hand, I press the doorbell. With three trucks and two SUVs parked in front of it, I knew which house was Abby’s parents’ before my GPS told me. I’ve been here before. Though, the years erased my memory of how to get here. The door swings open and Abby’s mom smiles brightly. “Welcome Spencer. We’re so happy you could join us.” I offer her the bag. “Thank you for having me, Mrs. Thompson.” She shakes her finger at me while she ushers me inside and out of the cold. “None of that Mrs. or Mr. Thompson noise, I’m Daisy and he’s Dennis or Denny to you.” She accepts the bag and peers into it. “You are so sweet for bringing something. Thank you.”

Gideon comes up behind her. “Hey Spencer. Good to see you again.” Daisy turns to him. “Now take his coat and bring him to the den. I need to get back to the kitchen.” Gideon does as she bid, hanging my coat in a hall closet already brimming with them. “Did you find the place okay?” “GPS did all the work,” I admit. As I follow him farther into the house, my gaze travels over the living time capsule that is the Thompson’s home. Class pictures and professional group family photos cover the walls. Abby, Asher, Gideon and I have to assume her oldest brothers Eli and Noah age in pictures the farther I move into the house. I’ve studied genes but not to the point where I could easily define what was at work to create five siblings so physically attractive. None of my school pictures were worthy of framing and hanging on a wall in the house for all to see. Though, if my parents were the type to display school pictures, I’m sure they would have. They do have somewhat of a shrine to all of my science fair awards. I was undefeated. The room that Gideon leads me to is brimming with people. I spot Abby making her approach right away. “Hey Spencer.”

Her hair falls in thick waves, framing her face. She’s wearing a fitted maroon dress, the same shade on her expressive lips. “Hi Abby, how are you?” Her infectious smile is at full wattage. “Never better. I’m happy you came.” There’s a fire crackling in the fireplace, a room full of happy people, and a gentle hum of Christmas carols in the background. It’s the opposite of the cold and empty basement I left. “I didn’t want to force your mother to come hunt me down.” She motions for me to follow her. “We all appreciate that. Now, come on, let me introduce you to everyone.” Once she’s made her way to the center of the room, she whistles to get everyone’s attention. “Hey guys, this is Spencer, a friend from high school.” “Is he your boyfriend?” A young girl loudly asks. Grinning, Abby plants her hands on her hips and leans toward the questioner. “Did Nana tell you to ask that?” The young girl covers her mouth as she giggles and shakes her head no. Abby relaxes her arms. “He’s just a friend I’m helping find a house. Any more questions Connie?” When Connie shakes her head again Abby turns

to me. “That’s Connie, she’s Eli and Brooke’s youngest. They have two other kids but they’re probably playing ping pong in the basement.” “Ping pong?” She doesn’t miss the excitement in my voice. “You play?” Sports weren’t my thing growing up, but I could play a mean game of ping pong. “I do.” Gideon overhears us. “You’ll have to play against Abby. She’s the family champ.” Abby shrugs, confidence making her stand a little taller. “Maybe after dinner. There is Eli, try not to sit next to him at dinner because he’s grouchy.” “Am not,” he all but growls in response. “Told you so,” she replies. “Next to him is his wife Brooke. And, that’s Asher and his fiancée Paige. Her mom used to get his mail and do some light cleaning for him but broke her leg. Paige filled in for her and that’s how they met and fell in love. There’s Noah. His fiancée Finley is an amazing cook so she’s the only one allowed in the kitchen with mom. I sold her a house and sent him over to introduce himself since it needed a ton of work. He took one look at her and was a goner. That’s my dad. Hey dad, wave to Spencer.” Her father gives me a jaunty wave before sticking his tongue out at Abby. She ignores him and pats my arm to get me to

turn with her. “That’s Samantha, and those are Finley’s parents, Georgie and Tom. They flew up from Texas. And, I didn’t save the best for last, you already know Gideon. Don’t worry if you forgot anyone’s names, there’s one of you and a bunch of us.” “I remember their names.” She cocks her head to the side. “You do?” “Connie, Eli, Brooke, Asher, Paige, Noah, Finley’s in the kitchen with your mom Daisy, your dad Dennis or Denny, Samantha, Georgie, Tom, and Gideon. You didn’t tell me your nephews’ names.” “Wow. Do you have a photographic type memory but for things you’ve heard?” Everyone in the room is looking at me. Maybe I shouldn’t have shown off. “Yes, it’s called echoic memory.” “That is so cool,” she whispers. “Thanks.” Gideon lifts a platter. “Cheese?” Abby looks around him. “Where’d all the crackers go?” He looks away and she takes the platter from him. “I can’t believe you ate them all.” He swipes a slice of Swiss before she’s out of reach. “I’m a growing boy.” Rolling her eyes before she walks away, she says, “You’re almost thirty.” Once she’s gone he waves Samantha over.

“Sam is like a sister to me but sometimes better when I need a wing woman.” “You called?” He drapes his arm around her shoulders and motions to me. “Have any friends that would go out with Spencer?” The fact that I heard and vividly remember his question doesn’t stop me from asking, “What?” He ignores me, his attention on Samantha. “This guy was going to work today. Can you believe that? I think he needs a lady to distract him.” Samantha’s eyes move to my shoes, then slowly travel up to my face before she wets her lips. “Damn, Abby said you looked hot but not that you should come with a heat advisory warning. If he wanted a distraction like that, I don’t think he’d have a problem finding one all on his own.” There were multiple cliques at our high school. Both Abby and Samantha were members of the hot nice girls one. I was part of the invisible nerdy guys one. During college and throughout my post-grad schooling and now work, I’ve met many people who had similar, if not worse experiences growing up. Sure, I was the class nerd, but I was never beat up or had my head shoved into a toilet. That doesn’t mean it’s not surreal to have one of the hot nice girls casually say I wouldn’t need

help finding a date. “Thank you.” She twirls a strand of her pale blonde hair around her finger. “You could always ask Abby out.” Yeah right, like the girl I had a crush on in high school would be interested in me. “Is that a joke?” “Why would I be joking?” Samantha asks, dropping her hair. “Real funny,” Gideon laughs. Someone coughs behind us, drawing all of our eyes to where Abby stands, platter in hand. She passes it to Gideon, her eyes on Samantha. “Can I borrow you for a minute?” Gideon lifts the platter toward me. “Have a cracker and cheese man.” Distractedly, I take one of each as I watch Abby and Samantha walk out of the den. Their heads are close together as Abby furiously whispers something I can’t hear. She was fine when she went in search of crackers. I wonder what could have happened between now and then to upset her. “Do you think Abby is alright?” Gideon shrugs, pushing a cheese laden cracker into his mouth. My gaze moves back to the doorway she disappeared through. “Don’t worry about her, it’s probably her time of the month or something.”

“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” Tom, Finley’s father interrupts. “But, learn this lesson from an old man so you won’t get your butt kicked by any of the women in your lives, don’t ever imply anything mood or otherwise is caused by a ladies’ period. Trust me.” Behind him, his wife Georgie nods in agreement. “Yes Sir,” Gideon replies with a cringe. He motions to me. “Stick with this fella and maybe his brains will rub off on you.” Gideon nods. Tom shifts his gaze to me. “Heard you’re some rocket scientist. I always wondered what exactly they did.” I push my hands into my pockets. “I hate to disappoint you, but technically, I’m an astrophysicist. I don’t build or design rockets.” He deflates. “Well what do you do?” “I study supernova activity. We are able to research and track the matter that is expelled when a star explodes. I identify stars that are going supernova so we can dedicate resources to monitoring it.” Georgie moves closer to us. “There are so many stars out there. How do you know which ones are about to explode?” My gaze moves to the right as Asher and Paige join our group. “A star emits more light before it

explodes. We track the appearance of multiple galaxies daily and search for changes versus the last image we have.” “Oh, so if you have images of the same galaxy and one spot is brighter on one image than it is on the other, it is a supernova?” Georgie asks. “Not always but it gives us an excuse to look closer so we can find out why the images were different.” I don’t go into detail about the telescopes we use and the system that allows us to capture images and sort all of the data we receive. Science, and in my personal opinion, astrophysics is fun until it becomes overly confusing. More times than I can count, I watched people’s eyes glaze over when they stopped understanding what I was talking about. Deciding to change the subject, I turn to Asher and Paige. “Abby mentioned you live on a lake.” “They don’t just live on it. They own the whole thing,” Tom replies. Asher quietly dips his head. Paige tucks herself close to his side, her palm coming to rest flat on his stomach. “We do. It’s a great spot for looking at stars, especially on the dock so the trees aren’t blocking it.” That peaks my interest. “How far away is your closest neighbor?” Paige looks up at Asher. “Something like three

miles.” He smiles down at her. “Yes.” “How long is your driveway?” “Why does that matter?” Gideon asks. “Light coming from houses or headlights can impact what you’re trying to look at.” “It gets dark. I have a generator now, but when I first moved there I lost power a few times.” “You should have Abby bring you up some time,” Paige offers. “I’d like that.” “I could bring him up,” Gideon adds. Asher looks up at the ceiling while Paige laughs. “Come up with one of them or all by yourself. Either way, you’re welcome.” “Thank you.” A striking dark-haired woman who must be Finley enters the room. “Dinner is served. Come and get it while it’s hot.” Connie races past her. “I’ll get Ethan and Aidan.” “Don’t be bossy,” Brooke calls after her. I follow the group into the dining room. Dennis taps the back of a chair. “You can sit by me.” “Thank you,” I reply, moving to stand behind it. The kids loudly make their entrance, the boys making a beeline for me. “Have you ever been in space?” The older asks.

I shake my head. “Told you so,” he snaps at Connie. Brooke’s brows go straight up. “Ethan Thompson, get your butt over here right now.” Frowning, he makes his way over to her. The shorter boy looks at me in confusion. “If you’re an astronaut, how come you’ve never been in space mister?” “I’m not an astronaut.” He wheels toward his mother. “Mom, Connie lied. She told us Abby’s friend was an astronaut.” Ethan’s brows come together and he looks up at his mom. “See.” Maybe I need to step in. “Maybe Connie got confused because my job has the word astro in it too.” “It does?” Aidan asks. “Yep, I’m an astrophysicist.” Connie plants her hands on her hips. “I didn’t lie.” Brooke rests her hand on Ethan’s shoulder and doesn’t stop him when he turns more fully to me. “What do astrophysicist do?” “Mainly, we study the universe. What it’s made up of, how it makes stuff happen here on earth and what’s happening in our galaxy and other galaxies.” Both Ethan and Aidan look mesmerized while Connie looks vindicated. Dennis sits. “Now that that’s all settled. Let’s

eat.” Once we’re all seated, Daisy lifts her glass and one by one the rest of us follow suit. “Before we dive in, I wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for being here so we can all spend time together and share this meal. You are my greatest blessings and I am so thankful for all of you. Happy Christmas Eve.” Dennis lifts his glass even higher. “Here, here.” After dinner, we reassemble in the den to let our stomachs rest before dessert where Abby is notably absent. Her family seemed to be pushing us together earlier, did that or something I did irritate her? “Want to play ping-pong?” Aidan asks. Since learning my job, he’s become my shadow. “Yeah, wanna?” Ethan pleads. I stand making them both jump up in excitement. “I haven’t played in a long time.” Neither seems that concerned. Ethan spins when he notices Abby walking in the room. “Aunt Abby, will you come play ping pong with us?” “What word did you forget?” Eli asks. Ethan’s eyes shift to his dad before moving back to Abby. “Please?” She stands as well, her eyes sparkling, wine glass in hand. “Are you sure you want to go up against me?”

“We can play doubles. You and Aidan against Mr. Spencer and me.” Aidan balls up his fists. “But I wanted to be on Mr. Spencer’s team.” Abby’s mouth falls open. “What am I, chopped liver?” Ethan looks between her and his younger brother before his shoulders slump. “Fine, I’ll be on your team.” With a chagrined smirk, she crosses the room to ruffle his hair. “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence bud.” Realizing his mistake, his bummed body language shifts. “No, no. I’m happy. We’re going to beat them.” Aidan peers up at me. “Aunt Abby is really good.” “We’ll just have to be better, now won’t we?” He smiles up at me, oblivious to the spinach leaf stuck to one of his back teeth. I point to my teeth. “You have something stuck in your teeth.” He nods, unbothered by this news. “I was saving it for later.” He walks away before I can react, or argue with his logic. There’s a door off the kitchen that leads to a set of stairs down to the basement. This is not the first time I’ve been down here. Once or twice while I was tutoring Gideon, this is

where our lesson took place. The ping-pong table was even there in those days. Just about everything else is unfamiliar, most likely having been updated over the years. Now a large sectional sofa with deep cushions faces a large screen TV mounted over another fireplace. This one appears to be gas though, whereas the one in the den was wood burning. The TV is set to a channel playing holiday music at a low volume. Behind it, the ping-pong table is set with plenty of free space around it for playing. At the other end of the basement are a series of doors. Abby’s watchful eyes don’t miss the direction of my gaze. She points. “Spare room, bathroom, laundry room.” Next to the doors is a wood-paneled wet bar. Abby walks over to it and sets her wine glass down. Then she stretches her neck and arms, her eyes on Ethan. “Ready to show them we’re the ultimate dream team?” He nods. “Oh yeah, they’re so going down.” “Nah uh.” Aidan grins broadly at his retort. Here’s hoping he’s better at ping-pong than he is at comebacks. Loud footsteps sound on the stairs as everyone from the den trudges down them.

“We decided to watch you guys play while we work up our appetites for dessert,” Noah explains. My palms start sweating. It’s one thing to play a friendly game of ping-pong with a woman and a couple kids, but another thing to do it with a packed audience. Aidan gets paddles and a ball. “Youngest player serves first.” Seems there are some house rules at play here. “Do you play to the one bounce rule?” I ask. Aidan scrunches up his face. “Huh?” “Is it okay for the ball to bounce more than once?” His face relaxes. “Yep.” Abby takes two paddles, passing one to Ethan. “We’re not strict with the rules, except for the no physical contact one.” Finley coughs out a laugh. “Was physical contact ever allowed?” It’s Daisy who answers. “There’s a whole chunk of drywall over there that needed to be replaced after Eli and Noah decided to invent tackle ping pong.” Aidan nods proudly. “Dad’s head made the hole.” “Any other rules I should be aware of?” Abby tosses her paddle up in the air, making it flip before catching it. “Losers serve winners dessert.”

Aidan gasps. “I don’t want to feed anyone.” Thanks for the confidence kid. “I think she means carry their plate to them.” He squints at Abby. “Is that what you meant?” Ethan crosses his arms. “I don’t want him to carry my plate. He’ll probably spit on it.” Eli stands up from the sectional, his eyes on his oldest. “Ethan, if you don’t have anything nice to say, please keep your mouth shut.” Shamefaced, he looks at his toes. “Sorry dad.” Abby points across the table at Aidan. “Enough chit-chat. Time to play.” Sam claps her hands. “Go Abby. Show no mercy!” He wets his lips and sets up his serve. The ball bounces once before his paddle connects, sending the ball right into the net.

7

ABBY

E

than meets my gaze, a gleeful smile stretched across his face. Beating the snot out of your little brother in ping-pong will do that. Part of me feels bad for Aidan, but my desire to cream Spencer is bigger. Is that a joke? His words still scramble around the walls of my mind like a bug trapped in a jar. Why would it be a joke to ask me out? So what if I’m not some genius space scientist. He can come to my parents’ house, eat their food and spend time with my family and I’m not good enough for him? Whatever. Like I even care. I don’t even like him. All I need to do is find him a house and then I’ll never see him again. Since that’s not going to happen anytime soon, I’ll kick his ass at ping-pong

for now. “Do we have to play another one?” Aidan asks. We usually play best three out of five with eleven points to win each match. We’ve beaten them eleven to three twice already. And, not one of those six points came from Spencer. It may have been immature, but I shut him out completely. I only let Aidan score a few so he wouldn’t be too upset at Ethan and me for winning. “You can forfeit,” Ethan offers. I tilt my head and stare at Spencer. It’s funny how befuddled he looks as he pushes his glasses up his nose. Bet he thought knowing the formulas behind how motion and force affect the ball would give him the upper hand. Problem is, knowing how to set up a tough shot isn’t enough to beat someone as fast as me. Biting my tongue, since I do love my nephew, I decide against suggesting they quit. That doesn’t stop me from carrying out a pretend conversation in my head. These are my favorite kind because I can control both sides of the conversation and not get in any trouble for saying what I want. It’s helpful when I’d love to remind a client a gallon or two of paint is a lot cheaper than only buying a house because it is already decorated in a color scheme they like. It this case, with Spencer, in my head, I’m asking him if his playing is a joke. Then, still in my

head, I knock a ping-pong ball right between his eyes. Aidan sets his paddle down. “I want pie.” Ethan turns to me, both arms going sky high, even the one holding the paddle. “We won.” I set my paddle down and give him a big hug. It’s crazy how big he’s getting. In another year, he’ll be taller than me. My mom goes over to comfort Aidan. “We’ll get you the first piece.” “No way,” Ethan argues. “He’s got to serve me first.” Aidan looks about ready to cry so I step in. “How about he gets you a plate the same time he gets himself one?” “Okay.” He doesn’t sound thrilled, but he must realize if he makes a big deal about it there’s a decent chance he’ll piss off his parents and get no pie. At the mention of food, everyone else starts heading upstairs behind my mom and the boys. Needing my wine, I go in the opposite direction to retrieve my glass. When I turn, I’m surprised to see Spencer didn’t go upstairs with everyone else. He stretches out his hand. Confused, I stare at it. His hands look strong, his fingers long and his nails neatly trimmed. Even his hands are attractive.

His shell-shocked expression is comical. “I wanted to congratulate you on your win.” Oh, he wants to shake hands. All at once I realize we’re now alone down here. My parents’ basement is massive, the square footage equal to that of the entire main level. Why do the walls feel like they’re closing in? I gulp, before slipping my hand into his. His palm is warm, his large hand engulfing mine. His touch is annoyingly comfortable. “Good game.” “Good game,” I return, tugging my hand away. He drops his hand quickly, looking uncomfortable. “Where did you learn to play like that?” My lips tip up. “You’ve seen my brothers. To hold my own against any of them, I needed to be faster.” “It’s an Olympic sport.” “I know.” He shifts his gaze back to the table. “Did you ever try to pursue playing further?” Moving past him, I walk to the stairs. I pause at the start of them. “I was too busy playing soccer. Besides, ping pong was something I played for fun.” “I see.” “Come on. Let’s get some dessert before it’s all gone.” Not meaning to, I start to stomp up them,

still annoyed at him. He follows me. “Yes, you’ll have to let me know what you would like.” Stopping halfway up the stairs, I turn back to look at him. He’s closer than I expected him to be and with our height difference, we’re eye to eye. This close, I can smell his cologne. Whatever it is, it’s playing havoc on my senses. Leave it to me to have a crush on a guy who thinks I’m a joke. Okay universe, first you destroy my house, and now you’re going after my heart? Thing is, I’m smarter than he thinks I am and can make sure my feelings never come into play. So what if he’s hot, there are plenty of hot guys on this planet. There’s no way I’m going to pine after some dude who isn’t worth my attention. I’ll sell him a house and make some money off him in the process. Then good riddance, Spencer Hill. “What?” “The terms of your victory.” I blink, and then laugh. “You don’t have to serve me pie.” He cocks his head to one side, his gaze moving over my face. “I do.” This close, and in the dull light of the stairway, his dark brown eyes seem like pools of black coffee behind his glasses, and being this close is giving me a caffeine buzz.

Is that a joke? His earlier words assail me again. I spin around so fast I wonder if my hair hit him. There’s no way I’m looking back to find out. “Suit yourself,” I reply, moving so quickly I’m almost at the top of the stairs before I’m finished speaking. The moment I’m back on the main level, my heartbeat slows back to its normal rhythm. How had I not noticed it was racing? “Do you have to poop?” My mouth falls open as I stare down at my niece. “What?” She points at me. “Your face is red and you look constimated.” Gideon, who unfortunately is standing close enough to hear this exchange, laughs. “Yeah sis, you look constimated.” Connie’s mispronunciation of constipated was cute, having Gideon repeat it is less so. “So do you have to poop?” “MOM, CONNIE’S TALKING ABOUT POOPING,” Aidan shrieks at eardrum shattering decibels. Brooke rounds the corner. “Both of you come here right now.” “But Mom,” Aidan whines. “No, we told you three on the way here to mind your manners. Do you think yelling about poop is

doing that?” “Connie started it.” She leads both of them away. As soon as they’re out of earshot, Gideon jumps back in. “You do look a little constimated.” “Oh shut up.” Spencer makes an ‘ahem’ sound behind us and lifts a plate. “Apples are a good source of fiber if you’d like a slice of pie.” Embarrassed, I point to the chocolate trifle Finley made. “I’ll take a scoop of that please.” “How big of a scoop?” “Dump truck big,” I reply. Ethan comes up behind him, plate in hand, pie already finished. “I’d like the dump truck experience as well.” Spencer loads me up, before doing the same for my oldest nephew. Then he surprises me by loading up a third plate, and carrying it and my plate back over toward me. “Where would you like to sit?” While dinner was formal, dessert is less so, served buffet style. My parents and Finley’s parents are eating in the den. Noah, Finley, Asher and Paige are all eating around the kitchen island. Brooke is somewhere trying to keep the kids from fighting or getting their clothes dirty. For some reason, I don’t feel like being around any of them. “Follow me.” I lead him to my dad’s office. There are a

couple of club chairs and a table across from his desk in there. “Have a seat.” He doesn’t listen, instead, still carrying our plates, he moves around the room. “It’s a great room, isn’t it?” As if remembering he’s still holding my plate, he closes the space between us and hands it to me. Setting it on the table, I head to my dad’s minibar. “Want a drink?” He claims one of the chairs. “Yes, thank you.” “Any requests?” He shakes his head. “Surprise me.” His earlier words make me wonder if this is some sort of intelligence test. Not caring either way, I decide to make us each an Old Fashioned. It’s a drink my dad taught me how to make years ago. My dad sometimes forgets to refill the ice tray. Opening the door to check, I relax when I see it’s full. Once I’m done, I pass him his glass. “Here.” While I wait, he takes a drink. “It’s good, thanks.” Sliding into my seat, I reach for my plate and take a bite. When I notice Spencer pick up his fork, it hits me that he waited for me to eat first. “This is delicious.” All I can do is bob my head in agreement since my mouth is full.

“Your family is great.” Done with my bite, I swallow loudly then agree verbally this time. “Yeah, they’re the best.” “I always envied people with big families growing up.” My fingers circle my glass, the amber liquid swishing and ice cubes knocking against the side as I lift it to my lips and drink. All the while, I wonder what my life would have been like if I had grown up in a smaller family. “It sure made life interesting. Do you have any cousins?” “I have an older sister.” My lips part in surprise. “You do?” He takes another drink. “She’s ten years older than me and lives in Chicago.” “That’s a big age difference.” “It is, and it meant we weren’t very close growing up.” “If you don’t mind me asking, since it seems you aren’t that close with your parents, what made you move back?” After setting his drink down, his long fingers circle the rim of the glass, as if he was trying to pull sound from it. “I had hoped to change that when I came back.” “Could you have gone with them on the cruise?” He shifts his arm back to his side, his eyes

staying on his glass. “They checked and it was fully booked.” Setting my drink down with a clang, my hands join the conversation. “That blows.” He looks up from the table and stares at me. “It’s not a big deal.” I’d like to shake him. “They’re your family and you moved here to be closer to them. Family should be together around the holidays.” His throat bobs as he gulps and I wonder if I’ve overstepped my bounds. “I’m sorry, you don’t need me ordering you around.” My hand curves around the arm of my chair and he shocks me by covering my hand with his. “No, I appreciate your opinion.” When he notices my gaze on his hand, he pulls it away. For the first time, I wonder if I misjudged him. “I can help you, if you want.” “Help me?” I reach for my glass and lift it. “Yep, I can give you tips on how to strengthen your relationship with them. Consider me your family trainer.” “You’d do that?” I take a drink before answering him. “I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.” While he silently considers my words, I eat my dessert. He’s barely touched his. Is he going to eat it? If he’s not, I’m all over it.

He must sense my thoughts because he follows suit and begins to eat as well. Finley is a great cook, but she only breaks out the big guns for special occasions. “It’s good, isn’t it?” He smiles, a smidge of whipped chocolate mousse on his lip. Well, if I had been unsure of my attraction to him, his current expression just cemented it. Earlier I had promised myself I’d keep it strictly business with him. Then what do I do? Take him to a secluded room in my parents’ house, make him a drink, and offer to help him with personal stuff. What is wrong with me? I couldn’t even keep that promise for fifteen minutes before I was going out of my way for him again. Yes, he’s good looking. Yes, he’s absurdly smart which I’m realizing is a bigger turn on than I thought it would be. Yes, he’s easy to be around and likes my family. Having four protective brothers has sometimes wreaked havoc on my love life. Nope, he’s great, it’s me that’s all wrong. “Here you guys are.” My gaze moves to the doorway and I see Sam and Gideon standing in it. “We looked everywhere for you two.” Sam’s brows come together. “Everywhere is an exaggeration. We only checked the basement.”

Setting my plate down, I start to stand. “Does mom need help cleaning up?” Gideon trudges in and sits behind our dad’s desk. “Don’t get up. Dad and Tom are doing all the dishes.” “Say what?” By this point after a holiday dinner, our dad is usually asleep on the couch and we’re all in the kitchen cleaning up. “Georgie told him she thought it was romantic when Tom helped in the kitchen.” I press my hand to my chest. “That might be the cutest thing I’ve heard all year.” Samantha comes over to sit on the arm of my chair. “When do you want to hit the road?” I’m staying with her, it made sense for us to ride over together. I suppose I’ll ride home with her, even though I’m still angry at her for pushing. She thinks I’m taking what Spencer said out of context. But, how else am I supposed to take it? “Are Eli and them getting ready to take off?” Gideon slumps further into dad’s chair. “I think Brooke’s rounding up the kids as we speak. They’ll probably swing through here to say goodbye soon.” I hurry to finish my dessert. There’s no chance I’m leaving any behind. In fact, I wonder if I can talk Finley into letting me take any leftovers with me.

Brooke’s voice trails in from the hall. “Go give goodbye hugs.” I barely have time to set my plate down before the kids crash into the room to pass out hugs. Eli follows after while Brooke waves from the door. Standing to hug each of them, plenty of Merry Christmases are murmured. “I like this one,” Eli quietly tells me as he hugs me. “It’s not like that,” I assure him. He shrugs. As a group, we follow them out into the hall and watch as the kids tug on their Bean boots and coats. “Aunt Abby, you have to kiss the man,” Connie shouts. Huh? Gideon laughs and points upward. “You sure do.” Brows furrowing, I look up. Shit. Mistletoe. Since the foyer is crowded with bodies, Spencer and I ended up standing next to each other in the doorway. A doorway with a sprig of mistletoe hanging above it. “Kiss her!” someone who sounds an awful lot like my mother shouts. My entire immediate family is staring at us.

“Um.” Before I can get out the rest of what was going to be an excuse as to why we shouldn’t kiss, Spencer moves. One of his hands holds my cheek as he lowers his mouth to mine and briefly, presses my lips with his. It’s over so fast I wonder if I imagined it. He drops his hand and I tip my chin to look up at him. For a kiss that was nothing more than a peck, it was surprisingly sweet. The way he held my face was a nice touch. Still, the fact that we had my family as an audience might be the most embarrassing thing that’s happened tonight. Well, that or him offering me apple pie for fiber. No matter what, it was nice of him to take one for the team and kiss me. “Thanks Spencer.” He nods and looks at his feet. “You don’t have to thank me.” Tom catches my dad’s gaze. “That kiss was so quick I missed it. Should we make them do it again?” Connie drops her coat on the floor and starts to jump up and down. “Again. Again. Kiss her again.” I lift my hands. “No, no, one kiss is enough.” Brooke retrieves Connie’s coat and manages to get her into it. Another round of hugs and kisses are placed around before they leave. We crowd behind the storm door to wait and wave once they pull

away. Finley rubs her arms and backs away from the door. “Brr. I’m going to go stand by the fire.” Noah, drapes his arm across her shoulders. “I’ll join you.” “Wait.” Paige stops them. “Asher and I are going to take off as well since we have a long drive.” “Are you still coming for New Year’s?” Finley asks, pulling her future sister-in-law into a hug. Paige glances back at Asher, who nods. “We’ll be there.” Before Paige, my brother Asher was becoming a complete hermit. I’m so happy he’s found her not only for himself but for the rest of us as well since we get to see him more now. Again, we all stand by the storm door to wave as they pull away. Once they’re out of sight, Finley asks. “Is it safe to go stand by the fireplace, or is anyone else leaving?” It’s Spencer who speaks. “I should probably get going.” My mom starts to shake her head. “Are you sure honey? It’s been so lovely having you.” He nods shyly before leaving. Talk about kiss and run.

