The Merger

by Bernadette Marie

  “Just thinking. So where is Avery?”

  “Paris.”

  “Excuse me?” His voice had risen in a slight panic and the humor he’d been enjoying was wiped away. “She didn’t tell me she was going anywhere.”

  Pete shrugged. “All I know is she called me at nine o’clock last night and asked for a ride to the airport. Her grandpa had sent a jet for her. She said she’d be gone until next week.” He tossed the folded blanket back on the couch. “But she did say she’d be back in time for your birthday.”

  “Which means she isn’t changing the cake,” Spencer moaned.

  “Pink and Black?”

  “So she says.”

  Pete laughed. “To think she’s been torturing you since day one.”

  Spencer chuckles. “Do you like vanilla lattes?”

  “Hell no.”

  “Of course not. Strong and black?”

  “That’s more my style.”

  Spencer took the coffee he’d earmarked for himself and handed it to Pete. “Guess I’d better go down and get Julie.”

  “She’s not down there,” Pete said lifting the coffee cup to his lips.

  “Where is she?”

  “At work. That’s where I dropped her off about an hour ago, before I came back to get more sleep. She said she’d texted you.”

  Spencer took his phone out of his pocket and sure enough there was a message. “Guess it’s on silent.”

  Pete nodded. “Avery says I need an Avery setting so I never miss her calls. Mine is always on silent.”

  “I suppose I’ll head in then.” He turned for the door.

  “Hey, what kind of food does Julie like?”

  Spencer turned around. “Food?”

  “Yeah, we were talking on the ride downtown about maybe going out.”

  “You and Julie?” His voice actually cracked when he said it.

  Pete’s eyes grew wide. “Oh,” he let the word ride on the air. “You and Julie?”

  Spencer shrugged. “I don’t think she’s too interested in me.”

  “Pretend I didn’t say anything. You let me know if things don’t work out. But I’ll let you try first.”

  Spencer only nodded and walked out of the house and headed back to his car.

  He set the coffees on the top of the car and opened his door. Carefully, he took the coffees off the roof and set them in the passenger seat.

  When the car purred to start, he pulled away and headed into town with Julie on his mind.

  In one week she’d divorced her cheating ex-husband, moved to Nashville, and now had three men vying for her attention.

  Spencer knew he should step away from it. He wasn’t wanting a competition for her attention—he wanted all of it.

  Julie sat with Amber in the small boardroom across the hall from Spencer’s office. Yesterday Julie wasn’t sure she and Amber were going to be allies, but today, she was helpful and kind. Perhaps it was that Julie was taking the stress out of her job. The high-rise builds were enough to obviously make anyone stressed. Add a community build with one hundred and fifty custom jobs and any sane assistant would want to walk off the job.

  But Julie was sure Amber would never leave Spencer. She was very loyal to the man who was at least twenty years younger than her.

  “I have two luke-warm vanilla lattes for the taking,” his voice broke through their conversation and both women looked up to see him standing in the doorway.

  “A Starbucks in the lobby and you bring luke-warm lattes?” Amber joked reaching for the tray he offered.

  “Bought them an hour ago for my cousin and my ride. Only to find my cousin gone and my rider hitched another ride to work.”

  Amber turned and Julie could feel her eyes on her. “I texted.”

  “I didn’t get it,” Spencer replied with a shrug.

  “I’m very sorry for that.” She took the cup Amber offered. “Thank you for the coffee.”

  He nodded his head slowly and backed out of the room.

  Amber sat back in her chair and held the cup to her lips. “Past five months must have been interesting,” she said.

  No doubt Amber had been on the receiving end of whatever Spencer had to say about the merger and her. It was a wonder the woman was speaking to her at all. But she’d take the bait to her comment. “Why?”

  “I’ve known that man for years. He doesn’t bring coffee.”

  Julie swallowed hard and picked up her coffee. “Guess he was feeling generous.”

