Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

SPENCER

I didn't want to go home. My time in Stone Ridge had been a moment of peace in my nonstop life. I loved my work but I got so wrapped up in it that I forgot to stop and take some time to recharge.

I stared up at the ceiling, mulling over some excuses I could use to stay longer. The family would love to have me for as long as I wanted, but that wasn't the only reason I wanted to stick around. Part of wanting to stay was because of Marlow. Not because she was gorgeous and I couldn't keep my eyes off her. I wanted to convince her to work for us.

Unfortunately, I had responsibilities back home that needed my attention. I had all but turned off my phone. My voicemail was probably filled to capacity. I would have a mountain of work when I got back and letting it pile up any longer was bordering on self-destructive. We had a great team back at the office taking care of things, but at the end of the day, a lot of projects needed my personal touch.

I got out of the twin bed and stretched not knowing how Rhett managed this bed. That was one thing I was not going to miss. I was used to a California-king bed with plenty of room to sleep at any angle. Here, my feet hung over the edge.

I got dressed and slipped into the bathroom to brush my teeth and clean up a bit. Then it was time to pack. The scent of fresh coffee and more breakfast smells wafted up from below, luring me like a siren song.

I padded down the stairs, narrowing my eyes against the rising sun streaming through the curtains. The days were already getting shorter. Summer had gone by in flash and I realized I had done nothing but work the whole season. I had made piles of money. And where did that get me?

Alone with piles of money. I shook my head. It was too early for dismal thoughts like that. Maybe I was just dreading leaving and going back to my bachelor pad.

"Good morning," Jodie greeted me in her familiar way. She was in front of the stove, humming to herself as she flipped pancakes.

"Good morning," I replied.

"You're staying for breakfast, right?" she asked.

I chuckled. "You know very well I can't resist pancakes."

I knew I should get going. It was about a three-hour drive back to the city, assuming traffic was light. But all men have their weaknesses, and Jodie knew mine.

"I'm not going to be able to fit through the door, though," I said.

She smiled. "That's the plan. I'm going to fatten you up so we can keep you here."

"I'll make it a point to come back and visit more," I told her seriously. "This has been really nice."

"It's been a pleasure," she said. "But I think Shoop is going to miss you the most."

Hearing his name, the dog huffed out a breath from his spot near the warm stove.

Marlow came downstairs a minute later with her face bare of makeup and a robe on. I stared at her a little too long, intensely interested in her natural beauty. She scowled at me before moving around me to pour herself a cup of coffee.

"Breakfast will be ready in five," Jodie said.

"I'm going to put my bags in the car," I told them.

When I returned, Klaus was getting Rhett situated at the table.

"We need to get you a highchair," Marlow said before sipping her coffee.

"Very funny," Rhett said. "As soon as I'm back on my feet, I'll get my revenge."

"Hush now," Klaus said. "Or else I'll get your pacifier."

Everyone laughed, including me. Even in the middle of all that joking, my focus turned to Marlow. Still in her robe, she sat at the kitchen island. Her smile faded and her gaze fixed on something in the distance beyond the window. Her brows were furrowed, and I could tell she was lost in thought. I wondered if she was mulling over my offer.

Maybe she's just wondering what toppings her pancakes will have. I should get over myself.

Then her eyes flicked toward me and it didn't look like she was thinking about butter and maple syrup.

"Morning, Marlow."

She gave me a small smile. "Morning, Spencer. I didn't say it earlier because I needed caffeine."

"I understand. No work gets done at the office until I have my coffee." I sat down at the breakfast table next to Rhett.

Jodie was shuffling back and forth, bringing butter, syrup, and blueberries. The smell of the food and the coffee was like inhaling pure comfort. It took me back to the simpler days of youth. It didn't hurt that Jodie was an excellent cook. Every meal I had eaten at her house was enough to make a grown man cry. The breakfast today was no different.

Jodie started to pile a generous amount of pancakes on my plate. "You eat up now."

I poured some syrup but skipped the butter. Everyone else had their pancakes and were fixing them up how they liked them. I was going to miss this back in the city.

The silence enveloping the room was a testament to how good the food was. No one wanted to talk with their mouths full and no one wanted to stop eating to talk. I, for one, was in carb heaven, not caring how much gym time I would have to put in to make up for it.

After breakfast, Marlow excused herself to get dressed and ready for the day. I offered to help clean up the dishes, which Jodie gladly accepted one last time. We cleaned and dried, our conversation drifting between my work and their plans for Christmas.

After the dishes, I knew I had stalled enough.

"I have to go," I said. "Thank you so much for having me."

She gave me a big hug. "Thank you for coming. Don't be a stranger."

I walked to Rhett and gently nudged his shoulder. "Just hit the deer next time. I promise you won't have to break a bone to get me to visit again."

He chuckled and shook my hand. "Thanks for coming, brother. I promise I'll be more careful."

I said goodbye to Klaus and was having an internal debate about whether I should search out Marlow to say goodbye. The answer was given to me when she came back downstairs wearing a black dress suit with black heels and her makeup done. Her hair was loose and hanging around her shoulders.

"Marlow, I'm heading out," I said. "Think about my offer. You know where to find me."

"Sure," she said dismissively.

I walked out of the house feeling a little bummed to be leaving. Marlow walked out behind me. "Are you going back to the city?" I asked with surprise.