8

SPENCER

“I

got you your usual.” Abby beat me to the coffee house. It’s been two months since I joined her family for dinner on Christmas Eve. Since then, Abby and I have been meeting up for coffee once a week to discuss any properties that list and for her to coach me on strengthening my relationship with my family. I pull out the chair across from her and slide into it. “You’re here early today.” She pushes a small pile of papers toward me. “I was excited to show you this. It’s been weeks, but I actually have a house to show you.” Curiosity and surprise have me reaching for the papers. “Where is it?” She sips her coffee. “Five miles from campus.” The first page is a black and white photo of a

plain ranch style house. “Can we tour it?” She motions to my drink. “I called the listing agent before you got here. It’s vacant so we can go once you’re done with your coffee.” I flip to the next page. “Sounds good.” “How was dinner with your parents?” She’s been giving me homework assignments. Last week’s was to take my parents out to dinner and spend at least ten minutes talking about something they were interested in. “It went well, better than I expected.” “Oh come on. Give me more than that.” She leans forward, and the wide neck of her turtleneck sweater hangs low enough for me to see the delicate silver chain of her necklace. “My dad is still ten years out from retirement. He’s been researching what to do with the money he and my mom have been putting away. It’s something that’s important to both of them and it was good to find out they should be able to live comfortably once they do retire.” She smiles. “That’s good news.” What I leave out is the rest of our dinner conversation was about her. I’ve thought often about Christmas Eve, and more specifically what her friend Samantha said. Why don’t you ask Abby out? At the time, I had assumed she was teasing me. That she thought a nerd like me asking someone

like Abby out would be funny. Upon further reflection, both on that night and the times I’ve seen Abby since then, it’s become clear she wasn’t joking. First point of evidence is the fact that Samantha didn’t laugh when she said it. If it were a joke, wouldn’t one of them have laughed? And then, when Abby and I stood under the mistletoe, her family encouraged me to kiss her. One thing I’ve learned about the Thompson family is, they are not mean-spirited. I’ve known this since high school when I tutored Gideon. Her family would not have done that if they believed she would be opposed to kissing me. My hypothesis is that Abby Thompson likes me and may even be attracted to me. Now, it’s my plan to prove my theory as I try to get to know her better. Having a cup of coffee together once a week is not good enough. But, touring houses together will be the perfect way to get to know what she likes. As soon as I finish my cup, we leave, taking her car. “Have you ever considered moving out of Woodlake?” The car jerks as she presses on the brakes. There are no cars ahead of us so I can only assume it’s my question that caused her to react that way. She recovers quickly, her speed leveling back

out to where it was before I spoke. “No, I’ve never thought about moving away.” Her response doesn’t surprise me. Why would she ever want to leave this place? “When you picked a university in California, was it to get away?” There’s no reason to lie. “Partly yes.” “And partly no?” “My course of study was specific enough that my options were limited.” “Was Woodlake U one of those options?” Man, she cuts right to the chase. “It was.” “How bad was high school for you?” “It wasn’t bad at all. Please, don’t take my wanting to get away as something more than what it was.” “What was it?” I stare out the windshield at a town that is both familiar and brand new to me because of how long I’ve been gone. “A test to see if I’d be invisible somewhere else too.” “Invisible?” I clear my throat. “Many times it felt like no one saw me.” “I saw you.” She’s not lying, she saw me as a person, but not an option. It won’t do either of us any credit to focus on the difference.

“Not many people here did.” “I’ve felt like I don’t have an identity beyond my family before. That to some people, I’m not Abby, I’m a Thompson.” My gaze moves to her profile. “Does that bother you?” She parks in the driveway of the plain house from the picture she showed me earlier. “It did until I learned to embrace it. I am so lucky to have the family that I do. Before it was like I was competing with my brothers but now I don’t even think about it like that anymore.” “Why did it ever feel like a competition?” She unbuckles her belt and reaches up to tuck her hair behind her ear. “Eli got the store and got married and started a family right away, then Noah went into business for himself and was killing it, then Asher built his own freaking cabin on a lake, and then there’s Gideon, who could sweet talk anyone into falling hopelessly in love with him. There was a point in my life when I felt like I didn’t measure up to them.” Her words shock me, not only because she felt that way but that she’d share something like that with me. “Like you said, it’s not a competition, but personally, I think you have them all beat.” The corner of her mouth tips up. “And why’s that?” “You’re the glue that holds them all together.”

Her head turns to fully face me, her blue eyes curious. “You think that?” “Part of being a scientist is being observant, which I’ve told you before I believe you are. But, in my own observations spending time with you, with Gideon, and with your family, you are the person they all gravitate toward.” “They do that because they’re protective of me.” “They are protective of you because they value you.” “Well, let’s go check out this house and see if you value it.” I smile at her play on my words and the graceful way she changes the subject. “Good call.” As we walk up the path that leads to the door, Abby points out some selling features along the way. “The roof was replaced in 2015, the windows were done in 2013.” I hold the storm door for her as she retrieves the key from the lockbox that dangles from the knob. “There isn’t much of a front porch.” She glances up. “At least there’s enough of an overhang from the roof to keep you dry in the rain.” Following her lead, I look up as well. “Anyone back here would be getting rained on.” She frowns. “If it were me, and I love the inside, I’d get a couple quotes on how much it

would cost to build the porch out and give you some nice curb appeal.” “How big of a porch do you think is the right size?” She pushes open the front door and motions for me to go ahead of her. “Wrap around porches are great for curb appeal and entertaining but for me, as long as a porch is big enough for a couple of rocking chairs and a table, that’s all I need.” I file that away. She starts flipping on lights as the interior tour begins. “The ceilings are on the low side.” This makes her grin up at me. “Short person perk, but I can see how that would be a concern for you.” We move through each room and while there’s nothing terribly wrong with the place, I know it’s not the right place for me. Abby opens a door that leads out onto a screened-in porch. “Now, here’s my favorite room in this place.” Truthfully, a screened-in porch was never something I put much thought into. Why be outside in something that obstructs your view of the sky. “Why is this your favorite room?” She spreads her arms wide. “It’s too cold now, but once it warms up, they are the perfect spot to hang and enjoy the weather without getting eaten

alive.” I can picture it, Abby curled up on an outdoor lounge reading a book with a glass of wine. I can also picture her, out there, surrounded by her family and friends. Okay, a screened-in porch might not be a bad thing. “Another great thing about this property is the backyard. You can see most of it from here. It’s clear of trees if you’d like to do some stargazing.” The yard is, as she says, free of trees. It’s also free of any privacy, the yard running right into the yards of the homes on either side of it. “Do you think there would be an issue putting a fence in?” She seems surprised by my words. “It’s freezing out here. Let’s go back inside first.” She waits until the door closes to ask, “Are you considering making an offer on this place?” I shake my head. “The ceilings would drive me crazy.” “And, if they’d drive you crazy it’d probably be hard to sell in the future. So, why ask about the fence?” Her earlier question makes more sense now. “I like the space of the backyard but not how it’s open to the backyards of the other houses.” She nods. “This house is part of a homeowners’ association. I don’t believe I saw any fences when we drove through the neighborhood. It’s possible

that they’re not allowed.” “I don’t like that.” She tilts her head to the side. “The not having a fence or the homeowners’ association?” I don’t have to think about it. “Both.” She laughs, and holds out her hands. “Not all associations are bad things. Some of the things they do help protect your property value. Also, many of them cover your trash pickup and snow removal.” Dipping my chin, I concede her point. “Before we leave, let’s talk pros and cons. Pros.” She waits for me to list them. “Clear backyard, decent amount of space on the inside, appliances are already here so I don’t have to buy any.” “Now cons.” I laugh. “The ceilings, no fence in the back, the front, and having to pull up carpets.” She moves to the front door and I follow her. “Let’s see if I can get that con list down on the next house we look at.” I hold open the storm door while she finishes locking the house up. This close, I can smell the honeysuckle scent of her shampoo. “Thanks,” she says as soon as she’s done. We’re back in her car when I speak. “Still on for next week?” “You know it, and are you doing anything on Saint Patrick’s Day?”

Is she asking me out on a date? “I’d have to check my calendar.” She grins at me. “You can’t do that on your phone?” Oh right. Pulling it from my pocket, I scroll to the seventeenth of March. “No plans.” “Good, you’re officially invited to Finley, Eli, Paige and Gideon’s joint birthday party.” “Are they all born on the seventeenth?” She backs out of the drive. “Nope, but they are all born in March so we’re doing a combo party to make it easy on everyone. Don’t worry about bringing gifts. It’s not that kind of party.” “When’s your birthday?” “I’m an August baby. What about you?” “My birthday is in December.” She pulls over and parks in front of another house. “We missed your birthday?” “It was the sixteenth, before we met up for the first time.” “You still should have said something.” As she pulls back onto the road, I watch her profile. Half of her hair is pulled up and twisted into some sort of braid, the rest of it falling over her shoulders in soft waves. We’re friends now. Getting to spend this time with her, and getting to understand her, my high school crush on her was well placed.

By the time I find a house, I’d like for us to be more than friends. “Abby, we’re friends now. It would have been weird if I told you it was my birthday back then.” She huffs. This is her way of not admitting she’s wrong but also not continuing to argue her point. “My family has never been big on holidays or birthdays.” She glances my way. “I knew about the holidays, but birthdays too? What was it like growing up?” I frown and shift my gaze to look out the passenger window. “I would get a gift and an extra helping of dessert that night.” “No parties?” It’s dark enough for my reflection to show in the window. “I didn’t have a lot of friends.” “I’ve heard having a birthday in December sucks since it’s so close to Christmas. Don’t worry, we’re totally going to celebrate it this year. You’re stuck with us.” My chest tightens as my gaze moves back to her. “You don’t have to do that.” “Oh hush.” I smile at her casual rebuke. “What’s the name of that guy you work with again? The one who’s married but his wife lives on another continent.”

“Duncan?” “Yes, you can invite him to the birthday party if you want.” “I can see what he’s doing,” I reply. Even if he’s busy, he’ll cancel whatever he has going on to come. He’s been chomping at the bit to meet Abby ever since he figured out I like her. “How are things going at Samantha’s?” I watch as she wets her lips, that simple movement making the temperature inside her car ratchet up. She’s lost in thought, her eyes unfocused. “I don’t know.” That gets my attention back to where it should be. “Why do say that? Last time you mentioned it, things were going great.” She reaches up to fiddle with her hair. “She’s acting secretive. If I had to guess I’d say she was seeing someone but there’s no reason for her to keep something like that from me so now I’m trying to figure out what it could be.” “Or she could be seeing someone and there’s a reason why she doesn’t want you to know about it.” Her hand flexes on the leather steering wheel. “That makes no sense. She’s never kept who she was seeing from me. Even when I didn’t like the guy she wouldn’t hide it. This makes no sense.” “What if it was Gideon?”

Her head snaps toward me and she swerves. “What?” Both of my hands come up. “Watch the road.” “Shit. Sorry. I just wasn’t expecting that. Jesus, Samantha and Gideon that would be hysterical. There’s no way.” “Why not? They’re both single, attractive people—” “You think Samantha is attractive?” This doesn’t sound good. Do I lie? “She’s a beautiful woman but, I’m not attracted to her.” “Oh. Well, even if they each thought the other was good looking, they’d never hook up. Firstly, Sam thinks of Gid as a little brother. He’s so not her type. Now him on the other hand loves a challenge so I’m sure he’s hit on her.” “Okay, so not Gideon. Is there anyone else you both know that she’d be hesitant to tell you she was seeing?” She drums her fingers as she ponders my question. “Maybe, I mean I can’t rule it out. I just can’t think of anyone off the top of my head.” “You two work together. Could it be someone in your office?” She starts to shake her head but then her mouth falls open. “Abby?” “Oh my God. I think I know who she’s seeing.”

“Does it make sense that she’d keep it from you?” She wets her lips again and turns to look at me. “Can we swing past my office? I want to see if her car is there.” “I don’t have anywhere to go tonight.” At the next light, she turns in the opposite direction of where the coffee house is. Her office building is in a small grouping of other office type buildings. “I don’t see her car. Is it cool with you if I drive past one other place?” I shrug. “I don’t mind keeping you company.” “Do you think it’s weird that I’m doing this? You know, driving around town to figure out who she’s with.” “I appreciate curiosity in a person.” She straightens in her seat and turns back out on to the main road. “You’re like my partner in crime.” Funny as it sounds, I wouldn’t mind following her into whatever madcap schemes she comes up with. She turns into a modern looking condo complex. After weaving her way deeper into the complex, she suddenly brakes and grabs my arm. I look down at her gloved hand gripping the sleeve of my coat before looking up at her. With her other hand, she points to a car parked in a

visitor spot. “Is that her car?” She pulls her hand away and resumes driving. “It is.” “Who lives here?” She sucks in a breath. “His name is Brent. We all work together.” “Are you friends? Could that be why she hasn’t said anything?” She rubs her lips together before biting them. “He’s new-ish but seems nice enough. Honestly, I don’t know him that well. He’s cute so I guess I’m not shocked. I still don’t understand why she wouldn’t tell me.” “You have no issues with them being together?” She shakes her head. “It might suck at work if things end badly but other than that, I have no problem with it.” Samantha’s question at Christmas, ‘why don’t you ask Abby out?’ takes on new meaning now. What if it wasn’t because she thought we could be together and was more of a ploy to draw any attention away from herself?

9

ABBY

S

amantha slowly closes the door behind herself, then reaches down to slip off her heels. She quietly sets them by the door. That’s when I flip on the light. She jumps, pressing her hand to her chest. “Jesus. What are you doing sitting in the dark?” Time to see what she says. “Working late?” She worries her lip. “Um.” “Come on Sam, you can tell me.” Her gaze moves toward the hall that leads to her bedroom and possible escape before returning to me. “How’d you find out?” Well, at least she isn’t going to try and lie. “I drove past the building and when I didn’t see your car, I made a guess.” She shifts her weight, her cheeks turning pink. “And that guess was?”

“Where I could find your car.” Her lips part and her eyes widen, but she doesn’t reply. “Are you going to tell me if he’s good in bed or not?” A blush creeps across her cheeks and I raise my brows. Go Brent. My shoulders sag as I ask the question that I truly want the answer to. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I hear her gulp more than I see it. “I didn’t want things to change at work.” “How would my knowing change anything?” She pulls in a breath. “You know it would have.” As much as I hate to admit it, she’s right. Even now, I’m not sure I can look at or talk to Brent the same way I did yesterday. I mean, now I know he’s good in bed. “So is it just sex?” She pivots, heading straight for the kitchen. I follow her. “Sam?” She pulls out a bottle of wine and uncorks it like a pro. I save her time and get each of us a glass. She fills each. She downs her glass before she says anything. “I think I’m in love with him.” I follow suit and drain my glass as well. “How do you think he feels?”

She presses the heel of her hand to her eye. “I don’t know.” Her voice cracks partway through her words and I pull her into a hug. “Did something happen tonight?” “No,” she replies. “It was amazing. He is amazing.” I pull back to meet her gaze. “Why are you freaking out?” “What if all he wants is sex? What if all he’ll ever want is sex?” “Then he isn’t worth your time and you know it.” She refills her glass and mine. This time, instead of drinking it all at once, she takes a healthy gulp. “I know, but it would really suck if he didn’t feel anything for me.” “It would, but he’d be a moron,” I tell her. She laughs but the sound of it is lacking any humor. “And I’ll be even more of a moron for being in love with him.” “You need to find out where his head is.” She cringes. “What if it’s something I don’t want to hear?” Reaching out, I squeeze her arm. “One way or another, you’ll find out. Wouldn’t you rather know now?” She sets her wine glass on the counter and starts pacing. “Say I try and define our relationship and

he only wants to keep it casual. What happens then? Am I an idiot if I keep sleeping with him? Or should I cut things off with him, and oh God, what if he feels like I’m trying to pressure him by asking and then he stops wanting to be with me?” “Stop stressing out over what ifs. There’s no point trying to guess how he’ll react.” I finish my drink. “It’s late. We both need sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow.” “Wait. I forgot to ask how everything went with Spencer?” I wave her off, hoping she’ll let it go. She squints at me. “You’re being weird.” Making my escape, I reply. “Not weird, just tired.” My escape is foiled when she follows me. “What made you decide to swing past the office tonight?” When we reach my room, I flop down on the bed while she curls up on the armchair facing it. “Spencer asked how things were going here. I suspected you were seeing someone on the sly and dragged him with me to check.” She holds up her hand. “Wait, Spencer was with you?” “Ah—” “He agreed to tag along? That’s interesting.” I peek up at her. “Don’t go reading into things. We’re friends. That’s all.”

She stands, stifling a yawn. “You’re lucky I’m too tired to argue right now.” Lifting my hand, I wave at her back. “Don’t forget about the birthday party. Maybe you can invite Brent.” She spins to look back at me. “That’s actually not a bad idea.” “Okay good, now go away.” “Spencer is coming, right?” Turning onto my back, I stare up at the ceiling. Meow All of the noise we’ve been making must have woken up Emo. She pads onto my chest and starts kneading me. “He is.” “As a date?” Emo jumps off me when I groan. “Why not?” She’ll kick my ass if I ever bring up him being so much smarter than me again, so I go with a safer excuse. “We’re just friends.” “Right.” She’s gone before I can come up with a good retort. That doesn’t stop me from saying, “I am right, so there,” to myself.

I T’ S BEEN a week since I uncovered her secret. “What’d he say?” Sam covers her face with her turtleneck. “I chickened out.” I close her office door behind me and settle myself into one of the chairs facing her desk. “What happened?” She lowers her turtleneck, enough for me to see her eyes. “I was going to do it, I swear, but then he kissed me and one thing led to another.” She trails off and I fold my arms over my chest. “You are hopeless.” She bends forward and rests her forehead on her desk. “I know.” My phone dings with a reminder and I stand. “I have an appointment with Spencer. We’ll talk more later.” “What’s going on with you two?” “Huh?” She crosses her arms and gives me a look, clearly no longer obsessing over Brent and now focused on me. “There’s nothing going on between us and you know that,” I reply. “Bullshit.” It’s my turn to cross my arms. “What does that mean?” “Okay, let me put it this way, how many buyers do you have a standing coffee date with once a

week?” Oh. She does have a point there. “He’s not just a buyer. He’s also friends with Gideon.” “Does Gideon join you on these coffee dates?” “Well no…” “And, do you have to meet up weekly with any of Gideon’s other friends?” I shake my head. She points at me. “You like him.” I stomp my foot. “As a friend.” “Ha.” With a wave of her hand she motions to my face. “You changed your clothes, re-curled your hair, and you touched up your makeup. Your words say friend but your actions say date.” Shit. She’s right. “Maybe I just wanted to look nice,” I argue. “I rest my case.” I roll my eyes. “Shut up.” “Go have fun on your date.” Ignoring her, I say nothing and leave. Her words bug me my entire drive to the coffee house. She’s my best friend, it’s not a surprise she’d be able to see through me. What about our other friends, my family? Was it that obvious that I like Spencer as more than a friend to all of them as well? And, what about Spencer, does he know? Considering the time I left, I’m not surprised

that I beat him here. Distractedly, I order our coffee and find a seat. Since it’s starting to warm up outside, it was harder to find one. I don’t wait long, and watch as Spencer walks in. As usual, I’m not the only one who notices him. Long gone is the awkward boy I remember from high school. You’d think that after months of working with him, I’d be used to how good-looking he is by now. He’s wearing a scarf I’d consider silly looking on anyone else, but on him it’s endearing. His light brown hair is mussed, and his glasses are crooked either from the wind or his gloves. When he catches my eye, I lift his cup. “I already ordered yours.” The women who were watching him, now look my way. I’d crow in victory except there is none, he isn’t mine. My shoulders droop at the thought. He uncoils his scarf as he weaves his way through the tables to me. “Thank you.” “How are you?” I ask. He pulls off his gloves and settles himself into the seat across from me bumping my knee in the process. Quick as a flash, his hand is on my leg, the warmth of his palm seeping through the fabric of my tights. “God, sorry.” Then as if he realizes where his hand is, he quickly pulls it away before I even had time to

process it was there in the first place. My hand covers the spot where his was in an attempt to stop his warmth from escaping. “It’s okay.” At least I didn’t beg him to put it back. Pulling out my folder, I open it between us. It’s the only way I’ll avoid saying something dumb like asking him how’s the weather. “I have some listings for you.” He studies my face. Crap, I never let him answer how he was. “We can look at them after we catch up.” “Are you alright?” My gaze avoids his as I tell myself under no circumstances to bring up what Sam said earlier. “You don’t think these are dates, do you?” Holy crap. Did I just say that? My eyes fly to his as I cringe. He blinks at me and then gives a quick shake of his head. “No, no, of course not.” Of course not. Of course he wouldn’t consider dating me. Why did I have to open my big fat mouth? I nod, my fingers going to the top page. “That’s good. I was just making sure.” “You didn’t want—” He stops himself. Before I can ask what he was going to say, he says, “Yes, good.” Great.

I clear my throat. “There were three properties that might interest you.” As we drink our coffee, I go over the pros and cons of each in comparison to his wish list. Since none of them were a home run, I wanted to discuss them before we looked at any of them in person. Spencer taps his finger on an image of a cape cod. “It’s a shame this one isn’t closer to the university.” “My house looked a lot like that one.” He leans back in his chair, taking his coffee with him. “What’s the latest?” “Well, I’m looking into selling a portion of the property to one of my neighbors. It’s complicated because I don’t own it outright so the bank has been involved.” “With the danger of the sinkhole, why would they risk it?” “When we first discovered it, I had an expert come out to determine if it could be fixed or not. It can’t, but it only impacted one section of my property.” I grab a napkin and draw a rectangle on it. “This is a rough idea of the shape.” I add a star. “This is the sinkhole.” I draw a circle around the star. “This is the area that is still at risk.” I draw a line close to the center of my rectangle, almost dividing it in half and then shade in the section that doesn’t have the star in it. “All of this land is fine.

My neighbor wants to put an addition onto their place and if they buy this section of land, they won’t have to lose their backyard.” “Is their offer reasonable?” “Fair, yes. What I need to be clear of the loan, no. And, that’s if the bank will go for it.” “Are they paying cash?” I nod. “I need to get the bank to agree to splitting the property and consider the remaining portion the amount for the loan. The main issue is, in the state it’s in, it’s not worth the amount remaining.” “Could you get a loan for the remainder?” I close my eyes. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t pry.” My eyes open and lock with his. “No, no. It’s fine. My income is commission based. I have good credit but other than my car, no assets and I want to loan on a sinkhole. All of my brothers and my parents have offered to loan me the difference. Problem is, I don’t believe in borrowing money from family or friends.” “If it will get you out of it, I think you should borrow the money.” I stare at him. He lifts his hands. “Draw up an agreement. Put it in writing, but if your neighbor is willing to take some of that land off of your hands, do everything in your power to make that deal happen. You

yourself said the price was fair. With that sale, how far will that move your timeline up?” I don’t even need to do the math. “I averaged out my second quarter commissions for the last three years. If this year falls within that amount, I can have the loan paid off by Noah and Finley’s wedding.” “Give yourself a full year then and plan on paying it off sooner.” “Instead of splurging on a trip to Nicaragua, so I can pretend like this sinkhole never happened.” He grins. “Oh yeah, why Nicaragua?” I shrug. “I saw an article in a travel magazine and suddenly feel like escaping. Do you ever feel like escaping?” He shakes his head. “An escape like that is short term. I like to stay focused on the end game.” I exhale. “You’re right. I hate to say it but you are.” He smiles behind his coffee. “That happens from time to time.” “I didn’t mean it to come out like that.” Setting his mug down he reaches his hand toward me, before stopping halfway and resting it on the table. “I hope by now you consider me a friend. You didn’t offend me and I hope I wasn’t out of line offering advice.” I tuck my hair, the hair I had stupidly re-curled, behind my ear. “You weren’t out of line and we are

friends.” The worry lines that had briefly marred his forehead disappear. “Good.” I shift the folder and ask, “Any interest in taking a look at any of these?” He tilts his head to one side. “If you were in my shoes. Which house would you look at?” I grin. “In your shoes as in I’m you. Or, as a realtor which house do I believe is the smartest investment?” His grin in response mirrors mine. “Both.” “Now, this house is the one that checks the most boxes on your wish list. Problem is, it’s overpriced versus recent comparables. If the sellers were willing to come down in price that is the only way I would consider it.” I pass him the info sheet I printed on it. He takes it but keeps his eyes on me. “Would you still look at it in person, knowing that?” I nod. “And, which would you look at for yourself?” I pull the third file from the folder. “I planned on checking this one out no matter what.” “How come?” Pointing to an image on the second page, I reply, “Check out this woodwork. I’d like to see it in person to find out if it’s original.” He pushes back his chair. “Let’s go.” I gape up at him. “Seriously?”

He shrugs. “I’ve got nothing better to do.” Collecting the files I printed, I put the folder back in my bag. “Did you want to see the first house as well?” He shakes his head. “As you said, it didn’t check enough of the boxes.” As usual, we ride together. “Thanks for going with me. There’s no way I would have gone tonight by myself.” “That seems wise.” “Trust me, I’m not going to do anything I don’t think is safe. My dad and brothers have been all over me about that.” “Has your safety ever been an issue?” I shrug. “I’d like to think I’ve been safe. I don’t do open houses by myself and I don’t show houses to someone I haven’t met at the coffee house first. And, if I get a weird vibe from anyone, I don’t work with them.” “Has that happened? Where you’ve had to turn someone away?” Taking a right, I pull onto the street where the house is. “One time I had a guy call me from a blocked number at nine o’clock asking me to show him a vacant house that night.” Spencer stiffens beside me. “Did you know him?” “I did not and I declined showing him that house but offered to show it to him the next day.

After explaining I had a former football player who was now going into real estate who would be shadowing us. For some reason, he was no longer interested in seeing that property.” “Jesus.” I glance over at him, surprised to see how hard his jaw is. “Hey, I don’t need you worrying about me now.” He ignores my words. “Did you ever hear from him again?” Shaking my head, I reply, “No, I didn’t.” “At those open houses, who do you go with?” Geez, he is worried. I pull into the driveway of the house and kill my engine. “Usually Sam, and then I return the favor for her. If she can’t do it, then Gideon usually will. If not him, then Noah or Eli.” “Add my name to that list.” I stare at him. “What?” He unbuckles his belt and opens his door. I do the same and scramble after him. “What did you say?” He waits for me on the front porch. “You heard me.” “You don’t have to do that.” He glares at me, and I realize he’s pissed. Resting my gloved hand on the sleeve of his coat I repeat myself. “You don’t have to do that.” “I do. Stop arguing about it and open the door.”

Dropping my hand I glare back at him. “Maybe I don’t feel like looking at it anymore.” He shrugs. “Alright. Let’s go.”

10

SPENCER

“S

he’s into you.” I glance over at Duncan. “Who?” He grins and moves his gaze to the door Dr. Hudson just walked through. Dr. Nadine Hudson is the department head and not into me. “Get back to work.” “I’m serious. Every update meeting we have all she does is look at you, and not just look at you. No, she is fucking you with her eyes.” “You’re delusional.” “Fine, don’t believe me.” Blocking him out, I focus on the reports I was evaluating. “What’s going on with Abby? Are you still friend-zoned?” “Don’t you have some images to catalog?” He ignores me. “Are you meeting her for coffee

tonight?” Why he’s asking me a question he already knows the answer to, I don’t know. I meet her every week. “You should try and kiss her.” My head shifts toward him. “Shut up.” “I’m serious. Kiss her and then if she still talks to you, you’ll know she likes you too.” Abby’s plump lips bloom within my mind. “Dr. Hill?” Abby’s lips disappear as Dr. Hudson walks back into our lab. “Yes?” “I forgot to ask if you were attending the Titan Conference?” Pushing away from my desk, I grab my phone. “Is that the one in Quebec?” As I scroll through the calendar app on my phone, she answers. “Yes.” When I agree to go to a conference, I save all of my corresponding travel arrangements in the notes section of the date. Once I find it, I reply, “I am currently scheduled to attend.” “We should fly up together.” I look up from my phone. Duncan might be right. Her gaze meets mine and she holds it. Studies have shown that when someone makes eye contact for an extended period of time it is a sign of attraction. “My flight is already booked.”

She straightens her jacket. “Forward me your itinerary and I’ll see if I can get on the same flight.” With a few finger touches on my phone, I send the information to her. “Done.” She lingers. “Was there anything else Dr. Hudson?” Her hand goes to her braid. It’s how she styles her hair every day. “That’s all.” She turns to leave and I watch as the door closes behind her. “I think you’re right.” Duncan jumps up from his desk and comes over to me. “I am a master of love.” It’s pointless to remind him his wife wouldn’t be on another continent if that was true. “She wants to be on the same flight so you’ll check in at the same time and she will know your hotel room number.” “Why?” He folds his arms over his chest. “Have you ever had sex at one of these conferences?” I blink. “No.” He walks away, shaking his head. “Youth is wasted on the young.” “You’re five years older than me,” I argue. Slumping back into his chair, he turns it to face me. “She wants your room number. At some point on the first night, she will knock on your door. It will be for an innocent reason, like dinner or your

opinion on a research report. Then her clothes will come off and there will be sex.” “That’s not going to happen.” He scoffs and I return to my desk. “You should take Dr. Hudson to that party Abby invited you to.” “Why would I do that?” “Fastest way out of the friend zone is to show her that another woman finds you desirable as a mate.” What’s frightening is I can follow his logic. I must be losing my mind. “Enough talk for now. I need to concentrate.” “When you meet up with Abby. Ask her if you can bring someone to the birthday thing and see what her reaction is.” Interesting. “Your theory?” His lips tip up and he rubs his palms together. “My theory is that Abby Thompson likes you. My proposal to test that theory is for you to see if she reacts to another woman with jealousy.” “I don’t want to make Abby jealous.” “If you aren’t going to kiss her, how else can you find out her feelings?” With my thoughts churning, I refocus on my work. It’s difficult to keep them there, when Abby has invaded so many of them. Making her jealous would be wrong and unforgivable. Kissing her without confirming if she wanted me to or not

would be the equivalent to forcing myself on her. There’s no way I could do that either. Clicking save, I close the file I was reviewing and then shut down my computer. “I’m taking off.” I’m not going to make her jealous, and I’m not going to force myself on her. What I am going to do is get to the coffee shop before her and order her coffee for her. It will show her that I pay attention to the things she likes. Duncan starts making kissing noises from his desk. For an honest to God genius, he’s screwy as hell. Slipping on my coat, I sling my messenger bag over my shoulder. “Bye.” The drive to the coffee shop has become as familiar as my drive in each morning. When I park, I discover my plan to beat Abby has been foiled. She’s already here. It’s impossible to miss her through the large window. Her profile is to me and, instead of her usual heavy coat, a lighter weight jacket hangs from the back of her chair. The low temperature this morning has risen enough that I don’t need my coat at all. I left both it and my bag in my car. “You’re here early,” Abby greets once I reach her table. I watch as she pushes some files into a folder and slips it into her bag. “I hope I’m not

interrupting your other work.” “Not at all. I’m just way early. I didn’t grab you a coffee though. I didn’t want it to be cold by the time you got here. Sit down and I’ll grab you one now.” She stands, but before she can move past me, I stop her. “I can get my own coffee.” Her eyes move to where my hand grips her arm. My fingers loosen and I drop my hand. I’m halfway to the counter when she calls, “Get it to go. I have a place I want you to see.” She comes to stand beside me as I wait for my order. Once she’s there, close enough to kiss, I have an idea. She jumps when my hand wraps around the strap of the tote bag she uses to lug around all of her files. “What are you—” “It looked heavy,” I interrupt. There are Christmas lights spun around and across the two pillars that frame the counter where you order and then further down where you pick up your drinks. Her blue eyes catch their light and sparkle as her smile goes full watt. She is lovely. Tugging her tote up onto my shoulder, I marvel at its weight. I’ve rarely seen her without it. “Why do you carry so many files around with you?” Her brows go up. “I need them all.”

