Page 49 of Reunion With Benefits

“Yelling. A meal with this group is a lot of yelling.”

When she leaned against him, he put his chin on her shoulder. Breathed, letting this moment settle inside him. The comfort of it made him think he misread her earlier. The slight tension running through her had vanished. Now she relaxed.

She rubbed her hand over his arm. “You love it.”

He couldn’t deny it. Today was the kind of event that drew him back to DC. Being able to unwind with them. Joke and have fun without fear of someone losing their temper or their dad storming in. “I kind of do.”

“Was it like that growing up?”

“Hell, no.” He thought about the right way to explain it. He wasn’t asking for pity or suggesting he had it bad, not compared to other people. But it hadn’t been good, either. “We weren’t allowed to talk at the table.”

She turned around in his arms to face him, never breaking contact. “Are you kidding?”

The concern was evident in her eyes. Healthy concern. He could handle that.

He brushed his fingers through her hair, loving the feel of it. “Does Eldrick strike you as a guy who wanted to hear what his kids had to say?”

She rolled her eyes. “My mom would come home exhausted and still listen to me babble.”

She shared so little about her past and her life before. From the few bits she’d dropped, Spence had an image in his mind. She liked solitude and trusted very few. That probably was a smart way to live. At least it seemed safer.

But he did miss having someone who knew more about her and might be able to offer some advice to him now and then. Ellie only offered up so much. “I’m sorry I never got a chance to meet your mom.”

“Me, too.”

He hugged her then. Pulled her in close and wondered how he’d ever let go of her in the past. That had been a terrible mistake, maybe his worst. And that was saying something.

He spied the envelope that was delivered earlier. He’d forgotten about it. Since it lay there untouched, he guessed Derrick had, too. Spence almost reached for it now. He had no idea what could be so important for a home delivery. Then he saw the return address. “Jeff Berger.”

Abby froze in his arms. “What?”

Not wanting to let go of her, Spence nodded in the direction of the envelope. “The delivery was from him. The guy has this weird competition thing with Derrick.”

Her expression stayed unreadable. “Why?”

“When Derrick saved the company, he did it by grabbing a bunch of small jobs, then expanding the business into new areas, both geographic and different types of projects.” Everything had been a struggle back then. Spence was relieved they’d moved past those days. “He cut right into Berger’s business and Jeff took it personally and has been looking for revenge ever since.”

Abby’s hands slid down Spence’s arms. Her fingers slipped through his. “Wow.”

“It’s a stupid guy thing. Jeff gets spun up even higher because Derrick won’t engage.”

She frowned. “Then why was Jeff at the party?”

“Keep your enemies close.” At least that’s what Spence assumed. He hadn’t bothered to ask because he didn’t care that much about Jeff.

“I hate that saying.” An edge moved back into her voice.

He decided to let it go. She’d tell him when she was ready. “But it’s smart.”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

She was frowning again but Spence had the perfect temporary solution. “We need cake.”

“My hero.”

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