"No, I'm going to a nearby college to give a lecture," she said.

I smiled. "Ahh, you're here for work."

"I'm not here only for work," she retorted.

"Understood. Good luck at college."

I got into the car and was about to start the engine when I noticed her sitting behind the wheel of her car, cursing up a storm. She slapped her hand against the wheel, her frustration evident. It seemed it wouldn't start.

I walked over and leaned down to talk to her through the window, startling her like a cat. She probably would have hit the roof if she wasn't wearing her seatbelt.

"Can I give you a ride?" I offered.

She looked up, relief and frustration mixing in her eyes. "Yeah, that would be great. If it's not too much trouble."

"Not at all," I said, smiling. "It's a perk of being the boss. Unless I have a meeting or something, I can't be late."

"Well, thank you then."

"Of course. We can't keep America's youth waiting for you."

She laughed and got in my car. We started the journey, and despite it being twenty-five miles in the opposite direction of where I was headed, I didn't mind. It felt good to be helping her, to spend a little more time with her. As we drove, we talked about old times, Rhett's car crash, and her folks.

"Your parents looked really good," I said. "And happy. They are a rare case. One of the few couples that have managed to remain married."

"I've noticed Dad's age lately," she admitted, her voice tinged with worry. "His memory isn't what it used to be, and it makes me think maybe I should come home for a while. New York isn't going anywhere, but Daddy? It scares me to think that I don't have decades left with him anymore. I have to start looking at my time with him in years. I feel too young to lose my dad." She gave me a sad, beautiful smile. "Sorry. I didn't mean to talk about something so depressing."

"It's fine," I said. "I know what you mean, but your dad is still in good shape. I helped him on the roof the other day and he didn't seem to be slowing down at all."

"He's not slowing down, but he is, if that makes sense." She sighed. "I just know I need to be more present in their lives."

"That's a good thing." I nodded.

"Tell me about you. Are your folks still here in Stone Ridge?"

I got quiet, the question stirring up complicated feelings. "No."

"Oh? I thought they'd be here forever. They're both from here, right?"

"When I made it big with the firm, they asked for a retirement place in Florida. I bought it for them. And a new car and a vacation property in Maui."

"Wow," Marlow said, sounding genuinely impressed. "And here I am trying to make it work so that I can pay off the rest of my parents' mortgage."

I glanced over at her. "Seems like you're doing well for yourself. That shouldn't be too hard."

She didn't answer, and I sensed we were both dancing around something. What that was, I didn't know. Maybe her ex? She had baggage from her divorce—and probably some debt. Dakota certainly didn't look like he was doing all that well for himself, which meant she probably had to pay him or was still paying him.

She wasn't bringing up her divorce and I wasn't willing to talk about my family. I resented my family for using me for my money to create the lifestyle of their dreams, only to effectively become estranged from me to live it up in Florida. I barely heard from them unless they needed something. They were the exact opposite of Klaus and Jodie.

We arrived at the college. I pulled up in front of the student center to let her out.

"Thank you for the ride," she said.

"How long will you be here?" I asked. "I can stick around and give you a ride home."

"Don't worry. My dad will come pick me up, and I'll figure out a ride back into the city tomorrow."

I wasn't ready to back off yet. "I still want you to come work for me, Marlow. Have you thought about it any more?"

She shook her head. "You're wasting your own time, Spencer. I know you're used to getting what you want, but so am I. And I don't want a boss."

With that, she climbed out of the car and closed the door behind her.

I watched her go, feeling a mix of admiration and frustration. She was strong-willed, independent, and so incredibly captivating. I started the drive back to Manhattan, my mind racing with thoughts of Marlow and the possibility of her joining the firm. As I drove, I replayed our conversation, trying to think of ways to convince her that working with me wouldn't mean losing her independence.

She didn't want a boss. I couldn't exactly offer her a partnership, but I could make her a boss of sorts. Then again, I was offering a job without talking with the other guys. I knew they wouldn't mind. Getting her on board made us all a little richer. None of them were going to argue with that.

When I finally arrived back in the crowded city, I felt alone. My apartment, usually a sanctuary, felt cold and unwelcoming, like I had suspected it would. I dropped my bags and sat on the couch, staring at the skyline. After being back in Stone Ridge, I couldn't help but think about my own very humble beginnings. And now here I was in my penthouse looking over the city.

Something was missing. It wasn't just the warmth of Stone Ridge or the familiarity of the small town. It was something more personal. I felt an emptiness I had never felt before. Or I never noticed it before. I had been too busy working and chasing women to think about the fact that at the end of the day, I was a prince alone in my empty castle.

My friends had all found their soul mates. Their lives were moving forward, more complete now. I was still missing a major piece of my life's puzzle.

I sighed and stood up, pacing restlessly around the room like a caged animal seeking an escape route. The reality was dawning on me that my life had become an empty shell filled with superficial success and material possessions. The money, the power, the high-profile clients. None of it truly satisfied me when I was alone with my thoughts. There was no one to celebrate the small victories with, no one to share a quiet Sunday morning, no one to offer comfort after a long, grueling day.

I wandered onto my terrace, looking over the city. There had to be someone out there for me. My mind wandered back to Marlow.

Maybe she had been in my city all along.