  “I suppose. How many dinners did you have in Oregon?”

  The inquisition wasn’t welcome, but Julie had nothing to hide. “Never ate a meal with the man that wasn’t catered by the Grayson family.”

  “No quick bites out?”

  “No.”

  “No late nights alone in the office?”

  “Negotiations only.”

  Amber let out a hum. “You caused those few gray hairs at his temples,” she said, but when Julie turned to look at her, she was grinning.

  “I don’t think that was all me. It was a big buy for him. There is a lot of responsibility that goes into buying a family company like PLL.”

  “Sure.” Amber sat forward and set her coffee on the table. “And you made it harder.”

  Julie’s defenses were starting to build. This was the part of her own attitude she didn’t like. If she felt attacked, she went into attack mode herself. But, she was a lawyer. She could keep calm if she had to and continue the conversation without ripping the woman’s hair out.

  “I hope I didn’t cause too much work for you while he was away.”

  Amber shrugged. “Nothing more than I’d expected.”

  “Good. Then I assume this is old business,” Julie said as she began to put the files Amber had given her into a bank box on the chair beside her.

  “Hey,” Amber said softly touching Julie’s arm. “I didn’t mean to get you upset.”

  Julie pushed her shoulders back and turned toward Amber. “I am very aware that Mr. Benson was very vocal about detesting me. I know it seems odd I am here now working for him, but I’d like the chance to prove myself before everyone decides to hate me on merit.”

  Amber nodded slowly. “If it’s any consolation, I like you just fine. I never bought into the bitch story anyway.” She stood and collected her files.

  “Why?”

  Amber smiled. “You made him mad, no question. Yes, he called you the bitch lawyer often. But there was something in the delivery of it.”

  She left the room and Julie simply watched her walk away, still smiling.

  The erratic beating of her heart had Julie nearly gasping for air. Was it what she wanted? Did she want to throw in the towel and give into the feelings she was having for Spencer? It was stupid. That hadn’t been the purpose of her coming to Nashville.

  She needed to weigh her options. If it didn’t work then what? If it did work…

  Oh, she didn’t even know what to do with that.

  Hell, if it didn’t work out she had options. Randy had asked her out and told her of a job. Even Pete was flirtatious and interested, though she was damn sure he was more interested in Avery. But she had options.

  So if she kissed Spencer a few more times and felt it out it would be good—enjoyable. If they had a few meals together and spent some time together, it would be fun. And—the heat was rising in the room, she thought—if it went further, well…

  “Are you okay?”

  His voice broke the silence in the room.

  Julie looked up to see Spencer standing with both hands on the doorjamb looking at her.

  “Fine.”

  “You’re beet red and breathing hard. Are you mad? Did Amber say something out of line? I’ll talk to her. I can…”

  “No. I’m fine.”

  “Julie, I…”

  She stood up cutting him off. Her breath was rapid now looking at him in his Polo shirt with those tunnels already etched into that dark, thick hair that she’d like to tangle
her own fingers in.

  Blinking hard and deciding that she’d panic over it later, she walked past him and straight into his office.

  Spencer looked around the boardroom and wondered what could have gone on to set her off in such a way. He hadn’t heard any arguing or shouting.

  He turned and walked back to his office.

  The moment he walked through the door it slammed behind him causing him to spin around.

  There she was, pressed with her back to the door. Her skin was still red and her chest heaved with breath. But it was her eyes—those dark tell-tale eyes—that told him exactly what she was thinking.

  It was a risk to step toward her, but he was damn sure that was the point of all this.

  He moved closer and she quickly pulled his arm and had him with his back flat to the door.

  The air rushed from his lungs and she swiftly moved against him, her body pressed hard to his. Her fingers tangled in his hair and her mouth—her glorious mouth—crushed down on his.

  Jesus, could he have wanted this any more than he did right now?

  His hands came to her hips and gripped tightly as she feverishly sucked the very last ethic out of him with her kiss.