“You definitely don’t need to do any weight lifting if you carry this around all of the time.” She lifts her arm and flexes. “That and ping pong.” I throw my head back and laugh. When I look back down at her, she’s covering her mouth to hide her giggles. “Here you go.” My attention shifts to the barista with my coffee. “Thank you.” “Let’s go.” She leads the way out of the coffee house and to her car. As we walk past it, I try a gauge its storage space. “Any hints as to where we’re heading, or is it a surprise?” She keeps her eyes on the road. “It won’t be a surprise for long. We’re almost there.” Moments later, she’s parking in front of a house that could have easily been a neighbor to the house the Brady Bunch grew up in. “What do you think?” She asks as soon as we’re both out of the car. “Like I should be wearing a leisure suit,” I reply. Her eyes twinkle with mischief. “Just wait until you see the inside.” Her words could not prepare me for the sight that meets my eyes once she opens the front door.

Psychedelic wallpaper in a bold pattern covers the walls, while a pea green shag carpet covers the floors. Tiled panels stretch across the ceiling and from the center of it, a gigantic brass light fixture hangs. “It’s like a time capsule.” She comes to stand beside me. “Oh, wait until you see the kitchen.” “I’m scared,” I admit. She laughs, then surprises me by grabbing my hand to tug me further into this blast from the past house. The décor of the place aside, it’s free of furniture. My heart thumps loudly in the vacuum of its empty space. So loud, I wonder if she can hear it. Hopeful she can’t, I don’t let go. Her hand is warm and soft in mine. One hand of two that I’ve dreamt of touching me in innumerable ways. When we reach the kitchen, she’s the one who releases her hold on my hand so she can showcase each original to the home appliance in full Price is Right fashion. “Impressive. As fun as looking at this house has been, I’m scared to ask why you wanted me to see it.” She covers her mouth in mock surprise. “You mean you’re not ready to put an offer in on it?” “Very funny.”

She grins at me and I’m so struck by her beauty in that moment I forget how to breathe, an act I’ve done without fail since birth. “Do me a favor.” I stop myself from telling her I’d do anything for her and nod instead. “Close your eyes.” She smirks at me when I hesitate. On my next exhale, I do as she bids and lower my lids. “Can you picture the front room?” I shove my hands into my pockets. “Unfortunately.” She laughs and I open my eyes to watch. Shaking her finger she admonishes me. “Keep them closed.” As ordered, I close my eyes again, holding her gaze as I do. “Now, picture the front room again.” The tacky wallpaper and shag carpet reappear in my mind. “Imagine the walls a cool stone gray. It’s a more interesting neutral than boring old beige. Do you see it?” Gone is the wallpaper in my mind, the bust print dissolving into the gray she suggested. Instantly, the space seems larger. “Now, that stunning pea green shag carpet? Replace it with reclaimed hardwood floors. The warm tones and distressed look of the floors will

act as a contradiction to the cool simplicity of the walls.” Her words guide the image in my mind, each syllable like a mental stroke from a paintbrush. “The ceilings?” I ask. I can sense her smile at my question. “Without the distraction from the wallpaper and carpet, all the ceiling tiles need is a fresh coat of white paint. Now, that light fixture on the other hand has got to go. Imagine an open circle of silver pipe, gradually coiling into wide smaller circles toward the center with globes of light randomly along the bends.” My eyes pop open and lock on hers. “Like a giant solar system.” She gulps and nods. I’ve never wanted to kiss her as much as I do in this moment. Before I can, she lifts her hands and slowly lowers them, motioning for me to close my eyes again. Once they’re closed, she takes me on a journey through each room of the house. In the end, she’s shown me a possibility of a house that would check every box on my wish list. “What do you think?” Reaching up, I rub the back of my neck. “I’m not sure.” She frowns and I know I’ve chosen my words poorly. There’s no way I can tell her, as perfect as

this house may be for me, now I’m looking for a home that would be perfect for us. With every house she’s shown me, I’ve been creating a wish list separate from my own. One where I’ve saved each and every reaction she’s had. This house is great, and while it is vintage, I know she’d love something older. “Is it the work that’s putting you off?” I shake my head. “No, not at all. In fact, thanks to my amazing realtor, I happen to already know a great contractor I could hire.” That softens her frown, but it doesn’t stop her from asking, “Would you like to sleep on it?” “Before you bought your house, the first time you saw it, did you know it was the right one for you?” She taps her chin. “Ah, I see. There were houses I saw that in theory were better than the one I bought. Problem is, none of them spoke to me in the way my old house did. A house can be perfect on paper but you still need to trust your instincts.” Her eyes bug and she surprises me by bursting out in laughter. “I’m the last person to talk about trusting your instincts when buying a house.” “Don’t say that.” She leans back against the kitchen cabinet. “It’s only funny because it’s true.” I move to stand beside her, as close as I dare.

She’s the one who leans against me, so I settle my arm across her shoulders. She tucks in closer to my side and inhales. “I did it. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was excited to show you this place. I no longer own anything. I sold the land I could and didn’t have to borrow money from Asher to pay off the difference to the bank.” Her hair smells like vanilla today, making it hard to concentrate on doing anything other than shoving my face into it. “What’s left over?” She looks up at me. “Believe it or not, I was able to negotiate with the bank to lower the amount owed.” My eyes widen. “They did?” She laughs, pressing her cheek to my chest. “I know, it surprised me too but I figured the worst they’d do was say no.” My arm tightens around her shoulders. “That’s great news.” “Yes, I’ve been throwing every extra dollar I’ve had at the loan since I moved in with Sam. Between that, selling a ton of stuff, and the land to my neighbor, I only had to borrow ten thousand from Asher.” I wish I could give that amount to her. Hell, I’d give her ten times that if she asked. “Can you handle that?” She grins up at me. “Like a boss.”

My hand moves of its own volition to cup her cheek. “You are amazing.” Her cheeks turn pink and she blinks up at me with parted lips. Now. I need to kiss her now. My head dips, my face moving closer to hers. The door squeaks as it opens. “Abby. Hey, it’s Sam. Where are you?” We freeze and then Abby quickly shuffles out of my arms and to the other side of the kitchen. We stare at each other with wide eyes. “Abby?” Samantha calls out again. “In here,” Abby replies, her voice thick. “Hey chica, I knew you’d—” She freezes in the doorway when she sees me. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know you were here.” Her gaze moves to Abby. “I saw your car and assumed you were here to see the blast from the past.” Abby smiles broadly at her but her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “I thought Spencer would get a kick out of the place.” Samantha’s attention shifts back to me. “What do you think of it?” Avoiding Abby’s eyes, I shrug. “Once you look past the unique décor, it has a lot of potential.” Samantha braces herself against the doorframe. “Are you going to make an offer?” Still not looking at Abby, I shake my head.

Samantha frowns. “Bummer, it would have been a fun place to watch someone I know update.” Abby pushes away from the wall. “We were about to leave.” Samantha cocks her head to the side, her eyes traveling over Abby’s face. “Let me move my car. I’m blocking you.” Abby gulps. “Thanks.” I walk behind them and listen as Samantha cheerfully remarks on the walls, carpet, and any other décor we pass between the kitchen and the front door. “Oh, I wonder what the bell sounds like,” Samantha, says once we’re all at the door. Bells chime from somewhere in the house, baum baum baum baum, baum baum baum baum. Clearly, nothing here has been updated, even the bell. Samantha grins at both of us. “That’s one hell of a bell.” “I like the new smart doorbells that sync up to your phone.” Samantha lifts one shoulder. “Don’t get me wrong, those are cool, but there’s nothing like these old doorbells.” “Well, I’ll see you later tonight.” Abby pauses, before adding. “If you don’t already have plans.” Samantha looks at her feet. “Brent and I are

going out to dinner.” She looks up. “Want to join us?” Abby waves her hands in front of her. “And be the third wheel? Nope, no thanks, I’m good.” “Would you like to have dinner with me?” I blurt. They both turn to stare at me. When a few seconds go by without Abby answering me, Samantha elbows her. “Oh, you don’t have to.” My eyes don’t leave hers and I think about what might have happened if Samantha hadn’t of walked in when she did. “I want to.” Abby gulps. “She’d love to,” Samantha replies. Abby’s gaze snaps to her friend but Samantha is already on the move, making a beeline to her car. “You sure? You don’t have to accept just because you feel sorry for me.” “I’m positive.”

11

ABBY

“W

hat are you doing with my phone?” Sam’s gaze lifts up to meet mine. “Texting Spencer.” Lunging for her, I try in vain to snatch my phone from her. “Give it.” She rolls right and then up and over the back of the couch. “Nope.” Last night I went to dinner with Spencer since Sam went public with Brent and had a date. Our dinner was so incredibly awkward. I need to know what she’s been texting him. “You helped me out with Brent so I’m returning the favor.” Kneeling on the sofa, I attempt to grab her. “What does that mean?” She waves my phone in front of me. I never should have given her my unlock code.

“You two have been sniffing around each other for over two fucking months. Enough is enough. I’m confessing your feelings to him.” Freezing, my mouth falls open in shock. “You’re doing what?” She taps her ear. “Babe, when’s the last time you used a Q-tip? You’re having some hearing issues.” My chest heats first, going from my normal temp to boiling in an instant. That heat travels up my neck to my face. I’d have to look in a mirror, but there’s a good chance steam is coming out of my ears. “I’m going to kill you.” She shrugs. “You’ll thank me when he’s telling you what constellations are visible when he’s banging you.” Barreling over the backside of the couch, I charge her. She’s almost within reach when Emo races out from the kitchen and I trip over her. She probably just wanted to see what all of the commotion was. Halting my attack on Sam, I try and console Emo since a trip for me was a kick for her. “Are you okay?” She hisses at me and takes off toward my room. Sam uses the distraction to set my phone down on the entry table and escape. “I also downloaded a stargazer app. I love you. Bye.”

By the time I get to the door and pull it open, she’s already out of sight. “I’m going to kill her,” I say to no one as I slam the door shut. Then I grab my phone and open up my text messages. A part of me was hoping she was joking. She was not. The last message I remembered sending Spencer was a simple text to confirm we were still on for coffee. Now, thanks to Sam there’s an entire conversation I wasn’t part of. Spencer: I’m on my way.

ME : Now.

SPENCER : Done. When should I come?

ME : Don’t wait until the end of the date to kiss me. Kiss me the moment you see me.

SPENCER : Yes

ME: Tonight?

SPENCER : Yes, and would you like to do something before then?

ME : Want to be my date on the 17th?

SPENCER : Yes.

ME : Would you be interested in exploring something more with me?

SPENCER : You were not imagining it.

ME : I’m sorry if this is out of line, but I felt a connection with you last night that is more than friends. Was I imagining it, or did you feel it too?

SCROLLING

BACKWARD

through the messages is

surreal. Each new one not making any sense until I read the one before it. My heart beats wildly as I reread the conversation. He felt something too? He’s going to kiss me the moment he sees me? He’s on the way? Holy shit. He’s on the way. He’s on the way, to kiss me right now. Spinning, I find the closest mirror. Face, okay. Hair, good. Outfit, alright. Teeth… Pivoting quickly, I race to the bathroom to brush my teeth and gargle since fifteen minutes ago I was snacking on barbeque potato chips. Spencer Hill is going to kiss me. After I kill Sam for doing this, I’m going to resurrect her so I can forgive her. There’s a knock on the door. My head jerks up and I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror. Why am I so nervous? It’s just a kiss. I’ve kissed a lot of guys. “Coming!” When I reach the door, I check the peephole and have to cover my mouth to smother my laugh when I see Spencer’s eyeball right there. Pulling open the door, I open my mouth to greet him but I don’t get that far. He moves, backing me against the door, his hands are in my hair and his mouth is on mine.

His hands are everywhere all at once and I wrap my arms around him to gather more of him to me. I didn’t know what to expect from this kiss. As mild-mannered as Spencer seems, I thought he’d give me a peck. This is no peck. This is foreplay. If he keeps kissing me like this, our first kiss is going to turn into our first fuck. I’m on my tip toes, willing myself to grow taller so I can get closer to him. Meow That sounds like Emo. God, Spencer tastes good. I want to lick him all over. Meow Trying telepathy, I attempt to let Emo know I’m busy at the moment. Busy, running my hands over Spencer’s shoulders and biceps. Meow Why is she making so much noise? My eyes blink open and I gasp, making Spencer lift his head. “The door is open… my cat.” With labored breaths, he stares down at me. “What?” Slipping out of his arms, my eyes scan the hall. “Emo.” When I don’t hear her meow, I motion for Spencer to go into the condo. “Look for her in

there, I’ll look out here.” Spencer turns and heads into the condo. When I hear his uncertain meow a moment later, I press my hand to my heart. If I didn’t need to find my cat I’d be jumping him right now. “Emo. Where are you baby?” Meow My heart relaxes when I see Emo is at the end of the hall, trying to catch a beam of light coming in through the window. I’m only three feet away from her when our neighbor opens their door and walks out with their devil in disguise Jack Russell terrier. Cain, their terrier, pulls on his leash with enough force to pull it free. “Emo!” I scream, trying to get to her before he does. Seeing death barreling toward her, Emo leaps up onto the top molding of the window. Undeterred, Cain manages to jump onto the windowsill. How he doesn’t break the window with all of his jumping I’ll never know. His owner, an annoying woman whose name I never learned still stands in her doorway doing absolutely nothing. “Can you get your dog?” It’s a miracle I didn’t insult her in my request. I mean, who just stands there doing nothing while their demon dog is about to attack a cat?

My words seem to hit their mark and she comes unstuck to grab the leash of her dog. His barks haven’t stopped from the moment he caught sight or scent of Emo. For his size, she has to struggle to wrangle him back into her condo. As soon as the door is closed I lift my arms for Emo to come to me. I can only guess what she’s thinking, but she takes one look at my outstretched arms and turns to show me her ass. Thanks cat. I’m not tall enough to reach her. Putting one foot on the window sill, I start to climb onto it before a pair of strong hands halt me. “I’ll get her.” In all the commotion of watching my cat almost die, I had lost track of Spencer. He’s tall enough to easily pluck Emo from her perch. Easily may have been the wrong word to describe it seeing as how she hisses and then latches her claws onto his forearm as he lowers her. I reach for her. “Emo, stop that.” He doesn’t hesitate in passing her to me. She settles somewhat once I have her. By settle I mean she’s still tense but not actively trying to shred my flesh. Tucking her close, I rest my cheek on the top of her head. “Naughty, naughty, cat.” Spencer presses his palm to the small of my

back as we walk back down the hall to Sam’s place. As soon as we’re inside, I close the door and set Emo down. She takes off and does a parkour move on the wall by the bathroom before disappearing out of sight. Exhaling, I flip the lock and sag against the door. “Are you okay?” His words spur me into action. “Let me see your arm.” In vain, he tries to hide it behind him. “It’s nothing.” I tug it free and gasp at the angry red scratches running down it. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry Spencer.” He tries to pull his arm back but I hold firm and tug him toward the bathroom. “Let me treat them.” He makes no argument. The spare bathroom isn’t large and with his size, it feels even smaller. He doesn’t flinch as I clean and apply ointment to the red lines. It takes more than one Band-Aid to cover them. As I’m smoothing the second one on, he reaches up with his other hand to stroke my hair. Tipping my chin up, my eyes meet his. That kiss. I wet my lips to see if I can still taste him on them. His gaze settles on my mouth and the look in his eyes has a physical effect on me. My knees

weaken and I sway toward him. Band-Aids forgotten, my hands fist his shirt. Hurt or not, his arms circle me and it’s like no time has passed at all. I don’t know how long he’s thought about me this way. For me, weeks of attraction has pushed me to this point. Now that I’m touching him, I want to explore every inch of him. I want to press my body against his and feel his weight on top of mine. “Abby?” Huh? That sounded like Sam. Spencer’s soft lips pull my attention back to him and only him. “Ab—Oh! Wow!” Breaking our kiss, my head snaps toward the open door of the bathroom where Samantha stands. The best two kisses I’ve ever had in my life have dulled the urge to kill her. That doesn’t mean I’m happy to see her. “Interesting place to make out. I usually go for softer surfaces. Oh shit, are you bleeding?” Her gaze moves from Spencer’s arm to my face. “Never knew you were a scratcher.” Spencer begins to chuckle while I rest my forehead on his chest. “Emo got out. The dog next door tried to eat her. She scratched up Spencer when we were getting her back inside.” Tilting my head so I can see her, I stifle a laugh at her befuddled expression. When she doesn’t say

anything, I turn back to the sink to grab the next Band-Aid. It’s not like I can keep making out with Spencer with her standing there. I might as well finish fixing him up. “Brent is waiting downstairs. I’m sleeping at his place tonight so I’m just here to grab a couple things. I’ll be out of your hair in a jiff and then you’ll have the whole place to yourselves.” My cheeks flush. Subtle Sam, real subtle. I wouldn’t be surprised if she dims the lights and puts on mood music on her way out. “See you tomorrow,” I reply. She takes my hint and leaves us. “You are so beautiful. I’ve thought so since we were teenagers.” I freeze at his words, Band-Aid suspended midair between my finger and thumb. “Abby.” I come unstuck and lower the Band-Aid to his skin, stroking it with my thumbs so it will stay. It’s the last one. My thumbs continue to move over his skin. The skin of his forearm is smooth and warm, the hair soft beneath the pads of my fingers. “What are you thinking?” Slowly, I lift my eyes. “I’m surprised.” He nods, one side of his mouth lifting in the sexiest half grin I’ve ever seen in my life. “What now?” I ask.

He takes my hand and pulls me from the bathroom. “Want to go look at some stars?” I could kiss him all over again. His words release the physical tension that was already rebuilding. Getting out of this condo, with all of its horizontal surfaces is exactly what we need to do. He likes me, the speed at which he came over here proves that without a doubt. Another certainty at this point is our physical chemistry is off the charts. Or, it is for me and hopefully he feels the same way. My mind reels with the fact that, if kissing Spencer is this amazing, what will doing other things with him be like? I like that he isn’t rushing to find out. I grin up at him and watch his expression shift to hunger. He leans down to press a hard, fast kiss on my lips. “Let’s get out of here.” It doesn’t take long for me to grab a hat, my jacket, and my purse. Since Emo’s already escaped once tonight, we’re careful when we leave. When we reach the parking lot, I cover my mouth and burst out laughing when I see his car. I’ve driven Spencer to his car enough times to know he’s a good parker. He’s always right between the lines. Not this time. No, his car takes up not one, not two, but three spaces. It appears someone was in a hurry to get to me. That sends a

thrill to my belly, making it jump. In the glow of the parking lot lights, I watch an embarrassed flush creep over his cheeks. My hand gives his an involuntary squeeze. His squeeze back is instant. Alright, maybe I’ll get Sam a gift card to Sephora instead of killing her. When he opens my door for me, I decide to add a gift card to DSW too. “I’ve never been in your car before,” I say, buckling my seatbelt. He presses his lips together. “Lots of new things tonight.” That’s the truth. Settling back in my seat, I decide to let go and enjoy the ride. He stops at a deli not far from my house and we order some food to go. As curious as I am, I stop myself from asking where we’re going when we get back in his car. I want to embrace the adventure. I’ve never had a guy ask if I wanted to go look at the stars. As familiar as I am with Woodlake, after a few turns, I have a good guess of where we’re going. He’s taking me to the university. We drive past the main campus, Spencer pausing at one point to motion to the building he works in. There he surprises me by driving away from it.

“We’re not going there?” I ask, looking over my shoulder and watching it grow smaller in the rear window. He shakes his head. “Our observatory is this way.” “Why don’t you work there?” He shrugs. “It’d be cool but there isn’t really office space there and this way we’re closer to the rest of the science department.” While he drives, I try to scope out his car. You can learn a lot about someone based off of how messy their car is. Since my car serves as part office, I tend to judge people if their cars are gross inside. Thankfully, his is good. There’s no trash piled up anywhere and all I can smell is the faint scent of his cologne. Truth is, even if his car was a dump I’d still like him based off of those kisses. We drive toward a dome-shaped building with open fields all around it before coming to a slow stop. “Here we are.” Stepping out of his car, I look up. Without any trees, buildings, or clouds to block the sky, I can see more stars than normal. The small parking lot is empty. “Can we get in?” Spencer pulls out a keycard from his wallet and I laugh. “Did you ever come out here for a field trip?”

My forehead wrinkles with concentration before I nod. “I did, in middle school, I think.” He grabs our bags and motions for me to follow him to the entrance. Once we’re in, he flips on the lights and puts his keycard back in his wallet. Then he takes my hand and leads me into the observatory. “This way.” “Are we going to watch the movie or do I get a guided tour?” “Maybe a combination of the two,” he replies. The last time I was here, all I was focused on was trying to sit next to Bobby Knowles. He wanted to sit next to Kim Maree though. Heartbroken as I was, I remember little else from that trip. We find a couple of seats near the master controls. He types something into them, making the lights dim and a recorded voice come on. Then he comes to sit next to me. “We’ll do this tour while we eat, and then if you want, I can give you a personal tour.” “I want,” I reply. A flash of white in the darkness is all I see of his smile. He pushes the armrest between us up and shifts a little closer. Taking his lead, I move closer as well. With him so close, I ignore the recorded tour of our galaxy all over again. This time not a heartbreak, but for a heart awakening.

The constellations are pretty though, especially when they draw out the line to show the image each one represents. Pretty as it is, it is only a backdrop to what I’m truly focused on. Since it’s automated, when the recorded tour ends, the lights slowly come back up. When they do, Spencer collects all of the wrappers from our sandwiches and throws them away. Once he’s done with that, he takes over the controls. Me, I lean back in my chair and grin.

12

SPENCER

M

aking my morning trek up the basement stairs, I head to the kitchen for breakfast. “Are you dating Abby Thompson?” “Morning mom. How’d you sleep?” She plants her hands on her hips and looks at my dad. “I know he heard my question.” My dad looks up from his paper. “I believe he’s ignoring it.” With Abby’s help, my relationship with my parents has been changing for the better. Now we not only talk, which we never had problems with, but make a point to spend time together as well. “I’m not ignoring you. I’m only delaying my response to your question until after I’ve had some coffee.” She fusses for me to sit down. “I’ll get you some.”

Taking my seat, I reach for the sections of the paper my dad has already read. My mom sets a mug in front of me. “Here’s your coffee. Don’t start reading anything.” Setting down the paper, I take a drink of my coffee. “Thanks for the coffee Mom.” She sits down next to me. “Tell me about Abby.” “Yes, we’re dating.” She grabs my arm. “She’s so pretty and such a sweet girl.” “I agree.” My dad sets another section of the paper down. “You should invite her over for dinner.” My mom reaches for a piece of toast and starts spreading preserves on it. “Oh, or we can all go out to dinner.” “We have plans tonight but Thursday night next week would be good.” I figure picking our usual coffee date night would be safe. “We can go to that new Mongolian grill place. We went to one in Keene and it was delicious.” “Sounds good Mom.” “Or maybe that fondue place. Your dad and I have been meaning to go there.” I get up to toast a bagel. “Wherever you pick will be fine Mom.” “What are you doing tonight, going somewhere to drink green beer?” My dad asks.

Bringing my now toasted bagel back over to the table, I shake my head. “Between her brothers and their fiancées, her family has like four birthdays this month and they’re celebrating them all tonight.” “What a fun idea. Are you bringing anything?” “Abby told me not to but I figured I’d take a nice bottle of wine to be on the safe side.” My dad nods. “A good bottle of wine is always appreciated.” “I don’t know how things work these days. Are you boyfriend girlfriend?” My mom asks. I blink at her. “We haven’t had any conversations around what we should call each other.” Her eyes widen. “You’re not just Netflix and Chillin’ are you?” The impulse to bang my head on the kitchen table is strong. Instead, I place my hand over hers. “Mom, I’ve never watched Netflix with her.” For some reason, this seems to relax her. “She’s a nice girl and deserves better than that.” I lift my hands. “I’m not that kind of guy.” Her face softens. “I know you’re not sweetheart.” “What if Abby is a heartbreaker?” My dad asks. My mom tilts her head like a German shepherd.

“Do you think so?” “No, Abby is not a heartbreaker,” I reply. Time will tell if my words prove true when it comes to my heart.

I STARE at the door to her condo. The last time I knocked on this door, I pressed her up against it and kissed her seconds after she opened it. Without the interruptions of her cat and her roommate, I’m not sure if we would have stopped with kissing. I want her. I’ve wanted her for so long I don’t know what it feels like to not want her. Now knowing that she wants me back is almost indescribable. If I weren’t one hundred percent certain I was awake, I’d think I was dreaming. It’s Samantha who opens the door and any hope of revisiting our first kiss evaporates. “Hey Spencer, come on in.” “Hi Samantha. How are you?” She smiles broadly at me. “You can call me Sam.” “Thanks.” I hesitate and then add, “Sam.” She folds her arms over her chest. “You are adorable.”

I blink. “Don’t listen to her,” Abby shouts from the direction of the bathroom. Does that mean I’m not adorable? “I wasn’t saying anything bad,” Sam shouts back at her. Abby walks out, her hands at her ear as she puts in her earring. “With you I have to assume you’re up to no good. Hey Spencer.” Sam drapes her arm over Abby’s shoulders. “I told him he’s adorable.” They both look me over and I stand taller under their scrutiny. Abby taps her chin. “Adorable is for kittens and puppies. I think he’s dreamy.” Sam shrugs, dropping her arm. “He’s easy on the eyes, that’s for sure.” “Ah, thanks,” I reply. She motions to me. “See, adorable.” Abby grins, skirting around the couch to come kiss me hello. “Hi.” I press my lips to hers and only wish this was the way I greeted her since December. “You look gorgeous.” And, in a tight navy blue dress with an appealing neckline, she does. “You look pretty good yourself Mr. Hill.” I don’t teach often, but I am in a rotation to cover classes here and there in my department.

Since I’ve been here, I’ve only taught twice. The way she purred my name sends visions of her in that dress crawling across a desk toward me. She presses closer. “You smell really good too.” My arms tighten around her. “You still want to go to this party?” She throws her head back and laughs. “My family would kick both of our butts if we missed it.” I loosen my grip. “In that case.” She grabs her things and waves to Sam. “See you over there.” “We can drive her,” I offer. Sam shakes her head. “Brent is on the way to pick me up.” “Will you help me carry a couple things?” “Of course.” A couple of things turn out to be three gift bags and five wrapped packages. “I thought you said we didn’t have to bring gifts?” She laughs. “I’m related so I get to ignore rules?” Once we’re outside, I reach for her hand. When her palm meets mine, it’s amazing how comforting this simple gesture is. Being with Abby has been a night and day difference to any other physical contact I’ve had with any other woman. Before, I always felt like I was fumbling to feel something that wasn’t there.

With Abby, the need to touch her is intuitive. She feels it too. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t shift closer every opportunity she has. She wouldn’t make eye contact and hold it. No, she wouldn’t do any of those things. As we drive to her brother’s house, I realize how much I enjoy something as simple as driving somewhere together as she plays navigator. As we drive she points out the direction you’d take to get to her old house. “Would you like to live in this area again?” “Maybe not in the same neighborhood, but yes, I like this part of town.” Having already been to her parents’ house, it’s not hard to figure out the appeal for her. This area is centrally located between her folk’s house and the brother whose house we’re going to. It’d be a safe bet to assume her other brothers live near here as well. I don’t ask her how far this area is from the university, I already know. It’s outside of the area Abby’s been searching for properties but not by much. When we get to her brother’s house, she directs me to park at the dead end. As I stand, I turn, taking in the wooded street with attractive historic single-family homes. “These houses are great.” Abby glances at Noah and Finley’s house

before looking back at me. “You’ve got to see what this place looked like when they started working on it.” “Big difference?” She laughs and I want to kiss her. “Wait till you see. Let’s go inside and say hi. Then we can come back and grab all the gifts.” Hand in hand, we make our way to the front door. “Does your family know?” Her brows come together. “Know what?” I lift our joined hands and recognition washes across her features. “My mom knows.” My gut tightens. I can’t help but wonder what type of initiation I will face with her brothers. “Don’t be nervous, at least they already know and like you.” “I hope you never sprung someone on them all at once.” She doesn’t knock, just opens the door. “Hello.” “We’re back here,” someone calls out in response. As Abby leads me toward the source of the voice, I take in the architecture and interior design. From the front door, there’s a small foyer with rooms on either side and a staircase in front of us. The room to the right is a large dining room, the table made out of a door and the décor something right out of a magazine or one of those home

improvement shows my mom watches. An equally well-appointed home office is on the left. We move past the stairs and into an open great room, that includes both the kitchen and the den. It’s packed which is no surprise considering the number of cars parked outside. “Hey Abby,” Finley greets, coming toward us. She slows her steps when she notices I’m holding her hand. “You two dating?” It’s Eli who asks and loud enough that everyone there turns to look at us. Dropping her hand, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and tuck her close. “We are.” Eli’s eyes widen with surprise. Whether his reaction is to my words, my movements, or both, I don’t know. Abby rests her palm flat on my abdomen and nods her agreement. “When did this happen?” Finley and Paige both rush over and I’m not sure which of them asked. “It was earlier this week,” Abby replies. Finley presses her hands together. “Well, what happened? We want details.” Abby covers her face with her hand. “Well, Spencer doesn’t know this, but Sam played cupid.” My brows lift. “She did?”

