Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

MARLOW

L ater that night, we gathered in the backyard around the firepit. Mom had mixed up some of her infamous hot toddies, Dad and Spencer had cold beers, and Rhett was forced to remain sober for another hour. Mom refused to let him mix his pain pills with alcohol, which irritated the hell out of him, but it was the responsible thing to do.

The crisp autumn air carried the scent of burning wood, wrapping us in nostalgia. I remembered the many times we had done this when we were kids. We always had s'mores or hot dogs roasted over the fire.

"Hey, I'm cold." Rhett was sitting a bit too far from the fire due to his leg needing to be propped up and sticking straight out. "My toes are toasty, but I'm freezing."

"You complain a lot." Spencer, always the joker, adjusted Rhett's chair, turning him sideways and then pretending to tip it backward.

"Hey!" Rhett shouted, his hand gripping the armrests.

We all burst into laughter. I caught Spencer's eye across the flickering flames, a smile tugging at my lips. I was grateful for his presence. He had always fit seamlessly into our family. And yet, there was something more in his gaze that made my heart skip a beat. I quickly turned away, focusing on the crackling fire in front of me. Better that than the wild ideas running through my head.

"Need a refresher, Klaus?" Spencer asked.

" I do," Rhett said.

"Fine, one," Jodie said. "But no pain meds later."

"Deal," Rhett said happily.

"I'll be back." Spencer got up and disappeared inside.

Moments later, Spencer returned with three cans. He handed a Coors Light to Rhett and then my dad.

Rhett popped the top and took a long sip, the corners of his lips quirking up in satisfaction. "Ahh!"

The flames danced in the firepit, casting a warm glow over our little gathering. I felt content, surrounded by my family. I took a sip of my own drink. The stress melted away. Sitting around a fire was just as good as soaking in my tub, and it was infinitely better because I wasn't alone.

Spencer settled into his chair with his beer in his hand, tipping his head back to look at the stars. I followed suit.

"Man, what a view," Spencer said. "I almost forgot what stars looked like."

"Why?" I asked.

"I live in Manhattan and there are no stars."

"You live in Manhattan?" I asked with surprise.

He nodded. "I do."

"Me too!" I exclaimed. "The Upper West Side."

"I'm on the East Side," he replied, nodding. "Small world."

I shook my head, surprised we had never run into each other. Then again, New York was a big place.

"Two small-town kids living in the big city," Rhett teased. "Country mice turning into city mice."

"They've worked hard," Mom said.

I glanced over at Spencer, noticing the changes in him. He was bigger, more filled out, and carried a powerful presence. All traces of boyhood were long gone, replaced by intensely masculine features. His sharp lines, hooded brow, and dark stubble made me feel all kinds of things I wasn't used to feeling. The man could sweep me off my feet and we could live happily ever after.

I had to give myself a mental talking-to. He was Rhett's best friend and, if memory served, a bit of a jerk. He was on his best behavior because he was with my parents but I had no doubt in my mind he was probably a womanizer in the city. There were a lot of fish in the sea and I could see him wiggling his worm around to catch all of them. Or at least the A-listers, like supermodels, heiresses, and maybe the occasional movie star.

Then again, I was kind of a big deal these days. If we had run into each other in the city, would he have tried reeling me in? And would I take the bait?

Spencer caught my eye again, a small smile playing on his lips as he opened his mouth to speak. "Hey, Rhett, do you remember the time we tried sneaking out to that party in high school?"

I knew exactly where he was going with the story. "Don't you dare," I warned.

Rhett perked up. "You mean the one when Marlow caught us and blackmailed us into taking her with us?"

"Guys," I groaned, looking at my parents' expressions of shock.

"You let her drink?" Mom asked.

Rhett laughed and shook his head. "No way. I just kept an eye on her while I drank."

Laughter filled the air.

Spencer and Rhett delved into the embarrassing tale of their high school shenanigans. Memories of adolescence flooded back. I found myself joining in their laughter despite my earlier concern my parents were going to hear I wasn't quite as innocent as they thought I was.

"Marlow, I'm disappointed," Mom chided, shaking her head.

"I didn't raise a sneak," Dad chimed in, pretending to scowl.

I simply shrugged and laughed along, pushing any lingering embarrassment aside. "Well, you've also raised a girl with a taste for adventure."

Rhett started to tell another story about another adventure he and Spencer had after a football game. I found myself hanging on every word, watching Spencer's body language. It was always amusing to see how much trouble they used to get into together. Lost in the glow of the fire and the comfort of family, I almost forgot about my reservations about Spencer. Almost.

"I'm going to make one more drink," Mom announced and got to her feet. "Marlow, would you like another?"

"Please." I nodded. "I'm making up for lost time."

Mom rolled her eyes and smiled. "I assume you men will want another beer?"

"Yes, please," Spencer said and hopped up. "I'll help."

"No, no, sit," Mom said. "I've got it. Lean back, put your feet up, and enjoy the night."

"Thank you, Jodie."

