Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

SPENCER

T he chili Jodie served for dinner was better than I remembered. "I'm going to gain a hundred pounds here if you keep feeding me this well," I said with another bite in my mouth.

Jodie smiled. "Thank you. I made more than enough. I can send you home with some if you'd like. It freezes very well."

"I'd like that," I said, nodding. "This food is like coming home again."

Her face lit up. I knew she loved taking care of her kids and me. It made her happy. And I was still trying to make up for my big faux pas earlier. Also, the chili was fucking delicious.

"Jodie, Klaus, I really want to apologize for this morning," I said. "I had no right to bring anyone to your home without asking first."

"It's really okay," Jodie said. "It was just unexpected."

"And ballsy," Rhett said with a laugh.

"I'm going to let that one slide, but clean it up," Jodie scolded.

"I don't want to pry, but can I ask what happened with Dakota?" I asked. "I always remembered him kind of being like the other me—except not as handsome," I added with a wink.

"You are seriously out of touch." Rhett laughed. "If you weren't so busy building an empire, you might have remembered a wedding some ten years ago."

I frowned, trying to remember, but that was when the guys and I were busting our asses day and night to get our company off the ground.

"Marlow," I remembered. "She got married."

"To Dakota."

"He was one of the family until he wasn't," Jodie said in a tight voice.

"Dakota and I were really good friends when they were married," Rhett explained.

I didn't know why, but I was glad she was divorced. That was a horrible thought. I should feel bad, but I didn't.

"And I could care less if I lay eyes on that man ever again," Klaus said gruffly. "Personally, I would prefer he just moved along. We don't need him hanging around."

"Klaus," Jodie said softly. "He's still Rhett's friend."

"I don't know why," Klaus muttered.

"We don't hate him, but we don't trust him," Jodie went on. "And would rather not see him."

I nodded. "Got it."

I had to assume the divorce was messy. That pissed me off. What a snake for trying to worm his way back into their good graces by going through me. Dick. If I saw him again, I would let him know exactly how I felt about him using me to get to them.

"My goodness," Jodie said, leaning back in her chair. "I think I've stuffed myself. I'm not sure I can move."

"Don't," I said and got to my feet. "I'll clean up."

"No, no." She laughed softly. "I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask. I'm volunteering. You've been cooking amazing meals. The least I can do is clean up," I insisted. "You guys go relax, except for you Rhett. You're stuck until I move you."

"You're our guest," Jodie said.

"Come on," Klaus said. "He's not going to listen. Let's go enjoy what's probably one of our last mild evenings."

He took Jodie's hand and led her out back.

"Get me to the couch," Rhett grumbled. "I want to watch TV."

"Ask nicely," I teased.

"Get me to the couch, please and fuck you," he said with a grin.

I chuckled and helped Rhett to the living-room couch before going back to the kitchen to start cleaning up. As I washed the dishes, my thoughts drifted back to Dakota. It was clear that he had left a sour taste in the mouths of Jodie, Klaus, and Rhett. I couldn't help but wonder what had transpired between them. Did he cheat on Marlow? Was he mean to her? Had he tried playing hard ball during the divorce?

I put those grim thoughts out of my mind before I started seeing red. It was best to focus on the positives. I liked being here in the house. It was a mix of old wood creaks, the smell of fresh laundry, and sweet oranges that always made me feel at home.

I could see Jodie and Klaus on the back patio, relaxing under heated blankets, enjoying the crisp fall evening. Rhett was engrossed in a hockey game. I washed the dishes, something I had done in this very kitchen a hundred times before. It reminded me of simpler times.

When the last plate was set on the drying rack, I heard the front door open. Rhett was certainly not opening the door. I turned to see who was coming in, worried that snake Dakota might be slithering back in. For a moment, I was speechless.

Standing in the doorway was Marlow Graylan, looking nothing like the polished woman on the magazine cover. She looked even better in leggings and an oversized sweater, her dark hair in a sloppy ponytail. Despite the casual attire, she was stunning.

She looked at me with a matching expression of surprise.

"You made it," Rhett said. "Or did my pills just kick in?"

She blinked and looked away from me. "No, it's me." She glanced at me once again, dropping her purse and suitcase near the door. "I smell Mom's chili."

"Want me to get you a bowl?" I offered.

"I can get it," she said, going straight to the cabinet where the bowls were.

I wiped down the counter, stalling because I wanted to stay in the kitchen.

"Where's Mom and Dad?" she asked without looking at me.

"Out back," I replied. "They said they wanted to enjoy it before it gets too cold."

"Of course. The fall is so pretty out here."

"Been a while," I said, realizing that was kind of a dumb thing to say.

She nodded, filling her bowl. "It has."

"You look good," I remarked.

"No, but I'm comfortable," she replied. "I have to dress up every day, so it's nice to be relaxed when I come home."

I chuckled. "You sure look different than that magazine cover."

She groaned as she put the chili in the microwave. "You saw that?"

"Your mom had it." I shrugged. "I think you look nice either way."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you say that to all the girls heating up chili."

"You caught me," I said, grinning.