“Uh huh, she knew I had a crush on you and was sure you returned my feelings so she texted you.” “That wasn’t you?” She shakes her head. “There’s no way I’d ever be brave enough to do that. Thank God she was right. Otherwise I’d be mortified.” “You break her heart, I want you to remember Thompson’s has a large inventory of shovels.” My face blanches at Eli’s words. “Who needs a shovel, I’ve got a backhoe,” Gideon interjects. I hope this is one of those times where threatening physical harm is a sign that they like me. “I’m not going to break her heart.” I don’t add it’ll be more likely that she breaks mine. Daisy Thompson pushes past Eli. “Hi Spencer. Come here and give me a hug.” Abby shifts away so I can hug her mom. “I was so happy when Abby told me.” “You knew about this?” Gideon asks. She ignores her son, her attention still solely on me. “So handsome and smart. You were worth the wait.” “Stop being weird Mom.” Daisy moves to hug Abby. “I’m not being weird.” “You just called Spencer handsome,” she

argues. Paige raises her hand. “Um, anyone can see he’s handsome.” “Really handsome,” Finley adds. Noah offers me his hand. “Ignore them.” “Mr. Spencer is your boyfriend?” Connie asks. Abby nods. “He is. Now go find your brothers for me. I need some help bringing birthday presents in.” “They’re in the backyard playing catch with Uncle Asher.” Abby turns to me. “Can I see your keys?” After I hand them to her, she gives them to Connie. “Tell them if you guys bring in all the gifts I’ll give each of you two bucks.” Connie takes off at the promise of payment. A few minutes later, Aidan returns my keys to me. “We took it for a spin. Hope you don’t mind.” He’s gone before I can process what he said. “Did he?” Abby shakes her head. “They’ll eat you alive if they find out you’re so gullible.” I duck my head and she laughs. She turns in the direction he disappeared. “Where’d you put the gifts?” Aidan’s voice echoes in from another room. “The dining room.” Connie appears at her side. “Did I do good?” Abby fishes into her wallet and pulls out some

bills. “You sure did. Now go split this with the boys.” Connie takes the cash and races away. Abby turns back to me. “Child labor rocks.” I tuck her hair behind her ear and smile down at her. “Oh, I like this.” Finley elbows Paige. “I really like this.” Abby’s cheeks redden. “Um, where’s that album of all the work you did to the place? I promised to show it to Spencer.” Finley smirks at me. “It’s in the office on the bottom shelf by the fireplace.” Abby grabs my hand and tugs me back toward the front of the house. Paige pouts. “No fair. We wanted to hang out with Spencer.” Abby glances back at her. “Oh we’ll be back in ten minutes.” Once we’re in the office she grabs a thick album from a bookshelf. “Sorry about that. They’re going to be weird.” I sit on the loveseat and pat the cushion next to mine. “I don’t mind. My parents want you to come over for dinner. I expect them to give you the third degree.” Her step falters as she moves toward me. “They what?” “At least you only have two people to impress,

not fourteen.” She sits, her thigh pressed to mine. “Fourteen?” “I included Samantha, her boyfriend and your niece and nephews in that total.” She flips open the album. “You have a point.” Since she’s looking at me, and not the album, I bring my face closer to hers. I’m not going to maul her in her brother’s house. What I am going to do is find out if she’d like to kiss me. She takes the bait and closes the distance between our lips. “They’re kissing,” Connie shouts. Breaking apart, we both look behind the couch and find her standing there. Ethan and Aidan run into the room making us both look forward. Aidan crosses his arms. “We missed it.” Abby presses the album to her chest. “You wanted to see us kiss?” “Uncle Asher couldn’t play with us anymore,” Ethan explains. Finley and Paige burst in behind them. “Are they still kissing?” Abby covers her face. “You guys.” Finley looks at Paige. “We missed it.” Connie giggles. “That’s what Aidan said.” “Knock, knock,” Samantha says, opening the front door. She looks at all of us and asks. “Everything

okay?” Connie points at us. “They were kissing.” The man with Samantha closes the front door behind them. “And they wanted an audience?” Finley and Paige both go over to say their hellos to Sam and get introduced to Brent. Since I haven’t met him yet, I stand as well. Abby follows suit, setting the album behind her. Once those introductions are done, Sam leads him over to us. “You already know Abby, and this is Spencer.” I offer him my hand. “Nice to meet you.” “Sam’s told me a lot about you. Better be good to our girl.” Abby lightly punches his arm. “Ditto.” He wraps his arm around Sam’s waist, holding her close. “Don’t worry about me. I have no intention of screwing things up.” Sam blushes as she covers his hand with hers, effectively showing all of us that she was holding on as well. Sam’s gaze lands on the album behind us. “Were you showing Spencer the before and after pics?” Abby nods, retrieving the album. “I was about to—” Connie cuts her off. “But they started kissing instead.” Sam and Brent chuckle at that.

“Go say hi to everyone else and by the time you come back I’ll be done with it if you want to show it to Brent.” The room empties and we reclaim our spots on the loveseat. As much as I’d like to kiss her again, I figure looking at pictures will be safer at the moment. That doesn’t stop me from wrapping my arm around her shoulder. She settles the seam of the album where our thighs meet, and flips it open. The first picture is so surprising, I blink at it. Abby’s finger trails down its edge. “I know right. When I first saw this place, I thought it should be condemned.” The transformation is incredible. “And they did all the work themselves?” “Gideon and I helped out some but for the most part it was all them.” “It’s impressive. Seeing this house today I’d never imagine it ever looked like this.” “They fell in love fixing this place up together, but Noah says for him it was before that.” “When you know, you know.” We both glance up to see Noah leaning against the entryway of the office. I motion to the album. “The work you both did is fantastic.” “Thanks.” He looks over his shoulder. “Finley sent me to see if either of you would like a drink. I

think she really wanted me to spy on you.” “Did not,” Finley yells from the den. Abby presses her forehead to my shoulder. “Were we this bad when you and Finley started dating?” Noah laughs. “Did you forget about Eli?” “I’m pretty sure he implied Spencer would end up in a shallow grave if he hurt me.” Noah smirks. “I heard that earlier.” Abby frowns. “How long will everyone be weird like this?” He shrugs. “Give us a break. Today is the first time you’ve had to deal with anything.” I lift my hand. “I get it and I don’t mind.” Noah’s face breaks into a smile. “See he doesn’t mind. Now, can I get either of you a drink?” Abby doesn’t miss a beat. “Wine please.”

13

ABBY

I

squint when the sun begins to peek out from behind a cloud. “Are you sure?” “I’m positive. I’d love to show you where I work.” We were supposed to meet for coffee like usual but he surprised me by inviting me to come visit him at the university first. “Okay, should I go to the science building?” “Yes, I’ll wait for you out front.” We hang up and I drive onto campus. Since I was already planning on going to the coffee shop, I’m close. As promised, he’s standing out front when I drive past to turn into the parking lot. He doesn’t miss my car and waves as I go by. After I park, I flip my visor and check my makeup. Geez, why am I so nervous?

Flipping my hair, I open my car door. One step in front of the other, I make my way across the parking lot. A group of girls giggle and point at my man’s back, and I can’t say that I blame them. Spencer moves closer to the curb as I cross the street. As soon as I reach him, he greets me with a hard and fast kiss. Our kiss doesn’t go unnoticed and we’re met with catcalls. “Go Professor Hill.” He grins at me. “You look beautiful.” I can’t help but smile back up at him. “Thanks Professor Hill.” He presses a hand to his heart. “That was hot.” I can’t help it, I start laughing. I’ll have to remember that. He takes my hand and leads me toward the building. “I have to warn you, it’s not glamorous.” “Do you have a giant computer?” The corners of his eyes crinkle with his smile. “Huge.” “Oh, this conversation is starting to feel like foreplay.” He chokes, covering his mouth with the back of his hand as he coughs. “Science talk as foreplay. You might be my dream girl.” While I beam up at him, feeling silly for being nervous, he pulls out an ID card to allow us into one of the hallways off the main one. “Did you ever have any classes in this

building?” I shake my head. “Any science classes I had were in the Wilson building.” He nods. “They have better bathrooms.” I scrunch my nose. “How are they different?” He shrugs. “I’ve taught in both. The bathrooms in Wilson have more stalls. If you weren’t one of the first ones in there after class, the wait sucked.” “Makes sense. I don’t remember issues with waiting.” He stops in front of a door. “Lucky.” “Hi Abby,” Duncan greets loudly as Spencer opens the door. The room is larger than I imagined since I knew it was the shared space for just Spencer and Duncan. The biggest computer screen I’ve ever seen almost entirely covers the far wall. Stairs like those in a movie theater led down to it. There are two large desks each with three computer monitors at the top of the stairs. Halfway down the stairs on either side are two more desks. These with only two monitors on them. I laugh at his enthusiastic greeting. “Hi Duncan.” He waves me over. “Come look at my desk.” “Are you going to let me show her my desk first?” Spencer asks. Duncan pretends to think about it before

saying, “Nope.” I’m almost to Duncan’s desk when Spencer asks, “What did you do?” Duncan starts laughing. “I decorated for you.” Turning on my heels, I backtrack to Spencer’s desk. Before, when I glanced at it, it was only that, a glance. Now, taking a longer look I see what made Spencer react the way he did. Covering the low walls of his large cube are pictures of me, lots of pictures of me, all from my real estate marketing. “Oh geez.” Spencer starts pulling down the pictures. “I swear I didn’t do this.” I help him. “I know but you could leave one up if you wanted.” His fingers hover over the picture hung between two of his monitors. I smile inside when he leaves that one there and moves on to the next. Duncan pouts by his desk. “You’re ruining all my hard work.” Spencer straightens and points at him, clump of papers still in his hands. “You better not have used the color printer here.” Duncan lifts both of his hands, showing us his palms. “I know how picky they are about using up the color ink. I had them made at Kinkos.” Spencer shakes his head. “You paid for all of these?”

Duncan nods proudly. It would be creepy if he wasn’t so goofy. “I still have a bunch.” “Not cool man. Give them to me.” Duncan frowns. “I took them home.” Wait, what? Spencer presses his fingers to his temple. “Why do you have pictures of Abby at your house?” Duncan’s frown morphs into a smile. “So I can decorate more of your stuff.” Okay, less creepy than wallpapering his house with pictures of me but still weird. Spencer drops his hand. “Bring all the extra pictures you have tomorrow and give them to me.” “I changed the screensaver on your computer too.” Spencer’s eyes widen. “You need my password to do that.” Duncan’s brows come together. “I thought you made it so easy on purpose because you wanted me to know it. I mean it’s—” “Don’t,” Spencer shouts. Duncan presses his lips together. I wonder what his password is. Spencer cringes and meets my gaze. “So this is where I work.” I bite back a laugh. “It’s great.” “Want to see my desk now?” Duncan asks. “I have to be honest, I’m kinda scared to.”

He laughs. “It’s normal I promise.” For some reason, I’m not sure if I believe him. My eyes lock with Spencer’s. “Do you think it’s safe?” One side of his mouth tips up and he nods. I move over to Duncan’s desk and am relieved to see it is fairly normal. He does have a surprising amount of Funko Pops. “I like your Pops.” “You should dump that one and date me instead.” I tilt my head to the side. “I thought you were married.” Spencer moves behind me and wraps his arms around me. “He is. Want to see my desk?” Turning in his arms, I smile up at him. “I pretty much saw it when I helped you take down all the pictures.” “Alright, want to see a supernova?” My brows go up as my mouth falls open. “Did you find one?” He shakes his head. “It’s an old one but it’s still pretty cool looking.” “Lead the way.” We walk back over to his desk and he pulls out his chair for me. I smooth out the wrinkles on my skirt. “Thanks.” He leans over me, his arms on either side so his

hands can reach his keyboard. After typing in a few commands, the image on the large screen changes from a static Wood Lake University emblem, to what looks like a giant pink, purple, and blue iridescent bubble in space. Air escapes my chest in one whoosh of an exhale. “It’s beautiful.” “I agree.” He’s close enough that I feel the warmth of his words against my cheek. There’s a squeak as the door opens behind us. Spencer straightens and I turn my head to look and watch a gorgeous woman walking toward us. Her eyes aren’t on us, but on the file in her hand. “I only have five minutes before I have to—” She stops what she was saying the moment she sees me, and asks, “Are we having a tour?” Duncan motions to me. “Dr. Hudson, this is Abby. She’s Spencer’s quark.” Twisting my neck to look at him I ask, “quark? He taps his chin. “Yep, you’re inseparable, which makes you his quark because quarks are never found in isolation. There are always at least two, a charm and a strange. You are the charm, for obvious reasons so I guess that makes him the strange.” Speaking of strange, I’ll have to ask Spencer to translate later because I have no idea what any of that meant. Dr. Hudson clears her throat.

When I look back at her, she’s pressing her files to her chest, her back stiff. “His girlfriend?” Turning the chair, I stand and offer her my hand. “Hi. I’m Abby Thompson.” Her shake is limp. “I’m Dr. Hudson.” When she pulls her hand back, she wipes her palm on the thigh of her pants and shifts her gaze to Spencer. “I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.” I’m not sure if he saw her wipe her palm or not but I can’t help but relax when he reaches for my hand. “Abby and I have known each other since high school. We reconnected when I moved back and have only recently started dating.” Her gaze drops to my cute heels and slowly moves up until it settles on my face. “What do you do for a living?” My brows come together but I answer her question anyway. “I’m a realtor.” Her posture relaxes as she smirks. “A realtor. How is the housing market these days?” Is this an interrogation? “It’s warming as Spring approaches.” “Do you have a degree?” Spencer squeezes my hand and before I can answer her, he does. “She has a Bachelor’s.” She seemed taken aback by him answering, and gulps. “Where’d you go to school?” I let go of Spencer’s hand and fold my arms

across my chest. “I went here.” That briefly shuts her up. Spencer settles his arm around my shoulders. “I wanted to show her where I worked.” She finds her voice again. “What was your degree in?” “Communications,” I reply. Her earlier smirk returns. “You must feel out of place here in the science building.” I blink at her. “Why on earth would I feel out of place?” “The science requirements for a communications degree are minimal.” What a bitch. I cover Spencer’s hand with one of mine. “I guess I’m lucky a science degree isn’t a prerequisite to Spencer, aren’t I?” Her smile in response to my words looks forced. “Yes.” “Was there something you needed Dr. Hudson?” I’ve never, not once, ever heard Spencer go so glacial before. “We’ve been invited to speak at a conference. What does your calendar look like for May?” His thumb moves up and down my arm, possibly to reassure me. “Could you email me the dates? I’ll let you know.” She doesn’t say anything.

“Was there anything else I can help you with?” Her eyes move over me once more before she swallows and takes a step back. “That was all.” The room is silent as we all watch her leave. The moment the door closes the oppressive sensation that began when she opened her mouth, lifts. Turning my wrist, I look down at my watch. “Wow. It’s later than I thought. I have to go.” “I thought we were having dinner together tonight.” I shake my head and speed toward the door, lifting my hand to give a distracted wave to Duncan. “Bye Duncan.” “Goodbye Dearest Abby.” Spencer’s footsteps echo as he follows me. “Can I at least walk you out?” I don’t want to look at him. I’m still beyond mortified from the exchange with his colleague earlier. I’ve never felt more stupid in my life. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wasn’t looking up my GPA from my years here right now. There’s no way I’m ever coming back here. She’ll most likely be lying in wait somewhere ready to pop out and test my IQ. The cool metal of the doorknob is a balm against my heated skin. “You need to finish up your work.” “Abby—”

“I meant to tell you earlier that I had to meet Sam. Text me once you’re done here and maybe we can meet up later.” The echo of his footsteps stops. “Maybe we can meet up later?” The uncertain pang of hurt in his voice tugs at my heart. What he can’t understand is I need to get away from this place right now. I need to be someplace comforting. “I’ll text you.” The sound of his footsteps begins again. No matter how fast I walk, his long legs eat up the distance between us before he reaches for my hand. I don’t fight his hold, especially since he makes no move to stop me, instead only moves with me. “I’m sorry she was so rude. I have no idea what that was about.” For a genius, he’s pretty dense. “Why is she Doctor Hudson and you’re Professor Hill?” He blinks. “Well, she could technically go by Professor but since she doesn’t teach, she prefers to go by Dr.” “Isn’t Professor cooler though?” He gives me a cautious smile. “Cooler?” I roll my eyes. “Aren’t all Professors already doctors?” He nods. “They are.” Interesting. “She shouldn’t have said what she did.”

I pull in a breath, still pissed, but not pissed at him. “Don’t worry about it.” “But you seem upset.” It would be impossible to miss that. “You don’t have to walk me to my car.” His hand squeezes mine. “I know that. Besides, since Duncan already knows my password it’s not like I have to run back and lock my computer screen.” I can’t help it, I laugh at that, some of the tension leaving my body. “You might want to change it.” We reach the door leading out onto the main hall. There are students coming and going. Shuffled into the sea of them moving out of the building, our conversation stalls. Once we’re outside, he restarts it. “I’d still like to see you tonight.” I can’t tell him it’s not only the building I was fleeing, but him. “I’ll text you.” Earlier, when I arrived, he waited by the curb for me. Now he walks beside me all the way to my car. Reaching into my purse, I search for my keys. The moment I find them, I press the familiar groove of my key fob to unlock my doors. It’s Spencer’s hand and not mine that grips the door handle. “I’m sorry.” An impulse I cannot ignore pulls my gaze up to

meet his. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” “You were happy and now you’re upset. It happened on my watch so no matter what, I’m responsible.” Opening my mouth to argue my point further, I’m surprised to find his lips on mine before I have a chance to utter a syllable. With our mouths already open, he wastes no time in deepening our kiss. I’m conflicted in ways I never anticipated. Sure, my emotions are already running high, but the intensity of this kiss makes my eyes wet with tears I have to blink away. It’s over all too soon, and even worse it’s my fault. “I have to go.” His hand hesitates on my door and I briefly wonder if he’ll fight me on this. After a beat, he pulls open my door for me. He doesn’t close it once I’m inside. No, he stands in the doorway to prevent me from closing it. “Spencer.” He tucks my hair behind my ear, a gesture I’m quickly becoming addicted to. “Please drive carefully.” A comment like that could have the potential of coming off as bossy or fatherly. Somehow it doesn’t. There is nothing but concern in his tone and in the gentle way he looks at me. “I’ll be careful,” I promise. My drive home is a blur and I sag with relief

when I see Sam’s car in the lot. I’m out of my car and through our door in a flash. “Sam?” She wanders out of her bedroom, a mud mask on her face. “Avvy?” The mask must have tightened her skin enough that she can’t talk. In this scenario, that’s not a bad thing because I need a good listener. “Some hot doctor who works with Spencer wants him and went way out of her way to imply I was dumb.” “R yo fauking idding ee?” Since I think she said, “Are you fucking kidding me?” I reply, “Nope.” She spins on her heel and I follow her. Once we’re in her bathroom, she washes off her mask. The second it’s all gone, she faces me. “Tell me everything.” “So, I’m in his office and everything is going great until she walks in. She wants to, get this, check his calendar for some conference. She’s sweet as can be until his coworker says I’m Spencer’s girlfriend. Then she no joke started questioning my intelligence. Even Spencer noticed because he cut her off and asked if there was anything else she needed.” She lifts her hand to stop me. “Hold up. Do you think she’s hot for Spencer?” I nod.

“And she was asking him about some work conference?” I nod again. “Oh hell no. What are you going to do?” When I shrug, she moves in close to shake me by the shoulders. “You will not let sexy scientist win.” I shake off her grasp. “I never said she was sexy.” “Attractive scientist doesn’t sound as good.” She has a point. “So what do I do?” Taking my hand, she leads me back to where I dropped my purse when I came in. It takes her two seconds to pull out my phone. “Call him.”

14

SPENCER

I

t’s been two weeks since Abby came to visit me at work. We had our dinner with my parents. It’s no surprise they absolutely adored her, especially since she was able to smooth over any awkward lulls in conversation. We’ve talked or seen each other almost every day since so it isn’t a surprise when she calls me. The panic I hear in her voice when she says my name is. “What’s wrong?” After she explains, I reply, “Text me the address. I’m on my way!” Duncan looks over when I stand. “Everything okay?” I shake my head. “Do you want me to stay on the phone with you? I can borrow Duncan’s phone for the directions.”

When she tells me no, I reply, “Are you sure?” “Yes.” Duncan walks beside me. “What’s going on?” “I’m on my way.” I press end on my phone. “Abby’s at an open house. Her friend Sam got called away for an emergency. She was about to finish up when a man came and he’s making her nervous. I’ve got to go.” Duncan waves as I break into a run. Her text with the address comes when I reach my car. I break multiple traffic laws getting to the house. After parking, I take the steps up to the front entrance two at a time. “Abby?” “In here,” she cries. Following the sound of her voice, I race farther into the house and find her in a back room. A smarmy older man has her cornered. He takes one look at me, and steps away from her. “Is there a problem?” I ask, taking a step toward him. He shakes his head and hastily leaves. Abby stares at me until we hear the front door slam, then she’s across the room and in my arms. My arms fold around her, my eyes moving toward the front of the house. “Are you alright?” She pulls a pen out of her pocket. “If he got any closer I was going to stab him.” Since she didn’t answer me earlier, I hold her

closer and ask again, “Abby, are you okay?” One word from her and I’ll chase him down and throttle him. “I’m okay. He was just creeping me out and I was alone.” “I’m here. You don’t have to be scared.” She peers up at me. “Thank you.” I press my lips to her forehead and hold her closer. “Are you all done here?” She nods. “I need to take down the open house signs and call the sellers.” She slips her hand into mine and together we walk through the house. After she gathers her things, and locks up, we drive around the neighborhood to collect the open house signs. We take my car so she can talk to the sellers. She tries to play it cool, but I don’t miss the way her hands shake. When we pull up in front of the house again, I ask, “Are you okay to drive?” She pulls in a breath. “I think so but, will you follow me home?” I don’t tell her I’d follow her anywhere. “Yes.” Her face softens. “Thank you so much for coming. I feel silly for overreacting now.” I stop her. “Don’t. There’s a reason they say trust your instincts.” “You think?” “He could not get out of the house fast enough

when I showed. Is that normal?” She shakes her head. “It isn’t.” “I’m happy I was able to come.” She leans across the console to press her lips to mine. “Me too.” Any other moment, I’d deepen our kiss. Now, I’m just thankful I could be there for her when she needed me. Walking her to her car, I linger at her car door. “I’ll be good, I promise.” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “I’ll be right behind you.” As she drives, I can’t stop thinking about what would have happened if something had kept me from getting here today. The thought of something bad happening to her leaves me cold. She waits by her car as I look for a visitor spot to park in. We’re quiet as we walk into her building. It’s not until we’re in the condo that I remember what she said about Samantha. “What happened with Sam?” “Crap. I need to text her and find out how her uncle is doing. They had to rush him to the hospital.” “I hope he’s okay.” She taps out a message on her phone before looking up at me. “Today is kicking my ass.” Her phone buzzes with a response almost

immediately. “He’s going to be okay.” Her cat wanders out of the kitchen and rubs against her leg. Distractedly, she reaches down to stroke her. Then her cat moves over to me. Since the likelihood of her scratching me is fifty-fifty, I stand still. Abby watches and starts laughing. After the day she’s had, I consider it a boon she’s laughing at all. She presses her hand to her chest. “Oh God. I needed that.” Her cat walks away, tail up in the air as she goes and I relax. Abby moves in front of me, pressing her body against mine. “You are amazing.” Dipping my head, I press my mouth to hers. She winds her arms around my neck. “So amazing.” “Stop before it goes to my head.” Her lips spread into a smile and she pulls away. “I’m going to take a shower. Can you stay, or do you need to get back to work?” “I can stay.” I don’t tell her I have no desire to leave her. Ever. While she showers, I text Duncan to let him know what happened and that I wasn’t coming back. Whatever adrenaline was coursing through my veins is gone now. I slump onto their sofa. Abby comes back out a few minutes later,

wearing a light gray robe, fresh-faced with wet hair. “Want to watch a movie in my room?” Her robe currently has my full attention, that, and the errant beads of water on her calves she must have missed while she was toweling off. I shift in my seat, my body reacting to her. It takes my brain a moment to catch up and process that she asked me a question. In her room? We’ve watched plenty of movies out here since we started dating, not one in her room. “Sure.” Praying my tone didn’t betray my excitement at her invitation, I stand. She leads the way, her hips swaying with each step. Her room is small but since it’s the spare that isn’t a surprise. A queen-sized bed with a thick mattress dwarfs everything around it. Her TV sits on top of a dresser. The only other furniture in the room is an armchair in one corner and a small table next to her bed. Should I sit in the chair, or on her bed? She answers the question for me by pointing to her bed. “Get comfortable. I’m going to go change.” While she rummages through her dresser, I slip off my shoes and climb onto her bed. If this is her bed from her old house, or a bed Sam already had here, I don’t know. It’s strange, but I hope it’s her bed. My being on it will feel more real if it is.

When she comes back into the room, now wearing track pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt, I ask, “Is this your furniture?” She settles herself beside me. “It is. Sam only had a desk in here before I moved in. Do you like it?” I make a show of looking at the furniture. “Solid wood, looks well made, very clean lines. Yes, I like it.” She grins at me. “Asher made it for me.” At her words, I take a second look, this time turning to run my hand over the sloped curve of her headboard. “He does beautiful work.” She reaches for a couple of remotes and flips on the TV. “He really does. Once I finally get a new place he said he’ll make some stuff for me to help replace what I had to sell and to save me the money of having to buy anything.” “How’s that loan coming along?” She pulls up a streaming video provider and goes to continue watching. “I can’t remember if I told you, but I decided to take a personal loan from the credit union instead of borrowing the money from Asher. With it, and what I made from selling off that piece of land to my neighbor, I paid off my mortgage. Now I’m stuck with this new loan, but at least it is a lot less than what my mortgage was. I’ve been throwing everything I have at it and will be debt free, fingers crossed, in the next few

months.” I can’t help it, I stare at her. “You’re amazing.” She looks down, embarrassed. “Stop.” “No, I’m serious. What you went through could break a lesser person. You were handed a disaster in December and you’re going to be free of it by May?” She looks up, her eyes wet. “You don’t need to hear this from me but I’m going to say it anyway. You are incredible and the way that you handled losing your house could be an inspiration to many people.” “Spencer.” I press my lips to her forehead. When she pulls back, she wipes at her eyes. “It’s insane but, I’m excited to start over. Having no money sucks but it is so much better than owing money. This has changed the way I feel about borrowing.” “Are you anti-mortgage now?” She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t go that far. What I mean is, where would I be if my loan was larger? I can’t stop thinking about how different my situation would be if my loan was for five hundred thousand. I mean, given my income I probably could have been approved for that amount.” “Living simply isn’t a bad thing,” I agree. “Do you know Finley bought their house with cash?”

“I didn’t.” She nods. “And Asher bought his land with cash and built his house himself. Oh, that reminds me. What are you doing next weekend?” She doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “Do you want to go with me to Asher’s place?” “To his lake?” She nods. “If it’s clear, you can even set your telescope up at the end of his dock.” As interesting as that sounds, I’m more focused on the sleeping arrangements. “Sure. That sounds great.” “Awesome. Now, anything you feel like watching?” I’m on her bed, with her warm body cuddled up to me. “You pick.” She presses a button on her remote. “I was hoping you’d say that.” “Oh yeah?” “Yep. Time for you to meet Naruto.” Gorgeous, successful, and obsessed with anime. “This one is your favorite, right?” She nods. “It sure is. After this I’ve watched Bleach, Kamisama Kiss, Ouran High School Host Club, Death Note, Sword Art Online, Corpse Princess, and K Project. Naruto is still my favorite.” “Why?” She tips her head to the side and for the

moment she thinks, I can hear her cat batting something around in the hallway. “It was the first one I watched so there’s that, and I just loved that no matter what he’d never give up.” “He sounds like you.” She smiles at me. “It may sound crazy but watching this show kept me cheered up and was a good reminder to stay on task.” “Alright, start it.” She shifts closer to me and I tuck her to my side. The episodes aren’t long and have an addictive quality to them. It’s easy to see how she got hooked. About four episodes in, she gets up to make us food. “Want help?” I offer. She shakes her head. “No way. Keep watching.” We eat picnic style on her bed, her show going the entire time. Ten episodes in, she pauses it. “What do you think?” The way all of her attention is focused on me is an indication of how important my answer to this question will be. Luckily, I don’t have to lie. “I can see why it’s your favorite.” She sags with relief. “Really?” I nod my assent. “Really.”