With a nod, Spencer settled back into his chair and stretched his legs out toward the fire. He tossed a side glance at Rhett before focusing his gaze on me. I could feel the weight of his eyes, but I decided not to meet his gaze. Instead, I turned my attention to my dad, who was fiddling with the music playing softly from his phone.

"Ah, there we go," he said, turning up the volume to fill the air with the silky notes of jazz. "Nothing like some good music to complete the night."

Rhett groaned dramatically, mumbling something about how he preferred country music, causing laughter to bubble up again around the fire. Dad, undeterred, sank back into his chair with a broad smile. The flickering firelight illuminated his content expression.

"I saw these guys at a club in the city," Spencer said.

"Really?" Dad asked with surprise.

Spencer nodded. "It was a few years ago, but yep. I knew they were going to be big one day."

"I guess you see a lot of live acts in the city," Dad said.

"I used to." There was a hint of sadness in his voice. "I don't get to see much anymore." Spencer's gaze turned toward me once again. "You know, it's strange. I lived in the city for years and I never once ran into you, Marlow."

"Well, I don't think you would have known me if you did," I replied. "And I seriously doubt we run in the same social circles."

I didn't really follow Spencer Kane, but before I made a name for myself, he was the guy that made it big from our little town. From all accounts, he was rich as hell now. His advertising company was legendary in the business, handling huge clients.

"Here you go." Mom handed me my drink and then gave the guys their fresh beers.

We continued chatting for a while, and Mom and Dad were the first to leave the fire, heading inside to get some rest. Rhett, Spencer, and I talked about old times. It was easy and comfortable. But then Spencer turned his gaze on me. I felt like I was about to be interrogated.

"So that magazine cover," he said. "I didn't recognize you."

"I'm sure you've had professional photos." I shrugged. "It's all smoke and mirrors, shapewear, and a skilled glam squad."

He chuckled. "I do know. It's a whole clown show."

I laughed. "It can be."

"You seem to have a very successful career sharing your marketing skills," he said. "I never thought about writing books like that. I usually keep my moves secret. How were the sales?"

"Not bad." I shrugged. "I also do marketing consultations but not a lot of actual client work."

"Are you with an agency or do you have your own?"

"No agency." I shook my head. "It's just me and my name."

He nodded and took another drink. Rhett was staring at the fire, half-listening to us. He didn't do marketing and wasn't exactly the suit and tie kind of person.

"And I assume you're making a living," Spencer asked.

"It's unconventional," I explained. "But it works for me."

"Unconventional is exactly what my firm needs," Spencer said, catching me off guard.

"Wait, what?" I asked, not sure if I understood him correctly.

"My firm has gone through a lot of changes lately," Spencer continued. "We could use fresh blood like yours. I could arrange for flexible hours, discuss salary options and benefits, and even throw in some hefty bonuses. You would still be able to give lectures and write your books. Is that something you might be interested in?"

I stared at him, my mind reeling. "Are you being serious right now?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" he replied, his gaze steady and sincere. "I'm sure you've heard of my firm. We're one of the top in the city, maybe even the country. I don't know if they have rankings for that sort of thing. I should probably look into that. But we attract clients big and small. And we grow more and more every year."

I chewed the inside of my cheek, weighing my options. "I like the freedom I have now being my own boss."

"You wouldn't necessarily have a boss," he said.

"You wouldn't be my boss?"

"I have enough employees," he said. "I need people that will bring in clients and handle the business on their own. Obviously, I'm a resource, but I'm not a micromanager. You're clearly capable. And I imagine you would bring in clients eager to work with you and you alone."

I mulled it over. It would be nice to have a company's resources and a full staff. But I loved being independent. "I don't want to answer to anyone. I've done enough of that in my lifetime." Thoughts of Dakota flashed through my mind. "I'm not your girl."

I stood up from the fire and headed inside. I grabbed a glass of water and went straight to my room, closing the door behind me. I sank onto the bed, my mind racing. The idea of working with Spencer was tempting, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd be giving up too much of my hard-earned independence.

I had built my name for myself. I set my schedule and chose what clients I worked with. Kyla was my right hand and there was no way I was going to leave her behind. We were a package deal.

Still, it was nice of him to consider me. It was certainly flattering.

I decided to distract myself by taking a hot shower. The water cascading over me helped clear my head, but thoughts of Spencer still lingered. His offer was generous, and the prospect of a new challenge was enticing.

But I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that I might be stepping into a situation I would later regret. He was part owner in the company, and ultimately, I would be working for him. That was not something I could really get my head around. None of my daydreams had prepared me for this.

After my shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and checked my phone. There was a message from Kyla asking how things were going. I shot her a quick reply, summarizing the events of the evening and Spencer's unexpected job offer.

Kyla's response was immediate: "Holy shit! Spencer Kane offered you a job? What are you gonna do?"

I sighed, typing back. "I don't know. It's a great offer, but I love my freedom. And there's history there. Complicated history."

"Take your time to think it over. You've worked hard to get where you are. Don't rush into anything."

It was sage advice. Especially when it came to Spencer.