The moment stretched out, the air between us becoming thin. I remembered the timid, almost meek girl with braces who used to hang around Rhett and me. But now, standing before me was a gorgeous woman, and the more I looked at her, the more details I noticed. Her freckles, the length and darkness of her eyelashes, the fullness of her lips, and how her cheeks turned rosy as we held eye contact for a few seconds more than was strictly necessary.

The microwave dinged and she took the bowl out. She slid onto a stool at the counter and blew on the steamy deliciousness. If I wasn't already stuffed to the gills, I would have had another serving too.

"So how long have you been here?" she asked, taking a bite.

"Just a couple of days. Rhett told me about his accident and how he was laid up. I wanted to check on him and help your folks out."

"That was nice of you."

"Eh, your parents are feeding me so well, I may never leave." I nodded at her. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

That was a good question. "Are you here for a few days to help out?"

"I don't know about that," she replied. "I just thought I would pop in and visit the family and make sure Crash wasn't quite as near death as he claimed to be."

"I can hear you," Rhett called out from the living room. "And that nickname better not stick."

"We'll see," she answered. "By the way, you look like hell."

"Watch out, Spencer," Rhett said. "She gets real spicy when she gets that chili in her."

Marlow chuckled as she continued eating. Her eyes flicked between us. I could sense a tension in the air that hadn't been there before, a subtle shift in the dynamics. I wondered if it was just the awkwardness of reuniting after so long or if there was something more beneath the surface.

"So, how have you been, Marlow?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the palpable awkwardness.

Marlow paused mid bite, setting down her spoon before answering. "Honestly? Busy. Really busy. It's a good problem to have, but coming home gives me a chance to take a step back and breathe."

"And eat all the leftovers!" Rhett said.

I smiled and shook my head. "I feel the same way, being back here."

Our eyes locked again. I wasn't crazy. I couldn't explain what it was but it felt like there was some kind of connection. She continued eating with me watching which was weird. I needed to do something else.

Look away, Spencer. Don't be weird.

The moment broke when Jodie and Klaus came inside.

"Marlow!" Jodie exclaimed and walked to her daughter. The two hugged before Klaus stepped up and wrapped them both in his arms.

"I wasn't sure you were going to make it home," Jodie said. "We would have held dinner."

"It's fine." Marlow smiled. "I wasn't sure when I would get here. I managed to wrap things up early, though."

Marlow's presence injected a new energy into the familiar walls of their home. Her laughter filled the kitchen as she caught up with Jodie and Klaus. I found myself drawn to Marlow's magnetic presence and was unable to walk out of the kitchen.

"Someone has to come help me," Rhett hollered from the living room. "I'm a raging inconvenience, I know, but I'm feeling very left out right now."

Marlow grinned, and the sight knocked the air from my lungs. She brushed past me, her perfume flooding my senses, and rushed to hug her brother. He grunted in pain as she dropped beside him on the couch.

I lingered in the doorway beside Jodie, who gave me a knowing look.

"What?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.

She shook her head, a nostalgic smile on her lips. "Nothing. It just feels like old times. The best times," she added.

I nodded in agreement. "It's nice."

"Are you sure you have to go back to the city tomorrow?" she asked.

I nodded. "I'm sure. I've got a pile of work waiting for me." Surprising myself, I continued with, "But maybe I can stay a bit longer."

Jodie's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "That would be wonderful, Spencer," she said, placing a hand on my arm. "We'd all love to have you around a little while longer."

I glanced over at Marlow sitting next to Rhett on the couch, their laughter ringing through the room. Something tugged at my heart. I knew I didn't want to leave just yet. I wanted to be near Marlow, to get to know her all over again. I didn't care that I was eavesdropping, acting as an interloper in their little family reunion.

"So, tell me what happened," Marlow said to Rhett. "How exactly did you total your car?"

Rhett launched into a dramatic retelling of the events leading up to his car accident, his gestures wild and exaggerated. A near miss with a deer had resulted in him swerving off the road and slamming into a tree. Marlow listened intently. As Rhett continued, I was mesmerized by the way Marlow's face brightened up with each laugh, the genuine joy evident in her every expression.

"Don't you remember what Dad taught us when we were learning how to drive?" Marlow asked him.

"Yeah, yeah, you're not going to tell me you wouldn't have swerved if you were staring headlong at a six-point buck," Rhett retorted.

Marlow rolled her eyes, playfully swatting at Rhett. "Maybe not a six-point buck, but I like to think I have slightly better reflexes than you," she teased.

Watching them, I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the kind of connection they had.

"I'm going to make myself a drink," Jodie announced. "It's such a nice evening. You kids should come out."

"That sounds nice, Mom," Marlow agreed. "I'm going to put my bag in my room, assuming I still have a room. You guys didn't turn it into a gym or something did you?"

"Not yet," Klaus joked. "But if you don't have your butt in that bed at least once every two months, it's going to be my room."

"Daddy, you wouldn't dare do that," Marlow teased.

I watched, once again admiring their family. I was jealous. They all had each other. I had me and my business partners, but I didn't even have them anymore. They were all hooked up and married or well on their way to being married. The six of us had been the consummate bachelors for so long, partying together and hanging out all the time. One by one they started to peel away and now it was just me. Being with the Graylan family reminded me of how much I didn't have.