“I don’t know what I should do, make out with you or make you watch more episodes.” I blink at her which only makes her laugh. We’re both sitting, facing each other. She shifts onto her knees and leans forward, bracing her hands on my legs. Her kiss starts out sweet. I’m not sure if it’s our location, or the intensity of what happened earlier but her kiss morphs into something more sensual. I sit frozen, unable to drag her into my lap. I’m at her mercy, unable to make the next move. She does move, so slowly her touch becomes a heavenly torture. Her fingers flex on my legs and I want more. I want her kiss to deepen, and for her body to be flush against mine. She leans back and presses her lips together, her cheeks flushed. Her eyes dart around the room as if just noticing we’re on her bed. “Ah.” Reaching for the pillow beside me, I plump it up and set it back down. “Ready for some Naruto?” She relaxes instantly and moves next to me, reclaiming her earlier spot next to me. There’s no denying our physical reaction to each other. From the first time I kissed her, I wanted all of her. Maybe studying the stars has taught me patience. For now, I’m content to wait as long as

she needs. “This part is really good.” She shifts closer and rests her cheek against my shoulder. “Oh, and that guy, the one with white hair and only one eye showing, he’s my favorite.” Turning my head, I kiss her hair, inhaling the faint floral scent of it. Her phone buzzes, making her pause the show and reach for it. “Hello.” I listen to her one-sided conversation. “How is he?” There’s a pause and then. “Oh, thank God. Are you coming home now?” Another pause. “I’ll see you soon.” When she hangs up she moves off of her bed. “Sam’s uncle is out of surgery and he’s looking good. She’s coming home now.” “That’s great news.” She nods. “I’m going to go start some coffee. She sounded exhausted on the phone.” I move off the bed. “I’ll keep you company.” When we get to the kitchen, she hesitates before turning on the pot and turns to me. “Please don’t say anything about that guy from earlier, okay? I don’t want her to feel bad for having to leave when she did.” I rest my hands on her shoulders and massage them. “I won’t say anything.”

“Thanks Spence.” Spence. I like her calling me that. “Want a cup?” She asks as soon as it’s done. I shake my head. “I’m good.” She pours herself a cup and has only taken one sip when the front door opens. Sam walks through first, Brent one step behind. She drops his hand and walks straight to Abby, arms outstretched. “I’m sorry I had to run off.” Abby sets down her coffee to hug her. “Don’t worry about it. I’m happy to hear your uncle is doing okay.” “Thank you.” Brent lifts his chin in greeting. “Hey Spencer.” I raise my hand. Abby and Samantha break their hug. “I made some coffee. Need a cup?” Sam presses her hands to her chest. “You complete me.” Abby pulls down a mug. “I’ll take that as a yes. Want one too Brent?” He shakes his head. “No thanks.” Samantha takes a drink before setting her mug on the counter. “I’m going to change. I’ll be right back. Abby, come with me.” I watch them walk back to Sam’s room. “How’s work?” Brent asks. Moving past him and into their living room, I sit

on the sofa. “Last week we discovered a star going supernova. How’s your work going?” He follows me and half collapses at the other end. “Nothing as exciting as yours but I did sell a house and because of it I picked up another listing in that neighborhood.” “Well done man.” I glance over my shoulder to the bedroom doors before looking back at him. “I was wondering if you could help me with something.” His brows go up. “What do you need?” As I lay out my plan, his face breaks into a wide grin. “I can do that.”

15

ABBY

“D

o you have protection?” I slam the top of my rolling suitcase. “Shut up. He’s right outside and can hear you.” Sam makes a face at me. “Would it really be that bad if he heard me?” “Yes, it would be. There’s no guarantee we’re going to do anything.” She looks up at the ceiling and groans. “Shhhh.” Glancing back at me, she folds her arms across her chest. “It’s been months. Months! You took the three date rule and times it by ten.” Zipping my suitcase closed, I shake my head. “Don’t get on my case just because you and Brent didn’t wait.” Her brows go up. “Heaven forbid I look out for my best friend and hope she gets some.”

Glaring at her, I press my finger to my lips. She rolls her eyes. I motion to the chair on the other side of my bed. “Will you please grab that bag?” She picks it up and hefts the strap over her shoulder. “Lord, how much did you pack?” It’s spring in New Hampshire. I needed to pack for whatever weather we might run into at the cabin. “I wanted options.” Pulling my suitcase down, I extend the handle and head toward my door with Sam on my heels. Spencer and Brent are both on the sofa, talking. I only hope their conversation was loud enough to drown out anything Sam said. Both of them stand as we approach. Spencer skirts the sofa to claim my bag from Sam. “All set?” My cheeks flush and I suddenly feel shy. “Yes.” He opens the door and holds it for me. Standing in the doorway I look at Sam. “Thanks for watching Emo for me.” She grins. “Anytime. I hope you guys have a great weekend.” Thankfully she doesn’t say anything more suggestive than that. Spencer lifts his hand and gives them a subtle wave. “See you later.” As the door swings shut Sam shouts. “I slipped

some condoms into the front pocket of that bag!” Click. Spencer and I lock eyes. “She what?” I gulp, then grab his arm and begin to pull him down the hall. “Ignore her.” It’s not until all of our bags are loaded, and we’re on the road that Spencer speaks. “I’m having a hard time ignoring her.” It’s a miracle I don’t swerve off the road. “Um.” “What exactly are your intentions with me this weekend Miss Thompson?” I can’t help it, I start laughing. When I glance over at him I’m relieved to see he’s cracking a smile. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” I tease. My nerves are still there but different now. Instead of being embarrassed about what Sam said, I’m grateful. She pointed out the elephant in the room and Spencer handled it like a champ. It’s a shame I didn’t have to tell her I didn’t need any protection. I already packed plenty of my own. Now, I’m not positive things are going to get physical this weekend. But, if one thing leads to another, I wouldn’t be opposed to it happening. “Do I need a safe word?” This time I do swerve. Quickly correcting myself, I stare straight

ahead. “Come again? I’m not sure I heard you right.” What kinda stuff is he into? My nerves come flooding back. “I was attempting to be funny. Seeing how freaked you look, I think I failed miserably.” It was a joke? Thank God. I sag with relief. “You had me wondering if I’m in over my head for a second there.” “Poor attempt at humor. I promise it won’t happen again.” It’s crazy, but I think it’s sorta adorable how goofy he is. I’ve been out with smooth talkers before and couldn’t trust a word coming out of their mouths. With Spencer, I don’t have to worry about any of that and I like it. Looking over at him, I smile. “I think you’re great.” He reaches out, and rests his hand on my leg, his thumb brushing back and forth. For as much time as we spend in cars, this is the first time he’s ever done this. It’s so unexpectedly sexy, I have to stop myself from squirming in my seat. Focusing all of my attention on the road, I try to keep my cool. It doesn’t work. How a simple caress of his thumb could affect me so much is insane. He’s touching all of three inches of me. How is it that I feel it all over?

My palms are damp, and they’re not the only part of me feeling that way. The back of my neck is flushed. Moving one hand from the steering wheel, I lower the temperature for the vents on my side of my car. His thumb continues to move back and forth, back and forth. “Are you hot?” Motioning to my sweater, I lie, “This sweater is really thick.” His thumb pauses for a couple beats before starting again. Thankfully, the turn for Asher’s driveway is just up the road. “We’re almost there.” “It was kind of your brother and his fiancée to let us stay in their cabin.” Talking about my family luckily dulls the effect his touch has on me. “I have a feeling it was Paige’s idea. She’s still getting used to living with a hermit. If she can’t bring him to company, I think she’s bringing company to him.” “Who needs people if you have a lake?” I flip on my turn signal. “Don’t let Asher hear you say that. It’ll only enable him.” “I promise not to say a word.” I turn onto his drive. “Good, because we’re here.” Taking the drive slower than normal, I watch Spencer’s reaction as we approach Asher and Paige’s cabin.

Drifts of snow from the last storm we had line the end of the drive. A stark contrast to the sprinkling of green buds. Spring is trying to make her appearance but winter has yet to relinquish its hold. “Wow,” Spencer says once the cabins come into view. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” The first cabin is the largest of the three and where my brother and Paige live. The second cabin is Asher’s workshop. It is connected to the main cabin by a breezeway. The guest cabin is somewhat separated from the other two, giving everyone a bit of privacy. “We can unload and then walk up to the main cabin to say hi.” Ever since he started dating Paige, Asher no longer hides out in his workshop when company is around. It takes one trip to bring in our bags. “A year ago, there wasn’t a loft here.” Spencer’s hand glides over one of the wooden steps leading up to the bedroom loft area. “It blends in seamlessly, you’d think it was part of the original structure. Your brother really built all this?” Pride swells up within me. “He sure did.” “He’s got a nice setup here. I’m not sure I could live this far out though.” I know this land like the back of my hand, but I

have to agree. “It’s the perfect place to visit but I’m with you. I like living in Woodlake.” “How much acreage do you think is the right amount?” My mouth twists to one side as I consider his question. “No more than three acres and no less than half an acre.” With every house I’ve shown him, or houses we’ve been to for a party, he asks my opinion about small details. My guess is it’s his way to show interest in what I do for a living. I only wish I understood his work enough to return the favor. We both turn at the sound of a knock on the door. “That must be the welcoming committee.” Crossing the room, I pull open the door. “Hey guys.” Asher and Paige stand on the doorstep. “Need any help unloading?” Giving each of them a hug, I answer, “We’ve brought in most of our stuff. I think Spencer’s telescope is the only thing still in the car.” Asher moves past me to shake hands with Spencer. “Need any help getting it set up?” “Abby told me you have a dock. Would it be alright to set up there?” “Sure. Want to walk down now and check it out first?” Spencer takes my hand. “What do you say, feel like walking down to the lake?”

Popping up onto my tiptoes, I press a kiss to his cheek. “You two go ahead. I needed to talk to Paige about something.” His brows come together but before he has a chance to say anything, Asher pats him on the back. “Sounds like we’ve been dismissed.” Thankfully, Spencer doesn’t seem bothered by this. As soon as the door closes behind them, Paige crosses her arms and looks at me. “What’s going on?” “Can I ask you some advice?” She moves past me and settles herself on the overstuffed sofa. “Of course you can.” I move to sit beside her and, at a loss for words; start fidgeting with the hem of my sweater. She squints at me. “You’re usually not one to beat around the bush. What’s going on?” Releasing the fabric, I turn more fully toward her. “I’m having second thoughts about Spencer.” Her mouth drops open in surprise but she recovers quickly. “I thought things were going great with you two. Did something happen?” “They have been, and this is going to sound crazy—” When I don’t say anything else she shakes my knee. “Hit me with it, I was an event planner in New York City. Trust me, I can handle crazy.” “Do you think he’s only with me for my looks?”

She blinks, and then laughs. I frown. “I don’t see what’s so funny.” Pressing her hand to her chest, she quells her laughter. “Sorry, I wasn’t expecting that.” “Well?” Her eyes meet mine. “You’re gorgeous. You own a mirror so you don’t need me to tell you that but, no, I do not think Spencer is with you for your looks. Why would you even think that?” “He showed me where he works and there was this woman there. She said some things that implied I’m not as smart as they are and I can’t get the thought of it out of my head. I’m not a genius like him. It’s been a couple of weeks and whenever he’s at work I think about it. What if I’m holding him back?” “You warned me it was going to sound crazy. You know why? Because it is. Yes, he’s super smart. So what? His intelligence is not at the expense of yours. And, if I remember correctly, didn’t you graduate university with a ridiculously high GPA?” I shrug. “So?” “Alright, here’s the most important question; how does he make you feel?” I slump against the back of the cushions. “I like him, oh God I like him a lot. Being around him, even with all the mess I was dealing with for my house, makes me happy.”

She gives me a confused look. “I’m not seeing a problem here. Why are you all stressed out about how smart you are?” “What if I like him too much? I didn’t ask for this, this relentless pressure in my mind. I wonder what he’s doing when we’re not together, and even when we are, I worry about what’s on his mind. What if I could somehow look inside and see his thoughts but not understand them. What then? There are times when he talks about what he’s working on and I have to nod and smile because I have no idea what any of it means.” She covers my hand with hers. “Babe, I don’t know the names of eighty percent of the tools Ash uses or the techniques of his trade. I nod and smile all the time. I don’t have to know all of the ins and outs of being a carpenter to support him. And, on the flip side, I’m positive he feels the same way about my event planning.” “That’s all good and fine but it’s not like he has any colleagues that make you feel like you have a low IQ.” She cocks her head to the side. “Tell me more about this woman.” My brows come together. “Like what?” She lifts her palms. “First off, was she wearing a wedding ring?” My thoughts take me back to that day and I try to remember if I noticed her wearing one. “I don’t

think so.” She shakes her head. “Bet you she was jealous of you. Spencer has that whole hot professor thing going for him. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was into him and tried to make you feel insecure so you’d break up with him.” Annoyance powers through me as the truth to her words hits me. “How did I miss that?” Paige gives me a sympathetic smile. “You missed it because you’d never do something like that to another woman.” “What if he’d be better off with someone like her, someone who had more in common with him?” Paige rolls her eyes. “You’re overthinking this and if that were true, Asher and I wouldn’t be together. Besides, haven’t you ever heard the expression opposites attract? Not that I even think you guys are all that opposite.” “So are we opposites, or aren’t we?” I ask. She swats at my leg. “Nope, not even going there. The only thing that’s important right now is how you feel about Spencer. Nothing else matters.” I stand, and move toward the large picture window that overlooks the lake. “I know how I feel, it’s Spencer that I’m not sure about.” Both he and Asher stand at the end of the dock, the telescope on its tripod between them. It’ll be hours before it’s dark enough to do any stargazing. They’re talking and I wish I could somehow hear

their conversation. “Okay, Spencer is a smart guy, that’s something we can both agree on, right?” She waits for me to nod before continuing. “And, he came here with you of his own free will?” I nod again. “And when he’s around you, he acts like your boyfriend?” Okay, I see where she’s going with this. “Yes.” She grins. “There’s your answer.” I frown. “What if he changes his mind?” Her smile falls. “There’re no guarantees in this world. You know that better than most people right now. You lost your home and last year I lost my company. It’s pointless to try and protect yourself from the what-ifs in life. Focus on the good stuff.” She’s right. “You’re right.” She shrugs and flips her golden blonde hair. “Are you going to stop stressing now?” I decide against telling her probably not. Thing is, I’m nervous. I lied earlier when I said I liked Spencer. Truth is, I think I’m falling in love with him. For some strange reason, I’d be less scared of him breaking my heart if I only liked him. I know that he’d never pressure me into doing anything I wasn’t ready for. When we go to sleep tonight, it will be the first time we have complete privacy since we started dating. Some of our make-out sessions have gotten

pretty hot and heavy. Still, I’m not having sex with him in his parents’ basement or in Sam’s spare bedroom. Neither place has felt right. This cabin might be the most romantic place I’ve ever stayed. It feels like the right time to take things to the next level. Only I can’t stop wondering if I’m not right for him. Getting physical will only make it that much harder if things don’t work out. She comes to stand beside me. “I can see those wheels churning. Seriously, what is holding you back?” I tap my forehead on the cool glass of the window. “I don’t know. “ “I have an idea. What if you talk to him about it? Maybe that will clear all of this up for you.” Turning my head, I meet her gaze. “Yeah, what should I say? Hey Spencer, I really want to have my way with you but first will you tell me if you think I’m smart enough for you or not?” She shakes her head. “Alright, let the intelligence stuff go or I’m going to sic your brother on you. No, what I would say if I was you, is, hey Spencer, I really like you and think you feel the same way about me. But, before we take this any further I wanted to be sure we’re both into each other.” “What if he doesn’t feel the same way?” Paige takes my hand and pulls me away from the window. “Look, either way, you need to know. I

personally think he’s crazy about you but if you need to hear it from him so be it.” Sinking onto the cushions I press my temple. “Why do I have such trust issues?” “You’ve avoided dating forever. I think I know why. Who could measure up to your dad or your brothers? You’ve waited a long time to fall for someone and you’re scared and rightfully so. Trusting someone with your heart is scary business.” My thoughts shift to the dock and Spencer. Not once has he ever given me a reason not to trust him. In fact, he’s been amazing since our first coffee date. Knowing the man he is today, I can’t help but wonder if we would have had a connection like this back in high school. Paige rests her chin on her palm. “What are you thinking?” Pulling in a deep breath, I smile. “I’ve been keeping Spencer at arm’s length out of some sort of need for self-preservation. The excuses I’ve given myself to worry about how he feels about me are just that, excuses.” “Does that mean you’re going to go for it?” My gaze moves back to the window and my smile shifts into a grin. “It does.”

16

SPENCER

A

sher folds his arms over his chest. “Everything okay with Abby?” To be honest, her wanting to speak privately with Paige had surprised me. Now, with the way her brother is looking at me, I believe I have reason to be concerned. His stance is a not so subtle reminder that should I screw things up with Abby, I’ll have not only him, but Eli, Noah, and Gideon to worry about. “I believe so.” He’s easily got three inches on me and visions of him taking his fist to drive me through the wooden planks of the dock whack-a-mole style cross my mind. “Hmm.” His response isn’t reassuring. “Do you have the telescope all set up?” When I turn, I notice Asher has done the same,

and watch as Abby and Paige make their way down the dock toward us. Motioning to it, I reply, “It is. Now all we have to do is wait for it to get dark.” Abby stops in front of me and wraps her arms around my waist. Instinctively, my arms drop to circle her. “Asher, want to help me with dinner?” Paige asks. He pauses to look at Abby and me before he answers her. “Sure.” They walk away hand in hand, Paige turning her head to wink at us before they’re out of sight. Abby presses her forehead to my chest and laughs. “What’s so funny?” Peering up at me, she tilts her head in the direction they went. “I love that my brother found Paige. She’s perfect for him.” Her laughter is infectious. “And that makes you laugh?” “If you knew what he used to eat, the fact that he’s going to go help make dinner for us is hysterical.” Again, her relationship with her siblings only makes me regret how distant my sister and I are, and reminds me of the concern her brother expressed earlier. “Are you alright?” Her smile fades. “Why do you ask?”

“Asher asked when you were in the cabin with Paige.” Her expression softens. “It was nothing important. I needed to get her advice on something.” I stop myself from telling her she could always come to me. As time goes by, I want to be that person for her, a sounding board and a confidant. For now, I’ll focus on where we are today. “This place is something else.” She rests her cheek against my chest and murmurs her agreement. Moving back to New Hampshire when I did, I missed the fall leaves changing color. By the time I got back home, the trees were bare skeletons. With spring upon us, those barren branches are now heavy with greenery. Illuminated by the afternoon sun, they cast their reflection against the lake’s surface. “Do you come up here often?” She steps away from me and offers me her hand. “When I can. Here, come with me. I want to show you something.” My fingers curl around hers and together we make our way off the dock. At the end of the dock, we turn right and walk across a small beach. There’s a large grassy area that curves around it. “This is where Noah and Finley are getting

married next month.” My gaze follows the path she motions to with her hands. “Before Gideon cleared some brush and small trees, there was barely enough space to park down here. Now there’s enough room for canopies and seating for the wedding.” “Gideon did a great job clearing everything. Did he have to grade the land to level it?” She nods. “He did. I think the plan is for Noah and Asher to build a wooden platform for dancing. Paige is helping with all the designs. They’re going to wrap all the tent poles with fairy lights and lanterns and Gideon is taking care of all the flowers.” “It sounds like it’s all coming together.” She gulps. “Would you like to be my date?” Leaning down, I press my mouth to hers. “Yes.” She smiles against my lips and I gather her closer. Her arms coil around my neck and I deepen our kiss. My blood thrums through my veins as my desire for her intensifies. When she breaks our kiss, I struggle to catch my breath as I stare down into the depths of her blue eyes. She wets her lips. “I want you.” Those words cause my body to immediately react. “I want you too.” “Tonight?” That long? Christ, I want to throw her over my

shoulder right now and carry her right up to that loft bed. Hell, I’m even tempted to take her right here on this beach. Though, there’s a decent chance Asher would see us and then kill me. No, she’s right. If we started anything now, we’d be interrupted for dinner. I want to take my time with and fully enjoy each and every one of her curves. “Are you sure?” She nods and then asks, “Are you?” This time, when I kiss her, I lift her, crushing her to me. At this point, I don’t care if her brother can see us. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Her words catch me off guard. Shoving my face into her neck I burst out laughing. Setting her back on her feet, I take a step away from her. “I’m not sure I can handle anymore kissing.” With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she closes the distance between us. “What’ll happen if we don’t stop?” My brows rise. “You don’t know?” She grasps my hands and pulls them around her. “Tell me.” Does she want me to talk sexy to her? My mind blanks as pure panic sets in. “I-I-I would do things to you.” Her lips part and for some inexplicable reason, my fumbling words seem to only turn her on. “What kind of things?”

All at once, I feel light headed. I sit, taking her with me. Ass planted in the sand, she ends up straddling me when I pulled us both down. Her eyes are wide with surprise. “Spencer.” She doesn’t seem to mind our current position so I decide against telling her I almost fainted. Given our height difference, having her on my lap is a vast improvement. Pushing her hair over her shoulder, I taste the delicate skin of her neck. She sighs, the sound making me light headed all over again. “Hey guys. Um, hate to interrupt but dinner is ready.” Both Paige and Asher stand on the deck to our left. Paige grins as she waves. Asher in stark contrast appears to be shooting daggers at me with his eyes. Abby looks up at them. “We’ll be right up.” Paige pulls Asher back into their house. “Any chance your brother is poisoning my dinner right now?” She laughs, tucking her face into the spot where my neck meets my shoulder. “I wasn’t joking.” That only makes her laugh harder. Fear of my untimely death has any lingering light headedness vanishing. I stand, pulling Abby up with me. With her hand in mine, I lead us toward

the steps, brushing sand off of my backside as we go. “Want me to taste your food before you have any?” Her teasing is one of the things I like most about her. I look forward to enjoying her playful side once we’re alone. When we reach the door, she opens it and I hold it for her to pass through. The main cabin is reminiscent of the smaller guest cabin, only much larger and with more rooms. Given how quickly the temperature drops in the evening, it’s not a surprise that we’re eating inside. The large table in front of a picture window is set. “Is there anything I can do?” Abby asks. Paige shakes her head. “We’re all set. Please sit down, both of you. Would either of you like any wine with dinner?” My gaze moves to Abby and her eyes lock with mine. She lifts her index finger. “Just one please.” Her implication is subtle but I don’t miss it. She wants to be clear-headed for whatever might happen tonight. I nod. “Same for me please.” I’d like to say I was an amazing conversationalist over dinner but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Things started off well but

all went downhill the moment Abby rested her hand on my thigh. “Spencer?” I blink, my eyes moving to Paige. Shit, I think she asked me something. My attention is solely focused on Abby’s whisper soft touch. “I’m sorry I missed that.” Her gaze moves to Abby. “I asked what you thought of the place.” Abby’s hand moves dangerously close to my crotch. “Oh, it’s great, fantastic actually.” My ‘oh’ comes out a bit strangled making the beautiful devil woman beside me giggle. Paige’s brows come together. “Thanks.” Asher squints at me and I pray to God he can’t tell what his sister is doing. “Spencer is going to be my date to Noah and Finley’s wedding.” It’s Paige who laughs this time. “Geez, the wedding is only a month away. It took you long enough to ask him.” My eyes move to her face. From what I understand, wedding guests normally RSVP months in advance. “Is it too short notice?” I ask. Paige shakes her head. “I was just giving Abby a hard time.” Abby and I have been dating for close to two months. Given the newness of our relationship, it

seems Abby was being prudent in waiting to ask me to be her guest. In asking me, she is saying she expects us to still be together a month from now. That, and the promise of tonight make it safe to assume this trip has been a pivotal moment in our relationship. Both are excellent signs. After dinner, we don jackets, and as a group make our way back to the end of the dock. As we walk, my eyes continually drift heavenward. Clear skies of starlight blanket us. With visibility like this, even Jupiter and Saturn are visible to the naked eye. With my telescope, Venus should be visible as well. Mercury and Mars will both be a long shot. Paige brought her glass of wine out with her. “I’ve been living here for months and I still can’t get over the stars on clear nights like tonight.” “It’s beautiful,” Abby breathes. She looks up at me. “What do you think?” I tuck her close to my side. “It’s an awesome spot.” The star-filled sky has nothing on the brilliance of her smile. When we reach the end of the dock, Abby and Paige huddle next to each other on a bench while I point out various planets and constellations. Asher stands behind them, his hands on Paige’s shoulders. Since he’s standing, I offer him the first go at

the telescope. “Let Abby go first.” Shit. Did I screw up by not asking her first? She turns to glare at him. “He was trying to be nice to you.” Not giving him a chance to change his mind, she stands. “I’ll still go first.” Earlier, when I set the telescope up, I positioned it toward what I believed would be the most interesting things to see tonight. Crouching down beside her, I instruct her on what she’s seeing. “You don’t have to whisper in my ear when it’s my turn.” Shifting away from Abby, I look over to the bench and where Asher now sits beside Paige. She raises her hand. “You can whisper in my ear.” Abby laughs while Asher folds his arms across his unnervingly broad chest. He’s going to either kick my ass or throw me in the lake. Given the current temperature, I’m hoping for the former. “I’ll give you a hundred bucks if you whisper in his ear too.” Even Asher cracks a smile at that. Even though we’re pretty different, there are many similarities in the dynamic of our relationships. Abby and Paige are both fun-loving life of the party types while Asher and I are both more reserved.

From where we stand, I can smell the scent of her hair mixed with the perfume she wears. If we didn’t have an audience, I’d take her into my arms and kiss her again. Instead, I have to stand here and pray they can’t tell how much I want her. She lifts her head. “Your telescope is awesome.” Paige stands. “Is it my turn?” Shifting up onto her toes, Abby holds onto my jacket as she presses her lips to my cheek. “Thank you.” My hand covers the spot she kissed as she moves to claim Paige’s seat. Paige motions to the telescope. “So, do I just look into it?” “Here let me make sure the alignment is right.” I look through the viewer and up into the night sky. For me, the sky must be as familiar as an engine block is to a mechanic, or as code is to a programmer. My hand moves to the focusing knob. “There, that should be good.” She presses her eye to the viewer. “This is so cool. Alright, what am I looking at?” I laugh at her excitement and rattle off the stars and constellations they make up. Asher moves to stand behind Paige, his hands on her hips. “Should we get a telescope?” Turning her head to look up at him, she grins. “Definitely. Here, look.”

He bends to look through the viewer. Paige moves his hands to wrap around her middle and takes over. “Okay, that big dot over to the top right is Jupiter—” Six steps take me to the bench where Abby sits. Even though it’s spring, it’s cold at night, some cold enough to frost. I take the spot next to her and cuddle her close. “Thanks for bringing your telescope.” I don’t remind her my telescope was the reason she invited me up here. “Thanks to Asher for letting me set it up here. The dock is a great spot for it.” Asher and Paige take turns looking through the telescope while I hold Abby tightly to my side. Paige is the first to step away. “Okay, I’m going to head inside. It’s cold out here.” Asher hesitates by the telescope before he must decide he’d rather be somewhere warm with Paige than with us out here in the cold. “Would you like to go back to the cabin?” I ask. Abby shakes her head and stands. “I want to look through the telescope again first.” I move with her and when she stands behind my telescope, I move to stand behind her. She bends and I do the same, my body curving around hers. My lips move to her ear as she looks through the viewer. “I’ve seen thousands of galaxies and you are still more beautiful than any of them.”

Her eye stays on the viewer as she exhales. “Spencer.” Pulling her hair back, I nuzzle the spot behind her ear. “You smell so good.” She shifts against me, her hand covering mine. “Mmm.” “Do you know what the center of our galaxy smells like?” Tipping her face up to meet my gaze, she stares at me. “What?” I press my face into her hair and inhale before looking back at her. “It smells like raspberries.” She squints at me. “Are you making that up?” “No. There’s a dust cloud near the center that contains ethyl formate, or C3H602; which is the dominate flavor of raspberries. It’s funny since you’ve become the center of mine.” Her jaw slackens and I wonder if I admitted too much. “That may be the sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me.” She lifts her head and spins in my arms, her lips capturing mine in a hungry kiss. Six steps backward have me back on that bench taking Abby with me. She climbs into my lap, her warm palms framing my face as our kiss deepens. My arms circle her, holding her tight. Even with the chill in the air, my body is aflame. Breaking our kiss, my lips taste the curve of

her jaw and move down the slope of her neck. She’s wearing too much. All I want to do is take her back to the cabin, slowly strip her bare and taste every inch of her. She squirms, grinding against me. At this point given our current positions, it’d be physically impossible to hide my arousal. Her fingers thread my hair and hold my mouth to her. I kiss down her neck until where her jacket stops me. My fingers itch to lower the zipper and spread it wide. The beat of her pulse ripples against my tongue. “We should go inside.” I agree, standing. As much as I want to scoop her up into my arms and carry her all the way to the cabin, it’d be unwise to in the dark, that and the fact that I have to carry my telescope. She waits as I quickly disassemble it and pack it back in its case. “Sorry about that.” She takes my hand. “You take care of the things that are important to you. Trust me, that’s not a bad thing.” I pause to press a hard and fast kiss on her lips. “I plan on taking really good care of you tonight.” She shivers and I have no way of knowing if it’s from the cold or my words. Hurriedly, we make our way up the steps and across the path that leads back to the cabin. She pulls open the door and I set the carrying case of my telescope inside it and close the door behind me.

For a beat we stand there, staring at each other. The next moment she’s in my arms. She pulls off her jacket and reaches for mine, sure hands pushing it off over my shoulders. Our mouths kiss, taste and nip at each other. Once my jacket is off her hands go to the hem of my sweater. Breaking our kiss, I pull it off over my head and move to kiss her again. She’s not done though, her hands now tugging at the t-shirt I wore under it. Groaning at the delay in resuming our kiss, I pull it off as well. Her hands, cool from our time outside move across my skin, exploring me. Her gentle touch sparks a trail of heat in its wake. My hands slide down her back, and I’m frustrated at all of the fabric covering her. Here I am already half naked and she’s still fully clothed. That’s about to change.