  When her hands skimmed down the back of his neck and she hooked her arms around him he spun her until her back pressed against the door. The moan that escaped between them filled him with more desire for her.

  She gasped as he pressed his body to hers, undoubtedly letting her know how aroused he was having her in his arms.

  He worked the kiss they shared to her jaw and down that tender neck he loved to admire when her hair was pulled back, just as it was now.

  Her hands slid down his chest and the warmth of her fingertips penetrated right thought the fabric of his shirt.

  What was that he heard as he skimmed his lips over her collarbone? Her moan, yes, her moan.

  No. He sucked air back into his body and realized his phone buzzed in his pocket.

  He rested his head in the crook of her neck as they both caught their breath.

  “It’s my timer. I have a meeting.”

  She groaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him tighter to her.

  “Tell me you’re not angry for me doing this again,” she said on a pant. “Tell me it wasn’t a mistake.”

  He chuckled, but it only groaned out as he gasped for breath. “Not a mistake. Not mad.” He sucked in a few more breaths. “Thank God you did this.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder and he breathed her in.

  “I have to go.” He pulled back but kept his hands on her hips. “Don’t leave and run back to Oregon or anywhere else.” He sucked in another breath. “Have dinner with me. Promise me you’ll have dinner with me.”

  She nodded.

  “Okay.” He let his hands drop. “I have to head out to the site later. Are you headed there now?”

  She nodded again and he knew she was having a hard time catching her breath too.

  He leaned in one more time and brushed a soft, needy kiss over her lips.

  Spencer walked back to his desk, picked up his files, and gave her one more look. She was beautiful standing there with her cheeks flushed and her lips swollen from his kisses.

  His body buzzed thinking of what could happen next and hoping he wouldn’t have to wait too long to find out.

  Spencer watched Julie walk back to the boardroom, drink down the now cold coffee, then sit down at the big table and simply catch her breath.

  If they were lucky, Amber wouldn’t happen back by for at least another ten minutes and maybe Julie would be able to function again.

  He, on the other hand, needed to get upstairs to the boardroom in his father’s office and discuss the production schedule on the new hotel they were working on. Ed was heading it, but Spencer had been working with the cement contractor. Either way, he needed to get his heart rate slowed before he walked into that room.

  Spencer walked out of his office and toward the stairwell. At least if he climbed the two floors up to his father’s office, it would explain his extra intake of oxygen because he couldn’t will his body to calm.

  She’d given into him. No, that wasn’t correct at all. If that were the case, she’d have continued kissing him yesterday. This was all her. She’d come after him—pushed him up against the door.

  It was crazy to want this—to want her—but Spencer simply couldn’t help it. He’d seen her work. He’d been studying her for months. Of course, never had he thought it was desire that had him knowing how she sat when she was casual or how tense she got when she was in an argument. He intimately knew the shades of brown her eyes became and now he knew how they clouded when filled with passion. If she wanted to be taken seriously, she wore her hair in that low bun at the base of her neck. And her hair skimmed her shoulders if she was at ease and enjoying herself as she had in the bar with his family.

  Even a week ago he could have picked her laugh out in a crowd or even her scent.

  “Glad you could join us,” Ed made the first jab as Spencer hurried through the door.

  “Sorry.”

  His father pointed to the vacant seat next to the job foreman and the concrete foreman. “I think you know everyone.”

  Spencer gave them each a nod, but for the life of him he couldn’t call them by name. In fact, he’d be surprised if he could answer his own name if someone asked.

  Work certainly wasn’t on his mind. The adorable recently divorced—probably on the rebound—blonde two offices below them had him all worked up. And damn if he wasn’t enjoying it immensely.

  ~*~

  As quickly as she could, Julie had high-tailed it out of the Riverside building and to her little desk at Hart Estates. The trailer had been locked and she had to ask Tiffany for the key. That had been something she’d wanted to avoid. But Tiffany hadn’t said anything. Perhaps she and Spencer weren’t as good friends as Julie had thought. He hadn’t called or texted her right away to say he’d made out with the bitch lawyer.