17

ABBY

G

ood God, I could tell Spencer Hill was built just by the way his clothes fit. That knowledge didn’t prepare me for just how spectacular his body is once he’s out of them. My mouth waters like he’s fresh baked bread and I’m on a no carb diet. My lips move to his pec and I lick and kiss my way across his chest. He smells good and tastes even better. When he begins to tug at my shirt, I lift my arms for him to pull it off me. Standing in front of him in one of my prettiest bras, my gaze moves to his face so I can decide if he likes what he sees. His eyes are locked on my body, his expression so hot I squirm under the intensity of it. I wet my lips and reach behind me to undo the clasp of my bra. His eyes widen as his lips part. Slowly, I drop my arms to my sides. The cups of my

bra cling to my breasts as the straps one by one slide down my arms. Unable to hold on, my bra falls to the floor in front of me, its straps caressing my arms along the way. The cool air of the cabin kisses my nipples making them tighten into little buds. Spencer seems frozen where he stands. “Please.” My plea frees him and he erases the space between us. Strong, warm arms envelop me as he crushes my chest to his. I cling to him as he carries me to the sofa, my back hits the seat and he covers me. Pressing the heel of my palm to my eye, I groan when his lips meet my breast. He doesn’t just kiss my breasts; he worships them making my back arch off the sofa. He shifts off me when I push up to sit. “The loft.” As amazing as what he’s doing is, there just isn’t enough room on this sofa. I don’t wait for him to answer; I just go, pausing at the base of the stairs to toe off my boots. The sound of his footsteps behind me lets me know he’s following me. “Um, can you carry my bag up? I have some condoms.” His steps pause, and then pivot as he retrieves my bag. As he makes his way up the stairs of the loft, I

slip off my socks and jeans. The pitch of the roof is so low Spencer has to stoop and walk bent in half to the bed. Perching myself on the end of it, I reach for his belt as soon as he’s near enough for me to grab it. He groans, his hands covering mine. “Abby.” I push his hands away. “Let me.” The ridge of his arousal is clear through the material of his jeans. Gently, I caress him. He jerks at my touch, banging his head on the ceiling of the loft. With nimble fingers, I undo his jeans and push them over his hips. He steps out of them but stops me when my hands move to the waistband of his boxers. Hooking me under my armpits, he pushes me back further onto the bed and settles himself beside me. Like magnets set free, we collide, crashing into each other. Both naked from the waist up and almost from the waist down as well, this is the first time we’ve been skin to skin like this. Our legs tangle as we grind against each other. My hands are eager to touch as much of him as I can. His large palm glides up my leg, hooking it over his. This movement centers me against his hard length. Turns out Spencer Hill is big all over. An ache blooms within me that only he can fill. I reach for him. “I want you.” Before I can fully grip him, he pushes me onto

my back, his hand moving between my legs. “You first.” He doesn’t fully undress me. Instead, he pushes the small scrap of fabric covering me to the side and begins to pleasure me in ways I had not thought possible. His touch is both sure and soft. I writhe beneath his skillful caresses, my hands fisting the duvet that covers the bed. He intensifies my torture by dropping his lips to my breast and suckling my nipple. My hips thrust up and down as I whimper with want. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” “Spencer.” As if lifted upward by a string, I feel weightless before pressure explodes within me and radiates from my core outward in waves of pleasure. “I could watch you forever.” His voice is awed and there’s a good chance I blush all over. With his fingers still between my legs, I turn into him. Finding his lips, the only thing I think is, it’s my turn. I cover his body with mine and kiss my way down his chest, over his abdomen and down the happy trail leading from his belly button. This time, he doesn’t stop me when I reach for the waistband of his boxers. His hard length springs free. With his help, I pull his boxers off all the way. When I look back at

him, he seems as still as a statue made of stone. My fingertips brush his swollen head and he sucks in a breath. Holding his gaze, I watch his eyes widen as I lick the length of him. His mouth falls open and I lick my lips. Then, I take him in my mouth. “Abby. Wait.” At his words, I stop and look at him. His glasses are askew which somehow manages to be both sexy and adorable at the same time. He cringes and gulps. “It’s been some time and if you keep doing what you’re doing…” Oh. This is awkward. “Well. If you um, you know, now, can you, you know, later?” His cheeks turn red. “I believe so.” “About how long would you say?” He closes his eyes. “I’m not certain.” My fingers wrap around him again. “There’s only one way to find out.” He wasn’t lying. What seems like only moments later, he groans out his release. While he struggles to catch his breath, I grin at him. This may be our first time together, but it isn’t my first time. Still, I’ve never been this comfortable or confident with another partner. I crawl up his tall frame and then burst out

laughing when he grabs a hold of me and spins me to my back. Just the weight of his body on mine is a turn on, the way he smiles down at me another. “I’m not certain if I can top that, but I plan on trying.” I reach up to cup his cheek. “It’s not a competition.” He turns his face into my palm and kisses it. My thumb brushes over his brow as my stomach flips. Somewhere between coffee, looking at a hundred houses, beating him at Ping-Pong, and looking at stars together, he’s captured my heart. Now, almost naked in his arms I’m certain of it. “I want to tell you something but I’m scared it’s too soon.” Registering my serious tone, he shifts to his side, taking me with him so we’re still face-to-face. “You can tell me anything.” The confidence I felt earlier escapes me and I try to burrow my face into his neck. His arms tighten around me. “Abby?” Here goes nothing. “I think I’m falling in love with you.” He pulls back, his hands going to frame my face before his lips crash down on mine. “I’ve already fallen.” My eyes are wet as I kiss him back with all of my heart. When I finally lift my head, it’s to ask, “Really,

you really are?” “I am.” We continue to kiss as Spencer pulls back the covers. By the time we’re both under them, he’s recovered. He makes short work of fully undressing me. Then, he makes slow and deliberate love to me with his mouth. My release is still rippling through me as he puts on a condom. A heartbeat later, with our eyes locked, he fills me. The last year has been a struggle for me. Not only did I lose my house, but I also watched one by one as two of my brothers and my best friend fell in love. There were times when it felt like the universe was out to get me. Little did I know the universe knew exactly what it was doing when it sent Spencer my way. “I love you.” “No more falling?” I shake my head. “I guess I was waiting to see if you were going to catch me.” “I’ll always catch you.” At that, I fall all over again. And, like he promised, he catches me.

I RUB

AT MY EYES .

“I don’t want to get out of bed.”

He nips at my ear. “Then don’t.” My mouth forms a pout. “But I have to pee.” He laughs at how pathetic I sound. “You can pee and come get back into bed.” He’s right and I hate it. “But I have to go all the way down the stairs and it’s cold out so I’ll need to get dressed and then I’ll have to come all the way back up the stairs.” “Want me to go first? I can bring my sweater up on my way back and you can wear that.” I sit up, liking this idea. “You’ll let me wear your sweater?” The question is ridiculous considering the fact that we’ve made love twice and have both kissed, licked, and or sucked almost every inch of each other. “Yes, you can wear my sweater.” I cross my legs. “Okay, let’s do that, but hurry because I’ve really got to go.” He grabs his glasses and crawls toward the foot of the bed, giving me a mouth-watering view of his ass. When he bangs his head on the ceiling of the loft, I come perilously close to pissing myself. Luckily, I don’t. Once his head is gone from view, I hug myself and grin to nobody in particular. Last night was amazing. It was honest to God the best sex I’ve ever had in my life and with the most amazing man I’ve ever met. If the need to pee pain wasn’t there, I’d have to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t

dreaming. He comes back into view, a toothbrush in his mouth and wearing the sweater he promised me. It’s an interesting look since it isn’t long enough to cover his junk. “Hey, I was promised that sweater.” He hands me his toothbrush. “Hold this,” and tugs the sweater off, trading me with it for his toothbrush. “I wanted to warm it up for you.” My bladder stops me from lingering over how sweet he is and I quickly pull it on and dash to the bathroom. After I go, I follow his lead and brush my teeth. Since the plan is to both end up back in bed, it seems morning nookie is on the menu. I listen as he finishes brushing his teeth in the kitchen and then makes his way back up to the loft. After I finish brushing my teeth, I stare at my reflection. Then I cringe and finger comb my hair. Last year I cut my bangs, myself. Thankfully, they’re growing out nicely. Now, pleased with my reflection, I lift the collar of Spencer’s sweater to my nose and inhale. Holy crap it smells good. Somehow, someway, I’m stealing this sweater. On that note, I make my way back up into the loft. “You look good in that.” His back is to the bed, a couple of pillows shoved behind his head and one arm slung lazily over it, his bare chest on full display. “You look pretty good yourself.”

A slow sexy smile stretches across his face. “Get over here.” My knees actually quiver with excitement. Holding his gaze, I take my time peeling his sweater from my body and drop it to the floor beside me. Then, I get over there. A couple hours later, I’m lazily stretching out my limbs in a move I’ve seen Emo frequently pull. It’s a halfhearted cat version of downward dog. Spencer seems content to watch. As soon as I’m done, he captures me by the waist and tugs me on top of him. “I can’t stop touching you.” I push his hair off of his forehead. “You can touch me all you want.” He gives me a sexy smile in response. At this point, even though neither of us will come out and say it, we’re sexed out. I may be lying across him bare ass naked, but not in a sexual way. He desires me, I have no doubt of that. It’s different. Right now isn’t about sex, it’s about wanting to stay close to hold onto the intimacy we have. What we have is so much more than just a physical attraction. I was crazy for ever worrying about it. We could be fully clothed and standing in a crowded room and I would still feel this way. Last night, and this morning, he could have just taken my body. He could have found his pleasure in me

and left it at that. What we shared was so much more. We bared more than our bodies. “What’s on the agenda for today?” I like being this close to his face. It gives me a chance to study, to try and decide what feature I like the most. He has a strong jaw. It’s weird, before him I’ve never even thought about jaw lines. Now, I’m certain his is the sexiest I’ve ever seen. Then there are his eyes. At first, they reminded me of dark chocolate. Now, this close, they’re warmer than that. They’re like a rich dark coffee with a splash of cream. “I’m cool with staying in bed all day.” His arms flex around me. “Would Asher and Paige mind?” Laughter wells inside me. “Please. I have a feeling they’re still in bed themselves.” His eyes widen but he makes no argument. So I keep going. “We probably should eat though. I mean, you’re going to need your strength for what I plan to do to you tonight.” That gets his attention, making those deep brown eyes flash with want. “What exactly do you have planned?” My thoughts shift to the sexy lingerie I packed. “It’s a surprise.” His eyes close briefly. “You’re not playing fair.” I smile down at him. “I grew up with four brothers. I play to win.”

Rolling us both until I’m on my back, he grins down at me. “I can only guess what your surprise is but I have a feeling it’ll make me feel like I won.” He has a point. I decide against telling him that. “You’ll have to wait and see, but for now, I need food.” He lowers his head to press his lips to mine. “Stay here. I’ll make you something and bring it up.” “What if I want to come down and watch you?” Easing off of me, and then carefully off the bed so he doesn’t whack his head on the ceiling again, he retrieves his sweater from the floor and throws it at me. “Wear that if you do.” He puts on his glasses and then pulls on his jeans commando style, not bothering to button the top button. My mouth starts to water as I watch him walk down the stairs shirtless. I’m so not missing this. Scrambling off the bed, I pull on his sweater and hurry after him. He’s waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. “You look sexy as hell in that.” My eyes travel over his tall frame. “You look sexy as hell out of it.” Shaking his head, he makes his way to the kitchen. “You’re making this hard.” My ears perk up. “Making what hard?” He chokes out a laugh. “Be good or I’ll carry you back up to that loft and you’ll go hungry.”

While I ponder if that would be that bad, he starts rummaging through the bags we brought with us. “Are you sure I can’t help?” Not even looking at me, he points a butter knife my way. “Stay over there.” Folding my arms over my chest, I feel my chin jut out. “Can’t I at least get the coffee going?” His movements still before he looks over his shoulder at me and nods. Throwing him a cheeky grin, I close the distance between us and give his ass a squeeze. It was supposed to distract him but backfires when I’m reminded how nice and round it is. Memories of my hands on it flood my mind and I stumble on my way to the coffee maker. “Are you alright?” His question seems thoughtful but his smirk suggests he knows what I’m thinking of. “Perfectly fine, thanks.” The silverware he was using clangs when he sets it down. That’s all the warning I have before his front is molded to my back and his lips are at my ear. “You’re right, every inch of you is perfect.” I press back against him. “Stop turning me on.” His chuckle is a deep rumble that makes me shiver. “I love turning you on.” Glancing up over my shoulder, I stare at him. With a gentle smile, he presses his lips to my forehead. “Are you going to get the coffee going?”

He’s gone before I’m able to swat him. With a laugh, he goes back to where he was working and I finish getting the coffee going. Once it’s ready, we carry our food and coffee over to the sofa. The heat from my mug seeps into my palms. “I wish the shower was bigger.” Spencer’s fork pauses in midair. “Why?” I take a sip of coffee before I answer him. “It would have been fun to shower together.” Bite forgotten, he lowers his fork. “Care to test out that hypothesis?” My brows come together. “How?” He takes my mug and sets it on the table next to his plate and stands. “By seeing if we can take a shower together.” “It’s tiny, we’ll be on top of each other.” He offers me his hand. “Sounds perfect.” Oh my.

18

SPENCER

“W

e should ride to the airport together.” My mind shifts from the images I was cataloging on my computer to Dr. Hudson. “My girlfriend is dropping me off.” Her mouth tightens. “You’re still dating her?” Pushing away from my desk, I turn to face her. “I am.” She shrugs. “I suppose I’ll see you at the gate then.” Before I can say anything, she spins on her heel and leaves. The door clicks behind her. “She wants you.” Moving back to my desk, I shake my head. “She does not.” He tuts. “Don’t be surprised if she makes her move while you’re at the conference.” “She’s technically my superior and knows I

have a girlfriend. The idea of her hitting on me is absurd.” A loud bang has me turning my head in his direction only to watch him bang his head on his desk. “You’re being immature.” He lifts his head. “You sound like my wife.” Focusing on my work I decide against telling him his wife was right. “Will you tell me if she hits on you?” Annoyance makes my eyelids feel heavier. My eyes close and I pull in a breath. I have six more folders of images to catalog before I can leave. Then, I need to finish packing since Abby is picking me up at five to take me to the airport. The only thing stopping me from getting noise canceling headphones is the fear of offending Duncan. Though, considering the things that come out of his mouth I’m not sure offending him is possible. “I’ll take your silence as a yes.” I could really use those headphones right now. “And, if you could take a picture of her right after you turn her down, that’d be great.” My silence doesn’t stop him. “I wonder why she’s never hit on me.” It’s too much. “Probably because you’re married.” There’s a pause, then, “Oh, right.” When he doesn’t say anything else, I settle

back into my work. The silence is short lived. “Knowing you’re with Abby hasn’t stopped her from hitting on you. I don’t see why marriage would stop her.” I can’t dispute his logic so I continue to ignore him. Unfortunately, I’m unable to completely ignore the things he said. I may not have replied to him, I’m too busy trying to work out his theory. Getting attention from the opposite sex is not something I’ve dealt with my whole life. Being a late bloomer or ugly duckling, for as long as I was could have skewed my ability to detect when someone was coming on to me. But Dr. Hudson? The very idea is ludicrous. “I need to focus on this right now.” He huffs but thankfully leaves me to my work. I manage to complete the cataloging of all my files in a timely manner. After I print my notes for the conference, I grab my messenger bag and head for the door. “See you Monday.” “I’ll expect a full briefing.” If there weren’t students on the other side of the door, I’d have rolled my eyes. Instead, I nod in their direction and head toward the main hall. “Bye Professor Hill,” one of them giggles out. I lift my arm and wave but don’t turn around to

see who it was. On the ride back to my parents’ house, I listen to AAA, an anime podcast. Abby’s addicted to the stuff so I might as well try to learn more about it. Besides, everything she’s made me watch so far has been cool. As I park in front of my folks’ place, I’m reminded just how much I need my own space. With neither of us having a place of our own, our opportunities to get physical have been limited. Abby is not comfortable with having sex at my parents’ house, even when they’re not home. She also feels weird hooking up at Sam’s place since the walls are thin. While I’m not with her just to have sex, having sex with her is a bonus to being with her, a bonus I’d like to enjoy more often. It’s been two weeks since our weekend at the cabin. If I wasn’t going to this conference, we could have gone back up there this weekend. Since Noah and Finley are getting married on Asher’s property next month, people will be up there setting things up starting next weekend. I’m toying with the idea of asking Abby to go away with me somewhere just so we can have some privacy. My mom is walking on the treadmill in the living room when I walk in. She pauses the audiobook she’s listening to.

“How was work?” “It was good, but I need to go pack. Abby will be here soon to pick me up.” “I don’t know why you’re making her take you. Your father or I could have easily driven you to the airport.” With Abby’s help, my relationship with my parents is much stronger now. Sure, living at home helped but Abby also pushed me to make a point of spending time with them and actively being engaged in their lives. I’d joke and say her advice worked a little too well but I’d rather have my parents too much in my life than not at all. Even times like this when I’d rather take a cab. Now I have three people vying to be the one to take care of me. “We already talked about this Mom. She’s taking me because she wanted to.” “Pack a couple granola bars in case you get hungry.” “Will do. I’m going to go pack. I’ll say goodbye before I go.” She gives me a finger wave and unpauses her book. Once I’m in the basement, I pull out my rolling carryon bag. Since I’m only there for two nights, I’m not checking a bag. Conferences are an infrequent nuisance. I don’t enjoy traveling unless I am actually staying somewhere long enough to enjoy it. The

information shared at them is always interesting, and it’s nice to catch up with colleagues. Our work is specialized enough that we all know or know of each other. We’ll congratulate anyone who managed to have work published, or who made any noteworthy advances. Someone will drink too much and go off on a tangent about alien life in another galaxy. “Abby is here!” Shit. I jog over to the base of the stairs. “I’m running late. I’m finishing up packing right now.” Hoping she heard me, I go back to shove more stuff into my bag. I’m not normally this unorganized. Normally, I’d have packed the evening before, but last night I was with Abby. “Can I help?” My favorite distraction walks into my room. She’s wearing a navy blue dress that fits her like it was made for her. What I’d like to do is peel it off of her, not pack. I move to her and give her a too short kiss. “There’s a black toiletry bag in the bathroom. Could you grab it for me please?” She gives me a salute and takes off. Given the way that dress fits her, it’s a shame I don’t have the time to watch her as she walks away. Making sure my notes are packed I glance around my room to see if there’s anything I’m

forgetting. Abby comes over to me, my bag in hand. “Here you go.” “I wish you could come with me.” Her eyes bug as she shakes her head. “No way. I’d feel like I was intruding. Besides, I have an open house tomorrow.” “Is Sam going to be with you?” She shakes her head and offers me the bag. “No, but Gideon will be.” That’s even better. I’ve never liked the idea of the only person protecting Abby at one of those open houses being Sam. She’s great, and could hold her own if something was going bad. Still, she doesn’t instill the same type of fear Gideon or one of her other brothers would. Once my toiletries are packed, I zip up my bag. “I hope you have a bidding war of offers.” “That’d be nice. And, speaking of offers, did you have a chance to look at the link I emailed you?” I cringe, making her laugh. “I was buried at work. I’ll look at it once I’m at my gate.” “You keep dragging your feet on checking out new listings and I’m going to start wondering if your plan was to stay in this basement all along and you only asked me to find you a house as an excuse to be near me.”

Her tone is playful enough to show she’s only teasing me. Dropping my bag, I scoop her up into my arms making her squeal. “Believe me, I want out of this basement so I can sleep next to you again.” She catches her breath and presses her palm to my cheek. “Then let’s find you a place. Or, I might beat you to it and buy a place before you do.” My body goes rigid. “Have you started looking?” Her brows come together. “Occupational hazard. I’m always looking. Why? Is there something wrong with me looking for my own place?” Carefully, I lower her back to the ground. “There’s nothing wrong with it. I asked because this is the first time you’ve mentioned it.” She squares her shoulders. “I love Sam, and I owe her so much for bailing me out the way she did. I just miss having my own space and maybe I would like to sleep with my boyfriend on a more regular basis.” Dropping my mouth to hers, I reply. “I like that plan.” When I raise my head, she’s beaming up at me. Christ, even leaving her to go away for a two-day conference sucks. She glances down at her watch. “Hey. We better get a move on in case we hit traffic.”

Picking my bag back up, I motion for her to lead the way. I get to enjoy how fitted that dress is the entire way up the stairs. We have no time for a long goodbye when we reach the airport. Instead, I give her a quick hard kiss on the curb before I dash inside. I reach the gate as they begin boarding first class. Dr. Hudson stands when she sees me. “You sure like to cut it close.” “We hit some traffic on the way.” Her smile tightens. “That’s right. Your girlfriend drove you.” The way she says girlfriend as though it left a bad taste in her mouth makes me raise a brow. Could Duncan be right about her? Instinctively, I shift away from her. She doesn’t seem to notice. “Do you have any plans for tonight?” Her question is innocent enough since we are traveling together. “I thought I’d head to the hotel restaurant after I get checked in.” “That makes sense and will probably be the best place to see other attendees from the conference. Do you know anyone who will be there?” My body relaxes since she’s given no indication of hitting on me. “Yes, a few people.” Her eyes drop to the floor in front of us. “Do you know anyone who will be there?”

She lifts her gaze to me and gives me a small smile. “A few as well.” They call our boarding group and we walk together to join the line to board. When we reach our seats, I lift both my bag and hers into the overhead. “Do you want the window?” I motion for her to go ahead. “No thanks, I’m fine.” After we both are seated, I pull out my phone to text Abby. When I feel eyes on my phone, I glance out of the corner of my eye to see Dr. Hudson watching what I’m texting. While rude, her behavior isn’t damning. As soon as I’m done with my text, I slip my phone back into the pocket of my blazer. She fidgets in her seat, her thigh pressing against mine. With the aisle on my other side, I don’t have far to go to avoid her touch. Once she settles, she doesn’t move her leg back to her side. “Excuse me, Dr. Hudson—” She interrupts me. “You can call me Nadine.” I nod and clear my throat. “Nadine, could you move your leg over. I don’t have much space here and as soon as they come by with snacks and drinks I’m going to get hit by the cart.” Her eyes widen in surprise and she quickly moves her leg. “I’m so sorry.” “No need to apologize. The leg room on planes

these days is a joke.” She nods in agreement, her features softening. Now, I’m torn between putting in my headphones to listen to the next podcast I downloaded, or waiting to see if Dr. Hudson wants to discuss the conference before we get there. When she takes out an e-reader I take that as my signal and pull out my headphones. “Oh, are you going to listen to some music?” Turning my head, I observe that while she did take her e-reader out, she did not turn it on. “I was going to listen to a podcast.” “I’ve never listened to one of those. Are they any good?” Shifting my phone so she can see the screen, I point to the app. “They have them for anything. I’m not joking, want to learn about cooking, sports, money management, even Neil Degrasse Tyson has one called Star Talk. My girlfriend is really into anime so I’m listening to one about that.” “Anime, as in cartoons?” The shock mixed with disdain in her voice makes me wonder what she would dislike more, a podcast on anime or one on Star Wars. “While they are animated, they are not cartoons.” “How old is your girlfriend?” The implication of her question is unsettling. “What does her age have to do with anything?”

She purses her lips but doesn’t say anything. Annoyance has me saying more than I should. “I hope you’re not implying she’s immature because she likes anime.” When she doesn’t say anything, I go on, “That would also imply I am because I’m not watching it only because she enjoys it, I enjoy it as well.” That strikes a chord. “No, I wasn’t implying that at all. It’s something I don’t know much about so I was curious. And, I only asked her age because when I met her she looked so young I assumed she was a student.” “She’s one year younger than I am.” Not caring if she wants to talk more, I put in my headphones and press play. Our conversation lingers in my thoughts, making me only half listen to the show. If she wasn’t sitting next to me, I’d put my phone away by now. Thing is, I don’t want to give her an invitation to start talking to me again. While she is the head of my department, I don’t actively work with her. I’m grateful for that now. If I had to deal with her on a daily basis I’m not certain I’d be happy staying at Woodlake U. Now that my personal happiness is dependent on staying in Woodlake, my employment opportunities are limited. When the flight attendant comes by with drinks I get water and am surprised when Dr. Hudson asks for a cocktail.

She meets my gaze and shrugs. I make no reply, verbal or otherwise and continue to listen to my show. The lower the amount of liquid in her glass gets, the closer her leg creeps back toward mine. When we’re fifteen minutes out, it’s back to the original position I had first asked her to move it from. There’s nowhere for me to go without putting my legs in the aisle. Yes, I’m learning it’s a good thing I don’t work with her on a regular basis. All I want now is to be off this plane. The close quarters and her behavior have me craving space and fresh air. The landing is routine, as is the crush as people attempt to get off of the plane all at once instead of waiting for their row. Neither of us checked any bags so once I pull them down from the overhead we make our way out of the terminal. The hotel, as with most of the conferences I’ve been to, is near the airport. A taxi has us there in less than twenty minutes. At the hotel, familiar faces greet us the moment we walk in. A former colleague from California is the first to approach me; hand outstretched. “Long time Spencer. How’s New Hampshire treating you?” “Hey Geoff. December wasn’t an ideal month to move back, but otherwise the move has been great. How’ve you been?” When I see Dr. Hudson engaged in

conversation with someone else, I use the opportunity to make my escape by motioning for Geoff to walk with me to the front desk. “I’m doing good. Sharon, my oldest has been accepted to University of Pennsylvania.” “That’s a great school. Congratulations.” He waits until I’m done checking in and have my room key to reply. “We’re so proud of her. Laura and I are coming to terms with Sharon being so far away. We’re considering getting a place out there to be closer to her.” I press the button for the elevator. “Would you move?” The doors open and we both step on. “No, the schools where we live are great, and we don’t want to disrupt our other two kids. We’re thinking of getting a one or two-bedroom condo that we could use to pop in and visit her. “ Since his wife Laura works for the airline, being able to fly free or at a discounted rate on standby has allowed them to travel. “If you needed a place in New Hampshire I could have hooked you up with a realtor.” “Have you bought a place?” I shake my head. “Not yet, but my girlfriend is my realtor.” The elevator stops on my floor and he follows me to my door. “A girlfriend, when did that happen?”

Once we’re inside my room, I set my suitcase on the luggage rack. “We’ve been dating since March but I’ve known her since high school.” My phone buzzes with an incoming text message from Dr. Hudson asking if I’d like to have dinner with her. I look back to Geoff. “Have you eaten yet?” He shakes his head. “Want to join Dr. Hudson and me for dinner?” When he accepts, I text her to let her know I’d meet her in the lobby. When I arrive, with Geoff her face falls. She’s changed from the flight and is now wearing high heels and a low cut blouse. “You didn’t mention anyone would be joining us.” Keeping some distance between us, I reply, “Geoff is an old friend. I hope you don’t mind that I invited him to join us. I assumed since it is a work dinner you wouldn’t mind.” She swallows hard when I say work. My choice of words and the intention behind them is clear.

19

ABBY

S

hoving my phone into my purse, I grab my keys and give a farewell wave to where Sam and Brent are sitting. “I’m going to go pick up Spencer from the airport.” “We’re heading over to Brent’s place as soon as this show is over so I probably won’t be here when you get back.” “Okay, I’ll see you at work tomorrow.” Smiling to myself, I make my way to my Highlander. There’s only one reason Sam made a point to let me know she wouldn’t be here tonight, so I wouldn’t feel weird about having Spencer spend the night. It’s crazy how much I’ve missed him since he’s only been gone a couple days. I can’t wait to see him. After I park, I hurry in and check the arrivals board to see if he’s landed and am surprised to see

his plane came in fifteen minutes early. After looking around, I spot him right away and my belly fills with warmth. Until I notice Dr. Hudson standing with him. She’s leaning toward him as he leans away. At the sight of her, whatever warm fuzzies I had dull. Be the bigger person and don’t kick your boyfriend’s boss’s ass, I remind myself as I continue my approach. Their backs are to me. “Your girlfriend isn’t here; did she forget what time you were arriving?” I blink. He starts when I link my arm through his. “Hey honey.” The moment his eyes meet mine I see him relax. His head dips and he greets me with an enthusiastic kiss. As much as I dislike his colleague, and the vibes she gives, it’s impossible not to melt against him and forget an audience. He lifts his head. “Hi.” I smile up at him. “Hi.” “Ahem.” My smile falls and we both look at Dr. Hudson. Her pinched expression reminds me of the look someone would make if they drank sour milk. “Hello Gabby.” “It’s Abby,” Spencer corrects. She gives me a bland smile. “Sorry about that.”

I wrap my arm around Spencer’s waist and lean into him. “It’s alright.” Her expression hardens but she quickly schools it into something softer. “I expect I’ll be seeing you at our annual donor banquet.” My brows come together and Spencer stiffens. Her eyes flash when she recognizes I have no idea what she’s talking about. “Or maybe not. Well, I should be going. I’ll see you tomorrow Spencer, and it was nice seeing you again Abby.” Her heels click as she walks away. Before I can ask Spencer what she was talking about, he says, “Bye Dr. Hudson.” At his words, her step falters. She quickly recovers and without even turning around, gives a wave. Neither of us says anything until she’s out of sight. “What banquet?” He ducks his head. “I only learned about it this week and was going to ask you. I’m not sure what your schedule looks like, but it’s next weekend.” “Next weekend? Is it black tie?” He cringes. “It is.” As much as the prospect of finding a dress short notice worries me, there’s no way I’m missing the opportunity to see Spencer in a tux. “I’d love to go.” As soon as the words leave my lips my anxiety

reawakens and I start to wonder if he’s only inviting me because I found out about it. “That is if you really want me to go.” Shifting so his body fully faces mine, he frames my face with his hands. “I wasn’t planning on attending. Today I found out attendance was strongly encouraged, as in mandatory. That’s the only reason for the late notice.” Instantly, my nerves settle. I’m going to need to figure out a way to be around his boss without being on edge like this. Moreover, I can’t let whatever vibe I feel from her make me jump to conclusions with Spencer. “I stand by my earlier statement. I’d love to go.” Dipping his face, he presses his lips to my forehead. “I missed you.” My gaze focuses on his neck. “Sam is spending the night at Brent’s tonight.” One of his hands drops away, and he reaches into his pocket to pull out his cell phone. His thumb moves over the screen before he lifts it to his ear. “Hi Mom.” He pauses. “Yes, my flight landed about twenty minutes ago.” Another pause. “The conference was good.” His thumb moves over my lips as his eyes lock with mine. “I wanted to let you know I won’t be home tonight.” I feel those words all over. Even though there’s no one within ear range I

blush at what they imply. “I’ll tell her you said hi.” His hand slides down and around to hold the back of my neck. “I love you too. Bye.” Still holding my gaze, he drops his hand and shoves his phone back into his pocket. Then, his lips are on mine. This kiss is hungry, demanding, and completely inappropriate for any public place. Let them watch. He lifts his head, pulling in a breath. “Let’s get out of here.” I nod and reach for his hand. I have to keep myself from speeding back to Sam’s place. Anticipation is a good thing. His hand slides up my leg to rest hot on my thigh. “Are you sure Sam won’t be there?” My lips part. “I think so. Why?” Fingertips dig into the fabric of my skirt as he tightens his hold on my leg. “We were interrupted the last time I kissed you against the door.” OhMyGod. All of my focus goes to the road ahead of me. It’d be a shame to end up in a ditch and not get to experience whatever Spencer has in mind. Luckily, we make it back in one piece. “I’ll unlock the door, you watch for Emo.” He laughs at the reminder of exactly who

interrupted us the last time. As I open the door, his hands move to my hips and in one smooth motion we’re inside with the door closed safely behind us. Emo is nowhere to be found. After that thought, all my attention moves solely to Spencer when he spins me to face him. The next moment I’m up, my back to the door, my legs circling his waist. Our mouths crash, my fingers going to the buttons of his shirt. As hot as our first kiss against this door was, this is hot on an entirely different level. Now, there’s a confidence to the way he touches me. He knows how badly I want him and what to do to make me go wild for him. Likewise, my lips and fingers seek to touch the places that will drive him crazy. I push his shirt off and over his shoulders, my palms gliding over his firm muscles. “Um, hey guys.” Sam says from the mouth of the kitchen. We freeze, locking eyes. “I got to Brent’s and realized I forgot my makeup bag.” My eyes close and I tuck my face into Spencer’s neck. I get in one good inhale before he slowly lowers me to the ground, his hands fixing my skirt. As embarrassing as this is, thank God she didn’t

walk out any later. She would have seen a whole lot more than Spencer shirtless and my skirt pushed up. Cheeks aflame, I look at her. “We didn’t know you were here.” She grins. “Obviously. Not that either of you want to hear this, but that was super hot. Well done.” An awkward silence ensues. Then she motions to the door we’re currently blocking. “I’m leaving so you can pick up where you left off as soon as I’m gone.” Spencer shuffles us out of her way. Once the door clicks closed behind her, Spencer looks down at me. “I’m guessing we’re not picking up where we left off?” I give a pitiful shake of my head making him smile and say, “Someday we won’t be interrupted.” “What we need to do is get places of our own.” His brows come together. “Places?” His confusion surprises me. “Yeah, you get a place and I’ll get a place.” He tenderly cups my face. “Or we could get a place together.” My mouth falls open. At my expression, his face softens even more. “Why would that surprise you?” Leaning closer to him, I steady myself by pressing my hands to his chest. “Don’t you think it’s too soon?”

He sweeps me up into his arms, making me squeal. “I don’t think it’s soon enough.” My hands grip his shoulders. “I’m being serious.” His lips move to my neck. “So am I.” His idea has merit. Moving in together would save one of us having to get rid of a place later and the way things are going, it’s the direction we’re heading in already. Sure, it may move up the timeline a bit. “What if we’re not suited to live together?” He carries me over to the sofa and sits down with me across his lap. “Let’s talk about it. What are things that would be deal breakers for you?” My mouth twists to the side as I think. “Um, I’d want to be equals.” “In what way?” “Decisions, expenses, um, I guess that’s about it.” One second I’m on his lap, the next I’m on my back, his body covering mine. “Seems reasonable.” I grin up at him. “So are we doing this?” His eyes search mine. “I don’t know. Do you want to move in with me?” Linking my arms around his neck, I pull his lips down to mine. “I do.” My words are like a cork set free, unleashing a wave of passion from within us. Will it always be like this, this intense need for him? I hope so. I

hope I never stop wanting to feel the weight of his body on mine, the taste of his lips on mine, and the confident way his hands move over me. He kisses me as we make love, celebrating our decision to move in together on Sam’s couch. Afterward, we lazily scoop up our clothes and carry them to my room. We order a pizza, Spencer throwing on pants so he can answer the door when it arrives. He strips again as I grab drinks and plates from the kitchen. I laugh. “Are we really going to eat this naked?” He serves me a slice. “Why not?” Taking the plate, I wonder what I want more, my pizza or to tackle him and kiss him all over. He makes an already perfect night even better when he picks up my remote and asks, “Want to watch Naruto?” Setting my plate on my bedside table, I turn and throw myself at him. Turns out neither of us were as hungry as we thought we were. Afterward, cold slice of pizza in my hand, I meet his eyes. “Naruto sounds great.” He throws his head back and laughs.

FINLEY

GRABS MY HAND .

“He asked you to move in

with him?” Grinning up at my future sister-in-law, I nod. Her eyes bug. “Well, tell me everything. Isn’t he still living with his folks?” I hold back a giggle at how excited she is and Paige shakes my knee. “Yes, tell us everything.” Sam lifts her hand. “I have a feeling I’m the reason.” Finley shifts her gaze to Sam. “What makes you say that?” Sam gives the table a feline grin. “I walked in on them when they were about to get it on.” Finley’s mouth drops open as Paige laughs. Me? I turn bright red. Paige recovers and asks, “Were they naked?” Sam shakes her head. “Nope. But, Spencer was shirtless.” She looks over at me. “I was not expecting those biceps. You go girl.” Both Finley and Paige look at me and grin. Luckily, I’m saved from their attention when Heather, Finley’s cousin from Texas, comes over carrying a tray of shots. She passes the first one to Finley. “Here’s one for the bride to be.” Finley gingerly accepts it. “I better not puke.” Sam shrugs. “It’s not a true bachelorette party unless someone is tossing her cookies before the night is over.” As Heather passes out the shots, she keeps

looking over her shoulder at the bar. “That bartender is seriously hot.” Paige looks around her and rolls her eyes. “Don’t let Malcolm hear you. His ego is already big enough.” We’re at the Drunkin’ Moose for Finley’s bachelorette party. Paige worked here last year so she knows everyone. Apparently, Malcolm hit on her a few times. It’s no shock Asher came up here every night she worked to stake his claim. Paige couldn’t stand him at the time so she usually flipped him off each time she saw him. It’s crazy to think they’re engaged now. Heather looks over her shoulder again. “I don’t mind a big ego as long as it’s not the only thing that’s big.” Both Sam and Finley nod while Paige shakes her head. “He could be hung like the moose this bar is named after and I still wouldn’t touch him.” Heather slides into her seat. “I’ve met Asher. If I had a man like that as an option I wouldn’t look twice at that bartender either.” Finley fixes her veil and meets my gaze. “Don’t think you’re getting out of telling us all about you and Spencer moving in together.” Paige lifts her shot. “Drinks first.” We all lift our shots as Heather give a toast. “We all thought you were crazy when you bought that house and moved out here but here you are

living out your dream, in a house you made beautiful with a man that would renovate heaven and earth to be by your side. You are happier than I’ve ever seen you and we are all thrilled you’re one step closer to your happily ever after.” Finley blinks away tears as she mouths, I love you. We press our glasses together and then throw them back. The moment my glass hits the table, all eyes are on me. I lift my hands. “There isn’t much to tell at this point. Before, when I was helping Spencer look for a house we had a hard time finding exactly what he was looking for. Now that we have to worry about my must haves it will be even harder.” Paige leans forward. “What part of town are you looking in?” Sam gives me a look because she knows this has been a point of contention for me. I ignore her. “We’re still figuring that out. Spencer wants to be close to the school but I’d like to be a bit farther out.” Paige’s hand covers mine. “I don’t blame you. It’s too congested by the campus.” Finley looks at me and we both try not to laugh. Paige lives on a secluded lake in the middle of nowhere. Of course anything else would seem crazy congested in comparison. Heather tears her gaze away from Malcolm.

“Are you having any issues agreeing on anything else?” My brows come together as I mentally go over our recent conversations. “I’m a bit more particular about the floor plan but other than that we’re pretty much on the same page.” “Aren’t you nervous about buying a place together? Why not rent first?” Heather asks. Finley looks her way and nods in agreement. “What if he’s always leaving plates in the sink, or leaves dirty clothes everywhere?” Paige laughs to herself for some reason, drawing our attention. “I used to give Asher so much crap about leaving dirty clothes all over the floor.” Realization dawns. “That’s why he has that sign in your bedroom.” She nods. “He made it to tease me, either way, it worked because now he puts all of his clothes in the hamper.” Heather doesn’t look convinced. “What happens if it doesn’t work out and you need to move?” I shrug. Her questions don’t bother me because they’re all things I’ve already considered. “It would suck but, we’d either sell the place or one person would buy the other person out if there was any equity.” Finley reaches over to pat my hand. “I’m sure

everything will work out. You all are so cute together.” Paige and Sam both quickly agree. Heather is too busy trying to catch Malcolm’s eye. I take a sip of my drink and look over at Sam. “Any news on the Brent front?” Finley wiggles in her chair. “There’s a Brent front? This sounds good.” Pink hits Sam’s cheeks and she looks away. None of us miss this. Paige knocks her with her elbow. “Don’t be shy. Spill.” With a grimace she meets our gazes. “I think Brent wants to move in together too.” I blink. “And that’s bad news?” She fiddles with her glass. “He wants me to move in with him.” Okay, now I see the problem. Sam loves her condo and its complex. It’s her home and I’m not surprised she’d balk at leaving it. “He knows how long you’ve lived there. Why does he think his place is better?” “He has two bedrooms and a loft. In his eyes, more space equals better space.” Paige taps her fingers on the table. “Why not do what Abby and Spencer are doing and look for a new place together?” I already know the answer to that question. “She doesn’t want to co-own anything yet. If he

moves in with her, he’ll pay rent and if she moves in with him, she’ll do the same.” Heather’s chair squeals across the floor as she pushes it back. “Alright, enough boy talk. Now, we’re going to drink, we’re going to dance, and we’re going to celebrate Finley’s final days as a single woman. I’m getting us another round.” We all watch as she saunters over to Malcolm. Finley frowns and looks at Paige. “How much of a player is he?” Paige crosses her arms over her chest. “Think Gideon, times a hundred.”

20

SPENCER

“M

y, my. You look very handsome in that tux Professor Hill. Do you think they’ll notice if we skip this banquet all together?” My eyes travel up and down her frame, taking in the skintight red dress she’s wearing. Frankly, I’m speechless. At my dumbfounded expression, she gives me a saucy grin and turns around. If the front of her dress was sexy, the back is downright criminal. A thin strap of fabric stretches across the top of her back, connecting to the front of her dress. The rest of her back is completely bare, the fabric of her skirt only starting again at the very base of her lower back. My heart thunders in my chest, my hand coming up to cover it on the off chance it would beat right through my skin. “Words would not do

justice to how stunning you look right now.” She crosses the room, coming to stand directly in front of me. “Those words worked just fine.” My hands move to her hips and hers coil around my neck. “All I want to do now is see if you taste as good as you look.” She tips her face up, offering me her lips. I accept them with pleasure. Too soon though, I end our kiss. “If we don’t leave soon, we never will.” Her look says she wouldn’t mind either way. “Dang, you guys look hot.” Abby turns, planting her hand on her hip. “Thank you for helping me find the perfect dress.” Sam moves over to us, a fancy looking cape thing in her hands. Abby’s cat bats at it as she moves past her. I take it from her and help Abby put it on. “Yes, thank you for helping her find this dress.” They both laugh. Yesterday morning I came over to hang out with Abby. They were miserable, hung over from Finley’s bachelorette party. I was nervous she’d bail on the banquet but by last night she was back to close to normal. “Have her home by curfew,” Sam teases as she waves goodbye. “Remind me what to expect at this thing,” Abby says once we’re on the road. “There will be a good mix of people there,

faculty, alumni, guest speakers, and various donors. It’s not like that conference I was at where there were only astrophysicists in attendance.” She relaxes in her seat. “That’s good news. I was a little nervous.” My hand moves to rest on her thigh. “You have nothing to be nervous about, ever.” Her hand covers mine. “You’re the best for saying that.” The banquet is being held in the Grand Hall of the University library. The long rectangular tables that are normally here have been removed and replaced with circular tables in the center of the room and raised platform additional seating and a podium at one end of the room. There’s a coat check so we drop off Abby’s cape. “This place looks amazing,” Abby says, her gaze moving about the room. Slipping her arm through mine, we move farther into the room. Each table is elaborately set, a dark tablecloth draped over a larger white one, sparkling gems scattered across the top. The intended effect is clear, the dark cloth represents the night sky, the gems its stars. The centerpiece of each table is made up of multicolored blooms and mimics the planets and moons of our solar system. Abby pulls out her phone and snaps a picture of

one of the tables. “I’m going to send this to Paige.” Whenever Abby sees a unique looking centerpiece or table setting she sends it to Paige for her to catalog for future events. Paige is currently planning Finley’s wedding this month, and her own wedding in the fall. “Hello Spencer, Gabby.” Abby bristles at being called the wrong name again. My arm moves around her waist. “Dr. Hudson, her name is Abby.” Nadine chuckles. “Oh silly me. I got it wrong again. Didn’t I?” I’d like to call her out on whatever ploy she’s making but out of politeness I hold my tongue. Abby doesn’t. She reaches out her hand and smiles brightly. “Dr. Hudson, it’s so nice to see you again.” Nadine hesitates before returning the gesture and shaking Abby’s hand. “Your dress is lovely.” Beaming, Abby fingers the skirt. “Thank you. Your dress is stunning. That shade of cobalt is perfect for your coloring.” Dr. Hudson blinks, her face softening. “You’re kind.” When Duncan joins our group, Dr. Hudson leaves. He watches her go. “She doesn’t like me.” Abby covers her mouth to suppress her giggle.

Duncan shrugs. “It’s the truth. She puts up with me because Spencer thinks I’m a valuable member of the team.” I stare at him. “She does?” He nods and looks around us as the event staff starts circulating with trays of hors-d'oeuvres. “I hope they have spanakopita.” He looks up at me. “You’re tall. Do you see any?” Abby leans into me, probably laughing, and I look at each of the trays being walked around. “Target located, your eight o’clock.” He pats my arm and is gone in a flash. My eyes move to Abby. “Your coworkers are crazy.” My eyes search her face for any lingering sign of annoyance at our interaction with Dr. Hudson. “Sorry about Dr. Hudson.” She rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ve got her number.” Curious, I ask, “And what is her number?” Her hand glides up my chest to stroke my jaw. “You are a catch. She’s bitter she isn’t the one who caught you.” I smirk, only mildly put out. “Not sure I’m thrilled to be the fish in this scenario.” Her mouth stretches into a wide grin. “Hush, you don’t mind being on my line.” My arm tightens around her. “You’ve got that

right.” “Mini quiche?” A server with a loaded tray pauses in front of us. I skipped lunch to pick up my tux so I grab one. “Thank you.” Abby steps away. “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room.” “Want me to walk over with you?” She shakes her head. “Don’t be silly. I’ll be right back.” Her crimson skirt swirls around her ankles as she walks away. I pop the quiche into my mouth and watch her go. More than just my eyes follow her movements. My chest swells knowing out of all of the men who’d kill to date her, she’s with me. “Professor Hill?” An older gentleman and a glamorous older woman approach me. She is closer to me so I offer her my hand first. “Yes, and you are?” She takes my hand and clasps it in both of hers. “I’m Flora Hiemer and this is my husband Claude.” I shake his hand next. “It’s nice to meet you both.” He nods, while she speaks. “Your paper on potential advancements to the Compton Telescope was fascinating.” It isn’t every day that I meet someone who has

read any of my papers. “Thank you.” “Have you considered seeking a grant to explore them?” It’s even less common to be approached by someone who seems interested in funding a project of mine. Normally, I have joined teams assembled after another scientist was awarded the grant. “The grant I’m currently on is funded through the end of next year. I’d be open to discussions at that time.” She smiles at her husband. “We will be sure to stay in touch then.” “Ahh. Mr. and Mrs. Hiemer. I see you have found Professor Hill.” My back stiffens as Dr. Hudson joins our group. “We did. It has been a pleasure to get to speak with him.” Mrs. Hiemer looks up at me. “Have you seen the reports the LIGO and Virgos network has been taken down for upgrades?” I nod. “I had read that.” “Why do you think they would do that so soon? Virgo was only two weeks into an observation cycle when it detected the gravitational waves of those black holes merging.” “The significance of the upgrades will increase the volume of space it evaluates by eight. The last upgrades to Virgo took six years. They’re expecting the network to be back up by next fall.”

She frowns. Her husband smiles sweetly at her. “She’s impatient.” She doesn’t dispute him. Abby comes to stand beside me. “Hello.” I quickly introduce her to the group. “This is my girlfriend Abigail Thompson. Abby, this is Mr. and Mrs. Hiemer.” Mrs. Hiemer’s eyes light up. “Are you also an astrophysicist?” Abby shakes her head. “I’m a realtor.” Her face falls but her husband quickly steps in. “How did you meet?” Abby and I exchange a glance, her hand finding mine. “He tutored my brother in high school. We lost touch when he moved away but when he moved back he needed a realtor and the rest is history.” The Hiemers shift closer together, their stance matching ours. “We were high school sweethearts as well.” After a few moments, Mrs. Hiemer grabs her husband’s arm. “There’s Dr. Gurhnom. We must speak to him.” Her enthusiasm for astrophysics is heartwarming. “It was so nice meeting you both.” They wave goodbye before stalking after their next prey. “If they continue to take an interest in you, it

could be extremely beneficial to the department.” I incline my head in Dr. Hudson’s direction. The research we do is limited to the funding we’re able to raise. Events like this one help us raise not only interest, but funds as well. “Understood.” Her eyes rest on Abby before she looks back at me. “Enjoy your evening.” She turns and begins to walk away. Abby surprises me by dropping my hand and going after her. They’re close enough for me to hear Abby say, “Could I speak with you?” Dr. Hudson blinks at her before quickly schooling her features. “Of course.” I take a step toward them but Abby quickly looks my way and shakes her head. What is going on? Together, my girlfriend and my boss walk toward the hall that leads to the restrooms and all I can do is watch. Spanakopita in hand, Duncan appears next to me. “Oh shit man. That doesn’t look good. Did Abby ask her to take it outside so she could kick her ass for putting the moves on you?” “What? No.” He takes a bite and chews loudly. “Then what are they doing? Dr. Hudson doesn’t seem the type to need a buddy to go to the bathroom with.”

He’s right. “I have no idea.” The loud chewing continues. “Aren’t you going to follow them?” “Abby doesn’t want me to.” He grabs the sleeve of my tux and I pray it wasn’t with the hand holding his food. “Could they be fighting right now?” Shrugging off his hold, I glare at him. “Don’t be crazy.” “Korean Meatball?” Neither of us looks away from where Abby and Dr. Hudson went. “No thank you.” After a moment Duncan says, “Abby didn’t tell me I couldn’t follow them. Want me to recon?” As much as I want to say yes, I say, “No.” He makes a humph noise but stays by my side. We don’t wait long before they come back into sight. I look away. “Act natural.” Duncan tries to link his arm through mine but I shake him off. “What are you doing? I said to act natural.” He frowns, and then stops a server carrying mini wraps. “I’d love one.” I’m torn between watching Abby and watching him stuff two wraps into his mouth. My gaze moves back to Abby and I watch Dr. Hudson give her a genuine smile before she moves in a different direction.

When she’s close enough, her hand finds mine. “Thank you for not following me.” Duncan swallows loudly. “She doesn’t look beat up. Did you just threaten her without having to resort to physical violence?” Abby stares at him and then looks up at me. “Is he for real?” “Duncan?” He looks up at me. “Yep?” “Go away.” He mutters under his breath as he leaves. Something about eating a wrap for me and this is the thanks he gets. “You’re probably wondering what that was about.” I nod. “Is it something you can share?” Her hand squeezes mine. “I love that you’re asking, not demanding and yes, it’s something I can share.” Since we’re somewhat surrounded by potential eavesdroppers, we move out of earshot of the people around us. “I had a theory about the way she acted around me,” Abby starts. When I nod, she continues. “She was romantically interested in you.” “I did nothing to encourage her interest.” She smiles sweetly. “Of course you did, you just didn’t even realize that by being you, brilliant,

successful, handsome you, you were appealing to her just by existing.” “Did she admit to being attracted to me?” With a nod, she explains. “Imagine you are a female scientist in a male-dominated field and you’re not just one of them, you’re the boss. Now imagine how intimidating her credentials might be to most men. Then you show up and you check all of her boxes plus you’re a nice guy and not intimidated by her. Of course she’d want you.” I chuckle at her phrasing and only wish I could send a reverse time capsule to my high school self just so he could enjoy Abby Thompson saying any woman would want me. “Then along comes me, a non-genius level, moderately successful realtor, who steals you away.” While I enjoyed her words moments ago, these ones concern me. “She doesn’t truly believe you stole me from her?” She shakes her head. “Not really, just that I interrupted the opportunity for something to happen between you two.” “Nothing was ever going to happen between us.” She presses her hand to my chest. “That’s not the important part of our discussion. I don’t blame her for feeling that way. I get it and if you started dating someone else instead of me I might have felt

the same way. Thing is, I know tons of guys that check all of her boxes and I’m going to start introducing her to some of them.” “Wait, let me get this straight. My boss has been inconsiderate to you more than once and you’re going to try and set her up with someone?” She grins up at me. “Pretty much.” My jaw goes slack. “And, she agreed to this?” She nods again. “I can be persuasive.” Gripping her by the back of her neck, I take her mouth and I don’t do it fast. Rather, I take my time enjoying her lips, and her tongue. By the time I’ve taken my fill, she’s struggling to catch her breath. “I love you so much.” She smiles shyly up at me. “I love you too.” My hands frame her face. “You’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. You truly give new meaning to the saying kill them with kindness.” Her expression goes sleepy, like a cat about to purr. “Spencer.” I kiss her again, this time softer. “You check all of my boxes and then some.” When I drop my hands she looks away. “I can’t even take full credit for the idea. The girls and I came up with it at Finley’s bachelorette party.” “You’ve been planning to talk to her? I had no idea it had gotten that bad, and it doesn’t matter who came up with it, you did it.”

“Hey guys. I think they’re starting to sit down for dinner.” Abby and I jump apart and I spin to see Duncan standing right behind us. “How long have you been there?” He taps his chin. “Since Abby said something about being persuasive.” I exhale in relief that he didn’t hear our entire conversation. “It’s not cool that you were listening in.” He looks confused and motions over his shoulder. “But, I was going to sit with you guys and dinner is starting.” Abby grabs my hand. “Let’s go eat.” When she gets a step ahead of me, she gives me a subtle tug. Glaring at the back of Duncan’s head, I follow her. The rest of the evening goes as I expected it would. When Abby is being Abby, there’s not a person alive who won’t fall for her in some capacity. She’s clever, eloquent, and personable; a complete trifecta for any social gathering. Sitting back, I watch as she charms our table with stories of her brothers. It’s no surprise, given how long Thompson’s hardware has been a staple in Woodlake, the Thompsons themselves are somewhat local celebrities. “You’re a lucky man,” a donor whispers to me. He most likely expected me to smile broadly

and agree. I do agree, but I do it with all seriousness. Abby catches my eye and shoots me an inquisitive look. Taking her hand from where it rests on the table, I lift it to my lips. Since there was the potential we’d be out late tonight, I got us a hotel room nearby. While I’m looking forward to sleeping with her by my side, I’m ready for it to be the norm and not the infrequent special occasion it is. I don’t want to be going back to a hotel; I want us to be going home, to a place that’s all ours. “You sure you’re okay?” Abby asks, when the attention moves to someone else at the table. “I’m imagining we already have our place and I’m wishing it was now.” Her eyes that were worried, soften. “We’ll find a place and when we do, it will be the perfect home for us to start our lives together in.” “How are you so sure?” I tease. She tilts her head to the side and replies, “I know an awesome realtor.” It doesn’t matter that we’re in a crowded room full of people who could decide whether or not any of my future projects ever receive funding, I kiss her. Abby, not caring either, kisses me right back.

21

ABBY

Y

ou love him, so what if he’s annoying the crap out of you because he won’t settle on a house. “Okay, what about the light blue house on Federal Drive didn’t work for you?” In the beginning, when Spencer could not find a house he liked I thought it was cute. I decided it was because he isn’t the type to settle and took that as a compliment since he fell in love with me. Now that it’s been two months since we decided to move in together and he still won’t agree on a house, it’s less cute. It doesn’t help that Sam and Brent have been putting offers in on places around town. They got outbid on their first one, the homeowner wouldn’t agree to an inspection on the second, and the homeowner on the third changed their mind. They

have somehow managed to agree on three different houses and I can’t manage to get Spencer to agree to one. Finley and Noah’s wedding was two and a half months ago. While we danced on the platform Noah and Asher built themselves, I assumed we’d be already living together for a month by now. “The carpet would need to be replaced.” I feel my eyes bugging so I take a deep breath and focus on schooling my features. “Honey, when we talked about it, I thought we decided some light work would be okay?” Sheesh, it’s not like I’m asking him to undertake a crazy remodel like the one Finley and Noah did. Still, I assumed we’d find a place not long after their wedding. The way things are going now, it might be closer to after Asher and Paige’s wedding. “We did,” He agrees. “And, we’d pull up any carpet because we both prefer hardwood floors anyway. Knowing that, what the carpet looks like shouldn’t matter.” He hauls me into his lap and presses his lips to my temple. As annoyed as I am, the effect of his touch is instant. I lean against him. “Did you love the light blue house?” My brows come together. “Love would be a stretch.” His hand strokes up and down my back. “Why do you want to put an offer on it?” Tucking my face into his neck, I sigh. “I’m sick

of living apart. The light blue house isn’t perfect, but it isn’t that bad.” “We’ve waited this long. We can wait a little bit longer for the right place.” He’s right. I hate it and all of the not right houses we’ve looked at. “This might sound dumb, but I imagined having a housewarming slash birthday party in our new house.” “You never sound dumb and with an event planner and all of these weddings, I’m not surprised you want to plan something of your own.” I lift my head to stare at him. “I never thought of it that way.” His lips find mine and I forget how annoyed I was. When he breaks our kiss, he lifts his head. “You mentioned you have plans tonight. Any chance I’ll get to see you after?” My fingers trace his jaw. “Nadine and I are meeting for drinks. If Sam is sleeping at Brent’s do you want to wait for me at my place? I’ll probably be tipsy.” His arms tighten around me. “You know I’d sleep there every night if you were comfortable with it.” I shake my head and he drops his chin to rest on my shoulder. Sam doesn’t charge me rent. All I pay for is food and some of the electric bill. I already

feel like I’m taking advantage of her enough even though it was her idea. There’s no way I’d feel comfortable with Spencer sleeping over there every night, even though I miss him when he’s at his parent’s. What sucks is I know Sam doesn’t care if he stays over. Maybe if we had found the place and moved into it together it would feel like our place and not like I’m still crashing at hers. “Someday we’ll find a place.” “We will. Now, I have to ask since you’re having drinks with my boss, any chance you can find out how I did in my review?” I swat at his gut, making him grab my arms and pin them. “We never talk about you.” Now that my arms are behind my back, his face is directly in front of mine. He pouts, his lower lip brushing against mine. “How quickly I’m replaced.” My tongue darts out, taking a swipe across that lower lip. A grin flashes across his face before he kisses me. A couple of months ago, I’d have never guessed we’d be joking about how Nadine used to have a thing for him. If I hadn’t have reached out to her and offered her myself as an ally instead of a rival, who knows where we’d be right now. She accepted my offer to serve as wing woman and we’ve become fast friends. Even though she no longer

needs help from me to meet guys who check all of her boxes, we meet up now for the fun of it. “She’ll probably tell me all about her new boyfriend.” He lets go of my wrists and rubs the tip of his nose along mine. “Is he one of the men you introduced her to?” I give him a half smile. “Yes, and no. I introduced her to his brother. When he took her to a family party, she hit it off with Diego.” Spencer frowns. “That couldn’t have gone over well with the first brother.” I shake my head. “No, it wasn’t a big deal. Both of them were only getting the friend vibe from each other so when sparks flew when she met Diego, Angelo encouraged them to go out together.” “That’s lucky.” I nod. “It is, and from what she told me the last time we talked, things are going great with Diego.” “She is definitely happier at work.” I wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m not shocked. I expect people say the same thing about me at work. When you’re deliriously happy off the clock, it has to filter into your work hours as well.” His lips tip up. “Deliriously happy?” I press my lips to his. “You know it.” His phone buzzes and he has to shift me on his lap to reach for it. It’s impossible not to see it given my location. It’s a text from Brent that says, all set.

“Are you meeting up with Brent tonight?” Through Sam, they’ve developed somewhat of a bromance. In fact, his closest friends are my friends, too, since he hangs out with Gideon quite a bit. He types out a thanks man and sets his phone down. “Not tonight.” My curiosity is piqued especially since it’s almost my birthday. “What are you thanking him for?” His smile is pure mischief as he taps my nose. “It’s a surprise.” I squirm on his lap, my hands fisting the fabric of his shirt. “Oh come on. Tell me.” Standing, he takes both of us up with him and sets me on my feet. “No can do. It will ruin the surprise. And, I need to take off and you need to get ready if you’re going out tonight.” I glance down at my sweats. “I could go out like this.” He kisses my forehead. “You could and you’d still be the most beautiful woman in the room.” Drat him. He kisses me one more time before he leaves and I get ready to meet up with Nadine. It may be August, but in New Hampshire it still cools off a lot once the sun sets. We’re meeting for dinner, but in case we end up staying out later, I put a cardigan on over my dress.