  Okay, she thought as she put her bag and purse in the bottom desk drawer, that wasn’t fair. He’d apologized for that and in truth she was a bitch when she was in Oregon running mergers. She didn’t have to be that person anymore.

  On her desk were four more folders, which meant four more lots had been sold. She’d have to go in and look at the display to see where these homes would be. After walking through the future model home with design schemes in her mind, she wanted to see what other people would choose down the line. This certainly would be an insightful trip into the minds of other people.

  When the door to the trailer opened, Julie looked up expecting to see Chuck walk through the door and curse as it shut behind him. Instead, Tiffany walked in, dressed to the nines again in another pair of shoes that Julie would die for. She had to stand nearly six foot tall in those shoes and that mass of red hair swung hypnotically. Julie was mesmerized.

  “Brought you some coffee,” she said handing her a mug and then sitting on the edge of Julies desk with her long slender legs crossed at the knees.

  It was no wonder Spencer had wanted this woman. She was stunning and Julie desperately wanted to hate her—but she didn’t.

  “Sold four more lots.” Tiffany raised her cup in cheers. “Mama is getting a new pair of shoes.”

  “You must have quite a selection. I love those you’re wearing too.”

  “Oh, these old things?” She looked down at her foot and moved it from side to side. “Spence bought them for me for Christmas years ago. Of course, I had to drag him to the store, try them on, and beg him to do it. But he did.”

  Julie forced the smile. Okay, maybe she did hate her a little.

  “Do you have plans for lunch?” Tiffany continued.

  “I have a sandwich I brought.”

  Tiffany shook her head and the red aura swung again. “No. You and I are going to lunch.”

  “I don’t have funds for lunches out.”

  “I do.” She g
rinned and sipped her coffee. “My treat. Save your sandwich.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Okay, I’ve made small talk long enough.” She playfully raised and lowered her eyebrows. “Spill the beans. You and Spence? You must have had one hot morning in his office.”

  Julie felt her mouth open, but nothing came out right away. “He called you? He told you?”

  Tiffany’s eyes lit and her grin widened. “Didn’t say a word. I read it in your face. You didn’t want to see me this morning. You’re afraid of what I’ll say.”

  Julie dropped her shoulders. “How could you possibly know…”

  “Aside from the fact that I think you just told me,” she said grinning, “I know Spence and I know the effect he has on people. And he’s taken by you. Oh, he’s got it bad too.”

  “By me?”

  “You might have pushed all the wrong buttons before, but I think that’s why he was so irritated by you.”

  Julie pursed her lips. “This doesn’t sound like a man who would be interested.”

  Tiffany laughed. “Don’t you get it? Remember when you were a little girl and a boy would push you or pull your hair?”

  “Robby Brickman.”

  “Okay, so Robby was mean to you?’

  “Horrible.”

  “And he liked you?”

  “He wrote it on his notebook, in his math book and the stall in the boys’ bathroom.”

  Tiffany nodded. “Just like that. Only you were the mean one in this situation.”

  What a horrible conversation and it was sucking all the glory out of that hot kiss she’d had with Spence.

  “So you’re saying I liked him?”

  She shrugged. “I think you were doing your job. I just think he was watching very closely.”

  Julie felt her skin heat. “What about the two of you?”

  Tiffany bounced her foot and admired the shoes Spencer had bought her Christmases ago. “Sex. It’s all sex.”

  “Oh,” her voice dropped and the disappointment hung in the air.

  “Not recent sex, mind you.”

  “Oh,” she said again a little more enthusiastic.

  “We were a couple when, let’s see,” she said looking up and giving it some thought. “I think I was eighteen—nineteen, something. I was there for him when they found out about the baby his mom gave away and her ex-fiancé trying to kill her.”