Nadine, as usual, beat me to the restaurant and is waiting for me outside. The moment she sees me, she heads my way. “There’s a forty-five-minute wait to be seated. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to wait that long.” “Ugh, same here. Where do you want to go instead?” She pulls out her phone. “I swear Diego mentioned a restaurant that is supposed to be amazing near Mid Town. It’s a family style Italian place and since he’s spent so much time in Italy, it’s got to be good if he’s raving about it.” My stomach rumbles at the thought. “I’m game.” Mid Town was near my old neighborhood, bummer this Italian place wasn’t around when I lived there. She lifts her phone straight up in celebration. “I’ve got the address. I can drive if you want to ride together.” “Sounds good,” I reply, and follow her to where her Tesla is parked. Once we’re on the road, I ask about Diego. “How are things going with you two?” She quickly beams in my direction before looking back at the road. “He’s taking me to Italy in the fall. He bought the tickets and everything. We’re going to stay with friends of his in Tuscany

and then spend a week in Rome.” Shifting in my seat, I clap my hands. “That sounds amazing.” Even though she’s looking straight ahead, she has not stopped smiling. “I’ve been to Europe before but for school. With my course load, I never had a chance to explore and I always regretted that. I’m so excited about this trip. I even set up a countdown clock on my phone for it.” I reach over to rub her arm. “I’m so happy for you.” She swallows, loud enough for me to hear. “I wouldn’t have met him if it weren’t for you—” I cut her off. “Don’t say that, you never know.” She shakes her head. “No, I do know and I can’t thank you enough for your friendship even when I was being so rude to you. I used to think you were lucky to be with Spencer, now I know he’s the lucky one to have someone as kind and generous as you are.” I wipe at the corners of my eyes. “Stop before you make me cry.” She delicately sniffs. “It’s the truth.” “Tell me more about this trip. I want to know everything.” Her smile returns. “He’s teaching me Italian.” While I’ve only met him twice, Diego is smoking hot. The idea of him teaching his girlfriend Italian before he takes her on a trip to Italy is off

the charts hot. “I might need you to turn on the AC, I’m about to overheat.” She laughs and turns left onto a street I recognize. My brows come together as I place where we are. Unless there’s some random shortcut I’m familiar with, we’re heading away from where all the restaurants are. This road leads to a neighborhood, a really nice one. “Are you sure we’re heading the right way?” With a frown, she glances over at me. “I’ve never been there. I just plugged the address into my GPS.” Having lived in New Hampshire my entire life, I’ve witnessed more than one GPS take the goofiest route to get somewhere. If only there was an avoid back roads option. If it turns out the address is bad, we’ll just reenter it. “When does it say we’ll reach our destination? From where I sit, I can’t see the display on her phone. Her eyes move to it. “Not long at all, maybe five minutes.” My gaze moves to the passenger window. “Yeah, I have a feeling we’re headed the wrong way. All of the restaurants are back that way. “Should I pull over here and turn around?”

I shake my head. “We might as well see where these directions take us since we’re almost there.” They are few and far between, but I have seen a couple of places zoned for retail in unexpected residential neighborhoods. Maybe this place is one of them. As she turns onto a new street, one house immediately stands out from the rest. It’s lit with white fairy style Christmas lights on each of its three stories, most of them around the front porch. Since Christmas lights in August isn’t that common, maybe this is the place. Still, I don’t see a sign anywhere or a parking lot. When I notice who’s standing on the front porch, my mouth falls open. Covering it with my hands, I turn to look at Nadine. “What’s happening?” She shrugs, her brows going up in a look of innocence as she parks behind his car. My eyes dart back to Spencer. He’s wearing a suit and grinning at me. I push open my door and cross the yard of the most beautiful pale yellow Victorian house I’ve ever seen. As I approach, he gets down on one knee. Holy shit. Is he about to ask me to marry him? I mean, I love him but we haven’t even lived together yet. I rock to a halt. “Spencer.”

He must hear the concern in my voice because he opens the box. There, plain as day is a key. “Abby Thompson, would you do the honor of owning this house with me?” My mouth drops open for the second time in as many minutes. “What?” “Will you move into this house with me and live happily ever after?” Since he looks so nervous and potentially freaked that I haven’t come closer yet, I decide to put him out of his misery. Kicking off my heels, I run to him, throwing myself into his arms. “Yes.” His arms circle me as he kisses me. “I love you so much.” Mine circle his neck as he stands, hauling me up with him. “I love you too.” When people start shouting and clapping, I jump and turn my head. My entire family is on the front lawn, his parents as well. Sam and Brent are standing by Nadine, Sam recording everything with her phone. “OhMyGod!” I gasp. Turning my face back to Spencer’s, I cup his cheek. “How?” He wets his lips as he smiles sweetly up at me. “Months ago, I gave Brent a description of your dream house and told him to find it for us.” My eyes widen. “Is that the reason you said no

to every place we looked at?” He nods and I don’t know whether to kiss him again or punch him for driving me as crazy as he did. “Are you going to put her down so she can look at the place?” My dad asks. Spencer looks his way before grudgingly setting me down. “Want to see our home?” I grin up at him. “Yes.” “Hang on, let us hug her first,” Sam shouts as she puts her phone away. I spin on my new front porch and open my arms wide. Connie reaches me first, her little arms wrapping around my waist. Seconds later more arms wrap around me as I’m engulfed in a Thompson family group hug. Spencer was standing so close to me so he ended up getting swept into it as well. Tears sting my eyes at the love all around me. “Alright, alright. Stop hugging me so I can see my house,” I laugh after a couple minutes. Reluctantly, Spencer and I are released. He pulls open the front door. “Welcome home baby.” The vision that greets me is like everything I’ve ever wished for. The space is bare, but with each step I take, I’m furnishing and decorating it as I go. This Christmas, I’m going to wrap garland around the banister of the sweeping circular staircase, and

I’m going to hang icicle ornaments from the entryway chandelier. Our tree has to go in front of the windows of the turret. More garland and nutcrackers are going to go across the fireplace mantle, and I’m going to hang a wreath on every door on the main level. He leads me to a bright and open dream kitchen and I realize I’ve never been this far into a house without wanting to change something by now. “How did you know?” His hand squeezes mine. “I kept a list of everything you liked about every house we’ve looked at together and waited until I found the perfect one for you.” My throat tightens with emotion. “I love you Spencer Hill.” “I love you,” he says, and if he hadn’t said it, I would have known by the look in his eyes. Our tour continues, as we make our way upstairs. “There are two bedrooms and the master on this floor, and another bedroom and a giant walk-up attic space on the third.” The spare bedrooms are empty, but not the master. A king size bed fully made with white sheets and a dove gray duvet, are the only things in the room. Spencer glances around. “Want to sleep here tonight?” My head bobs as I practically shout, “Yes.”

He pulls me into his arms. “I didn’t want to buy any furniture without you but I figure if you hate the mattress I got we can put it in one of the spare bedrooms.” “I’m going to love it.” He smiles down at me. “You don’t know that.” My brows come up. “Did you spend a week reading every review on it before you bought it?” He shrugs which means he absolutely did. “I’ll love it.” “I asked Sam to pack some things for you, for tonight.” “Did you think of everything?” I ask. He presses his lips to my forehead. “This might be your dream home, but getting to live here with you is my dream.” “Spence… I don’t know what to say.” “You don’t have to say anything. Seeing you this happy is all I’ve ever wanted.” “Want to know what makes me so much happier than this house?” He inclines his head and I wrap my arms around his neck. “Being with you.” He smiles and kisses me before we rejoin our families downstairs. Finley and Noah begin unloading casseroles from the oven and Asher and Paige cut and plate servings. The lack of a table and chairs doesn’t seem to bother anyone once Gideon starts pouring drinks.

It was almost a year ago, last Thanksgiving that I was cursing my singular existence. Back then I had no idea the roller coaster this year would have in store for me. Losing my house the way I did was something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Still, my journey brought me to Spencer and because of that, I would not change one thing.

EPILOGUE

THREE MONTHS LA TER

Abby

“TRICK OR TREAT!” I take in the adorable Mario Brothers in front of me. “I love your costumes.” They’re less interested in my compliments and more concerned with the full-size candy bar I place in each of their plastic pumpkins. “Wow. Thanks,” Mario says. “Yeah, thank you.” Luigi adds. Before they step off my porch, Mario turns and asks. “What are you?” I set down our treat dish and turn so he can see all of my tails. “I’m a nine-tail fox.”

He blinks. Luigi squints at me. “Do you have nine tails because of pollution? We once saw a fish with two heads.” Mario nods, my multitude of tails now making sense. “No, I’m a character from anime—” Not that they cared, they were already walking to our neighbor’s house. With a pout, I close the door. “No respect for your awesome fox costume?” My extremely sexy Kakashi asks. “They didn’t deserve full-size candy bars.” He laughs, his hand going up to his glasses to make sure his face mask doesn’t fall down. My costume isn’t as impressive as his. All I did was get a cute fox onesie and add eight tails since it’d be impossible to buy a nine-tail one. His costume is way cooler and I can’t lie, it’s kind of turning me on. Covering his hand with mine, I pull his mask down so I can give him a quick kiss. When I pull away, he asks, “Is it time to turn off the porch light?” Trying my best to look innocent, I shrug. Truth is, the Mario Brothers were the first trick or treaters we’ve had in thirty minutes. A couple hours ago we had a steady rush of neighborhood kids. At this point they’ve dwindled down to a trickle.

When the doorbell rings, we both turn. I open the door while Spencer fixes his mask. “Trick or Treat!” Standing on my front porch are Finley, Noah, and Gideon. I push open the storm door. “Hey guys. Come on in.” Gideon covers his face and laughs when he sees our costumes. “I can’t believe she talked you into dressing up.” Finley shoots him a look. “I think they look great.” Spencer pulls down his mask. “Thank you.” Noah tugs on one of my ears. “You make a good fox.” Gideon rolls his eyes. “You guys have any grownup treats?” I wave him toward the kitchen. “There’s beer in the fridge.” He doesn’t need to be told twice. I flip off the porch light and pull off my hood. “Were you in the neighborhood?” “Downside of being the last house on a deadend street, no trick or treaters,” Noah explains. “We meant to swing by earlier but Gideon asked us to wait for him.” I motion to the light switch. “Want me to put it back on? We might get a couple more while you’re here.”

Finley shakes her head. “Now that I’m here I just want to see all the stuff you’ve done to the place.” We moved in right before my birthday in August. Since then, we’ve had a lot of fun making it our own. When I lost my house, I sold just about everything that wasn’t nailed down. And Spencer rented a furnished place when he lived in California and didn’t buy any furniture when he moved back in with his parents. The only real piece of furniture we had was the king-sized bed he bought so we’d have a place to sleep when he surprised me with the house, and the few pieces that Asher made that I had in my room at Sam’s condo. We’ve spent the last two and a half months painting and decorating. So far, our bedroom, a spare bedroom, our living room, and our kitchen are the only rooms that are pretty much done. Emo’s claimed the third bedroom on the second floor for now. That, and the screened-in porch. With the temperature dropping, she’s pissed we’re not letting her out on it anymore. We still need to decide what to do with what will be the formal living room. I’m leaning toward making it a home office but can’t make up my mind. We’ve also held off on doing the dining room since we have a small table in the kitchen. Gideon wastes no time getting comfortable, a

beer in his hand and his feet up on our coffee table. At least he was nice enough to grab a few beers. “Get your feet off my table.” When he doesn’t move right away, Noah knocks them off for me before he grabs one of the beers and then asks Finley, “Want me to grab you something babe?” I squint at her, surprised she didn’t want a beer. Spencer and I gravitate to our oversized armchair. Finley shakes her head, her cheeks getting pink and then asks, “Have any of you talked to Asher or Paige?” My brows come together and I nod. “Talked to Paige yesterday. She sounded jetlagged.” Finley settles herself on the couch beside Gideon. “I’ll bet she did. I think she said their flight was something like twenty hours.” Asher has always been a bit of a recluse. It’s no surprise they honeymooned on a secluded island in the South Pacific. “She’s supposed to stop by sometime this week to show me pictures from their trip.” “Call me when she’s on the way and I’ll come over too,” Finley replies. I grin. “Deal.” I’ve always been tight with my brothers, but I never expected to be just as close with their significant others. Finley and Paige have become

two of my best friends. My eyes move to Noah and the sweet way he watches Finley. Wait. I lean forward. “Is there anything you guys want to tell us?” Her eyes widen as she pales. Noah takes another drink of his beer. “Told you she’d figure it out.” Jumping to my feet, my eyes move back and forth between them. “OhMyGod! OhMyGod! OhMyGod! Is it what I think it is?” Finley ducks her head before smiling broadly as Noah settles himself beside her. “Well, if you’re thinking we’re having a baby, you’d be right.” I throw myself at them, hugging them both. “I’m so happy for you.” Gideon looks shocked. “You’re pregnant?” Finley laughs and presses her hand to her middle. “I am.” Everyone stands and exchanges hugs. “Does Mom know?” Noah and Finley sit back down. “We’re taking her and Dad out to lunch tomorrow.” “She’s going to freak.” After Gideon and Noah finish their beers, they all leave. I make Finley promise to call me as soon as their lunch is over so I can hear how my mom and dad reacted. Spencer and I stand on our front porch and

wave as they drive away. Rubbing my arms as we walk back inside I start to shiver. “Geez, it’s cold out there.” His arms band around me. “I can warm you up.” He isn’t lying, the warmth of his body plus the implication of his words work quickly to erase any chill I was feeling. “Want to start a fire and we can make out in front of it?” He cocks his head to the side. “Hopefully we’ll do more than make out.” I kiss the underside of his jaw. “Are you trying to score a home run?” His arms tighten their hold on me. “You know it. Time to start a fire.” Turning me, he walks behind me, shuffling me toward our den. When I start to make a move toward the fireplace, he stops me. “Nope, I’ve got this. You get to relax on the couch.” When we first moved in, I learned quickly Spencer had no clue how to properly build a fire. He’s been a good student though, and now refuses any help while he hones his fire building skills. It must be a caveman thing. “I’ll sit after I get a glass of wine. Want one?” He glances up from where he’s kneeling on the hearth. “Yes, please.” So polite. He’s totally going to score a home

run. By the time I get back with our wine, he has the logs and kindling all set up. I watch as he opens the flue before lighting a piece of newspaper and holding it above the logs. This trick will help the smoke draft up instead of into our den. He learned about it the hard way. After the flue is warmed, he lights the kindling and closes the screen. It’ll take a while before the fire really gets going. We considered getting a gas insert but, there’s nothing quite like a real wood fire. He stands and I pretend to be a baseball announcer. “Spencer Hill, approaches the plate.” He pauses at my words and grins. Holding my wine glass close to my mouth, I let my gaze leisurely roam up his body. “This player is certainly well equipped.” He comes unstuck and moves to sit beside me. Ignoring his wine, he takes mine from me and sets it on our coffee table. I reach up and gently remove his glasses, then bend to set them on the table next to my glass. When I straighten, he wets his lips. Then, pushing me to my back, his hands go to my waist while his lips find my neck. “It’s a hit, and he wastes no time getting to first base.” Spencer’s hands move to push my sweater up over my bra. His mouth leaves my neck to kiss and

lick the swell of my breast. “We have second base,” I groan. He pushes his hips into mine and I press upward against his arousal. After that, it’s a mutual frenzy to undress each other. My jeans and panties are stuck around my ankles when he begins to pleasure me with his mouth. With my hand on his head, holding him to me, I gasp. “Third base, Oh God, third base.” He doesn’t stop until I’m completely undone. Then he slowly finishes our reckless haphazard undressing. Once we’re completely bare, he settles me over his lap so that I’m straddling him. Locking eyes, he enters me. Neither of us looks away as I slowly lower myself onto his shaft. When I’m full of him, I press my lips to his and say. “Home run.” It’s not until we both find release that we collapse in a naked heap. “Are you warm now?” I burst out laughing. He cups my face. “I think I need to start watching baseball.” That only makes me laugh harder. Spencer’s gaze moves toward the fire, when he sees how well it’s burning, he motions for me to look.

“You made a very good fire baby.” When I start to get up, he stops me. “Stay here.” I frown and glance downward. “Can I get cleaned up first?” He makes an oh face and then shifts so I can get up. “Of course, but then can you come back here?” I blink. “Okay.” We both get up, he pulls on his boxers while I snag my panties. He heads upstairs while I go to the bathroom. “What is he up to?” I beat him back to the couch. Instead of getting dressed, I wrap a throw blanket around myself. He walks back into the den, now in a pair of jeans but still shirtless, his hair adorably disheveled. In his hands is what looks like a framed picture wrapped in brown paper. “What’s this?” I ask. He offers it to me. “A gift.” I rearrange the blanket around myself to free my arms. “You didn’t have to get me anything.” He ducks his head. “I know. Open it.” My fingers move to the seam and I tear it open. Once it’s fully unwrapped I flip the thick black wooden frame over. White matting surrounds a circular representation of the stars. Small print below it reads Our First Date. My mouth falls open

as my fingers trace over stars and constellations I’ve come to recognize easily because of Spencer. “Do you like it?” My gaze moves up to meet his. “Is this really the sky the night of our first date?” He nods. I press it to my chest. “I love it.” He leans in and I think he’s going for a kiss but instead he reaches between the sofa and the wall. My brows come together as I watch him pull out another picture wrapped in brown paper. He stands, and offers it to me. “What is this?” “Open it.” I set the picture of the night of our first date on the sofa beside me and open the new picture. When I flip it over I see another night sky, only this time the small print reads, Our Engagement. He’s kneeling before me when I lift my eyes to him, holding an open box with a brilliant diamond ring nestled inside. “Will you marry me?” Covering my mouth with my hand, I begin to cry and nod. “Yes.” When Spencer and I met again, my life was falling apart. I didn’t know it then but it turns out everything was really falling into place. His love helped fix my fall.

The End

ALSO BY CAREY HEYWOOD

The Fix Series Fix Her Up (Finley & Noah) Fix Me Not (Paige & Asher) Fix My Fall (Abby & Spencer)

Him & Her Series Him (book 1) Her (book 2) Them (book 3) Sawyer Says (spin off) Being Neighborly (spin off novella)

Carolina Days The Other Side of Someday (Courtney & Clay) Yesterday’s Half Truths (Lindsay & Luke) Chasing Daylight (McKenzie & Mitch)

Love Riddles

Why Now? (Kacey & Jake) Why Lie? (Sydney & Heath) Why Not? (Reilly & Trip)

Standalones Better Stages of Grace Uninvolved A Bridge of Her Own

Audiobooks Him (also available on audible) Her (also available on audible) Better (also available on audible)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. She was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Supporting her all the way are her husband, three sometimes-adorable children, a mischievous black cat, their nine-pound attack Yorkie, and their new rescue German Shepherd puppy. She loves to hear from her readers! www.CareyHeywood.com [email protected]

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Fix My Fall wouldn’t be the book it is today without the help of some amazing people. To Ashley, Stephanie, Aimee, and Christine, thank you for reading Abby and Spencer’s love story at its roughest, and helping me smooth out those edges. I’m also grateful to my editor, Jennifer Van Wyk. You’ve helped make, not only this book, but also this series, what it is today. For my proofers, Vanessa and Charity, you are both amazing and so wonderful to work with. Hang Le, thank you for not only capturing Abby and Spencer perfectly on the cover, but also for being so sweet to work with. I can’t wait to see what you’ll come up with for Gideon and Eli’s books. To my Keep Calm and Carey On reader group, thank you for not only sharing awesome dinner recipes, but your love for my books as well. I’m so

happy to be a part of the book community and will forever cherish the friendships I’ve gained through it. To my dearest friends, the ones I see almost daily, to ones I only get to message online with, thank you for your unending love and support. You guys know who you are. Lastly, thank you to my family. Our home is full of love, and laughter, even when we’re cleaning up puppy messes.

SAMANTHA & BRENT

** Warning, this is steamy **

The light was still on in his office, all of the other doorways that lined the hall from mine now darkened. I pull in a breath, second-guessing my sanity. Could I truly go through with this? Lonely months had pushed me to this point. An ache for a physical connection I could no longer ignore. Why I was here and not at the nearest bar was the crazy part. I’m not ignorant to the way men looked at me. Well, those who were brave enough

to. Those were the men who rallied past my not interested attitude. Problem is, I don’t want a boyfriend. Nope, all I wanted right now was for someone to fuck that ache right out of me. Not just anyone, I, Samantha Abernathy, want Brent Evans. In fact, that ache within me started the first time I saw him all those months ago. It had been his first day in the office. I remember skidding to a halt at the sight of him, or his ass to be honest, since his back was to me. It was an ass that could have had that brand of slacks selling out in minutes if someone posted of picture of it online. Then my gaze had moved to his shoulders and that ache had intensified. Shoulders and a great ass are my weakness, but it was when he had turned around that I knew I was screwed. At that point I had mentally prayed that he was a client, someone who was in the office to close on a house. Someone I would never have to see again. Deep down, I knew better. Even before Abby, introduced him as our new colleague I had known. It was like he had been created from my deepest wildest fantasies to tempt my resolve. For months I have fought my growing desire. All of that resolve went up like a poof of smoke with two words today. “Stop pretending.” Oh, how those words in his gravely voice had

made my stomach drop. The fact that he had stood so close to me, close enough for me to feel his body heat through the thin silk of my blouse had only intensified my reaction to them. Before I could respond, he had turned and walked away, leaving me to stare after him. As soon I pulled myself together I retreated to the privacy of my office, leaning against the door to keep myself upright. The cool wood had done little to extinguish the flame that bloomed within. I spent the rest of the day warring between the mortification that he had seen right through me, to a need for him more powerful than anything I had experienced before. Canceling my afternoon appointments, I weighed the options until I finally made my choice. Then I waited, somehow knowing he would be waiting as well, for the office to empty. Willing my legs not to shake, I closed the distance between our doors. The light spilling into the dim hall was like a beacon, an invitation beckoning me forward. At last, I stood in his open doorway. “What took you so long?” His desk faced me, his gloriously built frame seated behind it. His question unnerved me, just as his words earlier had. “This could end badly,” I replied, holding his

gaze. “It doesn’t have to,” he said, reaching up to loosen his tie. A hint of his neck became exposed. How could that one act be so erotic? There was a promise in that movement. My mouth watered. I wanted to crawl across his desk and into his lap so I could unbutton his shirt and taste his hard jaw line. “But, we work together,” I argued trying to ignore the way his hungry gaze moved over me. He gave me a lazy nod but didn’t respond. My nerves got the better of me and I turned to flee, to race back to my office and pretend like this had never happened. “Didn’t think you had it in you,” he said. His words stopped me cold, before I spun to face him. “What?” He shrugged. “I figured you’d be too scared.” My lips parted. “I am not scared.” His eyes roamed over me again before they locked on mine. “Then why are you running away?” I took a step towards him, my fingers going to the top button of my blouse, an attempt to disguise my nerves. “Stop,” he ordered. I halted, both my feet and my hands. “Come here. I want to undress you,” he said. “It feels like I’ve been waiting forever to unwrap

you.” Well shit. There’s no way I could have ran away. Not when the promise of his words turned my insides into molten pools of want. It was a miracle that I didn’t stumble as I moved toward him. He turned his chair toward me as I rounded his desk. Leaning forward, his hands moved to my hips the moment I was within reach. I let out a gasp when he stood, lifting me, and turned to set me on his desk. Then, his mouth was on mine. The months of fantasizing about him did nothing to prepare me for what his mouth on mine would feel like. It only fanned the flame inside me, bringing me all that much closer to combustion. He pushed my legs apart, moving to stand between them. One of his arms banded tightly around me, the other sliding up my back until his fingers fisted in my hair. My hands moved to his waist, as I held on tight. His tongue traced the seam of my lips and I part them, eager to taste him. I marched right up to edge of a cliff and freefell into his kiss. Too soon his mouth left mine. He pulled away an inch and stared into my eyes. Three seconds passed, I counted each one, before our mouths crashed again. Our kiss grew like a summer storm. He sprinkled kisses across my jaw and down the neckline of my blouse. My heart

thundered in my chest as his fingers worked the buttons free. My nipples tightened into buds once the cool air caressed my flesh. His hands were there to warm them, cupping my breasts as my thumbs stroked me. I was putty, ready and willing to be shaped by him. With one hand, he reached behind me, pushing papers off of the desk. They scattered like rainfall onto the floor. Pushing my skirt up, he knelt in front of me. His mouth was on me, right over my panties. “Oh my God,” I panted, my hands coming to rest on the top his head. Naked from the waist up, I was sitting on Brent’s desk while he ate me. My first orgasm had me arching my back as I gasped out his name. I gaped down at him, shock at how quickly he managed that. He tilted his face up and grinned at me. That grin turned wicked as he eased my panties down my legs. As soon as they were off of me I launched myself at him, tackling him to the floor. He caught me. I tore at his clothes and he helped me undress him. I’ve seen him in casual clothes before, but never shirtless outside of my daydreams. My hands roamed, over his broad shoulders, across his muscular chest and down his rippled abs. I had a destination in mind and could not wait to wrap my hands around his cock. He groaned deep

in his throat once I gripped his thick length. He was impossibly hard. His long and thick cock made my mouth water for a taste of him. I shifted beside him and kissed my way down his body, licking and nipping at him along the way. When he moved to sit up, I pushed him back down. “It’s my turn.” He only half listened, his strong arms twisted me so that his talented fingers could tease and torture me between my legs. It was an effort to focus once his fingers were inside me, his thumb moving in a circular motion against my clit. Brent Evans may have had complete control over my body at the moment, but I wanted to see if he would lose his concentration once my lips were wrapped around his dick. I took him deep, grinning to myself when his fingers paused and his guttural groan filled the air. That’s right, I was charge now. His hand came up to push my hair back and he held it as he watched his cock fill my mouth. Our eyes locked and I was captivated by the raw passion in his gaze. He was an animal pacing within his cage, restrained but barely. We both knew I was his prey and as soon as I unleashed him, he was going to consume me entirely. I was on borrowed time. Too soon, he was done letting me toy with him, done with letting me lick and suck his hard length. My core pulsed, a tremor in advance of the quake it

knew was coming. I fought against the pull, wanting not to unlock his cage but to drive him so mad he’d tear the bars apart himself. “Sam.” I ignored his plea and sucked him harder, took him even deeper. His legs shifted restlessly and I circled the swollen tip of his cock with my tongue. “Fuck,” he groaned, his hips thrusting upward. I resisted the urge to smile around him. Strong hands gripped me under my arms before I could. He lifted me, and planted me back on the edge of his desk. I opened my mouth to protest, but his mouth was there, his tongue sweeping in as his cock drove into me. My back arched at the delicious sensation of him filling me. He didn’t give me time to savor the moment, pulling back only to power back in. Then, Brent Evans fucked me better than any man or fantasy before him. My body stretched to as he filled me. His strokes were so deep they were almost brutal. His hands gripped my hips so hard I know I still bear the mark of them today. My body bucked with each thrust, my arms wrapped around his neck as I fought to hold on. I awoken the feral beast and basked in the frenzy as he took me. The slap of our flesh echoed around us. Nothing else existed outside of his office, and his desk.

When he broke our kiss, he shoved his face into my neck, his teeth nipping at my skin. And, as if he decided that wasn’t enough, he paused only a breath before his teeth clamped down on my skin. My body roared in response, my orgasm stole the air from my lungs as I cried out his name. He panted against my skin, his hips still thrusting wildly against me. It was primal; it was a body-shaking earthquake that swallowed me whole. I clung to him, our bodies slick with sweat. His teeth didn’t release me until his come filled me. It was only then, after groaning with pleasure did he lift his head. “That was…” His words dangled as he dipped his head to drag his tongue across the place where his teeth scored my flesh. I wasn’t cold but I shivered anyway. “I know.” That was all the conversation he seemed interested in, his lips finding mine again. He reached back to grab the arm of his chair and dragged it back over to his desk. Once it was close enough, he sat back in it, pulling me with him. I straddled him as his hands slid up my naked back. When he moved us, his cock had slipped free. As we kissed it began to harden again beneath me. “Already?” I said. He answered by gripping my hips and grinding it against me. I groaned. He kissed me until I was

panting with need, begging him to take me again. He complied, spinning me to face his desk before bending me over it. His hand fisted in my hair, tugging my head back as his body claimed mine over and over again. It was hours later before he was finally finished with me. When he went to get me some paper towels from the bathroom to clean up with, the walls of his empty office folded in on me. I ran, ignoring the sticky wetness that trailed down my leg as I bolted for my office. As soon as I had my purse and keys I was gone, desperately needing to avoid any awkward goodbye. After a shower, for what little was left of the night, I tossed and turned in my bed. How could I ever face him again? How could we ever go back to whatever we were before? I decided avoidance was the safest route. Honestly, I could meet potential clients anywhere. Sure, I’d miss the convenience of the office but there were loads of relators who worked out of home offices. I repeated that thought to myself my entire commute. Relief tinged with a pang of regret washed over me as I parked when I noticed his Jeep wasn’t in the lot. It’s better this way I reminded myself, clutching my travel coffee mug like a drowning person would cling to a lifesaver.

I stopped dead when I turned to enter my office. Brent was there, sitting behind my desk. To say he looked pissed would be an understatement. “Brent,” I managed, my throat raspy from all of the groaning I did the night before. “Samantha,” he replied, not moving from my chair. “What do you want?” I ask, forced steel coating my words to hide the way I trembled inside. This man had pleasured me in ways I had not thought possible last night. I didn’t know how to be in the same room with him and not fling myself into his arms. “For you to tell me which office I’m fucking you in tonight, yours or mine?”